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Winding Pathways encourages you to create a wonderous yard, whether that yard is an expansive acreage, a suburban lot or a condominium balcony. Go outside and play!
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Is Arbor Day in November?
Unusual Storm Clouds The August storm looked like an ordinary thunderstorm approaching. Dark clouds gathered to the west as we sat on our porch. What happened minutes later was far from normal. The roaring wind hit like a prize fighter’s fist, bending our small oaks...
How Can Chipmunks Add Amusement in Coronavirus Times?
What a year this has been! Coronavirus altered the lives of nearly everyone. Many of us now work from home and spend the day staring at a computer screen and attending zoom meetings. A delight of working from home is entertainment right outside the window. Sometimes...
How Can YOU Tame Your Electric Bill?
Many people cringe when the monthly electric bill arrives. Not us. In 2019 the average homeowner in the United States paid $115 a month. Our last bill was $13. That is right! Thirteen bucks. Almost everyone can tame their electric bill. Here’s how we did it: Replaced...
Weep Not For Your Memories (Sarah McLachlan)
Friends share their memories of autumn activities.
How Do You Describe The “Joye” of Walking?
Walking Meditation Joye Winey, Guest Blogger I was working in my yard one day when a car pulled into my driveway. The driver rolled down her window and said “You’re that lady who walks !!” I am. And, I have always been. Walking has been my go-to exercise and...
Catch the Color!
Amazing Autumn Across America You can still catch the color this fall as these amazing days stretch on. Even in the derecho band of destruction from Eastern Nebraska through Illinois, some trees offer eye candy in November to lift our spirits. Outside the narrow...
Connect with past Gazette stories
We settle into fall and sometimes like to just browse past stories. Here are some links to more recent Gazette features and natures notes. Explore Iowa's National Parks. August 2020 Take Advantage of Iowa's County Gems July 2020 Why RV Life Isn't for These Senior...
Raccoons, Flying Squirrels and Other Nocturnal Visitors
Early one September morning a disturbing sight greeted us. The metal post holding a suet feeder high off the ground was bent. The feeder was gone. After a search we finally found it where our nocturnal thieves had abandoned it after devouring the suet. Many people are...
Treasuring Our Trees
Winding Pathways is partnering with Cornell College, Indian Creek Nature Center, Peoples Church, Prairiewoods, and Trees Forever to present Treasuring our Trees. Join us via ZOOM to honor and remember the fallen trees in the Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas...
Prairie Restoration – Part Six – Post Derecho
The August 10, 2020, Derecho that swept through the Midwest changed the landscape for decades. Winding Pathways is also changing the yard landscape through prairie management.
What Did the Derecho Do to Wildlife?
We’ll remember August 10, 2020, forever. On that day the wind changed Eastern Iowa and Winding Pathways in a way that will persist for a century. In 40 minutes, straight-line wind gusts up to 140 miles an hour toppled or broke 47 of our 53 trees. Two landed on our...
How Do You Protect Your Newly Planted Trees?
People in Eastern Iowa planting young trees to replace those shattered by the August 10 Derecho need to remember an important step. Protect those vulnerable and valuable young trees. Here is our story. A distressing sight greeted us one September morning a few years...
What Happens to a Photovoltaics System When the Grid Goes Down?
The derecho knocked out our photovoltaics.
What Happens to Chickens in a Natural Disaster?
Clouds darkened in the late morning of August 10, 2020, as a thunderstorm warning was broadcast by radio stations. That’s common during Iowa summers, so we weren’t overly concerned. A half-hour later, a roaring wind engulfed Cedar Rapids. It was a derecho bearing...
How Do You Prepare for a Derecho?
Well, you don't. These powerful storms develop quickly from what seems like a "normal" thunderstorm. Even the weather service can be caught off guard as happened Monday, August 10, 2020, as a series of storms developed over Nebraska and swept East rapidly. Gustavus...
Drought Lessons and Tips for a Green Lawn
Iowa normally enjoys about an inch of rain a week during the growing season. Not this year. We haven’t had rain for a month and none is in sight. Droughts have their benefits. Most obvious is the dearth of mosquitoes and gnats that thrive during wet years. Less known...