tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2608897798009955272024-03-15T14:28:22.335-04:00Earth Teach MeSharing my love of the natural world through essays and photographyKatherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-88569024521293333012024-03-05T16:26:00.002-05:002024-03-05T16:26:35.398-05:00Journey in Place: Healing<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZFEAHyVfXLqVpHhsnzH4QqPvc6bvz9ylnPYA8M1BY6vnTWnTkMhJ26maBxiG6H-hRbGYDDsGW17QIjg8ridhRLDCQFmdpgvouppVPtPxE2ss6j4l8UDSEUCPU4blkm7dpZea_yYyV0kH6Dn6sbKo6vSyTTzoQwOfQ4qEDR9-zxI78y-KW3ibispMT6g/s1280/IMG_1916.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZFEAHyVfXLqVpHhsnzH4QqPvc6bvz9ylnPYA8M1BY6vnTWnTkMhJ26maBxiG6H-hRbGYDDsGW17QIjg8ridhRLDCQFmdpgvouppVPtPxE2ss6j4l8UDSEUCPU4blkm7dpZea_yYyV0kH6Dn6sbKo6vSyTTzoQwOfQ4qEDR9-zxI78y-KW3ibispMT6g/w640-h480/IMG_1916.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Herrick Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's been almost 2 weeks since Laken Riley, a young nursing student, was murdered in the woods a few blocks from my home in Athens, GA. After a little more than 24 hours of uncertainty and fear for public safety, the police announced that they had arrested a suspect and that there was no longer an immediate threat. It appears that the crime was a terrible, random act. Laken was a runner and was out on the trails in the woods where she often ran. She told a friend where she would be, and then she didn't come home when expected. It was just a random and needless tragedy. Grieving UGA students held a vigil early last week for her and for another student who had taken his life the day before. The community is still in pain. The crime has become an issue much bigger than Athens because it is believed that the suspect is an undocumented foreigner. In these highly charged times, immigration is a white hot topic and politicians have seized on it. I don't want to go much further into that here, but I have to say that it has been very distressing to see our local tragedy playing out in the national, and even international news over and over again and I find it to be opportunistic and exploitative. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8Rp2thv7hI8q8ZXmMplgoibu3msKoLhC_HhdgPPlxS1wWuwhuEYsOYO9prhf6p2be8iUEuJyswKBqs5UmIlysMh4yiU6VuUzYItL18Cb2LmKgc7f09W5Z8eOfaLsV124jgHFzd7LC9X8mcBsYsSIwvltlH1ijNhCwvY4O1WNvmkhLUroViltMREpJgM/s1280/IMG_1964.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8Rp2thv7hI8q8ZXmMplgoibu3msKoLhC_HhdgPPlxS1wWuwhuEYsOYO9prhf6p2be8iUEuJyswKBqs5UmIlysMh4yiU6VuUzYItL18Cb2LmKgc7f09W5Z8eOfaLsV124jgHFzd7LC9X8mcBsYsSIwvltlH1ijNhCwvY4O1WNvmkhLUroViltMREpJgM/w640-h480/IMG_1964.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot Meadow<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>When I wrote my last blog entry I was in shock. I was in mourning for the death of a joyful young woman, for her family and friends, and for our community's loss of its sense of safety. How could this happen in a place that I and just about everyone I knew considered to be safe space and a refuge? And how could such an awful thing happen in a park I had come to love, right in the spot I had been writing about for weeks in an exercise about exploring place? I wasn't sure at that time that I would ever be able to go back. I didn't know if I would be or feel safe, or how it would feel to be there knowing that a young woman's future had been violently snuffed out, right there. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ajppzdTtr-EH7zZP3NDMitS-wbptGvEfng-yFH60TIbCNtv4SZDt7EFhX8Iy6cyg5qmQI1yUlSWUgPneQXvOJmdj6NGsLTZ4yuU4EmsaK3BqIVS-1FhQ34rPs1WMfdIJqiZdYCCGiiSaPs7vZ3nxK5RwnzgiiFiwejW5-aFa2Zw24yegAwytD8ORgZQ/s1280/IMG_1951.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ajppzdTtr-EH7zZP3NDMitS-wbptGvEfng-yFH60TIbCNtv4SZDt7EFhX8Iy6cyg5qmQI1yUlSWUgPneQXvOJmdj6NGsLTZ4yuU4EmsaK3BqIVS-1FhQ34rPs1WMfdIJqiZdYCCGiiSaPs7vZ3nxK5RwnzgiiFiwejW5-aFa2Zw24yegAwytD8ORgZQ/s320/IMG_1951.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Round Leaf Hepatica</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A number of friends who read my post commented, wisely, that the danger is always there, especially for women, but that we can't let this stop us from living and enjoying our lives. And I know this is true. Deep down I knew I would I would eventually get back to Lake Herrick and continue to hike and explore as I have done in the past. But this really shook everyone up, especially before a suspect had been charged with the crime. Several kind people offered to accompany anyone who felt unsafe on runs or bird walks, walking to the parking lots, etc. The University and the City of Athens are taking measures to improve safety, and I'm sure it will make some difference. Now, 2 weeks later, I am pretty sure I will feel ok walking alone, but I will take more precautions. My husband wants me to carry a whistle, and I won't go out owling at night or do early morning birding without someone with me. There are some remote places that in the past I have explored on my own. I will bring a buddy with me now. Not because things suddenly became unsafe, but because this murder reminds us of the ever present danger. The police may have arrested this particular man, but as long as there are other violent or desperate or mentally ill people out there to seize on an opportunity, they will do it. It sucks but it's reality. <p></p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVoV4lAskwSwl7fIcIGpJMaleCwQ4qNqdNBefys-RVebVP-RC2hB5nyv-4gQ6F4gPLsT2WGojqZQbbp7cnWdOellKJUewE9WjBiPppIrePxgzZl8ZVmPWZpXdO6ci07ALSCZN8IAEWx5dfBc0a851MNX3c_OnAn41K5Rk2qVQ4SlR9TpkmWiXJrTJeeM/s1280/IMG_1940.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVoV4lAskwSwl7fIcIGpJMaleCwQ4qNqdNBefys-RVebVP-RC2hB5nyv-4gQ6F4gPLsT2WGojqZQbbp7cnWdOellKJUewE9WjBiPppIrePxgzZl8ZVmPWZpXdO6ci07ALSCZN8IAEWx5dfBc0a851MNX3c_OnAn41K5Rk2qVQ4SlR9TpkmWiXJrTJeeM/w640-h480/IMG_1940.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail Through the Flowers</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Several readers commented about this "wounded place", a term I feel is especially appropriate for Lake Herrick. That's what this is to me now--a place that has absorbed trauma and sadness. It will take a long time to overcome that wounding. I was able to go back and walk the trails in the woods this week, first with my husband and later with a friend. Though the trails had re-opened days before, we were hesitant to go there too soon out of respect for the young woman's family and friends who were still in deep mourning. When we did go, the whole place was unusually quiet. We went during the first weekend of spring break and there were very few people around. It was peaceful and reverential. We felt a little apprehensive walking the trail so near where we think the violence occurred, in case we encountered some bit of police tape or tracks or some other evidence of what had occurred there. But we did not see any of that, and soon our hesitancy was replaced with appreciation for the blooming wildflowers and birdsong and a beautiful blue sky. My husband and I walked and smiled and even took a selfie in the bloodroot meadow. When we walked, my friend and I chatted about life and watched a turtle tromp down the creek to a dead end. It felt almost normal. But if I let my mind stray away from the nature and beauty, I immediately remembered where I was and what had happened there and it made me sad again. Nature is a wonderful healer, but it will take time. We won't forget but our community will heal. </p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDoVqbKw0Wh6ekqsSW1Sor1sIeggZTCf7RKcC80TOqPO38pNj4jcGn8aNq-tyOgZ8bzss4fQcTWHI7LbrFJ5oL1cBA7LU2DrkhxIfM7ZXfvkkxlDI3RFZJtUxch-aeXQ05XookahXRttJWs9CvhtW-acaYElI3eDFptIT-lw7a7DMfAjFu0F0Qsg7wMs/s1280/IMG_1926.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDoVqbKw0Wh6ekqsSW1Sor1sIeggZTCf7RKcC80TOqPO38pNj4jcGn8aNq-tyOgZ8bzss4fQcTWHI7LbrFJ5oL1cBA7LU2DrkhxIfM7ZXfvkkxlDI3RFZJtUxch-aeXQ05XookahXRttJWs9CvhtW-acaYElI3eDFptIT-lw7a7DMfAjFu0F0Qsg7wMs/w640-h480/IMG_1926.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot Blossom</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrtHU7b63hO2w3jgfmnUDu1nfK602pc_fHj2wI7De-Oq0EDBQD7Zk24XX1gHi77fHFX2CwgzeOtOMh-Xbgufnj4BefJ2sg6HTrBxePBBElQitUHTWEkw8wRG13jsD3csMrwouOSCY60xJOiqNrtRZpdbV7ym0czANCCLGogGj1pLHnr98SMZPgXgAn2s/s1280/DSCN1960.