By Merisa Sherman We gather quietly at the peak to mourn, staring out at the Green Mountains below. The memorial service is complete, the sounds of whispers can be heard amongst the constant sniffles. A snowball vigil, a moment of […]
Tag: Winter
How can I love the rain?
By Merisa Sherman My eyes are closed and my thick comforter is wrapped around my body so tightly I can’t tell when the bed begins and I end. It’s so warm and cozy, I feel like a sleepy old bear […]
Skin cancer still poses a threat in winter
Skin cancer may be something on the minds of beachgoers and summer revelers frolicking around the pool. After all, when the sun is blazing hot and one’s skin reddens after mere minutes outside, it’s hard to ignore the potential for […]
Crows in winter
By Susan Shea During winter, I catch glimpses of crows as they fly swiftly over our valley, cawing, or gather in small groups to feed on roadkill along the highway. Sometimes I find their wandering tracks leading to holes in […]
How birds weather winter
By Rebecca Perkins Hanissian Were it not for compelling evidence to the contrary, I’d believe I descended from birds – migratory birds in particular. So familiar to me are the urges and behaviors of migratory birds, I’m pretty sure I […]
Mushrooms in winter
By Frank Kaczmarek Winter is far a far cry from being prime mushroom hunting season. Most fungi stop producing mushrooms, or fruiting bodies, in early autumn, and their hyphae (filamentous structures that are the main part of the fungal body) […]
Cold adventures uphill
By Merisa Sherman It started like any other tour. I had my backpack full of goodies, including the best puffy coat in the entire world. It’s the coat that enables me to forgo my fear of the cold, knowing that […]
Ask a master gardener: How to force winter flowers
By Deborah J. Benoit Forsythia in February? Impossible, you say? Not so. A vase full of flowers from the garden won’t take much more effort than harvesting some branches to force them to bloom. A good time to take cuttings […]
Meatless chili helps chase away the chill
Warming up on cold days can be a challenge. Bundling up near the fireplace is one way to keep warm, as is dining on hearty meals that have staying power. Chili is a cold-weather staple that is full of delicious, […]
Downy woodpeckers are well adapted to winter
By Lee Emmons On winter mornings, I often venture outside to photograph the assembly of birds that visit the feeders in my front yard. One of the regular visitors is the diminutive downy woodpecker, which clings to my peanut feeder, […]