by Paul Hetzler, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County

Raise your hand if you’re tired of hearing about new invasive species. I’m right there with you. Aside from the fact that there’s too much bad news around as it is, we’re still working on a cure for those good old-fashioned pests that rival the common cold in terms of eluding conquest. Japanese beetles, European chafers, buckthorn, wild parsnip, Japanese knotweed—enough already. 

While any new green growth tends to catch my eye after a long winter, some signs of spring are less welcome than others. Over the past several years I’ve noticed an increasing occurrence of garlic mustard (Alliaria peteolata), an invasive weed native to Europe and North Africa, cropping up around the North Country each spring. True to its name, garlic mustard is in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family, and its leaves, stems, and roots have a potent garlic-horseradish flavor.

This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont.  We hope you enjoy their accounts from days spent in the woods examining the fascinating ways plants and animals endure the North Country winter.

By Alyson Wilson

By Katherine Gilbert

By Justin Dalaba

This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont.  We hope you enjoy their accounts from days spent in the woods examining the fascinating ways plants and animals endure the North Country winter. 

By Catherine Bennet

It will be news to no one that we’ve have some cold days lately – not your average winter chill, but the bitter, biting cold that makes you cough immediately upon breathing outdoor air. The good news is that warmer weather is on the way and the recent snow has opened up a whole world of outdoor winter recreation opportunities. The North Country’s snowbound forests and icy waterways are truly beautiful in winter, as long as you’ve got the right attitude and enough layers. You could hibernate, but we think getting outdoors is the best way to embrace the season.

We're in the middle of some fascinating astronomical events.  Jeff Miller, wandering celestial minstrel and professor of physics at St. Lawrence University, keys us in on the action in the night skies this week. 

8/11/2014

The Perseid meteor shower peaked this weekend; unfortunately, the Moon was full this weekend (more on that in a minute), so it will obscure all but the brightest meteors.

Hey NoCo...

What is your favorite thing to do outside? There are a million and one things to do outdoors in the North Country. We couldn’t think of a million, but here are 15 ways folks at the Canton Farmer’s Market like to spend their time in the great outdoors. So what are you waiting for? Turn off that computer screen and go explore!

Not everyone agrees that smartphones have a place in the outdoors. For me, the trick is to use smartphone apps in the outdoors that will enhance the experience, not to become the experience. For example, sometimes while hiking I want to know how far it is to the top so I whip out my free altimeter app.