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrtHU7b63hO2w3jgfmnUDu1nfK602pc_fHj2wI7De-Oq0EDBQD7Zk24XX1gHi77fHFX2CwgzeOtOMh-Xbgufnj4BefJ2sg6HTrBxePBBElQitUHTWEkw8wRG13jsD3csMrwouOSCY60xJOiqNrtRZpdbV7ym0czANCCLGogGj1pLHnr98SMZPgXgAn2s/w640-h480/DSCN1960.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SunningTurtles</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-69303305914671400042024-02-23T16:20:00.003-05:002024-02-23T16:20:48.599-05:00Journey in Place: When Your Place Stops Feeling Safe<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wP-OD7LwtgiItGrKvqJhk0PpBgKbkpNt_OnaAWRWfn2bfuFdQQ6peewiu9pB966T3XhgbJ6GNpRHriYFkT2_1JDsvbc42sXVBGDXivaooJbWqDsaM0DMJYU8K0Hd0pccvMWc0RcxRhvvXjkp5flDM-SuqroMVLmHrfmTZTFl3qxEUivTPMu6wJ_4Q1g/s1280/DSCN5777.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6wP-OD7LwtgiItGrKvqJhk0PpBgKbkpNt_OnaAWRWfn2bfuFdQQ6peewiu9pB966T3XhgbJ6GNpRHriYFkT2_1JDsvbc42sXVBGDXivaooJbWqDsaM0DMJYU8K0Hd0pccvMWc0RcxRhvvXjkp5flDM-SuqroMVLmHrfmTZTFl3qxEUivTPMu6wJ_4Q1g/w480-h640/DSCN5777.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawk perched deep in the woods</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>My little city of Athens, Georgia is in a state of shock and mourning today. Yesterday afternoon a young woman was found dead in the woods behind Lake Herrick—my “place”. The story has been reported statewide and even appeared in the New York Times. The death is being considered suspicious, but few details have been released. At this point the police have not identified a suspect. I don’t know for certain, but from the aerial photos I’ve seen on the news, it appears that she died very near the trail that I have been claiming as my own for this year of exploring place— “Tranquility Trail”. My heart aches for the young woman and her family and friends. Together we mourn for this person whose young life was senselessly cut short. And the community mourns our loss of innocence. We have lost our sense of safety in nature. What before was considered a quiet place to exercise, walk your dog, bird watch, explore nature, and gain peace of mind has changed in character forever because now it is the scene of a terrible act of violence. The area is currently closed to the public while the police continue to investigate. Lake Herrick will open again, and I <u><i>will</i></u> go back, but I doubt that I will go there alone for a long time, if ever. And even if they catch the person who did this, my confidence has been shattered. Maybe the space never really was safe. Maybe it was always an assault waiting to happen. But for years, I, and others, walked the trails with no fear. All during the pandemic I walked alone, almost every day. For years I have woken up early to count birds by myself in the quiet morning hours for the Christmas Bird Count. I have visited at dusk to watch fireflies and search for owls. Just last week I followed a hawk off of a main trail and into the woods, and watched it sit on a branch for half an hour or more, far away from any other people. I love those times of silence, contemplation and freedom. I won’t be doing that any more. From now on there will always be that voice telling me to be suspicious and not to dare to venture too far into the quiet trees, and that I should not be alone. Now I will not have the freedom to enjoy the solitude. Now I am angry at what this violent act has stolen from this young woman and from us all. As I listen to the constant drone of helicopters circling as they wait for breaking news I feel a tremendous sense of sadness and weariness. I feel like I have lost my place because I’m not sure I can experience it the same way ever again. I am in mourning. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwcR0Dcb5jDzzw7FvFZa6T9ASSydGM0wT8aVs22db07G4r85OmwFkH9xcAOib58HoIZxPYF8r36hqPjAOR0QfHY5Q-4Pt6JbELu0dpRVy5avyrZ2iAVkgvgC0bw1C0WFbocHbJrfAMRbXJiszpxd6E0XBuhW0Kkj47FRHblUYEWlXsCpDinDZNFVrvTE/s1280/IMG_1712.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwcR0Dcb5jDzzw7FvFZa6T9ASSydGM0wT8aVs22db07G4r85OmwFkH9xcAOib58HoIZxPYF8r36hqPjAOR0QfHY5Q-4Pt6JbELu0dpRVy5avyrZ2iAVkgvgC0bw1C0WFbocHbJrfAMRbXJiszpxd6E0XBuhW0Kkj47FRHblUYEWlXsCpDinDZNFVrvTE/w640-h640/IMG_1712.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-30126183157087419822024-02-05T10:54:00.000-05:002024-02-05T10:54:19.080-05:00My Myth--"The Dancers"<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcSjZf54eO2Y4z7BAG0eZXsaUBIWrJE6Dfrz9jJVotAtogR5691JoXM0eYsI4zRR16i9sEOooe-ytwnu6y4z7QRlpRaeGzcDGaOCCLsKJDUECUjW551b3cHgPxBogACzDciLReGbA_H-p421Rg-LJFnyacM-cDcxrWhxWUe9w4YC8FYu_fbs7H8A3U70/s1280/IMG_1644.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcSjZf54eO2Y4z7BAG0eZXsaUBIWrJE6Dfrz9jJVotAtogR5691JoXM0eYsI4zRR16i9sEOooe-ytwnu6y4z7QRlpRaeGzcDGaOCCLsKJDUECUjW551b3cHgPxBogACzDciLReGbA_H-p421Rg-LJFnyacM-cDcxrWhxWUe9w4YC8FYu_fbs7H8A3U70/w480-h640/IMG_1644.png" width="480" /></a></div><br />For our 4th <a href="https://tracklesswild.substack.com/">Journey in Place</a> exploration with Janisse Ray, we were asked to write a myth about something we encountered in our place. Last week I came across this huge oak tree with three trunks. Somehow, in the years that I have been walking these trails, I had never noticed it before. I guess it was waiting for the right time to reveal its story. Here's my myth--"The Dancers":<p></p><p>Long ago, when humans were very new and just learning, and the earth and its living things were already old, people still understood the language of nature. The people lived in harmony with the earth and its creatures. They shared food and warmth and knowledge. When the people were cold the weaver birds taught them to form fiber into clothing and baskets to hold their food. When the people were hungry the birds and other forest animals showed them where to find seeds and roots to eat. The wasps taught them to build clay pots to cook and carry water. The ants taught them to farm so they could grow their own food. Humans and the other living things shared news of coming storms and dry seasons, when to expect the fruits and migrations and the changing tides. And every month under the light of the full moon, they danced together, sharing their gratitude and friendship. </p><p>Over the years, as they learned more, the humans became enamored with their own skills and tools, and in time they forgot how to listen to the earth. No longer could they hear the signs of the changing seasons and weather. The people became separate from the other living things. They thought they no longer needed to share with the earth and they built vast cities where they once danced together in the moonlight. All that is, but three women, who chose to keep to the old ways. They lived lightly on the earth, and joined the forest creatures to dance on a hilltop every month, loving and thanking their earthly companions. And when the women finally became too old to dance any longer, they grew roots from the soles of their feet and their arms reached for the stars and the moon and they became three trunks of a tall oak tree, growing leaves and acorns to shelter and feed the forest, and dancing together through time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouUAsBYBgGsIwtmywKpvTDadBwMs9CCmDlSrCvG09g5vaGtheyOmyWhg4wtr_2IeBNt8hkeYM_0kASHXS84wqg7e6jL81Nzh6m_EdAY0-hq__pnUTeG4uRn9garV15yAJWGr5JzBVRLayjtW5UKEBapWE-o6mBGaoq1V-mXgtqMDvPJm37DHco5gqkSU/s1280/IMG_1677.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouUAsBYBgGsIwtmywKpvTDadBwMs9CCmDlSrCvG09g5vaGtheyOmyWhg4wtr_2IeBNt8hkeYM_0kASHXS84wqg7e6jL81Nzh6m_EdAY0-hq__pnUTeG4uRn9garV15yAJWGr5JzBVRLayjtW5UKEBapWE-o6mBGaoq1V-mXgtqMDvPJm37DHco5gqkSU/w480-h640/IMG_1677.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-50145968623118304522024-01-24T17:28:00.017-05:002024-01-25T10:21:01.325-05:00Journey in Place: Steps for Befriending a Special Place<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJObzfziQsl8J3w3WH039KDNVVlCTT2acvprz592WaCwRttTzfm66rGw5RN5aeclpN9IwhAbMTw17w2_8NpKkYhUMGorFcGBZXahdVqtruEDnIWPD027gQCnGgtkcIXqJI2c7J3alKvDr9sc_tJ16UmjwqzgAxGIKyJasudRmUryxccAVZFPqjkYd4_Q/s1280/DSCN8547.