‘Friends of the Linnaeus Arboretum’ Category
Accipiters shake things up at winter gatherings
A sharp-shinned hawk waits patiently by the Arboretum birdfeeders recently Oh, the stress of being a good holiday host. It’s so hard for a host to relax when there are so many things to worry about: Will my guests find the place alright? Will they like the food I am serving? Will they be […]
Chorus frog courtship is noisy ‘affair’
This tiny western chorus frog (note knuckle for size reference) is just one of many that are set to put on their annual spring concert. The temperature’s rising, the days are getting longer, the buds are swelling, and the critters are emerging from hibernation. Spring is nearly here, and with it comes the annual performance […]
The power of unintended consequences
Last spring, we decided to add a bird feeder to a small garden area outside of the Interpretive Center. Two or three months ago, a bird at that feeder (through haste or carelessness) dropped a sunflower seed and it started to grow. When I suggested that we pull it as a weed (after all, it […]
Fall color forecast looks good… maybe.
A long autumn with sunny dry days and cool dry nights can make for a colorful fall. Autumn in Minnesota is a time of cruel ironies. Any Vikings fan can tell you that. One of autumn’s cruelest ironies is that the beauty of autumn is quickly replaced with the general crumminess of winter. And so, […]
Ragweed and the Afterlife
Although I have no plans to end up there, I can’t help but imagine what sorts of things might be found in hell. I am, of course, familiar with the traditional images of fire, ragged clothing, and stalagmites, but I believe that the more mundane forms of punishment would actually be the worst. I […]
Butterfly populations at historic lows
Monarch Butterfly on goldenrod flower If you’ve seen a Monarch butterfly recently, (or any butterfly, for that matter) consider yourself lucky. As gardeners, wildlife-watchers and insect-lovers can all attest, there has been a considerable shortage of the graceful creatures in our area so far this summer. The common yellow sulfurs aren’t so common, and the […]
Don’t get burned by wild parsnip
Although it appears harmless this wild parsnip, combined with sunlight, can cause tremendous skin damage to its unsuspecting victims. Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) grows wild – often in road ditches and abandoned areas – and is a member of the carrot family, closely related to the cultivated parsnips you might grow in your garden. It […]
Pasqueflowers in bloom (finally)
Pasqueflowers in bloom Prairie wildflower season has officially begun. Pasqueflower (Anemone patens) is the earliest blooming flower on the prairie. These were just photographed at Kasota Prairie today, and the pasqueflowers near the rock outcrop prairie overlook site in the Arboretum will soon be following suit. The name means “Easter flower” and these plants usually […]
Webster speaks on “Psychology of Evil”
Dr. Russ Webster gave the lecture at the most recent Soup and Sandwich Seminar event at the Arboretum. The topic was “The Psychology of Evil”. Dr. Webster is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Psychological Science Department at Gustavus. His research includes such topics as prejudice and discrimination, “magical thinking” (superstition, fantasy and other emotional […]
First Day of Spring
No signs of spring in the Arboretum yet. But don’t worry… it’s coming.