What's Your Nature?

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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights

Talking (and Listening) to Your House Plants

Crocuses in bloom
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
The idea that plants benefit from kind words, or from speech in general, has roots that go back at least to Charles Darwin, who supported the concept. Sound evidence that speaking to plants makes them healthier came to light several years ago – it turns out the “silly” folks who talk to their gardens and hoe plants have been right all along. And this effect is not due to the carbon dioxide we…
White Flowers Lilacs in bloom

Nature Up North 2025 Calendars Are Here!

Coyote on Ice - 2025 Calendar Cover
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Proceeds from calendar sales benefit Nature Up North's community outreach initiatives. Each year, Nature Up North reaches hundreds of local residents through guided hikes, paddles, workshops, and K-12 programs. Thanks for your support!   We hope you’ll support our programs and locally-owned businesses by buying a Nature Up North calendar this year. Proceeds from calendar sales directly…

Ask a Fairy: Fall 2024 Answers

Huckleberry Lake fairy house
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy
Thimble and Blossom let us know that they loved all of the nature questions you had for them this year, and were thrilled to receive a selfie too! Although it was a warm fall and they were able to enjoy the North Country into November this year, they had to continue south in search of warmer climates for the winter. Before they left, they took a moment to write their answers down and share them…
Nicandri Fairy House Munter Trail Fairy House

North Country Voices: Paul Hetzler

Photo of author Paul Hetzler
By Dan French on
Blog: North Country Voices
This installment of North Country Voices is a little different than usual. You might recognize the name Paul Hetzler from any number of articles posted to our page about different features of North Country nature, and you may remember the articles for their jokingly light yet incredibly informative writing style. Paul recently finished a new book titled Birds of Happiness Aren't Blue and we…
Cover of paul's book

Event Recap - Girl Scout Survival Day!

Girl Scouts in front of their lean-to shelter.
By Wejden Jemmezi on
Blog: Just Our Nature
As part of a unique program, I recently had the opportunity to attend a Girl Scout event that left me both inspired and enlightened. This experience not only allowed me to connect with our community's youth but also taught me valuable skills and deepened my appreciation for nature. What struck me most was the girls' enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. Their curiosity about our surroundings was…

Seasons of Change: An Ode to Fall

Trees next to the ODY library on SLU's campus
By Donatella DeFazio on
Blog: Just Our Nature
This photo essay captures the beautiful transformation of leaves as the seasons transition from fall to winter. The change from lush greens, to shades of red, orange, and gold, tells a story of renewal and the texture that autumn brings at St. Lawrence University. I invite viewers to pause and appreciate the wonders of nature we see every day. Each tree has its own process and story to tell.…

Event Recap - Pumpkin Party in Heritage Park

Carved and Painted pumpkins lined up along a trail.
By Dan French on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Over the weekend of October 26th and 27th 2024 the excitement for the upcoming holiday came to a head. We love the fall season at Nature Up North because it’s a season of change. Trees are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, snow is in the mountains, and wildlife is beginning its winter preparation. Halloween often signals the shift from fall to winter, so we wanted to do something to…
A pumpkin painted like an eyeball inside a larger pumpkin. A pumpkin carved with cat ears Pumpkin painted as a clown

Ask A Fairy: Fall Weather brings Fall Fairies!

Munter Trail Fairy House
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy
Thimble and Blossom are back on North Country Trails this fall! While they migrate south for warmer weather each winter, Thimble and Blossom stop over for a couple months on our trails to enjoy the fall foliage, tuck in the bears for hibernation, and to answer all of your nature questions! They stopped by Nature Up North to tell us how excited they are to see who can find their homes and to…
Photo of the fairy house at Nicandri Nature Center Fairy House on Huckleberry Lake Trail

Why Autumn Pruning is Bad

A fall canopy reflects a mirrored image in a glass-like river.
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
When I was younger, an old-time arborist I knew used to say “The best time to prune trees is when the tools are sharp.” This guy was beset with shoulder injuries and knee problems because he also believed “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Sadly, both of these old saws are dangerous lies. Although tree-care companies have year-round expenses and need income in all seasons, a truly…

Anarchy is Bad for Picnics and Restaurant Patios

A wasp sits on a white flower.
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
I’m not one to shed a tear when authoritarian rulers die, but once they’re gone, outdoor dining becomes a lot more dangerous. As summer wanes, the original queen in every yellowjacket (or other social wasp species) colony dies. Turns out that having a few thousand babies in the course of one season is enough to tire any Queen Mum to death. As the original queen starts to forget the names of her…