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJObzfziQsl8J3w3WH039KDNVVlCTT2acvprz592WaCwRttTzfm66rGw5RN5aeclpN9IwhAbMTw17w2_8NpKkYhUMGorFcGBZXahdVqtruEDnIWPD027gQCnGgtkcIXqJI2c7J3alKvDr9sc_tJ16UmjwqzgAxGIKyJasudRmUryxccAVZFPqjkYd4_Q/w640-h480/DSCN8547.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rue Anemone and Violet on a Spring day</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>This post is my response to the week #3 exercises from Janisse Ray's "Journey in Place" course. You can follow her (and join in!) on her <a href="https://tracklesswild.substack.com/" target="_blank">Trackless Wild Substack</a>. This week Janisse asks us to write a linear poem listing ways to bond with a place. Here's mine.</p><p>Steps for Befriending a Special Place:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Walk its boundaries--its hills and valleys</li><li>Follow its streams</li><li>Hug some trees. Put your nose against the bark and breathe in deep</li><li>Look at maps and then make your own</li><li>Sit very still and watch a squirrel or deer as it feeds</li><li>Walk every trail</li><li>Lie on your back and look up at the treetops</li><li>Keep a bird list</li><li>Learn the history of the place</li><li>Find a cozy picnic spot and enjoy your lunch as you sit and appreciate the view</li><li>Visit at dawn and dusk</li><li>Create your own names for points of interest--Snaky Elm, Fox Cove, Kingfisher Island, Hepatica Hill, Bloodroot Trail</li><li>Pick a location and monitor the changes weekly, monthly, or through the seasons</li><li>Put your toes in the water of a stream</li><li>Touch the mucky mud. Take a handful and smell it</li><li>Close your eyes and listen for 5 minutes</li><li>Taste some dirt</li><li>Identify the plants and trees</li><li>Look for fish and frogs in its waters</li><li>Record changes through the seasons--flowers, insects, bird and animal populations</li><li>Make a photo album</li><li>Look for insects. Carry a bug jar so you can catch and look closely. Let them go when you're done</li><li>Visit in the heat of summer and on a frosty morning</li><li>Look for animal nests and dens</li><li>Record the temperature at different locations on the same day</li><li>Walk in the rain</li><li>Explore the topography and know where the water goes</li><li>Try to walk up to a turtle without scaring it into the water</li><li>Take a long piece of string and make a circle on the ground. Record everything you see in the circle. Use a magnifying lens and do a deep dive</li><li>Visit in the evening and watch the fireflies come out</li><li>Roll some logs and see what's living under them. Roll the logs back when you're done</li><li>Look for spores on the underside of fern leaves</li><li>Learn some frog calls and go out at night for a frog listening party</li><li>Compare the soil from the hilltops with the soil from down in the valleys</li><li>Hunt for fungus. Turn over mushrooms to look for pores or gills. Make a spore print on some paper. Touch some jelly fungus</li><li>Note invasive species--remove if possible, or if the property is not your own, join groups doing invasive removal projects</li><li>Find a rotting log. Break off a fistful of decaying material and roll it in your hand. Smell the sweet fresh smell of new soil</li><li>Clean up trash</li><li>Take a friend on a guided tour</li><li>Sit in your special place and feel the warmth of the sun and the breeze on your skin. Breathe deeply and give thanks </li></ul><p></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-75267948880618869542024-01-18T13:46:00.001-05:002024-01-19T11:43:34.788-05:00Journey in Place: Frame of Reference<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWLQMsaSxRuG1MP3tb98XXq-0UlHJz8VRrZij-a3mmxF3M9GLvDMM1GsvDmsL1gepImTLhuUTXohULHwPPljLUiX1CVEvLaISK6K60MGngPy4L23R9Y6mMwkfK-HfT9SWa-leqh7-CzSs3JYkXnah8fQ7Qbnb1B3sCpOV_FTtjBseKagbLkjNpbwz8SU/s1280/IMG_1534.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWLQMsaSxRuG1MP3tb98XXq-0UlHJz8VRrZij-a3mmxF3M9GLvDMM1GsvDmsL1gepImTLhuUTXohULHwPPljLUiX1CVEvLaISK6K60MGngPy4L23R9Y6mMwkfK-HfT9SWa-leqh7-CzSs3JYkXnah8fQ7Qbnb1B3sCpOV_FTtjBseKagbLkjNpbwz8SU/w480-h640/IMG_1534.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map at the Park Entrance<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>As I sit at my desk writing I am a bit distracted by the large flocks of Cedar Waxwings and American Robins that have descended on my yard this cold January morning. They are dropping from their sunny perches in the trees down to our small pond that has abundant flowing water, a scarcity today when the temperatures are barely warming up from the teens of last night. They are also feeding ravenously on the berries of the Chinese Holly and Japanese Privet that line my yard. Like them or not, the large and established (albeit exotic) bushes do provide food and shelter for hungry birds.<p></p><p>In our 2nd Journey In Place exercise, Janisse asked us to put our Place in spatial perspective, identifying the location, bioregion and boundaries, and then decide to whom the study should be dedicated. Then came the toughest part, for me at least--we were asked to sketch a map of our Place. After walking the trails and doing some research, I came up what I think represents the way I view my Place. I wish I had the patience to carefully sketch and print beautiful letters, but that just doesn't seem to be me. I get impatient. Here is my map:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1xhlKcec4l4-Bgnsa1eDxqP-z6RSA01Q3esRekzZDrzCqPYCBq6hMl7vg0WOOqUNwlMa0K6Cs79uGuiKR7alA260U2ejYWAVtJofIZmhQfTKWnRWD-_biWujP55nP5aDo4ySG-7t3lbsUCuY3XMaPpXgQ9aXvupmiHlUxD2TZXSrnctXZOdN7LnAa6U/s1280/IMG_1580.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="952" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1xhlKcec4l4-Bgnsa1eDxqP-z6RSA01Q3esRekzZDrzCqPYCBq6hMl7vg0WOOqUNwlMa0K6Cs79uGuiKR7alA260U2ejYWAVtJofIZmhQfTKWnRWD-_biWujP55nP5aDo4ySG-7t3lbsUCuY3XMaPpXgQ9aXvupmiHlUxD2TZXSrnctXZOdN7LnAa6U/w476-h640/IMG_1580.png" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Map</td></tr></tbody></table><p>So, about my place. My place is the Oconee Forest Park, a natural area on the University of Georgia Campus. It is located within the bioregion of the Southern Outer Piedmont of Northeast Georgia and is in the Upper Oconee River Watershed. The park consists of 60 acres of hundred-year-old trees on rolling hills that edge a 15-acre manmade lake. It is bordered by an unused railroad track, tennis courts and band practice fields on the west side, a highway ("The Loop) on the south and east, and College Station Road and the Intramural Fields to the North. It contains two manmade lakes, one large one (Lake Herrick) and a much smaller one (Little Lake Herrick). Lake Herrick is fed by a small stream that catches runoff from the 5 Points neighborhood on the north side, where I live. Water from Little Lake Herrick up above, supplies water to Herrick Creek that runs through a ravine and down into the larger lake below, where Herrick Creek picks up again and flows into the North Oconee River to the northeast. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGAXu6cuBxSMVgVLPudI9Cnfc3SuqIHo3hufYEMPtkHarQILfAjw-PQDQCcafU6iJER5TBEx8o1dO5mmSBhDBfaqO7YxEN4r2Y4hkGFxMKz8KxRIZcp7mTIk4quPjktraGydX7cKd2kuGyigbbiAYOUFAk5Hk_Pb5TfiAVCdZSoX3goFZrnSWIIZGGwY/s1280/Boardwalk.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGAXu6cuBxSMVgVLPudI9Cnfc3SuqIHo3hufYEMPtkHarQILfAjw-PQDQCcafU6iJER5TBEx8o1dO5mmSBhDBfaqO7YxEN4r2Y4hkGFxMKz8KxRIZcp7mTIk4quPjktraGydX7cKd2kuGyigbbiAYOUFAk5Hk_Pb5TfiAVCdZSoX3goFZrnSWIIZGGwY/w640-h480/Boardwalk.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk on hill leads to Bridge across the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM17kX25UGG2RcQCsYHghq4U3jZZaDsnliBM0kHWKTpJDAdRWjz1xZi5s9NZKMSFAqA1tMdQ4G-RgtmA-nmKh7N7jAG_jyJvCdEiUj75RFIU9PFUWLMPp_3WRJNggU5TDkhbmQZamQBP86unlxd4smBHe6r8MFHw2UEqj55c0Qxtma-QgIhCTt2x5g0Q/s1280/IMG_1555.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM17kX25UGG2RcQCsYHghq4U3jZZaDsnliBM0kHWKTpJDAdRWjz1xZi5s9NZKMSFAqA1tMdQ4G-RgtmA-nmKh7N7jAG_jyJvCdEiUj75RFIU9PFUWLMPp_3WRJNggU5TDkhbmQZamQBP86unlxd4smBHe6r8MFHw2UEqj55c0Qxtma-QgIhCTt2x5g0Q/w640-h480/IMG_1555.