Tag: The Art of Ecology

Beautifully painted sunrises are simply “Leftover” Skies

This sunset was one of two that we enjoyed during our vacation to Maine. What made them different?

Recently, I’ve been waking up to some strikingly vivid sunrises. Unfortunately, by the time that I see the sunrise, get my camera, half stick my boots on and dash into the backyard, the colors have lost much of their vibrancy. How do the colors disappear so quickly and what causes sunsets and sunrises to be …

Owls – More than just cute, fluffy birdies!

Owls are more than just cute balls of feathers! They play an important part in our ecosystem!

Right now there is a trend in “owl-love”. People think they’re so cute and decorate everything from paper-products, to clothes, to wall art with rather cartoony looking owls. Is there anything wrong with that – NO! Owls definitely are super cute, but they are so much more than just fluffy balls of feathers. They are …

How do tiny birds survive the cold winter?

Cardinals need to eat a lot of fatty seeds in order to stay warm all winter!

We always think of birds as migrating south for the winter (wish I could too!), but obviously, some birds do stick around. There are many bird adaptations to the cold to allow them to stick around chilly Pennsylvania! How do Birds Adapt to the Cold? Birds adapt in many ways that are similar to humans. …

Giraffes and Baby Elephants – Kenya’s Finest

Baby elephants (not more than 2 1/2 years old!) who have been impacted by the poaching industry at David Sheldrick's Wildlife Trust

Sometimes you visit a place, not knowing what impact it’ll have on you, and when you leave it, all you want is to return! For me, that place is Kenya. I have been to Kenya, to a small village on the coast of Lake Victoria to do some missions work in orphanages and for other …

Why do we always see purples and reds in plants, yet rarely blue?

We often see pinks and purples in nature, but why is the color blue so rare?

Winter is here and it makes me miss the vibrant colors of spring, summer, and fall. I personally LOVE yellow. I love Sunflowers, Coreopsis, Daisies, Goldfinches, and Blue-Ringed Octopus. I’m not super picky though. I just love color! I love Butterfly Weed, Zinnia, Hibiscus, Purple Beautyberry, Cuttlefish, Common Sea Dragons, Giraffes… the list can go …

Protecting a Flamboyance

Did you know that a group of Flamingos is called a Flamboyance? These amazing birds are under threat of climate change, but fortunately, are being protected.

What is a Flamboyance? Did you know that a group of Flamingos is called a Flamboyance? These amazing birds are under threat of climate change, but fortunately, are being protected. Being Flamboyant means being colorful and vibrant. It only makes sense then that a group of Flamingos would go by this name (among other names …

Plants Make People Happy – Science or Opinion?

So many plants so little time! Longwood Gardens is the perfect place to go if you are in need of some plant therapy!

All I wanted was a puppy… REALLY BADLY. I wanted a cute little fuzz friend to vent to and care for. But alas, no puppy for me. Instead, I came home from my parent’s house one day with a plant that my father propagated for me. Soon, that one plant turned into three plants, which …

How can life occur in the American Southwest desert?

These beautiful flowers attracted many pollinators out in the New Mexico desert!

Traveling, especially to places that look and feel different than Pennsylvania where I have lived for all of my life, is so exciting! Fortunately for me, I had the chance to go out to New Mexico to do some photography this past summer! It was amazing to see the many plant & animal adaptations to …

How do Chipmunks show their personality through vocalization?

discover chipmunk vocalizations and how this impacts personality

I’ll gladly go bungee jumping or skydiving. Not much scares me, yet for some strange reason, I gasp at small things. A door closed unexpectedly? Gasp. Did a leaf fall on my shoulder? Gasp. I’m startled for a fraction of a second and react. Who knew that this is a similar trait to shy, cute, …