Rick Bausman, the well-known Island musician, will not be the only one diligently drumming this spring. His penchant for percussion is shared by other creatures that have their own rhyme and reasons for rhythm.

While Rick drums for fun, wildlife drums for food. Woodpeckers may be the first bird to spring to mind as tapping tricksters, yet there are other animals that drum the dirt rather than the trees for their treat. Pounding the ground causes vibrations that bring earthworms to the surface.

For plant lovers, the witching hour is nigh.

The wild women of yore will not be flying in on their broomsticks, though it will soon be a time to appreciate a little bit of nature’s magic.

Elephant grass is the elephant in the room--or, in this case, the field.

Scientifically known as Miscanthus, and commonly called plume grass, maiden grass, Eulalia grass, and Chinese or Japanese silver grass, elephant grass has been popping up all over the Island. This nonnative plant, along with its many ornamental cultivars, has become very popular in our yards and gardens. Increasingly, however, I am seeing it along trails and roadsides and in open fields.

George de Mestral stuck with it.

For more than seven years, he worked on developing a material that “would rival the zipper in its ability to fasten.” Clearly, he was a stickler for perfection, though not more so than Mother Nature, which provided the inspiration for his invention.

Don't expect the sounds of silence this winter.

Nature is noisy. For those that are willing to brave the cold weather, a sound safari awaits! The drumming of woodpeckers, creaking of trees, rushing of winds and cracking of ice provide a lot of acoustic action this season.

Winter is a slower time for most of us. There is less light, less outdoor time and definitely fewer people. There might even be less noise, though the sounds we hear seem to be so much louder.