Prescribed burns of prairie/meadow habitats in Bill Yeck Park are scheduled between March 24 – April 30, 2025. The park will remain open, but visitors may experience temporary closures or detours during this time. Prescribed fires are a sustainable practice…
Waiting for this moment: blackbirds announce spring Spring is coming; the signs are all around! Robins have emerged from the forest and are plucking worms from lawns and fields. Back in the woods, the year’s first wildflowers, like harbinger-of-spring and…
It’s midwinter and, as I write this, temperatures are predicted to remain below freezing for the January week ahead. Not a great time to go out looking for butterflies! Chances are, though, that the remaining weeks of winter will include…
As time goes by: Lessons on aging from the birds and the bees While changing over the calendar from 2024 to 2025, it’s only natural that thoughts turn to the passage of time and the advancement of years. Aging and…
Perfect for birthday parties, graduation parties, family reunions and more, large group shelters are available in eight of the Centerville-Washington Park District community parks. Reservations for the 2025 calendar year may be made beginning at noon on Thursday, January 2. …
From its name, one might reasonably expect that the Carolina wren — Thryothorus ludovicianus — is a bird of the south. That’s certainly true in part; Carolina wrens are common in the Carolinas and across the southeastern US. However, these…
For any animal, the temperature of its body matters. Bodily functions depend on chemical processes that are temperature-sensitive and on enzymes whose functions vary with temperature. For many simple systems, chemical reactions proceed more quickly at higher temperatures. For biological…
In 2020, the Board of Park Commissioners adopted a new master plan for Grant Park, the largest park in the District. The master plan reflects a large number of passionate voices from the community. The recommendation for safe, reliable access…
There’s something about spiders… Despite the numerous spider decorations that will appear on and around houses this October, spiders remain high on many people’s list of “least favorite animals.” Nevertheless, spiders have some amazing traits. They can travel hundreds of…
Go to relax under a spreading oak tree this autumn and you may discover a somewhat unwelcome surprise. That oak may be buzzing with large, black and white hornets. What’s going on? The answer is a bit complicated. But rest…