nature Archives – Page 2 of 2 – Spokane County Library District

Let’s go outside! Wintertime play & activities for everyone

Posted in Explore and Discover on December 17, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Winter officially starts next week on December 21. This fall, we’ve already had below freezing temperatures and snow. And in the months ahead, we can expect even more snowy days and below freezing cold. I propose the following idea: there is no reason to shelter inside until spring! As the Norwegians say: […]

Drought-tolerant yard project: Researching, planning, digging & planting

Posted in Explore and Discover on October 7, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker I didn’t mow the front yard all summer. This is just one of the benefits of installing a drought-tolerant landscape, a project I started researching in 2018 and took on in 2019. In creating a new landscape, especially one without grass, I learned a lot about plants, climate, and drainage, but the […]

DIY Earth Day outdoor and indoor celebrations

Posted in Explore and Discover on April 15, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Earth Day is next week. Our celebrations of planet Earth might be a little more DIY this year, instead of joining with others. You might get out in your yard and enjoy some dirt or take a walk around the neighborhood on a bear hunt, while social distancing, or enjoy a virtual […]

A post-Valentine’s Day booklist

Posted in Explore and Discover on February 26, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Underwood Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Like me, you’ve probably been inundated with images of fresh, happy, young couples and the candy they gleefully devour together. Maybe you were single this Valentine’s Day and had a fun night with friends; maybe your cat decided that a mid-dinner-date hairball expulsion was a […]

Tags: adults, booklist, books, love, nature, owl, reading, vampires

A twist on the New Year’s resolution

Posted in Explore and Discover on January 3, 2019 at 6:00 am

by Dana Mannino “Do one thing every day that scares you.” I first met this quote on a refrigerator magnet. Since then, I’ve seen it online attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, Kurt Vonnegut, and several more historical figures. The website Quote Investigator says that it actually comes from a 1997 article by journalist Mary Schmich, but […]

Preschoolers get ready for school with STEM kits from the library

Posted in News, Parents and Teachers on June 20, 2018 at 6:00 am

By Mary Ellen Braks Keep your preschoolers busy this summer with hands-on activities that encourage playful learning while exploring STEM concepts and reading. Preschoolers will find lots to discover with their parents and caregivers, using our new Ready for School with STEM kits. Spokane County Library District in partnership with the Inland North […]

Big animals, big news: Connect with Washington wildlife at your local library

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 30, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Nathaniel Youmans 2017 has been quite a big year for Washington’s large wildlife. The gray wolf population in the northeast part of the state continues to rebound by an annual growth rate of nearly 30%, with the two newest established packs recognized in a Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife survey conducted late last […]

Enraptured by raptors: West Valley Outdoor Learning Center

Posted in Explore and Discover on June 14, 2017 at 6:00 am

Guest Blog By Kim Brinkmann “I had no idea this place even existed!” This phrase is commonly expressed by first-time guests of the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center. The Outdoor Learning Center is tucked back in a corner on the grounds of Pasadena Park Elementary School, hidden among the towering cottonwoods, cedars, and aspens. It […]

Microadventures in and near Spokane County

Posted in Explore and Discover, For You on April 29, 2015 at 6:00 am

By Sheree West The water mirrors the blue sky and captivating basalt cliffs as my kayak skims along. My two dogs, snuggled up in the bow, watch as a flock of ducks fly overhead. Other than the birds, we’re the only ones on the lake. It’s a perfect day; I’m so glad that I didn’t put […]

TAG: nature