At the river's edge grow sandbur, switchgrass and annual wild-rye. Puccoon, penstemon, and prairie dropseed inhabit oak savannas. By using fire management techniques, the natural vegetation is being restored. The section on winter soltice points to changes that occur at this time of year as living creatures adapt to prevailing conditions. The calendar is a predictor of natural cycles.
Birds migrate long distances more in response to astronomical calendars than the weather.
At the vernal equinox, Canada geese and cranes arrive. Then the marsh hawks and robins fly in. As ice melts, frogs emerge and beavers become active. But there are relapses due to late snow storms. At the summer soltice, spiderwort, spike lobelia, and sweet Cicely appear.