Nature Phenology Blog
Bill Felker's
Field Notes & Observations
This nature phenology blog collects Bill Felker's seasonal writing from over four decades of observation in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Browse notes on wildflower blooms, bird migration, weather patterns, farm and garden cycles, and the quiet rhythms of the natural year — organized by season and topic for readers across the Lower Midwest and Middle Atlantic region. Whether you are a gardener tracking frost dates, a birder watching for migration arrivals, or simply someone who pays attention to the world outside, you will find something here worth reading.
Now Reading: June — Fireflies, Elderflower & Midsummer
In Season Now
June — Fireflies at dusk · Elderflower in bloom · First katydids · Midsummer light peaks · Wild bergamot open · Fawns losing spots
Browse by Topic
Explore the Journal
Bill's writing spans four decades of close observation. Browse by category to find the seasonal notes, phenology records, and almanack writing most relevant to you.
Seasonal Notes
Seasonal Notes
Bill's core writing — close observations of what's happening in the natural world right now. Updated throughout the year as the seasons turn.
Most Recent Posts
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Phenology Calendar
Phenology Calendar
What happens when in nature — wildflower bloom times, insect emergence dates, bird arrival windows, and the repeating rhythms of the year.
Nature's Timetable
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Weather & Patterns
Weather & Patterns
Barometric observations, cold front tracking, seasonal weather cycles, and the atmospheric rhythms Bill has recorded since 1972.
40+ Years of Data
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Wildflowers & Plants
Wildflowers & Plants
Dedicated plant phenology — bloom times, identification, seasonal progression, and the wildflower calendar of Southwest Ohio and the Middle Atlantic region.
Bloom by Bloom
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Birds & Wildlife
Birds & Wildlife
Migration arrival dates, animal behavior, insect emergence, and wildlife observations from the fields and woodlands of Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Migration & More
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Gardening & Farm Cycles
Gardening & Farm Cycles
Practical almanack content for gardeners and small farmers — planting windows, harvest timing, frost dates, and seasonal farm rhythms.
For Growers
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Almanack Excerpts
Almanack Excerpts
Sample passages from Poor Will's Almanack Daybook Series — twelve monthly volumes of phenology writing available on Amazon.
From the Daybooks
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NPR & Radio
NPR & Radio
Transcripts and notes from Bill's 19 years of weekly broadcasts on WYSO 91.3 FM — the NPR-affiliated public radio station serving the Miami Valley.
19 Years on Air
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Yellow Springs & Ohio
Yellow Springs & Ohio
Local nature writing specific to Southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley — the microclimate that Bill has used as a key to the wider natural world.
Local & Regional
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Reader Letters & Community
Reader Letters & Community
Seasonal observations from readers around the region, letters to Bill, and community nature reports from across the Middle Atlantic and Midwest.
From Our Readers
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Ready to go deeper?
The Poor Will's Almanack Daybook Series collects Bill's finest phenology writing into eleven monthly volumes — available individually or as a complete set on Amazon.
Shop the Daybook Series