Bob has a giant pokeweed by his deck that has been getting bigger every year. The day we recorded this podcast it was eleven feet tall. Now just a few weeks later it is just shy of twelve feet. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of having a pokeweed in your backyard.

Learn how to make ink from pokeweed berries that you can also use for watercolors at the fountain pen network or the New York Times.

Bob discovers a mud dauber building a nest right by his back door. On this episode we explore the fascinating connection between spiders and mud daubers.

Bob’s son in law Ryan sees his first pileated woodpecker at a family gathering. Join us to find out all about this amazing bird.

Listen to Julie Zickefoose’s blog story about woody the woodpecker on the NPR website.

These birds know how to raise a family. Learn how they support each other as we explore the life of the smallest woodpecker in our neck of the woods.

Learn how to join in the Christmas bird count on the Audubon website.

Bob shares how he carries a buckeye in his pocket for luck. Meanwhile we find out Bill is learning some presidential history about the origins of the now famous state tree of Ohio.

If you’d like to make buckeye candy, here’s a recipe from Nestle.

Caterpillars are an important link in the web of life. They even help baby birds survive. Join us as we share some amazing stories of these easily overlooked creatures.

Check out these books we recommend for more information:

• Caterpillars of Eastern North America
• Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy

What a delightful creature to meet when you are walking in the woods. Find out when to look for eastern box turtles and how to help them survive a trip across a road.

Read the LA Times article about turtles being smuggled out of the US as collector’s items and cuisine.

Fireflies are loved by people all round the world. Join Bill and Bob as they share stories of fireflies from their childhoods mixed in with a bit of firefly science.

Learn more about fireflies from Sara Lewis in her TED talk or read her book Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies.

Wrens have got to be one of the cutest little birds. They also love to hang around people. Join us as we explore the world of these friendly little birds.

The Sit Spot is a simple powerful technique to connect with nature.  Bill and Bob will explain how to do it and the advantages of making this part of your everyday life.

Check this article from Lime Hollow for more information on the sit spot: http://www.limehollow.org/about/Art-of-Mentoring.pdf