Woolly Bear sounds like a cuddly, furry stuffed animal, but it’s the name of a real, live insect–a fuzzy, banded caterpillar. This bristly caterpillar is about two inches long. It is recognized by its three distinct color bands–black, rust, and black.

It’s not venomous and doesn’t sting, but some people develop an irritating rash after touching the caterpillar’s bristles. So be careful.

In fall you may see it during the day, feeding on plants, preparing to hibernate.

Woolly Bear caterpillars...

Once the foliage on maple, oak, gingko, birch, poplar, sweetgum, sumac, hickory, and sassafras trees have finished their showy display of autumn colors, they fall to the ground. Then comes the decision–what to do with all those fallen leaves?

Leaves are beneficial to the environment in many ways. Instead of bagging up fallen leaves and sending them to a landfill, consider this.

Fallen leaves provide winter shelter and food for bumble bees, butterflies and moths, beetles, millipedes, and...

This feature showcases an award winning middle-grade book and its author. Susan Thogerson Maas won a Cascade Award for Best Middle-Grade Book for her book, Abbie's Woods: Defending the Nest. We share a book review, and an opportunity to get acquainted with its author in a Q&A.

Featured Book Review of Abbie's Woods: Defending the Nest

Middle-grade readers, teens and adults will resonate with the many facets of Abbie's Woods. The main character cherishes the beloved woods behind her house...

Discover inspiring places, people, and things that bring research and stories to life in my writing endeavors.

The handsome BARRED OWL is the inspiration for the cover of my...

Beautiful! Inspiring! In the middle-grade book I'm writing, an important scene takes place at the Winnewissa Falls at Pipestone National Monument. Can't wait to share, once its...