Whether a tiny fleck of shimmering mica in a stone, turbulent waters carving and shaping the land, thousands of noisy snow geese flying north, the sweet, vanilla aroma of a ponderosa pine tree, a tangle of logs creating deep pools for salmon, the timing of when insects emerge, the careful tending of fire, Nature has a story.
Quote: Leonardo da Vinci
Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses—especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.
Welcome to Nature 101
Welcome to Nature 101, a fun new series featuring bite-sized knowledge that is easy to digest and full of insights into the world of conservation.
Exploring Nature: Yellow Island Bloom
Welcome to Exploring Nature, an illustrated blog series that (re)discovers the natural world through art, science and observation. Today we'll explore Yellow Island.
Exploring Nature: Winter Sunsets
The days are dark this time of year, so thank goodness it’s peak sunset season! I observed a stunner today on my Whidbey Island hike...
Exploring Nature: Sandy Beaches
While the Puget Sound may be known for its rocky beaches, I wanted to explore why the beach was sandy here and along many other Puget Sound shorelines.
Exploring Nature: Spring Frogs
Nestled in the cliffs in Moses Coulee is an import desert water source that every spring attracts thousands of Pacific Tree Frogs. I came to Whisper Lake for a night concert. It was anything but quiet. The chorus of frogs was soothing, calming—the quintessential sound of spring.
Exploring Nature: Lichen Palettes
As the sun gets lower, the lichen colors are starting to pop with the late afternoon light. I pause for a moment and then leave in wonder. How long have these lichens grown to fill in these beautiful spaces?
2-Minute Takeaway: What is Topography?
The study of the shape of the surface of the land, with all its ups and downs, is known as topography.
2-Minute Takeaway: What is a Watershed
A watershed is not simply a matter of creeks, rivers and other open bodies of water; watersheds encompass all the water that flows over the land as well as the water flowing below ground.
2-Minute Takeaway: The Salish Sea
Composed of waters tucked alongside the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to British Columbia in Canada and Washington state in the United States, this unified sea encompasses the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Puget Sound and the Strait of Georgia.
2-Minute Takeaway: What is a Coulee?
The term coulee comes from the Canadian French word coulée, derived from the French word couler, meaning “to flow.” So how did Washington’s Moses Coulee form?
2-Minute Takeaway: What is a Floodplain?
You may not think about floodplains all that much. But they are all around us, quietly at work, providing rich soil for our farms, habitat for our salmon and beautiful backdrops for our lives.
Snow Geese
For many, Washington’s flocks of winter snow geese are a favorite spectacle. While these birds come here every year, they never fail to amaze.
Health Benefits of Trees
Beyond adding beauty to our communities, trees provide real health and safely benefits to people living in cities and town every day.
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More About Washington
Significant Washington Land Returned to the Colville Tribe, Its Original Stewards
In October 2021, the 9,243-acre Figlenski Ranch in Okanogan County was returned to its original stewards, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Here's the remarkable story.
Growing Food for Immigrants and Refugees
The Hillside Paradise Parking Plots garden is the result of partnerships, volunteers and vision. The project set out to do one thing: benefit people at the most basic level — a place to grow food.
Water Connects Us All
The way of connection is revealed by water—snowy summits melting, forging rivers, winding streams and cutting wetlands to spill over a salty edge.