Photo of the Week: Hot Air Balloons Over Kensington Metropark

Three brightly colored hot air balloons rise in the blue sky over the green and orange leaved trees bordering the calm, blue waters of the lake.

When I went birding at Kensington Metropark this weekend, I expected to see hickory, walnut, and maple trees changing into their brilliant fall color as well as gulls and waterfowl in Kent Lake.

What I didn’t expect was not one, not two, but three colorful hot air balloons slowly making their way northeast over the lake.

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Free Webinar: Caterpillars Aren’t Just for the Birds

Large Italian flat parsley plant with a black Eastern Swallowtail caterpillar with lengthwise rows of yellow markings with a white spot in the middle of its body foraging on one of the green leaves.

Short notice, I know.

Homegrown National Park, the organization focused on bringing nature home, is hosting a free live panel discussion today of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, the 60-minute documentary film about the hidden world of caterpillars.

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Photo of the Week: Waning Crescent Moon at Sunrise

A crescent moon can be seen in blue sky, with the horizon lit up with gold and orange colors as the sun rises. In the foreground are dark silhouettes of tops of leafy trees/

When I got up early one morning last week to listen for a Great horned owl at a nature area (yes, I heard it!), I enjoyed a gorgeous autumn sunrise with golden colors lighting up the blue sky.

And had the added bonus of seeing the waning crescent moon.

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