A Glimpse of Nature - Bogs
“Christmas Means Cranberries” . . . at least that’s what an Ocean Spray advertisement in Ladies Home Journal proclaimed in 1947.
Staff Picks
AFL 2021 Staff Favorites
Take a look at these sparkling standouts! Click to link below to learn about some of the best books AFL staff read in 2021. Click on any book cover and get directed to the AFL catalog to learn more or place a hold.
A Glimpse of Nature - Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Next Tuesday is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, the day when the sun makes its lowest arc in the skies of the northern hemisphere. This astronomical event has been celebrated from time immemorial, as people eagerly anticipated the return of longer days and a greener landscape. Light – in the form of candles, yule logs, and bonfires – has been central to the rituals, perhaps as a means of welcoming the sun’s “return.” Evergreens have long been associated with these winter festivals, as well. By retaining their outward vitality through the coldest and darkest
Your Neighbors Recommend...December 2021
Ever been curious what your neighbors are reading or watching? Here are just some of their suggestions! As we receive more recommendations, we'll post them here on the AFL Blog.
If you would like to suggest something you've loved to your neighbors, fill out our Your Neighbors Recommend form!
A Glimpse of Nature — Weeds in Winter: Mullein
The last time we looked at an herbaceous plant was at the end of August when the library’s jewelweed reached its floriferous peak. It’s high time to consider another wildflower! Yes, blossoms are in short supply right now, but the plants that create them can be very conspicuous, especially when there is snow on the ground. This first installment of “weeds in winter” spotlights common mullein.
It’s hard to miss a plant whose stalk can be over six feet tall. Here’s what it looks like in winter.
Leaders & Readers
Get to know your town officials through their favorite reads! Scroll through to see their selections and click on any book cover to learn more or place a hold through our catalog.
A Glimpse of Nature - A Winter Meal
On Tuesday afternoon, a large flock of American robins visited the Ames Free Library to feed in the Siberian crabapple near Queset House.
Librarian's Lounge - December 2021
Is it really December already? With the end of the year and the holiday season upon us, I didn’t spend too much time exploring different library resources in November, but I do have my eye on a few courses from LinkedIn Learning. More on those next month!
A Glimpse of Nature - Red Squirrel
This week’s goal was to photograph buds and bark. While doing so, an unanticipated subject caught my attention. Whether it was the chirp or the rapid movement, I can’t recall. By the time I redirected the camera, the creature had travelled through three trees and, fortunately, settled on a limb to watch me.
A Glimpse of Nature — Oaks: Some ID & Ecology
The foundation of nature study is the habit of watching and wondering, of making observations and asking questions, a habit that I try to practice daily and to encourage through this blog. These simple, and sometimes brief, observations quickly point to the complexity of our world.
In writing A Glimpse of Nature, I hope to demonstrate the joys and accessibility of nature study AND to focus attention on some of those complexities. As unwise as it may be to combine both, here I go again. Let’s start with the visible.
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