Sticking to the trail

Sticking to the trail

On January 26th, we were scouting for a potential First Wednesday outing. Here’s what we saw! As far as a future First Wednesday trail, it was pretty muddy for the first part. Our shoes had plenty of mud stuck to them. Other parts were more sandy. Regardless the trails will make for a pleasant walk….

Mystery tree

Mystery tree

The bottomlands have interesting trees. And many bottomland trees are mysteries to me. I am learning but it may take a few more years until I can remember them. LOL Natural Things Thanks Alan for sharing this article. Some young sea spiders can regrow their rear ends Army of pest-munching ducks keep South African vineyard…

Zombie cat

Zombie cat

What kinds of stuff can you find in an open field? Here are a couple of things we found on Thursday. In fact, it was a fine day out on the grasslands! The Night Sky Is Twice as Bright as It Was Only 8 Years Ago Armored dinos may have used tail clubs to bash…

Now is the time

Now is the time

Why you ask is it the time? Well, the poison ivy has no leaves so tis easier not to get a rash. However, beware that you can still get a rash if you handle the vine or stems of it. But beside winter being an excellent time to avoid the poison ivy, it is a…

Nine

Nine

What a crisp and delightful day out with the First Wed group today. The First Wednesday group of nine had a wonderful morning at the grasslands. Indeed many tidbits of new information were shared. Thank you all! Save these Dates for Prairie Time in North Texas (Fort Worth chapter of NPAT) Keep looking! The more…

Japanese watercolor

Japanese watercolor

Sometimes when taking photos of stuff, I see things that will remind me of paintings. Maybe you too? 5 Extreme Times Tardigrades Proved Themselves to Be Incredibly Resilient NASA Satellites Help Scientists Track Staggering Wetlands Loss in Louisiana A study of polar bear paw papillae shows how they maintain traction on ice Keep looking! The…

Mossy World

Mossy World

Today’s post features a guest author. Jeanne wrote Mossy World for the Elm Fork Master Naturalist’s December newsletter. So I thought that y’all might enjoy it as much as I did. All the great photos are Jeanne’s as well. Imagine a walk in the woods or among rocks and boulders or meandering ravines without their…

Off my list

Off my list

In yesterday’s post, you saw we were sticking as close as we could to the creek. It certainly was not easy traveling on the north side of the creek. What a nice find, the Woolly Lip Fern! Another one checked off my bucket list for the grasslands. 2-meter-long arthropods dominated the seas 470 million years…

No data

No data

No data is still data. Sorta like the number zero. There is a NOVA episode, Zero to Infinity, that is a fascinating show. It will be available on PBS until Dec. 14th. Scientists Warn of Insects Damaging Plants at Unprecedented Levels Crabs Aren’t The Only Things Evolution Keeps Making. An Expert Explains Seven of the…

A Frosty Morning (Nov. 17th)!

A Frosty Morning (Nov. 17th)!

T’was a frosty morning on November 17th! However, it soon warmed up and was the perfect day for collecting plants. In addition to the aforementioned plants, I collected these as well; Willow-leaf Sunflower, skullcap, Hypericum, seeds of Silphium laciniatum. Now I just hope to keep them alive. Wish me luck! 🙂 Today, November 20 was…