Cheryl Bartz

America was once covered with chestnut trees. It was said that a squirrel could walk from New England to Georgia solely on the branches of chestnut trees.

This week promises to be peak color for most of our listening area. There are quite a few sunny days in the forecast, which could mean a lot of red in the mix.

Do bees sleep? Yes. And like us, a lack of it can make it harder for them to communicate.

When will peak color be this year?

Plant diseases can cause very surprising effects in your garden.

Here’s a quick explanation of the birds and bees as it happens in corn fields because you shouldn’t have to learn about it on the streets.

Even if you’ve never heard of lenticels, I’m sure you’ve seen them. How can I be sure? Well, I think you’ve probably seen apples, potatoes and birch trees. Their lenticels are right there on the surface, out in the open, on display. Let’s start with the birch tree.

I’m a big nature lover, but I’m still grossed out by cockroaches in buildings. This little cockroach, however, wandering across my picnic table was much less alarming. Only about a third of an inch long and pale tan.

After a friend's observation that she heard rain but found none, IPR's Cheryl Bartz looked into why.

The first time I saw a crayfish hole, I was stumped. It was a fairly large hole – more than an inch in diameter, close to a river. I had to consult the internet for the answer.