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big, beautiful oak on the Lake Trail, by exercise equipment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuikRjjgbq_sb36KXttjuaHaiZ8gjVTBESyHGjQpzQlHuo4CMvB9EczRsxyoW2FRkOS_U5ebTMmytAIphx6C3esxw8FAkbnXWzD8WaA7vwYsHOx5gbkC7LRBuKA4BtKhe7hvvyS3nQ_EAgJei6fL5rn1ivcoFCdYSMPkabWhvaZoZJqzZ4U2WXS1hi4Q/s1280/IMG_5150.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuikRjjgbq_sb36KXttjuaHaiZ8gjVTBESyHGjQpzQlHuo4CMvB9EczRsxyoW2FRkOS_U5ebTMmytAIphx6C3esxw8FAkbnXWzD8WaA7vwYsHOx5gbkC7LRBuKA4BtKhe7hvvyS3nQ_EAgJei6fL5rn1ivcoFCdYSMPkabWhvaZoZJqzZ4U2WXS1hi4Q/w640-h480/IMG_5150.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intramural Field on a frosty morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxLsaBSZylxh3ByafWQTpoajj9e9kqCfv3xJa1DRQ3OkNmVgwm7k8AejKdsGbjP61F5QwLUe2oFgdpeaf_WgRRqQeFVZ7cAjeWvSvyClluiqSC6y4fPSFKlESJOktg769BbiPXa5ir8cceIrjik0BnqM7I4pftdGfUrPidLsNuAe-eqxdynGj8M3Hy0/s1280/IMG_8605.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAxLsaBSZylxh3ByafWQTpoajj9e9kqCfv3xJa1DRQ3OkNmVgwm7k8AejKdsGbjP61F5QwLUe2oFgdpeaf_WgRRqQeFVZ7cAjeWvSvyClluiqSC6y4fPSFKlESJOktg769BbiPXa5ir8cceIrjik0BnqM7I4pftdGfUrPidLsNuAe-eqxdynGj8M3Hy0/w640-h480/IMG_8605.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the platforms the looks over the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz19L3bqz4FiPUwm1LQM4BVAWD-gzBhqL49g9TFSqPZ5elWMawINTM4J6Qe6jow9U6jVQhcoJrUkBPU2pgC6v8pqBa1UJgk4kM44NziIwTZqf4vtwOEQ4IrYwiYr0XWThqspiT-_1tCjzfIt2dZ2gk-70PiWQ9-Xs0V8yoWeKQmKsLGm5gJkuh-F9Z_PM/s1280/Power%20Easement.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz19L3bqz4FiPUwm1LQM4BVAWD-gzBhqL49g9TFSqPZ5elWMawINTM4J6Qe6jow9U6jVQhcoJrUkBPU2pgC6v8pqBa1UJgk4kM44NziIwTZqf4vtwOEQ4IrYwiYr0XWThqspiT-_1tCjzfIt2dZ2gk-70PiWQ9-Xs0V8yoWeKQmKsLGm5gJkuh-F9Z_PM/w640-h480/Power%20Easement.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Bike Trail and Power Line Cut</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZuIhdE79jRL-EIbBBDwh9aJfqN0FqNGa967DKswvwnWaoMLmu2hNBpwRi6EjvB9w6FfwewWBNfwE61QRGvGA-jCli9ULBncuVzrlSRjgamNjHyWC9eylt0c0fPUkxZ2esemCixCN_f9DmgksEej7eaWdQo8jHZW1dw0nahwv-VVHkz1OLlWRJhd0cKU/s1280/Little%20Stream.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZuIhdE79jRL-EIbBBDwh9aJfqN0FqNGa967DKswvwnWaoMLmu2hNBpwRi6EjvB9w6FfwewWBNfwE61QRGvGA-jCli9ULBncuVzrlSRjgamNjHyWC9eylt0c0fPUkxZ2esemCixCN_f9DmgksEej7eaWdQo8jHZW1dw0nahwv-VVHkz1OLlWRJhd0cKU/w480-h640/Little%20Stream.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herrick Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Hiking and mountain bike trails wind around the lakes, and through and around the forest. Service roads serve as wider trails and allow access for maintenance equipment. Facilities on site include fishing docks, a boat ramp, picnic areas, and a ropes course. A wooden boardwalk next to ball courts leads to a bridge across a narrow arm of the lake. The area serves as an outdoor classroom for forestry, biology and ecology students, and is popular with runners, walkers, bikers, dog walkers, photographers, artists, and nature lovers, both students and the general community. Oconee forest Park is an ebird hotspot. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NgIWjl4KCA6GY5x5ey2bNqBJcTJfz9MK4cMvYHsrSsPPh_5kBn155XzSUq-TjvFW0rJs0CPmBSuT446gGegzELBV7GCa2v1BmXG78P4O0SY1ff7SQX7qp12sNbStCqhLBleXE20AA5hYWHP4PB_kfqaK9RfozK4T8yZBM3LwRkqQdpjAkBzCG4TQ8YE/s1280/Kingfisher.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NgIWjl4KCA6GY5x5ey2bNqBJcTJfz9MK4cMvYHsrSsPPh_5kBn155XzSUq-TjvFW0rJs0CPmBSuT446gGegzELBV7GCa2v1BmXG78P4O0SY1ff7SQX7qp12sNbStCqhLBleXE20AA5hYWHP4PB_kfqaK9RfozK4T8yZBM3LwRkqQdpjAkBzCG4TQ8YE/w640-h480/Kingfisher.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher on one of the platforms in the lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosQ8-xdJClZB1w_-R5Cop6giN4JivOBgyRxtDl1Gyc3hi-Szjgn-UNwPWefgs-AR-QuS3b2pwqtzE5WtnxIts51LxecjhwtY1BZg_ChQl9_plvnZQoT7okJ_BCPGIkoMiGyoLqwJ4LwojNpUKHmohe3Lwfn9GsrOJfw2udSb6mCxGKUlv24xfpQFfegQ/s1280/Killdeer%20Chicks.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosQ8-xdJClZB1w_-R5Cop6giN4JivOBgyRxtDl1Gyc3hi-Szjgn-UNwPWefgs-AR-QuS3b2pwqtzE5WtnxIts51LxecjhwtY1BZg_ChQl9_plvnZQoT7okJ_BCPGIkoMiGyoLqwJ4LwojNpUKHmohe3Lwfn9GsrOJfw2udSb6mCxGKUlv24xfpQFfegQ/w640-h480/Killdeer%20Chicks.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Killdeer Chick in an Intramural Field</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLscmrTZgfIVQ3RPagTYtgCKJyxWaRi6buoIGEGu8k7umtxjCevF3cMPDxx7yQJiyHJXSH-7r_sWiMYZMvxn4exraC4Et3En__t7012_YnIlvlwAAwWEEOeXJcpMQrItA_3X6UIelzRcSItRlvyGYk8knWcjsIg8FrcxVbIESlrAVl_KSJp_Bgtn0cSU/s1280/IMG_2636.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLscmrTZgfIVQ3RPagTYtgCKJyxWaRi6buoIGEGu8k7umtxjCevF3cMPDxx7yQJiyHJXSH-7r_sWiMYZMvxn4exraC4Et3En__t7012_YnIlvlwAAwWEEOeXJcpMQrItA_3X6UIelzRcSItRlvyGYk8knWcjsIg8FrcxVbIESlrAVl_KSJp_Bgtn0cSU/w640-h480/IMG_2636.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stinkhorn Fungi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3mwqvFAbZ821gp1r5nczX0NqC1en0GRBMbQFaRsshZlZcisg27P24XEqygb6n5r1NL0i-kg5_irphpOKFYqgYFbATGQ2qFluz86iaY4eGJWH2AdkkTSf1-yoBxDu6TTLIUQvP4cv-MWYv3Uw6RL4bw89AVbaUrdm8q5is5oe5zZaW8gvXhCF7MKXUT8/s1280/Fox.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3mwqvFAbZ821gp1r5nczX0NqC1en0GRBMbQFaRsshZlZcisg27P24XEqygb6n5r1NL0i-kg5_irphpOKFYqgYFbATGQ2qFluz86iaY4eGJWH2AdkkTSf1-yoBxDu6TTLIUQvP4cv-MWYv3Uw6RL4bw89AVbaUrdm8q5is5oe5zZaW8gvXhCF7MKXUT8/w640-h480/Fox.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicncndMpUQhPMShDA5FFWfysb-t7bU55MkabdE0wA8J2sV0Yo6Lk0vwZi5qgWwDTyxsyEcfS8ZLGbVqzmlea6dK1by3WeqlHQGDRqZBD823P1y7Y5Hxy3OfbnMhAEoW6Qa2f68qKME8FT5jSwR70Ux54NOYptF-4_NnAoxQSNG98vlX8G3cszAR4a7q_c/s1280/DSCN9214.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicncndMpUQhPMShDA5FFWfysb-t7bU55MkabdE0wA8J2sV0Yo6Lk0vwZi5qgWwDTyxsyEcfS8ZLGbVqzmlea6dK1by3WeqlHQGDRqZBD823P1y7Y5Hxy3OfbnMhAEoW6Qa2f68qKME8FT5jSwR70Ux54NOYptF-4_NnAoxQSNG98vlX8G3cszAR4a7q_c/w640-h480/DSCN9214.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heron in the Lake on a Misty Morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSADzIUTrjapbkXOdvaD19fhpOYnMxws1yQMje7dfVNudCrN_FhGMphDnex201-SkPkmVTkfrdKq2g0QpN94hfgJRXVL7dQ6QNB6y7vXtLkLolHRAxae_aH_CyhXSJQhtNJdQLcoNGyfIJrVmxnptjGWMEy4OLywAg-K1zBQoeD5UE4V_wHtrgppXLHI/s1280/DSCN2668.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSADzIUTrjapbkXOdvaD19fhpOYnMxws1yQMje7dfVNudCrN_FhGMphDnex201-SkPkmVTkfrdKq2g0QpN94hfgJRXVL7dQ6QNB6y7vXtLkLolHRAxae_aH_CyhXSJQhtNJdQLcoNGyfIJrVmxnptjGWMEy4OLywAg-K1zBQoeD5UE4V_wHtrgppXLHI/w640-h480/DSCN2668.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snake Tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nDtc4sCx2wHHT9Zip-QXxqQBKl8o4YCX3kU0Jun14UYiBx3j2Hz2RaNQ8Lqf6vfMJwnbtXN8Bpk8K5zM_ei8IaqDHg104VXK3ZUxzn4b3GYyhv3npG4WBx-kpEpGG_7MY99XI90a5zgOmxTJ9LCkm9m_lo_tSxBCUwAVaDmHqOyp0_woVcCCYYMuCBM/s1280/DSCN1108.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nDtc4sCx2wHHT9Zip-QXxqQBKl8o4YCX3kU0Jun14UYiBx3j2Hz2RaNQ8Lqf6vfMJwnbtXN8Bpk8K5zM_ei8IaqDHg104VXK3ZUxzn4b3GYyhv3npG4WBx-kpEpGG_7MY99XI90a5zgOmxTJ9LCkm9m_lo_tSxBCUwAVaDmHqOyp0_woVcCCYYMuCBM/w480-h640/DSCN1108.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Frogs by Little Lake Herrick</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8MZgcrHAq1fxOoWVUfrCNR3o6EllL3fO5Xg5yTb4OOubWyTzO4ZgBQJDVFX4DZZUiM49K5l9sgujfH1zOFapNokWXbrKWPy7CmJQ75a9pUQMhwAKB6ZLaK_OR7F-7iRcf8TuVXQuNB-9WgOaqYhf_Efi1NOlcvvMsQH50vLLZdfEOKUYAkYq9dTnKT0/s1280/Bloodroot.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8MZgcrHAq1fxOoWVUfrCNR3o6EllL3fO5Xg5yTb4OOubWyTzO4ZgBQJDVFX4DZZUiM49K5l9sgujfH1zOFapNokWXbrKWPy7CmJQ75a9pUQMhwAKB6ZLaK_OR7F-7iRcf8TuVXQuNB-9WgOaqYhf_Efi1NOlcvvMsQH50vLLZdfEOKUYAkYq9dTnKT0/w640-h480/Bloodroot.