Robber flies are insects you tend to notice once you learn what to look for. They move with purpose and rarely seem surprised by anything around them. Most of the time, they sit still...

I keep an eye on the small things that pop up around our place. Some plants come and go without much attention, but a few are worth pausing for. Prairie orchids fall into that...

The yellow billed cuckoo has a name that makes people pause. Most folks assume it is a joke until they see the flash of yellow at the base of the bill. This bird looks...

Goldenrod is in full bloom these days, brightening every roadside and pasture. Around here, it’s one of the main nectar sources (goldenrod honey) our honeybees rely on in fall, along with asters and blue...

The red bat occurs from the Midwest eastward and is widespread throughout Oklahoma. These tiny, reddish-brown bats are one of the quiet treasures of the region—easy to overlook but fascinating once you know what...

Barn swallows are colorful insect-eating birds of open country and are common summertime residents in the Skiatook area. They can be seen flying low over meadows in search of food or skimming across ponds...

Nighthawks belong to a curious group of birds once called “goatsuckers,” after the old belief that they slipped into barns at night to drink milk from goats. What a strange idea. How in the...

“Jug-o’-rum!” Nothing says summer like the deep call of a male American bullfrog, our official Oklahoma State Amphibian. Bullfrogs aren’t just ours, though—they also hold the title in Missouri and Ohio. There are many...

Spring went by way too fast and now it's summer, my least favorite season.  My favorite is fall, then spring, followed by winter and summer last.  I could do without summer and the heat. ...

Indian paintbrush and wild indigo are beautiful wildflowers that are blooming in the meadows around us. Indian Paintbrush Indian paintbrush belongs to the snapdragon family.  The upright stems may reach two feet, but most...