The Jones Beach State Park I Expected Summers have always been about the beach for me. And “the beach” always meant Jones Beach. A day at the ocean was always a perfect day. I was sure Jones Beach State Park…
Sometimes the smallest surprise in nature changes the way we see the world. A return visit to Heckscher State Park, a tiny patch of Brown-eyed Susans, and Emily Wilde's faeries reminded me that careful observation often leads to unexpected connections.
During a summer run at Hempstead Lake State Park, I found myself noticing something unexpected. The invasive plants I'd grown used to seeing across Long Island were missing, replaced by native flowers that support pollinators and restore the landscape.
I came to Caumsett State Park for a 5K summer run, but it was the Walled Garden—with its towering Russian sage, busy honey bees, and remarkable brick wall—that stole the evening.
Do bees fly in the rain? When a summer 5K was canceled due to storms, I looked to my backyard honey bees for the answer and set out on a rainy run of my own.
A windy evening at Sunken Meadow State Park led to an unexpected question: how do honey bees remember their way home? From orientation flights to flower schedules, the answer is remarkable.
The summer run series at Heckscher State Park became a fragrant reminder of how honey bees use scent to find flowers, navigate their world, and remember where food can be found.
Running shoes, state parks, and a beekeeper who can't stop looking at plants. Run along with The Queen Bee.
