Nature Notes From Near and Far
by Dave Wagner

I had an idea that a monthly column on local natural history would be nice, so I sent the following e-mail messages to 49 people:

"I am returning to an old position: editor of the newsletter of the Eugene Natural History Society, NATURE TRAILS. One of my goals is to keep it lively and pertinent for our members by including current observations of natural history. This is really appreciated by our members who are housebound or townbound.

I am asking you to be a nature correspondent. Just look out your window and email me a short message about what's going on around your home or where you work. A spider hiding its eggs under a rock, the change of color of a favorite tree, the appearance of the first familiar weed seedlings--that sort of thing. Write often.

The wonders of electronic communication make it so easy to move from email to newsletter column is what inspires me. Here's a great way to share some of what your eyes see. My mailing list is made up of people whose eyes on nature are known to me. And, if you are not a member of the ENHS, I will send you a free issue of every NATURE TRAILS that includes a contribution from you.

Thanks for helping to make this a good newsletter."

Here's my first response:
The chantrelles are out in full force. They are very bright against the dark background of duff and ferns. Estella L Morgan, Coos Bay

I have a few observations of my own. October is the month that brings the fastest, most dramatic change-of-season of any month in the year. We're likely to have a frost by the end of the month, with leaf drop occurring soon after. The newts are everywhere to be seen in the woods, migrating down to begin the their breeding season. The maple tar-spot is showing up on the bigleaf maple trees. Deer fern is finally getting around to shedding spores. Licorice fern has uncurled fully and spores are beginning to develop.

Will you write in what you see? Help make Nature Trails even more of a member's newsletter!


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