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><p>While preparing to draw my map I looked at existing maps of the area online and discovered that some of the unmarked trails actually have names! I learned that my "comfort spot" is located on "Tranquility trail", which makes perfect sense because it exudes peace and calm. "Tranquility Trail" follows the contour of the hillside and over a ridge to the "Birdsong Loop", another favorite and aptly named trail. On a map, I think the Oconee Forest Park looks kind of like a heart. I like the image of it providing lifeblood to the community through physical and mental health, protected habitat, and its place in the watershed, channeling water to the Upper Oconee River. I picked it as my Place because of its proximity to home, and because it was a lifesaver for me during the Covid pandemic when everything else was closed and I needed a place to breathe and think. It has provide me with endless hours of peaceful contemplation birdsong, and discovery. I would like to dedicate my Journey In Place to the people who had the foresight to create this oasis (one of whom was my friend, Walt Cook--more on him and his role another time), the people who are working currently to maintain and improve it, and to my fellow travelers who share it with me.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-79746429666103407232024-01-11T15:55:00.002-05:002024-01-11T16:01:52.128-05:00This is the Place<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf51RfR6Jc0Yc8EMvy7OtrMulf6p9_DklZTl7EW_PWMyphKoMvLGRXcPfv3WfJOBNZ0hTPsCs7XWE5dxA1GXrxZgquN7B_YsTcRd-G5p8qzeeBqPcLzsxOVq6f4bC3UZiynP9wzPL78kHvTumQ5UtpsN9buowPNgUWjtk3V9Y1zGpuQf-Nstx93vEZhsc/s1280/IMG_1524.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf51RfR6Jc0Yc8EMvy7OtrMulf6p9_DklZTl7EW_PWMyphKoMvLGRXcPfv3WfJOBNZ0hTPsCs7XWE5dxA1GXrxZgquN7B_YsTcRd-G5p8qzeeBqPcLzsxOVq6f4bC3UZiynP9wzPL78kHvTumQ5UtpsN9buowPNgUWjtk3V9Y1zGpuQf-Nstx93vEZhsc/w640-h480/IMG_1524.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is "My Place"</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I just began a year-long online project, "Journey in Place" with author, Janisse Ray. The purpose of the project is for the participants to create connection and relationship with a place-- a yard, a park, a city or a region. As Janisse explains, we have become "placeless people" who have lost our ties to the earth we live on and the natural processes around us. We will be going through weekly exercises designed to help familiarize ourselves with a place, whether it be a yard, a park, or a region, and form deeper connections. (<a href="http://tracklesswild.substack.com" target="_blank">You can sign up too by subscribing to her "Trackless Wild" Substack newsletter</a>.)</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2C43leF5NKBGC3GM21ADKOYxUQs1Pw5WICAlSRUFDj0uwPeR2DsC2HdqjChf1yUCAI0HKkm7MuXQP5dBGiNXeouYrQfRHeEV2NSbZvISy5OX0eb8od39_yLWlAnQ0bbHND9DnY4ZiHVXb3cQAdf5oNA4WPk-G-80n2oHl4sgkGsUbHvMQle_v7uvK80/s1280/IMG_1526.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2C43leF5NKBGC3GM21ADKOYxUQs1Pw5WICAlSRUFDj0uwPeR2DsC2HdqjChf1yUCAI0HKkm7MuXQP5dBGiNXeouYrQfRHeEV2NSbZvISy5OX0eb8od39_yLWlAnQ0bbHND9DnY4ZiHVXb3cQAdf5oNA4WPk-G-80n2oHl4sgkGsUbHvMQle_v7uvK80/w640-h480/IMG_1526.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodsy Trail<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I'm excited about this project because "place" has been on my mind for some time now. In fact, I wrote a blog about this nearly 10 years ago when I lived in Florida. (<a href="https://earthteachme.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-sense-of-place.html" target="_blank">"A Sense of Place"--click here to read</a>) I now live in Georgia, very far from where I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and after 8 years here, I still feel like an outsider. I have not lived in Utah for 35 years, yet, when someone asks where I am from, I always want to say "Utah". My roots are there. But Utah is not my home any more. Many of my people that connected me to the state have died or moved away. The city and region have grown so much that I hardly recognize it. The Great Salt Lake is drying up, which breaks my heart. I don't think I could ever move back because the place has changed and I've changed. But there's still this familiarity and the memories. The mountains. The smell of summer. The hard, dry dirt. It's complicated. I <u>live</u> in Georgia but I'm <u>from</u> Utah.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf3CPCT4BWtZ6XNVEXHZW_lLdXmki1g7eLJnu04A1jkcZMiMcmP8UIGHW31M6lriRdb0pbZK_OOnDa2MsKQUo1oX5Kbj0Ky43bkgxzz38q1GjbvXreeWeFCW9pFoeWjVez1R3txk7KUPUI3yD6Cm1-vCM6Huy1ZkuaJ5UKVY2iwyaGorPVx41ShSneuA/s1280/IMG_1947.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1280" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJf3CPCT4BWtZ6XNVEXHZW_lLdXmki1g7eLJnu04A1jkcZMiMcmP8UIGHW31M6lriRdb0pbZK_OOnDa2MsKQUo1oX5Kbj0Ky43bkgxzz38q1GjbvXreeWeFCW9pFoeWjVez1R3txk7KUPUI3yD6Cm1-vCM6Huy1ZkuaJ5UKVY2iwyaGorPVx41ShSneuA/w640-h394/IMG_1947.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasatch Mountains behind the Salt Lake Valley (Taken through a window--excuse the glare)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I will never be able to match the ancestral yearning that I feel when I look at the Wasatch Mountains that rise behind the Salt Lake valley in another place. But I want to get to know rivers, stone outcrops and red clay where I live now. I want to know about the rainfall and temperature patterns. Is this a hard winter? When is the typical rainy season? I want to know the plant, animal and insect cycles. I want to internalize the history of the land, the geology and the people. I want to grow deep roots. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aze8WVh8KDYsvOlL5e2qoKlfekAOTmz3kmeaxHS-wW2A2QB3nKm6uWKBTBLBidn3Cszz9O5ft9zTR-gGC-RDGR5m4-4xj2gG12dw617OIUnkjoVgpOr5DRXh4dPMLvsT-FAEnn-m2xEsecji6le5fU52fZLs394VSvx1Sxqr6xnVBOdkOsYClKs4qu8/s1280/IMG_1510.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Aze8WVh8KDYsvOlL5e2qoKlfekAOTmz3kmeaxHS-wW2A2QB3nKm6uWKBTBLBidn3Cszz9O5ft9zTR-gGC-RDGR5m4-4xj2gG12dw617OIUnkjoVgpOr5DRXh4dPMLvsT-FAEnn-m2xEsecji6le5fU52fZLs394VSvx1Sxqr6xnVBOdkOsYClKs4qu8/w640-h640/IMG_1510.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Snail Eating Fungus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IKHUukW9vLiT6qm-yhYYB3oFct74dL0zRbQxGsha_e_PaZYHsWAaYXEfL6P3CVu3qdjjRdIiutta5rXwGrxYeLL7oXNtb-qK8ZUCDeXQhYwQKvZO67CdZn7BzgakTNWPgzM_AGAkZHCDlH9aUjQQLEL6bUjc3eAuZ9qSh2u936-W77m4zoyWn0c46AI/s1280/IMG_1509.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IKHUukW9vLiT6qm-yhYYB3oFct74dL0zRbQxGsha_e_PaZYHsWAaYXEfL6P3CVu3qdjjRdIiutta5rXwGrxYeLL7oXNtb-qK8ZUCDeXQhYwQKvZO67CdZn7BzgakTNWPgzM_AGAkZHCDlH9aUjQQLEL6bUjc3eAuZ9qSh2u936-W77m4zoyWn0c46AI/w640-h640/IMG_1509.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curled Oak Leaves that look like clasped fingers<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRZhStwLadvpBZtl43KaiGcM5SwfbzJ5NytKocUtLV9hWp_tWlwN867kiEKSh0HJ3VZeIrfjNcjqBcEWzbrXYWphyphenhyphen6Co0sPCWMUo5u7CTrm_DMmo2sc2SQ2ClLB9pqcqDWrqIiWIZDFAim-g5_eySo2D1M-NoMM8oQ-yjrOOIlCBM6mQOb3v6UQ1tLcM/s1280/IMG_1515.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRZhStwLadvpBZtl43KaiGcM5SwfbzJ5NytKocUtLV9hWp_tWlwN867kiEKSh0HJ3VZeIrfjNcjqBcEWzbrXYWphyphenhyphen6Co0sPCWMUo5u7CTrm_DMmo2sc2SQ2ClLB9pqcqDWrqIiWIZDFAim-g5_eySo2D1M-NoMM8oQ-yjrOOIlCBM6mQOb3v6UQ1tLcM/w480-h640/IMG_1515.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranefly Orchid Leaf--Greenery in Winter</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDdDU1Qv4MZ_teXMmq_9nNguRrJQEyfDYGeO7Fhxkry9Qg_s5iz5mFW6wWkxo23fTc67-DuAh3mYa-u3edop0d4MOMbrdFBZj1c5o0xna4M8_umSwqhl27HoTJ63V7kmbe2_BK5hY5EKqbeMqyS3xE0tNG5crQDDVO7WzFy1_P_X5jLCFctAtPyqfm1I/s1280/IMG_1516.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDdDU1Qv4MZ_teXMmq_9nNguRrJQEyfDYGeO7Fhxkry9Qg_s5iz5mFW6wWkxo23fTc67-DuAh3mYa-u3edop0d4MOMbrdFBZj1c5o0xna4M8_umSwqhl27HoTJ63V7kmbe2_BK5hY5EKqbeMqyS3xE0tNG5crQDDVO7WzFy1_P_X5jLCFctAtPyqfm1I/w640-h480/IMG_1516.