Dog-lichen!!!
As we headed down into the pond drainage ditch…the Dog Lichen or Pelt Lichen(Peltigera) was spotted! So lucky to have another great find for the grasslands. So many treasures to be discovered. Keep looking!
A local guide
The grasslands called to me again on July 20th! I was hoping for the best weatherwise (meaning not too hot). My grasslands buddies hoped so too. And as always, many interesting sights were seen! Stay tuned for more on the July 20th outing! Keep looking!
Candlesnuff
These photos are all from the Prairie Seekers field day in Collin County. Candlesnuff fungus or also called Stag’s horn fungus (Xylaria species)! Apparently you must look at the spores to get a definite answer for the species according to the MushroomExpert. Border Patch caterpillar on Saw-tooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)! We saw quite a few of…
A couple of cats
Here are some more of the grasslands finds! Interesting to see how the beavers gnawed on the tree and how the tree is healing. New Cedar Elm leaves are colorful! Back of a new Post Oak leaf. If you have a chance, take a close up look at the hairs on the back of the…
Celestials!
More photos from the grasslands… Eastern Red Cedar with fungus where a limb had been cut off. Closer view. Gnarly oak! Can you find the dragonfly? Closer…sometimes even when you know where it is, they can be hard to spot. It is a female Common Whitetail. Greenbriar is starting to flower. This is a…
Festive!
White Compass Plant or White Rosinweed (Silphium albiflorum) was nibbled to a stub. The cows or maybe the deer must like it. We found multiple of the plants eaten. I don’t know what caterpillar this is on the Chittamwood, but it will completely defoliate the new leaves. Don’t worry, the tree will quickly get new…
Pussy toes
More good stuff 🙂 Pussy toes (Antennaria parlinnii)! Did you think it was going to be a kitty cat? 😉 This was a favorite plant that Shirley liked to show me in Cooke County. It was certainly easier to see there since it was on the roadside. Pussy Toes (Antennaria parlinnii) are in the Asteraceae…
Perfect day
Perfect day to finish a book Claire loaned me. The book is Remarkable Creatures: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origins of Species by Sean B. Carroll. It was a great read on evolution and the scientists who help bring the amazing story to life. We managed to not walk in the rain today,…
Con’t fishing…
This is a continuation of the hike to unit 31 from yesterday. This snag really stood out where the bark had fallen off. It was such a pretty brown and orange color. The shaggy brown is a part of the tree. Lots of neat rocks with moss. I found this moss interesting on how it…
Gracie said…
What a beautiful day! Gracie said she needed a short hike on the grasslands so let’s go! Well, semi-short…only two hours. Gracie thought it was perfect. I liked it too 🙂 This scat was so black and then it looked like an insect decided to dig there. You take a photo of something, then you…