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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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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...
Why Is There a Snake in My Garden?
On a July evening, Rich reached down to pick string beans and was startled to spot a garter snake peering up at him from beneath a plant. We’ve seen the three-foot-long snake many times this year around the yard but it seems to particularly like lounging in shade cast...
How Parents Help Our Fledglings – birds and people
Watching baby wrens fledge.
Prairie Renaissance Part Five
Learning from the Prairie Wow. It’s August! We recently completed a management step on the prairie planted in early June. Weeds were outgrowing infant prairie plants that need sunshine. We buzzed off the weeds at the highest setting possible on our battery-powered...
How We Have Spent Our Time in The Great Pause
Guest Bloggers Reply Readers offered their activities in The Great Pause. Most were home-centered with some careful forays into society. And, of course, connecting with self and nature. SA: My mother was in a nursing home in Bettendorf. Visitors were prohibited but I...