Through The Woods
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography
  • Blog
  • Adventure
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Contact

Through The Woods
Explore the world around you.

The Backyard Naturalist

12/9/2017

0 Comments

 
You don’t need to travel far to observe nature (although it can be fun). In your own back yard there’s an entire community waiting to be discovered, seriously, whether you live in the country, in town, in the ‘burbs, or even if your backyard is only a balcony. Through mindful observation, you’ll be able to see an entire new world in your own back yard!

Throughout this month I’ll be posting a series of “How to Observe _____” with a variety of exercises to get those observation muscles working! 

I was inspired after making myself go for a walk around my neighborhood, I have been spending so much time on the computer editing various photo projects that a lack of connection with the great outdoors had started to set in. So I bundled up and headed out the door. At first I noticed the sharp chill air, followed by the stream of traffic (I live in town on a rather busy street), soon though, those faded into the background and I began noticing the great variety of leaves on the sidewalk and started to count and identify as many different ones as I could - red & white oak, Japanese maple, sweet gum… I turned down a side street and watched the squirrels run, as they climbed the old oak I noticed their nest, just outside the nest there was an old gray squirrel peeking out watching me. We watched each other for a few beats until another squirrel arrived with leaves and twigs to add to the nest, then they got to work arranging. Further along I noticed a forsythia bush had started to bloom during last week’s warm spell. As I turned the corner I hear a gravely rough call from a tree, I look up and a crow is hopping from branch to branch creeping closer and closer to a squirrel nest. If you’ve never heard the range of sounds crows make I highly recommended scoping them out and watching, I’ve observed some that I could swear were talking! The crow fluttered off and I continued walking noticing a brilliant purple rhododendron that also though spring had arrived, the flowers caught mid open. Then I was home again, with a renewed sense of wonder.


We’ll be learning how to observe…
Trees, lawns, birds & animals, light patterns, the sky, and a variety of other subjects all from the comfort of your backyard! 
Stay tuned!

Picture
For reference, this is my backyard where I'll be making observations.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

      Email list
      ​Sign up

    Subscribe

    RSS Feed

    About

    Since 2015 we have been exploring and sharing all the amazing things we’ve found in nature.
    From great and unique places to explore, to learning about new and interesting plant species, to understanding the earth’s cycles.
    Follow us and discover new and interesting things about the world around you. 

    Author

    Emily is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who is most often found out in the woods. 

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Shop
    • Photography
  • Blog
  • Adventure
  • Plant Profiles
  • One Year Studies
    • Barnes Preserve >
      • Barnes Short Loop
      • Barnes Long Loop
      • BP Pond Overlook
    • Walton Woods Wildflower Sanctuary >
      • Walton Woods Lower Trail
      • Walton Woods Burning Bush
    • Brown's Lake Bog >
      • Bog Boardwalk
      • Bog Loop
    • Wooster Memorial Park >
      • Sycamore Tree
      • Trillium Hill
      • WMP Prairie
  • Contact