Risky Play in the Bell Children’s Garden: It’s Not as Scary as You Think
As adults, it can be easy to start catastrophizing when the term “risky play” is brought up. In fact, Child Indicators Research has noted that in recent years, Western societies have shown signs of increasing risk aversion. But why focus on the negative outcomes of risk when there are so many potential rewards? Risky play […]
Wisconsin’s Niagara Escarpment
Wisconsin’s landscape looks drastically different throughout the state. As you wander towards Lake Michigan, you may find some steep stone drops and cliffs, a stark contrast to the rolling hills of central Wisconsin. Well, you may have just stumbled upon an ancient geological formation, the Niagara Escarpment. What is the Niagara Escarpment? The Niagara Escarpment […]
Bats: Your Secret Neighbor
If you’re like me, you probably don’t give much mind to bats unless it’s Halloween or you’re talking about a certain superhero. Well, what if I told you bats are our neighbors all winter long? That’s right, Wisconsin has one of the largest populations of cave-hibernating bats in all of the Midwest! A Winter Hideaway […]
Wisconsin’s Native Oaks
Especially in summer, it’s clear that our state is covered in forests. No matter where you look, there seems to be green! Oaks are nearly the most abundant type of tree in Wisconsin, second only to maples.1 Yet, oak ecosystems have been disappearing and are of high concern in conservation efforts. How could this possibly […]
Tunes & Blooms: Does Music Actually Help Plants?
At some point, just about everyone hears that music is good for plants, and if you’re anything like me, you were probably a bit skeptical. I’m not about to start singing to my potted plants on a rumor alone. But, what if there’s some truth to the age-old tale? Picking Up Good Vibrations While plants […]
The Berry Buff: Cedar Waxwings
In the Midwest, summer berry season is always long awaited, and far too short. In just a few months, we savor fresh strawberry shortcakes, raspberry pies, and a whole assortment of other goodies. So, what if I told you the cedar waxwing spends all winter almost exclusively eating berries? The Fruit Fanatic Cedar waxwings (Bombycilla […]
The Wetland Oddballs: Bogs & Fens
One’s devastatingly acidic and the other is incredibly alkaline. Bogs and fens seem like they couldn’t be any more different, yet they often come part and parcel in the wetland world. So, what mysteries lay under the moss? Are bogs and fens actually more similar than they seem? A Briefing on Bogs Bogs are a […]
Grow with the Flow: Wisconsin’s Water Agriculture
With the rise of hydroponics and other alternative growing methods, water agriculture seems like a contemporary development in the U.S. Surprisingly, Wisconsin has a strong history of using natural waterways to grow food. So, what’s the scoop? Cranberries Small but mighty, cranberries are Wisconsin’s number one fruit crop in both acreage and economic impact! In […]
What’s the Deal with Algae?
They aren’t a plant and they aren’t an animal, so what are algae? Algae are primary producers, which means that they’re at the very bottom of the food chain. They create their own food through photosynthesis like plants do, but they’re actually considered protists.3 They serve as food for small aquatic critters like insects and […]
Friend or Foe? Lily Pads in Wisconsin
With gorgeous blooms and vibrant foliage, lilies are a gorgeous addition to an ornamental pond, but can become quite a nuisance in a recreational body of water. Imagine trying to reel in a fish through a densely knotted mess of stems and pads or, worse yet, detangling the mass from your boat’s propeller. What a […]
