“One more cup of coffee before I go to the valley below,” – Bob Dylan By this time, in late February, the winter’s falling snow dancing on the wind before landing on every available surface, has lost its charm. In these days, especially those when the snow continues to pile up, I ...

Invasive species are a growing problem in Michigan and the U.S. During National Invasive Species Awareness Week (Feb. 23-27, 2026), Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is joining efforts across all 50 states to encourage everyone to take action to prevent the introduction and spread of ...

Maples are the largest genus of Michigan trees, as measured by wood volume. Botanical classification of Lake States trees, is not, perhaps, the most interesting topic, but there exist some real gems among all the sciency stuff. Michigan sports eight species of maples (Acer spp.), with ...

Imagine a reef: sunlight streaming through the azure water reveals a vibrant underwater community, where fish, large and small, dart into holes and crevices or swim around the reef’s edges while other aquatic creatures make their homes or search for food. Did you think of a coral reef, ...

The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), a volunteer monitoring program network that collects and shares surface water quality data throughout the state, is accepting 2026 funding proposals for two grant programs. Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program A total of $25,000 (in increments of ...

“Some quiet evening, I sit by your side and we’re lost in a world of our own,” – Ben Raleigh and Sherman Edwards It was that instant mashed potato flake kind of snow – soft and fluffy, and it was piling up high as the nighttime moved slowly past. I was looking out the upstairs ...