As the cool air moves into October and the summer nights are fading into the campfire warmth, the flavors are starting to change. Autumn is associated with the warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Hot apple cider, pumpkin pie, squashes and pumpkins. There is another Autumn staple in this part of the […]
Category: Blog: Today in Nature
The main blog page for the Natural History Society of Maryland (NHSM); it includes posts about things individuals, families, and friends can do to learn more and experience nature.
Spicebush Identification and Appreciation
What are the Frogs Trying to Tell Us?
Maryland is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, and insects. But, my absolute favorite group of animals to photograph are the amphibians. Maryland is home to the Chesapeake Bay, which is fed by over 64,000 square miles of watershed. All of these rivers, streams, creeks, and ponds make a […]
Responsible Herp Hiking
Despite the recent “stay at home” orders parks and campgrounds have seen a surge in activity as people look to the outdoors for a safe outlet for their energy. This is occurring at the same time when park staffing has been reduced or eliminated altogether. Now more then ever it is imperative for each hiker, […]
Waterscapes and Where Rivers are Born
Aquatic Ecology: Introduction To Series As we go about our daily lives we sometimes glimpse streams in our urban or rural landscapes. We might imagine the fish, frogs, insects and turtles who live there, but there is so much more! If you’ve seen their hidden wonders up close, it becomes apparent that these aquatic ecosystems […]
Fascinating Fossils
a small meg (Carcharocles megalodon) peaking out of the gravel along Calvert Cliffs
Venomous Snakes of Maryland
Summer time means more people are hitting the trails, loading up the RV or driving to one of Maryland’s many parks and campgrounds. Snakes can be a commonly encountered animal on the trail, identifying species can be difficult for those not used to seeing the variety of native snakes in Maryland. Maryland is home to […]
Learn about NHSM’s Archaeology Club!
In 2019, the Natural History Society of Maryland decided to add an archaeology club. We were just starting to get some real momentum going, and, well, you know….Covid. However, there is always tomorrow, and once this pandemic is over we are planning for some more great archaeology projects! One project which the Archaeology Club was […]
What does it mean to love nature, anyway?
I don’t see myself in Outdoor magazine. Or on outdoor Instagrams with blonde White women with messy buns in pictures posing during a throughhike. I don’t see myself in the narrative that to be an outdoorsy person you should know how to pitch a tent with your eyes closed and not mind how hard the […]
What Are Those Fuzzy Pink Things? How to Harvest and Use Mimosa Tree Flowers!
Have you ever noticed fuzzy pink, silky stranded flowers in trees around the end of June and beginning of July? Did you know that they are edible and medicinal? Let’s learn a bit more! Firstly, it is important to note that these blog posts are meant to bring and expand these plants into our awareness. […]
The Foraged Berries Series: How to Identify and Harvest Wineberries
This year, there is particular comfort in the markings of the seasons that have stayed the same. June (and July!) is told by berries–mulberries, juneberries, wineberries, strawberries, blueberries. When you know how to look, you can see the abundance everywhere in Maryland– the city, suburbs, and countryside. In our second blog post of this series, […]