Conservation, Wildlife

The space between humans and cougars

Lyra Brennan - Two hundred feet above the lush Ardèche River in the south of France lies the barely visible entrance to a cave slotted between massive limestone cliffs. Narrow passageways connect multiple chambers that, once illuminated, reveal the unmistakable walls of Chauvet Cave, used 32,000 years ago by early humans who adorned this cave in… Continue reading The space between humans and cougars

Experience, Seasons

Giving Thanks For Nature: A Meditation

By Katherine Hale - Despite the concrete, compelling realities of pine-cone gall aphids, winter buds, and migrating waterfowl, I head indoors as Thanksgiving approaches, trading adventures afield for the familiar comforts of food and friends. Chopping squash and garroting cabbage, I'm preoccupied with the wonders outside, even as I think about the purpose of this… Continue reading Giving Thanks For Nature: A Meditation

Botany, Seasons

Evergreen and Everlasting: The Long March of the Lycophytes

By Julia Runcie - In the murky, humid forests of the Carboniferous Period, organisms grew to remarkable size. Dragonflies as big as Cooper’s hawks ruled the air and three-foot-long scorpions prowled the earth. The swampy water concealed beasts like the dawn tadpole, a predatory amphibian as long as a pickup truck. The canopy showcased elegant… Continue reading Evergreen and Everlasting: The Long March of the Lycophytes