Our Lives in Nature

Some shades of gray in the question of whether a given snake is "venomous" or "nonvenomous." It adds to our understanding and appreciation of all snakes, and should not change how we regard harmless snakes such as gartersnakes.

Harmless Snakes, Duvernoy’s Glands, and Venom Glands Naturalists with a deep interest in reptiles like to dig into issues and discover all the complexity. However, the average person might like a more easily digestible answer. “Is it venomous or not?…

A "Letter to Nature Kids" about the use of imagination while in nature. (The kids know plenty about imagination and pretend; I'm celebrating the ones who bring that imagination into nature with them.)

Imagination and Nature A letter to nature kids It’s surely unnecessary for me to tell kids about pretending. However, I’ve written one of the “Letters to Nature Kids” to talk about using imaginati…

This Thursday at 7pm is the next session of The Wild Lives of Texas Reptiles and Amphibians, a free series on Zoom. This one will include the American alligator and the turtles of our area, including their natural history. Lots of photos - if you have an interest in reptiles, please consider joining us. Use the following Facebook link to register. (Cross Timbers Master Naturalists: this is approved for AT)
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BSkJNgHhZ/

This evening at 7pm is the amphibian presentation, #2 in the series, The Wild Lives of Texas Reptiles and Amphibians. A free Zoom presentation. Sign up at the Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve FB page (link in comments)

The May 14 program is on amphibians - frogs, toads, and salamanders in our part of Texas.

The second in the series of presentations, "The Wild Lives of Texas' Reptiles and Amphibians" is scheduled a week from tomorrow (May 14). It's a free program starting at 7pm via Zoom - see the event listing below (or at www.friendsofscnp.org on the "events") page.

Photo shows a pickerel frog.

The article series has the aim of exploring why nature kids are important and what we are doing to nurture them. Here's the second of three...

WHAT SHOULD WE TEACH KIDS ABOUT NATURE? | Green Source Texas This is the second article in a three-part series on Nature Education.

I wrote about this weekend's City Nature Challenge at the Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve blog, and then brought it to Our Lives in Nature...

The City Nature Challenge Party (Reprinted, with light edits, from my post at the Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve blog) A cricket frog previously seen at the preserve Around Earth Day, iNaturalist throws a party, and th…

A walk at Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve is always full of wonder, new life, and sanctuary.

Journal Entry – Full of Life – Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve Journal Entry – Full of LifeBy Michael Smith / April 14, 2026 April 14, 2026 – 1:15-2:15pm; overcast, humid, temperature in the mid-70s It was just an hour, but there was so much to see and hear during that hour. Everything that grows has made the best use of the rain we have received, and flowe...

Coming soon: five-part series of free presentations on the reptiles and amphibians of north-central Texas, via Zoom. All that's needed is serious interest, not a lot of prior experience or training.

I've written or co-authored a couple of books in the subject and taught h**petological natural history to incoming Master Naturalists in several chapters. In those classes I always wanted to include more. So I've created a series of presentations with lots of photos and graphics. What I need to know is what kind of interest there would be - so if you are interested, please let me know! (see below)

We'll cover basic skills in the field and discuss finding and observing vs. capturing, and safety where venomous snakes may be around. I'll cover amphibians, the frogs, toads, and salamanders of our area. We'll listen to some frog calls. We'll also cover alligators and the turtles of our area, then lizards and snakes, and finally h**p conservation issues. Venomous snakes and snake bite will be part of the presentation on lizards and snakes.

The idea is to offer them without charge, in conjunction with Friends of Sheri Capehart Nature Preserve (https://www.friendsofscnp.org/) where registration will be set up. But first I need to know how many people might be interested, so for more information, please email [email protected]. Thank you!

I wrote about nature kids, the benefits of nature and the need to re-connect the kids with wild places and wildlife. I hope you'll have a look...
https://www.greensourcetexas.org/articles/kids-need-nature-cope-modern-life-say-experts