Author Archives: Kim Smith

Maine Realized

Posted on August 23, 2017

It’s been a long-time dream of mine to visit Maine, but for some reason it kept getting pushed aside in favor of other destinations.  I finally decided it was time to just do it. I realized that I didn’t want … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotherapy, Travel | 6 Comments

Life Goes On…But Should It?

Posted on August 16, 2017

People sometimes deal with adversity by saying, “What can you do? Life goes on.” It’s a way of trying to compartmentalize the bad events so that we can continue to live our lives in some semblance of normalcy. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in A Dose of Politics | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A Butterfly Kind of Day

Posted on July 29, 2017

There’s a nature preserve a few miles from my house that has quickly become one of my favorite places to explore. It’s called Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve. It’s a couple hundred acres of wet prairie, sedge meadow, shrub swamp, … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Ohio | 2 Comments

Amateur Backyard Entomology

Posted on July 4, 2017

If you ever find yourself bored at home, I have a suggestion: Go into your yard or garden with a magnifying glass and/or a macro lens on your camera. Get down on the ground and spend some time investigating who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Ohio | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hanging Out With Naturalists

Posted on July 1, 2017

This morning I participated in a Toledo Naturalists’ Association field trip to Wiregrass Lake Metropark.  I joined this organization months before I moved to Toledo, but this was my first opportunity to join them on a field trip. The purpose … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecotherapy, Insects, Ohio, Toledo, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Dragonfly School – Odo-Con ’17

Posted on June 28, 2017

I can’t imagine ever getting tired of learning new things, can you? There’s something so energizing about the beginning of a new passion, that time when you’ve discovered something that is so fascinating that you just can’t get enough of … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Ohio | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Here There Be Dragons!

Posted on June 7, 2017

It’s that time again–it’s early summer and the odonata are plentiful and active. You may have noticed that I’ve been dabbling in dragonflies for several years, and have written about them a few times: Thrashers, Dashers, and Mayflies (July 2016) … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Ohio, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Wildflower Wanderings

Posted on May 29, 2017

This spring I’ve spent more time than ever before searching for wildflowers around northwest Ohio. I’m a novice at identifying them, but I’m having a blast and am learning new things every day. One rainy day in April I took … Continue reading →

Posted in Ohio, Walking in the Woods, wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ohio Has the Blues

Posted on May 22, 2017

The region of northwest Ohio where I live is called the Oak Openings. It’s one of the world’s rarest habitats, a band of sandy soil about five miles wide and 80 miles long, stretching across Ohio and southeastern Michigan.  When … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowers and Gardening, Ohio, wildflowers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

No Words, Just Birds (#3)

Posted on May 9, 2017

Note: The winds have remained mostly northerly, but some new birds did manage to get here last night.  We’re still waiting (a bit impatiently) for the big wave of warblers to arrive.

Posted in Birds, Migration, Ohio, Photography | 4 Comments