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fungus rings an old log</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My 1st task was to pick "my place" that I'll be coming to and getting to know throughout the year. I've read comments from other participants and some chose the land they and their families have lived on for generations, or their yard, or a river gorge. I decided to pick a recreation and nature park on the UGA campus, "Lake Herrick and Oconee Forest Park". It is special to me because it is part of my neighborhood, but also because of what it meant to me during Covid. In the early months of the pandemic, our city, like many others, shut everything down. The university closed and sent the students home, and they closed the State Botanical Garden, which is operated by the university. The City made the decision to close the parks and playgrounds to keep crowds from gathering. In the early weeks of the shut down, Lake Herrick was one of the only nature areas in town that was open to the public, and I walked there most days. In times when it felt like the world was falling to pieces, I found connection, refuge and solace walking through the woods and around the lake. As things eased up a bit, the other parks opened again for walking because we realized how important exercise and nature therapy were for us. People started venturing out again, and the university opened the parking garage next to the lake as a safe, socially distanced practice space for brass and woodwind musicians. I'll never forget the lonely sound of a trombone wafting over the lake as I walked one morning in December. It was a weird and difficult time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW97LCqWtI2EWEB16u8xmthfFifEdon825Dv_l92yKsYaO9g3y6zwltLjyvlTa4mTZTzXpL33dK1F0-mJ0VstOGaNu1vCjnrujxp4h9Zq5SPuByBw_Pard9RQ1xR5XshmJ7IVdyykaBdBxBOi9kDC19Px3qp4Bhz3dElQOCRU33CHfgJoNOyNDPliDq44/s1280/Barred%20Owl.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW97LCqWtI2EWEB16u8xmthfFifEdon825Dv_l92yKsYaO9g3y6zwltLjyvlTa4mTZTzXpL33dK1F0-mJ0VstOGaNu1vCjnrujxp4h9Zq5SPuByBw_Pard9RQ1xR5XshmJ7IVdyykaBdBxBOi9kDC19Px3qp4Bhz3dElQOCRU33CHfgJoNOyNDPliDq44/w640-h480/Barred%20Owl.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barred Owl Watching</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI-tDdhM8XeR2nxCtuq6kXYeCZx3S_E0WzZHsrIRd_4N9f1Sf5F1n2sTglAWv2ZtB8lf07pw6HFOvh5_GnODwh-2QDU84NopOhknQY09M503dcBVr8v3r5hlDOV-eggVFnopeXArYoC4NJBMvjltGC_-UJ0YXAHIQU17xnzptQMKyYDSZ0rEFwvMfdmk/s1280/Bloodroot.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI-tDdhM8XeR2nxCtuq6kXYeCZx3S_E0WzZHsrIRd_4N9f1Sf5F1n2sTglAWv2ZtB8lf07pw6HFOvh5_GnODwh-2QDU84NopOhknQY09M503dcBVr8v3r5hlDOV-eggVFnopeXArYoC4NJBMvjltGC_-UJ0YXAHIQU17xnzptQMKyYDSZ0rEFwvMfdmk/w640-h480/Bloodroot.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot Patch</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Within our "place" we were instructed to find what I'm calling my "comfort spot"--a place that draws me and where I can come back to over and again for contemplation and reflection and close examination. I picked a spot on a hillside overlooking tall trees, with the lake in the distance. On one of my walks near here, I discovered a beautiful patch of white Bloodroot blooming on a quiet trail. It was like a finding a treasure. Another morning I spotted a Barred owl perched near the Bloodroot trail. A couple of hawks were unhappy that it was there and made a noisy fuss. Nearby I watched as a Brown Creeper moved up and down the trunk of a pine tree, and across the road Pileated Woodpeckers tore chunks off of a log looking for grubs. I visited this spot the other day and saw a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers. It was the first time I'd seen them in these woods for several years and I took it as a sign that this would be a good choice for my "comfort spot". As we say in Utah, "This is the Place". I look forward to getting to know it better. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dyNcep4qSCyHTak9yWoLIzBIg-Ir5qYGWGdNCMd8gV83h8Xp9qIcumZL-KdKZZx5T7kqjsPYjWiy7k9l3GHsK7wswCCSx1m2o947tp3JQPNMcv5SwufvSFSRODE_qigSx7bAqP_Wd4I5chGmjyIOdKMKLwm8CX-cL172daKVQd4SygbwJ8mOW6V3aYQ/s1280/IMG_1520.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dyNcep4qSCyHTak9yWoLIzBIg-Ir5qYGWGdNCMd8gV83h8Xp9qIcumZL-KdKZZx5T7kqjsPYjWiy7k9l3GHsK7wswCCSx1m2o947tp3JQPNMcv5SwufvSFSRODE_qigSx7bAqP_Wd4I5chGmjyIOdKMKLwm8CX-cL172daKVQd4SygbwJ8mOW6V3aYQ/w480-h640/IMG_1520.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wintery Steam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4bJ3k6T6hplxEUxXr7RBfvxBZFiOrg-2u3Hqlt10Jyn7XhGNKv_NhR8b0ABxRA7BR6xMJAFH5JR9PrzPqwVcP1nmEOIUN-N_3rHzYvDWOTEiY9P0mcAx8bI8ttqiMEjblqOgTLqFE65FciU2MrU8o194WcrC-McmcVdPuLgoks3oHuzYCT5OBZ2qzeA/s1280/IMG_1505.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4bJ3k6T6hplxEUxXr7RBfvxBZFiOrg-2u3Hqlt10Jyn7XhGNKv_NhR8b0ABxRA7BR6xMJAFH5JR9PrzPqwVcP1nmEOIUN-N_3rHzYvDWOTEiY9P0mcAx8bI8ttqiMEjblqOgTLqFE65FciU2MrU8o194WcrC-McmcVdPuLgoks3oHuzYCT5OBZ2qzeA/w640-h480/IMG_1505.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mossy Log in my "Comfort Spot"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YcO14_R_BVZAHzNNtUDkjJk-kyFHdNRNGSqQG-LRI5hDY3daO_S2GMx1GvWaWmdBW3RNAbZughYFAFfeY6ZemT1uRt03i3BXT_rKeufF3zU-RRPHblXTUtd_kD2OTWXUud546cm01HbX2rGIgtc3oH5lptmI2-LHRmBiygG_RX3TXPfp6Ukyu8uWckY/s1280/IMG_1503.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YcO14_R_BVZAHzNNtUDkjJk-kyFHdNRNGSqQG-LRI5hDY3daO_S2GMx1GvWaWmdBW3RNAbZughYFAFfeY6ZemT1uRt03i3BXT_rKeufF3zU-RRPHblXTUtd_kD2OTWXUud546cm01HbX2rGIgtc3oH5lptmI2-LHRmBiygG_RX3TXPfp6Ukyu8uWckY/w640-h480/IMG_1503.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking through the trees at the lake below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEbb5tlAf8_hp45wbAm_oy7qLJtrXtp7lx71J4vxZRWbGciIPpOIxddrxNy6SkVIPr0xpwx2aAGqyuqDmygEZhiYKvAzP8MiyNh_pTYPkweKlDEJw07FBghmDOApv3OSU6JYkElR2HSLHCtGhtWGJap7soDrB-P3QmVwN2V7n54SueBJDHs9NiRcCDfU/s1280/IMG_1488.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEbb5tlAf8_hp45wbAm_oy7qLJtrXtp7lx71J4vxZRWbGciIPpOIxddrxNy6SkVIPr0xpwx2aAGqyuqDmygEZhiYKvAzP8MiyNh_pTYPkweKlDEJw07FBghmDOApv3OSU6JYkElR2HSLHCtGhtWGJap7soDrB-P3QmVwN2V7n54SueBJDHs9NiRcCDfU/w640-h480/IMG_1488.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections on the Water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2OsnGsMMULLIw0z8DqtQDPj6z8qWIGxuhH81DRLqSW_1Fn8OxZOX3jmO1awxigE2JIfQJZRlRWGQZdeibpDbz3wuHr8frFcSrIroiUwvJ1BfEGSGOg7rEL27EPZ3rOEF1XthrnWbnGJp06Ocoiz3WzOWCXeAXU26LwTk5hbh4peJ8U21tJz5G54rmC4/s1280/SLC%20for%20Anthony%20and%20Laurene's%20Wedding.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2OsnGsMMULLIw0z8DqtQDPj6z8qWIGxuhH81DRLqSW_1Fn8OxZOX3jmO1awxigE2JIfQJZRlRWGQZdeibpDbz3wuHr8frFcSrIroiUwvJ1BfEGSGOg7rEL27EPZ3rOEF1XthrnWbnGJp06Ocoiz3WzOWCXeAXU26LwTk5hbh4peJ8U21tJz5G54rmC4/w480-h640/SLC%20for%20Anthony%20and%20Laurene's%20Wedding.png" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This is the Place" Monument, Salt Lake City</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-71110690093235690212023-09-04T11:24:00.002-04:002023-09-05T09:52:24.100-04:00Fall Favorites<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQWLidVLhJOmS55DKEUawXXDmskiqMYsKoaYVIMdm1Zi4FrEfx94QernYZI5_lSELVQAdfoZeDsaM6YucBrC6IRjjBrepiBmeKj-sV4qabFdVySHFPdly0R46FeCkbHIcUya2JDjY9PWKMyA5m3p7WWzRw2Z9IcG5DXEJTR55_rWDzTSbCfBYbZ-4wrc/s3024/IMG_9604.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQWLidVLhJOmS55DKEUawXXDmskiqMYsKoaYVIMdm1Zi4FrEfx94QernYZI5_lSELVQAdfoZeDsaM6YucBrC6IRjjBrepiBmeKj-sV4qabFdVySHFPdly0R46FeCkbHIcUya2JDjY9PWKMyA5m3p7WWzRw2Z9IcG5DXEJTR55_rWDzTSbCfBYbZ-4wrc/w640-h640/IMG_9604.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarch</td></tr></tbody></table><p>There are miles of trails to walk at Sandy Creek Nature Center, a wonderful nature park in Athens, Georgia, where I like to spend a lot of time, and where I also volunteer. I find that each trail there is special for different reasons. Some are just peaceful and beautiful. Others are good for finding certain birds, or flowers or fungi, or to hear the whack of a beaver tail at dusk. Some trails have good logs to roll and look for salamanders, some trails lead to the creek, and others have good loops to walk with school kids. I like them all. But in the fall, my favorite trail is also the shortest, the loop that runs through the restored Piedmont Prairie--a small and sunny, open space, filled with wildflowers and tall grasses. A haven for insects and spiders, birds, snakes, frogs, rabbits and rodents. This trail can take you two minutes or two hours, depending on how much time you want to spend looking and listening. I find that it is a perfect element to include in a hike with 4th Grade classes who have come to learn about the solar system and see a planetarium program. On our trail hike, I like to talk to the kids about the changing seasons and how the living things are preparing for winter. The leaves on the trees are changing color. Fruit on the trees and vines and grasses and flowers are ripening. Birds are feeding on the flowers and grass seeds as they prepare for migration. Spiders that hatched in the spring are now reaching maturity, their webs stretched across paths and loaded with insects. Their egg sacs will appear as the weather cools. There's always a lot to see. I think that the kids have a good time, and hopefully they learn a lot. I try to share my enthusiasm, too, because I love it all. But I also have a special love for butterflies, so I hype that up a lot. And, the Prairie in the fall also happens to be a great place for seeing butterflies, which makes it one of my favorite places to visit and share. