The Nature of Things
The Nature of Things is a weekly broadcast about our area’s native flora and fauna, hosted by Irvine Nature Center’s Executive Director Brooks Paternotte. At the start of each week, The Nature of Things offers an eco-friendly perspective on everything from our changing seasons to the sounds of our migrating birds to the plants invading our yards, fields and forests.
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You might be able to ignore the increasing amounts of leaves falling from trees, or the suddenly sinking nighttime temperatures. But when you hear the… -
Driving along 695, it’s easy to ignore the greenery beyond the concrete medians and metal guardrails.But that’s just where one of our area’s most… -
Earlier this season, an invasion of ants came flooding into our mud room. They came in two by two, three by three, and eventually just in a big army. They… -
Sometimes when I mention that I have a bat house on my home, I see people visibly shudder. I can understand that reaction because bats, just like 8-legged… -
A few weeks ago, I was tucked snuggly into my bed, eyes closed, attempting mightily to fall asleep when a loud crash echoed from outside my home. I sat up… -
Monarch butterflies are famous for their southward migration and northward return in summer from here to Mexico. This impressive feat spans three-to-four… -
All Marylanders know their state flower: the lovely and prolific wildflower, the black-eyed susan.Designated our state flower in 1918, black-eyed susans… -
A few days ago, one of our teachers pitched me an idea for a weekend program, something called “forest bathing.” I’ll admit I was skeptical at first as… -
At Maryland’s famous Benji’s Drive-In Movie Theater last weekend, my family and some friends enjoyed an evening playing outside, eating popcorn and candy,… -
There are some species of animals that hold a special place in my heart. I know that as an environmentalist I’m not supposed to pick favorites, but some… -
Sometimes, walking through the woods can be an unsettling experience. The damp ground yields a little too much under my feet, releasing the smell of… -
There’s not much about the weekly lawn and field maintenance I do that makes me nervous. Actually, I think there’s really just one thing. One amazing, yet…
