Acorn or Not Acorn?
When is an acorn not an acorn? Sometimes you look up into the branches of an oak tree and see some peculiar looking acorns. They seem to encircle a twig,…
Blackberris vs. Raspberries
The older I get, the more confused about similar things sometimes. On the other hand, there are many similar things in nature that I have always had trouble distinguishing.…
Hear the lovely song of the frog in yonder pond….
A great crowd of frog enthusiasts joined Bill Dean, aka Dr. Frog, at the frog pond last week, and not one person said "EWW!" as he netted up frogs, tadpoles and…
Buzzing Bees
You never know the questions that may arise from a simple walk in the woods. Last week, I visited the Morgan Conservation Park in Oldham County for the first…
Saving Orphaned Animals and Birds
"There's a baby owl/possum/fawn/skunk in my yard. What should I do? Can you come and get it?"Patty Bleau, our office coordinator at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, often receives calls like this…
Tulips Are TREES?
The tuliptree is one of the tallest eastern American hardwoods, and one of the tallest trees found in the nature preserve. It can often be identified from a distance…
Happy Groundhog Day!
February 2 is Groundhog's Day. Is everyone ready for a big party? No? Well, let's learn more about the groundhog itself. The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck,…
Jack Frost Visits Kentucky
Traditionally, Jack Frost is the personification of frost and cold weather, a variant of Old Man Winter held responsible for frosty weather, for nipping the nose and toes, coloring the…
Help! Fire!
On November 26, 2012, some of our neighbors were probably terrified to see flames and smoke on the big meadow near Mahan Manor. It's OK, we told all who called.…
Carnivorous Plants?
The Woodland Garden at the Nature Preserve is a work in progress. We now have two bridges over the brook, if you haven't been by lately, and stones line with…