jill456

After months of gray skies, frozen toes, and solitary walks past snow-covered gardens, spring arrives like a child rushing out for summer break. The sun lingers longer, birds burst into song, and suddenly you…the long-winter-cabin-fevered homeowner…feel an irresistible urge to grab gloves, wield a rake, and declare war on every last stem, leaf, and twig. Finally, you think…I can actually go outside and do something! But here’s the reality in March: your garden is still hitting the snooze...

(Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula ) Cities are often noticeably warmer than the countryside that surrounds them. This phenomenon, known as the “urban heat island” (and sometimes called an “urban heat bubble”) can raise temperatures by several degrees compared to nearby rural areas—especially at night. In major metropolitan areas such as New York City or Chicago, the difference is well documented, but the same effect also occurs in much smaller developed areas. The cause is...

One of the many things Western New York is known for is its cold, often unforgiving winters. While recent years have brought more variability, those cold months continue to play a vital ecological role across our region. Native plants and wildlife are adapted to seasonal rhythms shaped by snow cover, deep frosts, and predictable dormancy. These seasonal cues, known as phenology, refer to the timing of biological events such as bud break, insect development, flowering, and migration. When...