Step outside and stay awhile
Join us as we explore the mysterious world of periodical cicadas. Our research for this episode was easy because we are lucky to have in Cincinnati a cicada expert. Gene Kritsky is a Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University. We has written a book called “Periodical Cicadas The Plague and the Puzzle”. Check out his app Cicada Safari to learn more and report your cicada sightings.
Bill is on fire about moss! He even compares moss to his childhood haircut. Bob wonders if a rolling stone can gather moss. If you would like to know more about moss check out “Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
Our sources for this episode include:
Bob sees the movie Dunkirk. He is excited to find a possible connection to Dunkirk and Milkweed. Tune in to find out all about the plant that Monarch Butterflies just cannot live without.
Swamp Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed
Common Milkweed
Join us as we explore the amazing story of the Monarch butterfly and caterpillar. Bill will tell the story of what the Cincinnati Nature Center is doing to help out the Monarch. We will cover the life cycle and also the incredible story of migration.
To find out what you can do to assist the Monarch Butterfly check out these websites:
This is a bird that likes to attack windows! Join us to find out why and what you can do about it.
Photo by Ashley Conway
Bill has a friend who sent an email with a picture that inspired this podcast. The second picture below is a large patch of a plant called Indian Pipes. Learn more about three parasitic plants that you can look for on your next woodland hike.
Listen to Nature Guy’s episode Sitting by a Beech. See the story about Indian Pipes on Lloyd Arneach’s website.
Special thanks to listener Karen Gaker for the photo of Indian Pipes.
Squaw Root
Indian Pipes (photo by Karen Gaker)
Do you know how Blue Jays get other birds to leave so they can have your feeder all to themselves? Join us to find out if Blue Jays really are the bullies of the bird world.
This week Bill and Bob explore a common snake that lives in a variety of habitats. Tune in to learn all about the life of this cute little snake. Thanks to John Howard for the excellent photos.
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.