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiV5fwjFl0ouky30WtoaZCAmfJY7h73zKO3UAT5q6EgC6qTAqnC-KccZOLwQ9ybLEi0dXiG60x-P0EEKN4IxPhfvtETc738a69CvSpHiMKKRb5H6yCRQvrmdLO-2c_FtZFIfk5WWqeRfyRctEEEZZIJlUMTZfm2LlXDaIbJvVUQ4sQ1UunL_Y_piNCq8/s3024/IMG_9701.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZiV5fwjFl0ouky30WtoaZCAmfJY7h73zKO3UAT5q6EgC6qTAqnC-KccZOLwQ9ybLEi0dXiG60x-P0EEKN4IxPhfvtETc738a69CvSpHiMKKRb5H6yCRQvrmdLO-2c_FtZFIfk5WWqeRfyRctEEEZZIJlUMTZfm2LlXDaIbJvVUQ4sQ1UunL_Y_piNCq8/w640-h640/IMG_9701.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaf footed bugs and nymphs on Passion Vine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwga-R8KhLNIr3MzeCxF7Ga_H6YG0ouZS0lVP7ykqtZ-lC_2TIoqqAC5sBRjQ5wmsacC_ZorDsCPc26Y3KPQqQXwh7-dxETql1vSbNuoU6yvaHc1QPczEIFTq4FPn1tL35bw3d3MO8l54j6X7yRzDGc2nHihhi91C77inZNCrfnqIqsM5hb---RKyJsTI/s3024/IMG_9722.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwga-R8KhLNIr3MzeCxF7Ga_H6YG0ouZS0lVP7ykqtZ-lC_2TIoqqAC5sBRjQ5wmsacC_ZorDsCPc26Y3KPQqQXwh7-dxETql1vSbNuoU6yvaHc1QPczEIFTq4FPn1tL35bw3d3MO8l54j6X7yRzDGc2nHihhi91C77inZNCrfnqIqsM5hb---RKyJsTI/w640-h640/IMG_9722.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poke Berries</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z2zPTG7CfRYqg08XrTQfvWLZB1Gls6tELsG1Hqoje-lr1S8c0XugKqv6pfYjvi0--bG6PhSK95Fa5RnP2nl9S-IDsfzJmYaxSRSFODcIF92flLEISk0pZ8MiM-g8wRL8i3jPvWfsTQqhJV2k6DUpaiFW0-0AP1qHP71lmCQszEXzX1SuRlVspK9O59Q/s3024/IMG_9730.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1z2zPTG7CfRYqg08XrTQfvWLZB1Gls6tELsG1Hqoje-lr1S8c0XugKqv6pfYjvi0--bG6PhSK95Fa5RnP2nl9S-IDsfzJmYaxSRSFODcIF92flLEISk0pZ8MiM-g8wRL8i3jPvWfsTQqhJV2k6DUpaiFW0-0AP1qHP71lmCQszEXzX1SuRlVspK9O59Q/w640-h640/IMG_9730.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty Cicada shell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDadEkJPBtU0L8hbPveJRqvQzUKlSLnuGaG_z-p6Y9H2jPol0ljmCgtgEOIJSmrMedCLFitcQhPXehywzFbDQlPspnHgAy7g6F63tKopn16rJ9tTfHnuymbvyik-gxKZdluulUXz3hruHtxAIHZnw53gx3PpLAx7uudYR2LHs1G1v-z1lTQ5Q8c2fGFYE/s3024/IMG_9736.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDadEkJPBtU0L8hbPveJRqvQzUKlSLnuGaG_z-p6Y9H2jPol0ljmCgtgEOIJSmrMedCLFitcQhPXehywzFbDQlPspnHgAy7g6F63tKopn16rJ9tTfHnuymbvyik-gxKZdluulUXz3hruHtxAIHZnw53gx3PpLAx7uudYR2LHs1G1v-z1lTQ5Q8c2fGFYE/w640-h640/IMG_9736.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Lynx Spider</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXQjwQq-VSFzWZJFr8lwIdYA67kVlm-0TyofNT-OOLxvcHIHqOreLjkl4-xi9eskPYC_DVtafPKDCeUC4Gs4hd-ItTXpZ9oOXbD1Bod8EJzU_iwhwLirdgWfEAKy7MUp87jbPnj0qUy0DDh3V04k6OY0sGwsJhFbwq3mqY110GwLWO8KfprQzmmNEo2A/s3024/IMG_9719%20(1).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXQjwQq-VSFzWZJFr8lwIdYA67kVlm-0TyofNT-OOLxvcHIHqOreLjkl4-xi9eskPYC_DVtafPKDCeUC4Gs4hd-ItTXpZ9oOXbD1Bod8EJzU_iwhwLirdgWfEAKy7MUp87jbPnj0qUy0DDh3V04k6OY0sGwsJhFbwq3mqY110GwLWO8KfprQzmmNEo2A/w640-h640/IMG_9719%20(1).jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robber Fly</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The loop through the Prairie is a different experience every year. One year you will find Praying Mantises hiding in the tops of the tall plants. In another, Bird Grasshoppers pop every which way across the trail and over the tall grasses. Or the Orbweaver Spiders may have staked out stations along the entire trail, hiding behind the zigzags in their webs. This year, Passion Vines grew in profusion, attracting Gulf Fritillary butterflies in large numbers, and growing so robustly that they covered the path. Passion Vine is the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly, and they come to lay their eggs on this particular plant. The park naturalists closed the loop for a few weeks to give the tiny Fritillary caterpillars a chance to eat and grow and go through their metamorphosis. Left undisturbed, butterflies of all kinds busily fed on the Passion Flowers, Frostflowers, Milkweed, Thistles, and other nectar plants. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeO_kqZ6JMstVjIOoc0YPFU3-gnbBxrpU4cfNHqP1lwIDKiaM387XJa1JOdNX2CSfpfQpNUPe2A2VjcIQJyPMkNaI30u914FAaLmA9Jbz2pl7jmXVyQMUkYplbzbJ9eYuKKZmLnOr0HdNcJlvof94P-92rg3tOYrFJO6jG4hcVFpa5YoowjaVpZwHtxA/s3024/IMG_9610.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJeO_kqZ6JMstVjIOoc0YPFU3-gnbBxrpU4cfNHqP1lwIDKiaM387XJa1JOdNX2CSfpfQpNUPe2A2VjcIQJyPMkNaI30u914FAaLmA9Jbz2pl7jmXVyQMUkYplbzbJ9eYuKKZmLnOr0HdNcJlvof94P-92rg3tOYrFJO6jG4hcVFpa5YoowjaVpZwHtxA/w640-h640/IMG_9610.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulf Fritillary, drinking nectar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawviKjB9SJBrrmWnYErA_j2WmZ81byM2ly07eEOIMLID18Glg2kiQe_emRPl9h_IDDOkGdHxzhzFEyIfh_W8lSX-GjWFHxutvkhvfPD2ysrAOUHJp5q0kYYPWmkKiDWBhYasntgp_elWdkj5TEegRVH0WwoCpQMVX9G1lW1GpEKEW9z4uipgM44S0zP0/s3024/IMG_9698.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawviKjB9SJBrrmWnYErA_j2WmZ81byM2ly07eEOIMLID18Glg2kiQe_emRPl9h_IDDOkGdHxzhzFEyIfh_W8lSX-GjWFHxutvkhvfPD2ysrAOUHJp5q0kYYPWmkKiDWBhYasntgp_elWdkj5TEegRVH0WwoCpQMVX9G1lW1GpEKEW9z4uipgM44S0zP0/w640-h640/IMG_9698.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulf Fritillary caterpillar on Passion Vine tendril</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfotUj3NJKVlZ4euoZn2Vu2-K78IREAEnIINxS3-xEUe7ZFitm_0l8tuxfC0moatG9K11Ppc9ha2rDgZfThGOHTAFOHLEEnlUJaHtrXRDW7rrryFoKCrvBpc6TGYtGUddPI89DoBiOH9k5Z9yb4OfusM29T7CH8VYZpmhqLhjKLnkdQ9bzYgOxbQC7Zk/s3024/IMG_9740.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfotUj3NJKVlZ4euoZn2Vu2-K78IREAEnIINxS3-xEUe7ZFitm_0l8tuxfC0moatG9K11Ppc9ha2rDgZfThGOHTAFOHLEEnlUJaHtrXRDW7rrryFoKCrvBpc6TGYtGUddPI89DoBiOH9k5Z9yb4OfusM29T7CH8VYZpmhqLhjKLnkdQ9bzYgOxbQC7Zk/w640-h640/IMG_9740.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passion Flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWXmISo1TowKgcP_Sd4ETCO8U4HjnTP2QMkT-nCu3QoWHExUs-l9_m4eJT5cwwzfYd5A9kjgMQwm8SAR2CBGUD-G6G5MncHZ56s9Qohac2IujITUCB2ArWuaYDmdM0Sh-fm-u6sWwBVw0vhilNEaXDAVi1ldy_XdI6H5sdCCVmL7Z7meV1FF9--tz9Os/s3024/IMG_9705.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWXmISo1TowKgcP_Sd4ETCO8U4HjnTP2QMkT-nCu3QoWHExUs-l9_m4eJT5cwwzfYd5A9kjgMQwm8SAR2CBGUD-G6G5MncHZ56s9Qohac2IujITUCB2ArWuaYDmdM0Sh-fm-u6sWwBVw0vhilNEaXDAVi1ldy_XdI6H5sdCCVmL7Z7meV1FF9--tz9Os/w640-h640/IMG_9705.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mating Fritillaries next to empty Chrysalis</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1LC2jRJxzdy4DLnlTRrucugT_Sahdgs3aKplPGyTDbIVVu7TiUa89p1Bq5V5G7riUICqPEvt9RJBP0mtBIw_9ZsoKrcFNfzq6QWwg76CqA15kM0fjxl1YIxwuwj9XuDYTeKqcQk4xhbTDQI6ZQtfnj7oZ3jxlDUMuCPl-rJAZonst7lqNAdH7UCwqrw/s3024/IMG_9741.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1LC2jRJxzdy4DLnlTRrucugT_Sahdgs3aKplPGyTDbIVVu7TiUa89p1Bq5V5G7riUICqPEvt9RJBP0mtBIw_9ZsoKrcFNfzq6QWwg76CqA15kM0fjxl1YIxwuwj9XuDYTeKqcQk4xhbTDQI6ZQtfnj7oZ3jxlDUMuCPl-rJAZonst7lqNAdH7UCwqrw/w640-h640/IMG_9741.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fruit from Passion Vine</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Last week I took 2 groups of energetic 4th graders on a larger loop through the woods that ended with a walk through the Prairie. As we cleared the shady forest and entered into the sunny and grassy area with its tall flowers, I prepped the kids by telling them how that they were about to experience something spectacular. And both times, as we came near, I knew that they were suitably impressed. I could tell by all the squeals and wows! I get it, because I feel the same way, every time. There is something magical about walking into a butterfly meadow. We saw dozens of yellow and black Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, (the state butterfly of Georgia, by the way) and many, many Gulf Fritillaries, as well as a Monarch, a Viceroy, various Skippers, Satyrs, Azures, Hairstreaks, and a Red Spotted Purple. It was a great show and gave me a chance to fit in my standard message about how important it is to have green spaces--sanctuaries for nature, as well as for people. This is an important lesson for preparing the way for the next generation of environmental stewards. You protect the things you know. And who wouldn't want to protect a magical place like this? </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-4WiwrdORzkH-nJUs08LCQ3hKW17kvWmFLKtsQcujtXh4AABqPCPtdaXZqm8V1YBPgigqaVt5GCTXy0FaZmSimTif7nYV6KjaIgKBXVmd-5K1igX-t3yEhgQhjl5NIdlt-6niy3n-Olt3juSemWnuwHg5rAV-Epcm4jYmmp1L9MdZr-3cuhQ02ppxPs/s3024/IMG_9612.