Sights of the sky: Stargazing and nighttime photography in Saskatchewan
Night sky above Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, SK (Photo by Alan Dyer)
When the sun sets on our prairie province, the night sky comes alive with some pretty magnificent sights. Despite my extremely limited knowledge of astronomy and stargazing, I often find myself gawking in wonder at evening skies. Luckily for me,...
The essential Asquith aspens
Trembling aspen at Asquith property, SK (Photo by NCC)
It’s difficult to imagine many natural habitats without the presence of trees. Trees provide humans and wildlife with essential needs; it’s easy to take them and forests for granted. In their many shapes, sizes and varieties, trees...
The Ralph Wang Trail: A family legacy
The Ralph Wang Trail sign (Photo courtesy of Ashley Greenley/NCC)
Growing up, I always enjoyed being outdoors and exploring nature. From a young age, I recall picking flowers, going for walks and birdwatching with my grandparents, Ralph and Mary Wang. They had a farm in southwest Manitoba where I got to enjoy...
The truth about ticks
Adult deer tick (Photo by Scott Bauer/Wikimedia Commons)
Ticks seem to be everywhere these days. They’re on the news, on your social media feed and maybe even on your skin. People, especially those in southern Canada, are dealing with blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) with increasing...
Birding by ear: What birdsongs tell us
Eastern meadowlark (Photo by Mhairi McFarlane/NCC staff)
Have you ever been out walking and heard birds singing and wondered which bird was making which sound? Or perhaps you’ve been sitting outside on a summer’s evening and heard a persistent bird calling, but you weren’t sure what...
Lichens: An often overlooked little universe
The colours, forms and textures of the microcosms are fascinating. (Photo by Doug van Hemessen/NCC staff)
I often go out for an “aimless wander,” especially in the woods surrounding my home. Aimless wandering is a way of being mindful through wandering and spaciousness versus concentration and focus. It is as the words themselves:...
Enjoy nature indoors
Beaver Hills, AB (Photo by Brent Calver)
While there is nothing like exploring the outdoors first-hand, not everyone has access to a natural area near them. However, you can stay in touch with nature — even experience an Arctic excursion — through films and books, from the...
There’ll never be a dull moment in nature if you do this
Volunteer using a smartphone at a NCC BioBlitz event. Photo by Brent Calver.
Is your outdoor walk getting dull? Or maybe your access to a sizable natural area is limited. Is lack of time a barrier to your ability to connect with nature? For some people with a close connection to nature, it might not take much effort to...
We’re in a biodiversity crisis. What we plant and how we alter landscapes matters
Front yard naturalization in spring. (Photo by Lorraine Johnson)
Spring hadn’t officially sprung, but the season was warm, and so the annual ritual began. People began to clean up the dried stalks and dead leaves protecting the earth. While tidying up, people were also throwing out countless insects...
Create a messy garden for nature
Gardening is a great way to connect with nature (Photo by Lisa via Pexels)
As the warmer weather rolls across the country, many people have started tidying their garden for spring planting. But did you know that by leaving some of the stems and stalks that we traditionally clean up in the spring, you can create habitat...
