Kaw Valley Almanac for Dec. 11-17, 2023

Cedar (actually juniper) boughs are easily harvested as a fragrant and popular indoor decoration to festoon a mantle, window sill, or even as an alternative Christmas tree. The blue berries are a favored food of many an overwintering bird, too.

Kaw Valley Almanac for Nov. 20-26, 2023

Trees and animals depend on each other for their mutual survival. Acorns, pictured here, have a protective package on the outside, allowing them to be safely transported, some eaten, some buried to sprout elsewhere.