What's Your Nature?

Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!

Close Encounter

We took family on the St. Lawrence River and saw this large ship. It was amazing!

Having a snack

This dragon fly landed on my son and just happened to have caught a spider to have for a snack. 

In the velvet

Beautiful little buck stopped in my yard to eat. 

Partridge

Spotted this little beauty in my backyard while hiking my dog 

Dawn

I walk my dog every morning at 4:30am and this is my view along the way. 

Tree Sign Language: Early Fall Color Spells Trouble

Each fall deciduous trees, ice-cream stands, and marinas close for the same reason: as daylight dwindles and cold creeps in, they become less profitable. When income dips down to equal the cost of doing business, a wise proprietor will turn off the lights and lock the doors until spring.

Some enterprising holdouts stay solvent longer than others who are in the same business. Perhaps they have less competition or a better location. Conversely, a few businesses close their shops at the first whiff of autumn. Those are the ones that just barely scrape by at the height of summer.

Hummingbird nectaring on hyacinth bean flowers

This little beauty showed up while I was sipping coffee on our porch. I have an abundance of hummingbirds this season, much to my delight. I think they enjoy the multitude of native and annual flowers I have planted for them. The hyacinth bean vine was a new addition to my annuals this summer. Hummingbird approved! 

American Goldfinch on red sunflower

I always have one of my cameras handy while I am in the garden. I plant flowers not only for myself to enjoy, but for the birds. This American Goldfinch was kind enough to pose on my sunflowers.