Valerie Blaine
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A little history, a little science tells the story of how maple syrup is madeFeb 19, 2011 12:00 am - Had enough of winter? Sweet springtime is on its way! If you're skeptical, listen hard to the trees. You can almost hear the sap rising. We're about to embark on the pas...
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Protecting your pets during coyote mating seasonJan 29, 2011 11:00 pm - It's time for the proverbial Paul Revere to race through town crying, “The coyotes are coming! The coyotes are coming!” The citizenry of suburbia will soon be up in arm...
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Kermit was right — it's not easy being greenJan 17, 2011 12:00 am - How you can start by making small changes
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Lunar eclipse coincides with winter solsticeDec 19, 2010 10:00 pm - Some heavenly holiday happenings are coming our way, so drop the shopping and take heed. Not one, but two astronomical events will take place in one calendar day, Tuesd...
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The passing of the passenger pigeonDec 03, 2010 10:00 pm - It's time to talk turkey about holiday birds. The ubiquitous, shrink-wrapped, pre-basted turkey with the pop-up timer is the wildly popular un-wild bird of choice in 201...
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How progress affects the Fox RiverOct 25, 2010 1:00 am - The river has changed color. Last week, the Fox River flowed past me sporting its usual green split-pea-soup color. Today, it flowed like chalky skim milk. The river's c...
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Plants gone wild: How vines spread, grow and take overSep 26, 2010 11:00 pm - Some plants are famous for their breathtakingly beautiful flowers. Some draw attention by their height or their girth. But some plants go largely unnoticed. That is, unt...
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A tribute to the labors of colony insectsSep 05, 2010 11:00 pm - If you hurry, you can get good seats for the parade today. Go to the woods, find a big mound of soil, crouch down and watch. Chances are you'll find an organized labor m...
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They're more than just birds and bees: Meet the pollinatorsJun 27, 2010 11:00 pm - In your garden lurk life forms carrying out a covert mission with far-reaching implications for the planet. Some work under cover of night, some at dawn and dusk, some i...
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Kane County's natural areas are full of fascinating creaturesJun 06, 2010 11:00 pm - Build a nest and they will come. If you're a bald eagle, that is. And if you build near a major thoroughfare. Indeed, they came - first the serious birders, then the cas...