February 23, 2022 It was near the sunny wetland that flows into this calm stream where we encountered our painted turtles last summer. This little turtle, the most abundant one in North America, enjoys stagnant waters and slow-moving streams close to land areas where dense vegetation grows. [YouTube Video https://youtu.be/hynmU7VaH2I] Turtles are ectothermic reptiles, meaning their body temperature changes with the surrounding environment. But while you can see painted turtles basking in the sun on rocks or tree trunks in summer, what do they do in winter to avoid freezing? Among our native species, adult turtles hibernate at the bottom...

Stratification is a key step for successfully germinating many native plants. Learn when, why, and how to reproduce this process at home, with simple and practical guidance.