Outdoors

Discuss with the grandkids what to expect during the period of total eclipse which will last about 4 minutes in mid-afternoon at approximately 3:15. (Time is dependent on your viewing location). Be aware of environmental changes; as the day darkens into night, you may see stars, the air will feel cooler and animals think dusk has fallen early. ...

Got a taste for home-grown veggies? (Yum!) Got limited space? (Yes!) A Square Foot Garden is the perfect solution… and you don’t even have to bend over if it’s in a raised bed! Read on to learn more about this manageable mini-garden concept with big yields. ...

Dogs go stir crazy if they're cooped up indoors on a cold day. What do dog owners need to know to keep their dogs safe and healthy during the cold months? You’ve seen the ads for fur-lined dog parkas and fancy booties. Are they really necessary? ...

While it's temping to wrap yourself up in a cozy blanket and sit by the heat vent (or fireplace, if you're lucky), that's not the only way to spend a winter afternoon. Cleveland Metroparks has come up with a handy list of good winter hikes that are guaranteed to get your blood moving and help shake off the winter blahs.  ...

Wondering how to best spend your time in retirement? Perhaps it's the best time to return to your hobbies from your youth. Ron Scroggy returned to photography and now has a beautiful coffee table book to his name. He loved the career he had and now loves his retirement lifestyle. He’s taken  a hobby and turned it into what he loves. The childhood dream has become a reality.  ...

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is hosting the "Life in One Cubic Foot" exhibit that follows the research of Smithsonian scientists and photographer David Liittschwager as they discover what a cubic foot of land or water—a biocube—reveals about the diversity of life on the planet. ...

Ohio winters pose quite a few challenges for our native animals, but they have managed to come up with a variety of ways to deal with those challenges. Whether they are migrating, tolerating, hibernating or brumating, Ohio animals are sources of wonder all season long. ...

Have you ever thought, "Gosh, it's really cold; I should hike to a waterfall"? Nah, we haven't either. But that doesn't mean it's not a good idea. From now through February, join a Cleveland Metroparks naturalist for a hike to a waterfall. The hikes include some of the park system's most beautiful places. ...