King of the Forest

Eleven-year-old Edward H. Litchfield lay on his belly, sketching away. An open sketchbook sat on the ground in front of him, the boy’s visual diary of his family’s trip to Germany. A half-finished rendering of a castle covered the page in front of him. The rest of the book contained similar images, memories of the wonderful things he had seen — animals and armor but most of all castles, beautiful medieval citadels like nothing he had ever seen at home in America. Someday, the boy thought to himself, I won’t have to draw castles. I’m going to have one of my very own. I’m going to be king. Read more

Adirondack Bloomers

Ken Adams and Chris Martine spend hours following the stench of skunk cabbage. Lisa Jemison searches the slopes of the hills for little white Dutchman’s breeches. Matt Kelting’s trained eyes roam the mountainside in a quest to distinguish Labrador tea from its toxic imposter.

These North Country botanical researchers are passionate about their plants. Yet you don’t have to be a trained naturalist to appreciate the beauty of Adirondack wildflowers. Read more