As winter approaches and deciduous trees lose their leaves, the Arboretum clearly sports a new look. In mid-November, browns are the dominant color and pointed skeletal structures are revealed. Some leaves,...

Minnesota is divided into many ecological subsections, all within its three primary biomes of prairie, broadleaf forest and coniferous forest. Honing in on the broadleaf forest region in Southeast Minnesota,...

They’re everywhere. They slap unassuming cyclists in the face as they race to get to class. They crawl on the computers of students sitting at picnic tables on the bald spot, almost whispering, “Psssst....

The leaves are changing and the wind is taking them off the trees. Some of the beautiful colors that frame walks in the arb these days are coming from sugar maples (Acer saccharum) and Red Oak (Quercus...

If you happen to take a walk in the lower Arb this fall, you’ll notice a lot more snakes than usual. This can be intimidating to some people, given the prevalence of ophidiophobia at Carleton. This is...

The Cowling Arboretum is home to various organisms that lead a wealth of different lifestyles, but some of the most fascinating, specialized and understated animals are the mussels. Mussels are bivalves,...

You might not know it if you didn’t look for the signs down by the river, but early last summer Northfield experienced record-setting flooding. Just after most students left for the summer, Minnesota...

As of the 2017 Arb species list, Cowling Arboretum is home to four distinct species of dogwoods, all in the genus Cornus. However, two species of dogwood are more common in the Arb than the others, the...

Many of you are probably aware of the prevalence of squirrels on this campus. They are our entertaining friends, leaping from trees, burying acorns and  scavenging the crumbs of our dinners outside on...

As the bells rang one o’clock, students on campus quickly came out of the woodwork, eager to make the most of an oddly temperate and cloudless day. I haphazardly snatched my bike and began my swift descent...

Have you ever wondered about that little black bird that looks and acts a bit like a small crow? Most likely, you’ve spotted a common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).  Grackles are recognizable as a...

Nestled within the serene landscapes of Minnesota lie the delicate and rare dwarf trout lilies (Erythronium propullans), a species of wildflower that faces the threat of extinction. It is endemic to the...