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2 weeks ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
This month, we take note of the plants growing among us. Each day, the growth and greening make us see something that we had not seen before. The forest wildflowers abound, and it is possible to find 20 kinds in bloom during a single walk in the deciduous woods, and a few more among conifers.
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3 weeks ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
Anyone who has spent May in the Northland has noticed that, along with the greening of the flora and the warm temperatures, we experience an influx of myriad insects. With the chill early in the month, we do not see and deal with many of these six-legged residents. But as the month unfolds, so the new crop of insects emerges either from hibernation, eggs hatching on land or those from an aquatic origin.
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4 weeks ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
May is such a dynamic time in the Northland. Every day, when we look around, we see changes from the day before. The scene from early in the month is much different from what we see as we exit May. With warmer temperatures, ample rainfall and long days of sunlight, the surrounding plants respond. Our green lawns, the beginning of growth in the gardens and leaves starting to emerge on trees are some of the most obvious. The changes extend far beyond nearby nature. It is also a month of critical timing.
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1 month ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
May is the greening month. We begin with trees bare of the new foliage, but by the end of the 31 days, the lengthening sunlight, warmer temperatures and ample rainfall give us a forest full of new green leaves. We see greening as well in the lawns and gardens. Some seem to green right before our eyes. Not only do we have the new leaves unfolding from the buds on the branches, but we also have many trees giving more colors to the scene with blossoms. The woods grow green from the ground up.
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1 month ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
Each spring, as winter reluctantly exits from the scene, we experience a snow melt along with the ice giving way to the chilly water. The daylight quickly lengthens from 11 hours in early March and is more than 13 hours in mid-April, accompanied by warming temperatures, ushering in the migration of birds. Much of this avian activity is anticipated, and we are eager to see these migrants. The first to arrive are the hardy raptors.
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1 month ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
The pre-dawn is clear, cool and calm when I step outside. In the fading darkness, a barred owl calls from the nearby woods. In the growing light of a new day, I hear songs of a robin and a phoebe, both in the yard where I expect they will nest a bit later. Conditions are great for a morning walk. I go onto the road that I will follow for about a mile, going past ponds, swamps, woods and fields until I reach a river. The usual crows, ravens and blue jays greet me.
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2 months ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
The Northland is home to several large maple trees. Growing big with very colorful leaves, they dominate the forest in fall. It is hard not to notice their dynamic blended colors at that time. But in spring, they again put on a show of sorts, though not as dramatic. Late March and early April is the beginning of the flowering season for maples. Though some trees produce large flowers with showy petals, these early maples have less-noticeable flowers.
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2 months ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
The vernal equinox is when the amount of daylight equals the amount of darkness and is also the first day of spring. As we have seen earlier this month, the first day of spring does not mean the first spring day. We had a few days when the temperatures climbed to 50s or 60s. Conversely, springtime does not mean we will not have some winterish type of weather in the coming weeks.
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2 months ago | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
The “pseudo-spring” of the last week of February brought about many happenings in nature. After the first three weeks of the month that averaged a temperature of only about 4 degrees above zero, the final week recorded an average of 35 degrees. Each of these seven days was near or beyond 40 degrees. (The highest was 45 on the 26th.) Before this week, February had only one day in the 30s. The response to this warmth was amazing with many changes.
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Mar 7, 2025 | 
duluthnewstribune.com | Larry Weber
Maintaining and observing a bird feeder throughout the winter can sound like a generous and kindly activity to help birds cope with the cold season. Though the seeds that we place on the feeder and get consumed by the local avians can help them, they would probably survive the season without us. This may become apparent during mild winter days. When temperatures climb above freezing, with or without sunlight, many birds will go elsewhere for meals, taking seeds and insects from trees.
