Sunday set: Spring greens

Verdant … While most people picture majestic, glacier-clad crags when they think of the Alps, the great European mountain range has a softer side at its far eastern edge, where the mountains gradually taper off toward the Danube Valley, just west of Vienna. The temperate climate in these foothills is perfect for apple and pear

Sunday set: Got bugs?

Polli-nation! Nature’s diversity is astounding at any level, but when you get down to a bug’s-eye view, it can really blow your mind. When I took the lily photo (with the upside-down bee or wasp) I didn’t  notice the second bug until I looked at the image on a larger screen at home. Curious, I

Wild bees disappearing from where they’re needed most

New study to guide conservation and restoration efforts Staff Report A steep decline in wild bee populations could raise costs for farmers and potentially even destabilize the nation’s crop production, according to a new study that maps regional bee population trends. The findings suggest wild bees are disappearing from many of the country’s most important

Biodiversity: Scientists say other insects beside bees are also an important part of the pollinator picture

Global reliance on honeybees for pollination is a risky strategy Staff Report Australian scientists say it’s important to consider other pollinators besides bees when deciding on the application of pesticides. Farmers  using pesticides that spare bees but kill other insects might be ignoring important sources of crop pollination, the new study found. “Many crops —

Morning photo: Mountain love!

Springtime in the Rockies FRISCO —There’s not much that can go wrong when you point your camera at some stunning Rocky Mountain peaks during the glow of a sunrise or sunset on a fine spring day. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for daily photo updates and visit our online Fine Art America gallery for

Morning photo: Summer light

A June photo jam … FRISCO —I take most of my photos within a couple of miles of home here in Frisco partly because it seems kind of wasteful to drive around solely for the purpose of photography. But during the onset of the wildflower season, I sometimes venture just a little farther, visiting some

Feds seek to tweak Endangered Species Act

Modernization aimed at keeping regs in line with science, political pressure and court rulings Staff Report FRISCO — Federal biologists say they want to freshen up the Endangered Species Act to “reflect advances in conservation biology and genetics, as well as recent court decisions interpreting the Act’s provisions.” According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Morning photo: Springtime in the Rockies

Bursting forth … FRISCO —The Colorado high country is spectacular any time of year, but spring is my favorite season. It’s the time of year when you can still ski on the mountains, often in some of the best snow of the year. But down in the valleys, Mother Nature is busy building a new

Morning Photo: San Juan wildflowers

The alpine tundra comes alive! FRISCO — A short midweek roadtrip to the San Juans as part of the Rocky Mountain Climate Ranger reporting project yielded some fine images from Colorado’s rugged southwestern mountains — along with in-depth information about how global warming is affecting the Rocky Mountains. Shooting with three different cameras (the top

Morning photo: Colorado tundra

In the alpine zone FRISCO — All that late spring snow melted away pretty quickly once the weather warmed up in June, and the moisture is paying off with what looks like it’s going to be a bountiful wildflower season in the alpine zone. The tundra is a special place, home to species that grow