Larry Weber
Recently retired teacher Larry Weber is the author of several nature books available now.Contact
Articles
Northland Nature: Blueberries join others now in bloom
Last week as I walked the woods of early June, I was struck by the abundance of green on the forest floor. Here the blue-bead lilies (Clintonia) were tightly packed with the wild lilies of the valleys and starflowers.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Turtles basking on the mighty log
I remember when the tree was still standing — a large stately white pine of at least fifty feet in height. On this hillside, overlooking the lake, it had lived a long and strong life, with plenty of moisture and sunlight.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Fiddleheads rise from the forest floor
By the time May exits and we step into the new month of June, we can look out onto a forest where all the trees have green leaves.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Warblers and vireos arrive
Like many other things this strange spring of 2013, the bird migration has been unique.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: The woods is greening, from the ground up
After several delayed starts, spring has come to the Northland. A few days of temperatures in the 70s along with the threshold of 15 hours of daylight has put nearly everything in the mood of May.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Walking after the snowmelt
The lake is still covered with ice: I’ve never seen it frozen this late before. But the series of warm days at the end of April has melted the snowpack greatly; only patches remain in the woods.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: After the snow melts
As we start the new month of May, we look at what will be the effects from the record-setting late-season snowstorms of April.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Returning north from spring
Each spring for the past several years, I have gone on a trip to the south. It gives me a chance to experience two springs.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Among the Ozark spring wildflowers
While camping and hiking in the woods of the Ozarks during recent weeks, I have managed to avoid the April snows of the Northland. Instead of looking out onto a ground coated with several inches of wet snow, I’m able to be immersed in a covering of another type.
RELATED CONTENTNorthland Nature: Encounters with some southern birds
When travelling in the south during April, I feel like I’m looking into the future of what will be happening later in the spring in the Northland.
RELATED CONTENTColumns
Lobster mushrooms appear in the woods
The rains of May and June that got our warm season off to a start brought a wet one as well. Both months saw far more than usual precipitation, and were also above normal in temperature. July has continued with the heat, if not so much with the moisture. But still we are seeing the effects of a warm, wet early summer.
RELATED CONTENTGreen frog calls, tiny toads emerging
Mid-July is best known for its summer heat. These are the hot days that send us to air-conditioned protection, one of the few times when we speak more of heat in the Northland than of the chill. But mid-July is also a time of many more nature happenings.
RELATED CONTENTAn early summer morning at the lake
The morning is cool, about 50 degrees, when I step out from the house. This is the coolest time of day and patches of fog cling to some of the wetland sites. Songs of the early morning avian chorus greet me as I walk through the yard.
RELATED CONTENTWalking and tracking in the new snow 
The ground is frozen, and after several nights of temperatures lower than 20 degrees, the ice has formed on the nearby lake and swamps. And with the new snowfall that fell yesterday, these are great conditions for a walk. The snow cover is about only one inch, and substantial snowfalls are yet to come. This makes walking on the trails, in the woods and over the ice easy.
RELATED CONTENTWildlife prepare for winter
As we exit November, we leave a time of change. The forest trees stand ready for the coming cold. The frozen ground and ice-covered wetlands are receptive for weather’s next move – a blanket of snow.
RELATED CONTENTMilkweed seeds take to the air
With the cold and snow of late November, we get to witness the onset of the chilly season in the Northland. Each year we observe this seasonal change during the second half of this cooling month. Starting with the small ponds and then the shallow swamps, the wetlands wear a coat of ice. Lakes, being larger and deeper, postponed the freeze until recently. Subsequently, the ground freezes too and with this cold substrate, snowfall is able to stay and maybe even accumulate. Many years, the snow that falls at this time will remain and mark the beginning of our continuous snowpack, lasting until April, frequently for more than 120 days. The landscape has taken on a new view, one that we’ll get used to and live with in the coming months.
RELATED CONTENTWaterfowl pause before heading south
The migration of birds has been going on for the last three months in the Northland. As the daylight of late summer days begins to lessen, the earliest ones, mostly swallows and shorebirds, started working their way towards the south. This was followed by an abundance of songbirds as we entered September. The flights of warblers, vireos and nighthawks were passing by.
RELATED CONTENTSmall mammals prepare for winter
During the first half of November, we can easily see many of the wild critters around us preparing for the coming cold. We might see much of this happening right in our yards or near our homes.
RELATED CONTENTAbundant wildflowers along the bike trail
Flora of September are diverse, but three groups stand out as most dominant: sunflowers, goldenrods and asters.
RELATED CONTENTOrb webs of early September
Early September is the best time to view the abundance of spider webs that have been constructed.
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