NATURE FEATURE: Dozens of bumblebees were attracted to the blooms on the big basswood at the edge of the yard. The mass of bees made a dull roar like a fan on low or like distant traffic noise --- unusual on our secluded farm.

NATURE FEATURE: The first blackberries ripen in the sun.

NATURE FEATURE: A deep freeze has spread ice crystals further into the creek. Snow flurries drift onto frozen ground.

NATURE FEATURE: Creeks sink lower into the ground as the drought deepens.

NATURE FEATURE: Leaves begin to crunch underfoot.

NATURE FEATURE: A hard freeze nipped the buckeye and spicebush leaves.

NATURE FEATURE: An ice skim is forming on calm pools in the creek.

NATURE FEATURE: A yellow-bellied sapsucker took leisurely sips from a well drilled tree.

NATURE FEATURE: Fighting my way through a tangled mass of pipevine, I continuously plucked fat caterpillars off my sleeves.

NATURE FEATURE: Toads trill on a warm night.

NATURE FEATURE: Blackberry flowers herald frost free days.

NATURE FEATURE: A mink ran lightly along the creekbank before disappearing into a hole.

NATURE FEATURE: Spring has entered the woods with the first hepatica blooms.

NATURE FEATURE: Serviceberry and redbud are in full bloom. Aborted elm fruits litter the ground. And, here and there, box-elder and tulip-tree leaves are already poking out of their buds.

NATURE FEATURE: The ground has thawed and sap is rising.

NATURE FEATURE: A spring flood sent bladdernut pods floating across the floodplain.

NATURE FEATURE: After the first killing frost, frozen, green walnut leaves fell to the ground.

NATURE FEATURE: The first wood thrushes of the spring grace the evening air with their flute-like songs.

NATURE FEATURE: The hills are suddenly bare of leaves with only a patch of brown clad oaks here and there.

NATURE FEATURE: Each August morning so far has been cloaked in foggy silence.

NATURE FEATURE: Spring peepers joined the floodplain chorus.

NATURE FEATURE: The drought dried up all tadpole puddles. In a rejuvenating rain, tree frogs and toads trill again.

NATURE FEATURE: A mink slipped across the floodplain on a dewy morning.

NATURE FEATURE: The tip-tops of the mountains are white.

NATURE FEATURE: A pair of wood ducks dropped quietly from the bank into the swollen creek.

NATURE FEATURE: A week of warm, wet weather brings out fungi in force.

NATURE FEATURE: Dusty blue cohosh berries are ripening.

NATURE FEATURE: As they swam under a skim of ice, spotted salamander larvae looked like feathery-gilled tadpoles.

NATURE FEATURE: The first day of overwhelming insect activity brings the year's first bat out of hibernation.

NATURE FEATURE: A wet snow blanketed the woods in the morning, melted in the afternoon.

NATURE FEATURE: The first yellow wingstem flowers open, heralding fall colors.