MARENGO, Iowa — Iowans accustomed to the songs of annual cicadas every summer may notice differences with the periodical cicadas making an appearance this year. Brood XIII began emerging in east-central Iowa in late May after 17 years underground. Read more: Nature Watch: cicada emergence Entomologists note that in 2024, two broods — a 13-year […]
You are browsing archives for
Category: The Great Outdoors
Photos: Trout released at Prairie Park F...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Anglers eagerly watched March 21, 2024, as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources released 2,000 trout into the lake at Prairie Park Fishery. Eric Bailey, Natural Resources Technician 2 with the DNR, said the majority of the rainbow trout — from the Manchester Fish Hatchery — were about 15 months old […]
Garden forum highlights Iowa’s native ro
The next Second Sunday Garden Forum will feature Johnson County’s Roadside Vegetation Manager, Chris Henze. Learn about this upcoming event, which also will be livestreamed, from Project GREEN: IOWA CITY — Project GREEN and the Iowa City Public Library will offer another Second Sunday Garden Forum on Feb. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m., at […]
Fall foliage colors nearing peak in Iowa
Some trees have just reached their peak for fall color in northern Iowa and others should peak in coming weeks. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources notes that this year’s fall weather has been ideal for generating vibrant colors. Related: Experts recommend these native trees to plant in the Midwest Read more from the DNR’s […]
Identifying the blue flower along Iowa r...
As Iowans take to the road for the summer holidays, they might wonder about the light-blue flowers growing alongside back roads and rural highways. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is not native to North America, but has become ubiquitous in Iowa, and many others, as well. According to Polk County Conservation, chicory was introduced to North America […]
Frosty phenomenon in Iowa: the differenc...
If you’ve ventured outdoors in Iowa in recent days, or have seen the picturesque photos of white-coated trees posted on social media, you might wonder what is behind that frosty phenomenon. Terri Lang, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes that hoarfrost forms under cold, clear skies. Any moisture in the air goes […]
Shiver me timbers! Tiny “pirate” bugs pa
Iowans spending time outdoors on warm fall days may experience a piercing bite from a nearly invisible foe. Minute pirate bugs, whose scientific name, Orius insidiosus, gives rise to its other moniker, the insidious flower bug, can inflict painful bites relative to its size. Entomologist Donald Lewis, of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, notes […]
Otter Creek Marsh near Chelsea, Iowa, ab...
This item about Otter Creek Marsh from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources hits close to home. Our family’s Heritage Farm is located nearby in rural Chelsea. Recently, we had some of the farm’s bottomland enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program, to add to the habitat available on this “migration superhighway.” There is nothing like […]
Nature watch: cicada emergence
Large-scale cicada emergence, with periodical broods crawling out of the ground every 13 or 17 years, capture widespread attention when tens of thousands can mob en masse onto a single tree. But even one cicada, emerging from its shell, is fascinating in itself. Related Cicadas: Sounds of summer The process can take an hour. Cicada […]
Cicadas: sounds of summer
The buzzing of cicadas provides the quintessential sounds of a midsummer’s night in Iowa. A bulk of periodical cicadas, which emerge en masse every 17 years, is scheduled to make an appearance in Iowa again in 2031, but annual cicadas can be heard every summer in many parts of the state. Entomologist Donald Lewis, of […]