On Friday morning, I did a tag-along with the Elm Fork chapter of Master Naturalists.
The group was divided into three groups. Jeanne led one group which I followed. She pointed out the grasses as she walked by them.
Lingering a little slower than the group I found a small feather on a Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia) pad.
The American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) berries and the calyx. The calyx is what is left after the berries fall off or eaten.
Fran took a photo of a cardinal’s nest. After the leaves fall, it is an excellent time to look for nests!
Of course I had to point out a lichen. In this case it was the Turban Lichen (Cladonia peziziformis). The Turban Lichen is a squamulose lichen. And the things that have the pale brown heads are the podetia. This is where the spores are stored.
Jeanne bent down to show the group a rabbit’s point of view of the grasses.
The wispy Three Awn with a few a Little Bluestem popping thru! Fall is a beautiful time for the grasses!
The Longspike Tridens (Tridens strictus) looks like (at first glance) like an Indiangrass to me. Indeed it was great to learn the name of another grass. Thanks Jeanne!
Now our group was the slowest. We had even let the last group pass us. So Jeanne picked up the pace to get us back. However I had to stop for one more photo, the Prickly Pear and its lovely tunas!
Indeed it had been a fun morning with the Master Naturalists. Some of the group had never been to the grasslands. Indeed I can’t imagine missing out on this beautiful treasure. Here is a link if you need a trail map.
Grasses are indeed beautiful. Anytime. That corral is awesome.
A 300-500 year old coral is pretty wonderful. Massive too!
Having you as tag-a-long was a treat. All those naturalists (not nationalists!) learned alot from you. As do all of us. Every time.
Ooooops big mistake. ….corrected! Thanks!!!!!