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-4WiwrdORzkH-nJUs08LCQ3hKW17kvWmFLKtsQcujtXh4AABqPCPtdaXZqm8V1YBPgigqaVt5GCTXy0FaZmSimTif7nYV6KjaIgKBXVmd-5K1igX-t3yEhgQhjl5NIdlt-6niy3n-Olt3juSemWnuwHg5rAV-Epcm4jYmmp1L9MdZr-3cuhQ02ppxPs/w640-h640/IMG_9612.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Spotted Skipper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h7DfhrTIpP1NzFMuiu1ddzVaLXp4MKVnMsO-0QUNTnBETCHZzEYufhM46xkxF1uN6kijbM679lpi1ZX2qAJJWgPQkekvtcQB_SUDdhascj7o_vY8Em7esfcEHcpcb0S4lvjkGR5iwyvhwGJsKTYrEiZOUYmi57NRiC10XMuvx4hBkKOfjxfTrHcLREc/s3024/IMG_9692.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5h7DfhrTIpP1NzFMuiu1ddzVaLXp4MKVnMsO-0QUNTnBETCHZzEYufhM46xkxF1uN6kijbM679lpi1ZX2qAJJWgPQkekvtcQB_SUDdhascj7o_vY8Em7esfcEHcpcb0S4lvjkGR5iwyvhwGJsKTYrEiZOUYmi57NRiC10XMuvx4hBkKOfjxfTrHcLREc/w640-h640/IMG_9692.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Painted Lady and Ailanthus Web Worm Moth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfq6EqPwJepQgds__xtgWG7pN2R3LKV2t54oGIXsXCHDHPyi8PP5mnRC4tuAX9CUOQKzmwPtSeJKt-K8N4R0Vm2vxkVLxyUpuMYDqUO4NL6t0xqrjqCX0ToF7_GcfOGSimmPPiaHwLLoRZsH04aB-gqSzw7gTwL5U0RXb3auX9GewxLD5qkB0RXBqqNBk/s2712/IMG_9703.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="2712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfq6EqPwJepQgds__xtgWG7pN2R3LKV2t54oGIXsXCHDHPyi8PP5mnRC4tuAX9CUOQKzmwPtSeJKt-K8N4R0Vm2vxkVLxyUpuMYDqUO4NL6t0xqrjqCX0ToF7_GcfOGSimmPPiaHwLLoRZsH04aB-gqSzw7gTwL5U0RXb3auX9GewxLD5qkB0RXBqqNBk/w640-h640/IMG_9703.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouded Skipper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00wORcQcGBPgd8NMnPr5kjmqLWsQViScfxg6jNEC6JEoT9vNYbRTHlH5mNSjQeLMmpbTheYrf-MD0o4IMBiJs1-jw8zfzGRpkwKoUfKAmfbYC4lxKud0gSapwmhg36mlgbF0yS-1Esx_Zu6aq0nqdNR4TjB7OQ3EQ8WJJI4lfYdLb7UJ8VQZgmlyjZWg/s3024/IMG_9711.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00wORcQcGBPgd8NMnPr5kjmqLWsQViScfxg6jNEC6JEoT9vNYbRTHlH5mNSjQeLMmpbTheYrf-MD0o4IMBiJs1-jw8zfzGRpkwKoUfKAmfbYC4lxKud0gSapwmhg36mlgbF0yS-1Esx_Zu6aq0nqdNR4TjB7OQ3EQ8WJJI4lfYdLb7UJ8VQZgmlyjZWg/w640-h640/IMG_9711.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (female, dark form)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEKUVVvWEIJ-McOHziCmlnO_9zCDlyGXwtUWG4tajw4I112pBFTkfx16_lbaNnppNQDPSrnIxCLXYfutdx3uURDpkPhpvnZJy04HYdIz6oixAkn6qf34zN91bPpp6ugYUpTrZgpgJtElNH1DD4L6qF6KILFfJfn1fypf9E_s3J14ewv5CEn29fRRsnB8/s3024/IMG_9726.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEKUVVvWEIJ-McOHziCmlnO_9zCDlyGXwtUWG4tajw4I112pBFTkfx16_lbaNnppNQDPSrnIxCLXYfutdx3uURDpkPhpvnZJy04HYdIz6oixAkn6qf34zN91bPpp6ugYUpTrZgpgJtElNH1DD4L6qF6KILFfJfn1fypf9E_s3J14ewv5CEn29fRRsnB8/w640-h640/IMG_9726.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-spotted Purple</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8uasa7huxcu01QC8mMLaT9r1JNgU93jbJjg_YwABB0mWq1stTN335ZZPqPFDuai1AIGhtbFazDYBx34SJJgm9A-A96JZAUGoJl5J9o9hyUm8ibhQ1gpzqsSa90F1P1GQoueMbM8JA2vlthtQci8udKK-Mt5lT9LzZvr7854nmOcP6KN2cKl38EG6W7k/s3024/IMG_9737.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8uasa7huxcu01QC8mMLaT9r1JNgU93jbJjg_YwABB0mWq1stTN335ZZPqPFDuai1AIGhtbFazDYBx34SJJgm9A-A96JZAUGoJl5J9o9hyUm8ibhQ1gpzqsSa90F1P1GQoueMbM8JA2vlthtQci8udKK-Mt5lT9LzZvr7854nmOcP6KN2cKl38EG6W7k/w640-h640/IMG_9737.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (male)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-31375789348662051512023-07-06T16:01:00.001-04:002023-09-05T10:14:19.311-04:00The Long Hot Summer (Yeehaw!)<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrSnSy9ktgH8UMKIKpiCKifsciKRsi9G2lhyP6-pnmbs8Ie8weVX-3Y4e2bugtt6UMcRdlyWLnceBKdcckf-XfB0evEeOHfYeBO4LeDgz4Lj7x0W3XW-lKMHAq7AH4hiLI32dBtOAT8p5n9kUn2fzoU11F7QXA2bJ0QzQAseQzot07sk5Q6oDYxcq5sw/s1280/IMG_8217%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrSnSy9ktgH8UMKIKpiCKifsciKRsi9G2lhyP6-pnmbs8Ie8weVX-3Y4e2bugtt6UMcRdlyWLnceBKdcckf-XfB0evEeOHfYeBO4LeDgz4Lj7x0W3XW-lKMHAq7AH4hiLI32dBtOAT8p5n9kUn2fzoU11F7QXA2bJ0QzQAseQzot07sk5Q6oDYxcq5sw/w640-h480/IMG_8217%20(1).png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Every July about this time I find myself thankful for the heat of summer. Steam and heat aside, this is a great time to be in the yard. Our wildlife garden is almost at full peak, producing flowers and leafy shelter that attract the pollinators and the rest of the food web that I garden to provide habitat for. The swamp sunflowers in the front yard have grown tall, giving a quiet place for a baby deer to sleep while mom is out looking for food. The bushy Muhly grass, Mountain Mint and Black-eyed Susans are a refuge for fireflies that emerge in the evening. Tiny spiderlings set up their webs, hidden in the thickening greenery, where they hunt for prey that increases in size as they do. Caterpillars silently munch on plant parts, leaving specks of frass and chewed up leaves in their wake. Thrashers and Towhees scurry through the flower beds, grabbing caterpillars and spiders as they forage for spilled seed from the feeders. Mature vines and tube-shaped flowers are food for the hummingbirds. By July, at least one brood of newbies are out foraging for themselves. They visit the sugar water feeders, but they also spend a lot of time sucking out of flowers, especially the ones with long stems that they can sit on and rest between hovering and being chased off by older birds. Hovering is tiring.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0OYQ8F2ClkgH3qMlzxkpg_CcRoR8GF9aBBFk7qGDDcYNz4NCUt5pHBm3xPXq5-j28SrkrrFdflWGNu-LKp7m5NF3qVfuVnQ_Q-vqR0BaKC_OX2mF8-RhlCSrv3sI2u7kw-qCibRUKJv9lEVMYweSx4qvQ9pD0z9w8Y2_x6Uy-uPTTrNiSidIEeT71EI/s1280/IMG_8223.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0OYQ8F2ClkgH3qMlzxkpg_CcRoR8GF9aBBFk7qGDDcYNz4NCUt5pHBm3xPXq5-j28SrkrrFdflWGNu-LKp7m5NF3qVfuVnQ_Q-vqR0BaKC_OX2mF8-RhlCSrv3sI2u7kw-qCibRUKJv9lEVMYweSx4qvQ9pD0z9w8Y2_x6Uy-uPTTrNiSidIEeT71EI/w640-h640/IMG_8223.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This time of year, my glasses and camera lenses that are cool from the indoor A/C fog up immediately upon stepping out of the house or from a cool car. I can wipe the glasses, but have to wait for the camera to warm up because merely wiping the external glass is not enough. The camera will keep fogging up until the temperature has equalized. I've learned to keep my camera case in the back of the car, away from the A/C when I'm driving somewhere to take photos. I also take the camera out of its case right away when I get outside so it can start warming up, and sometimes face the glass into the sun to quick-start the process. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8rtom23VQq4LxI1jS7B8Y1G0mxXAGcJ1sWXrYkcuYQJXYAfov6VbUrCusxUi0HLnaOCXs1YvjueNfyxPXs0GlDVHnbbhzyzjA6vc5ze3Lq0eCPVQgz5tbYuFyHfvuxUedTbDURtawrVk_0GsuV6GLyv6DSnaRQSrmeoVx0n206bM-BsBUVYig5rjGw/s1280/IMG_8105.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI8rtom23VQq4LxI1jS7B8Y1G0mxXAGcJ1sWXrYkcuYQJXYAfov6VbUrCusxUi0HLnaOCXs1YvjueNfyxPXs0GlDVHnbbhzyzjA6vc5ze3Lq0eCPVQgz5tbYuFyHfvuxUedTbDURtawrVk_0GsuV6GLyv6DSnaRQSrmeoVx0n206bM-BsBUVYig5rjGw/w640-h480/IMG_8105.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Today I went out into the back yard just as it started to get hot, around 10am. The plan was to photograph some bees. My camera was cold, so I needed to give it time to acclimate, and so I walked over to one of the Black-eyed Susan patches in the yard to see what insects might be flying around. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and I had taken dozens of photos just with my phone. It's quickly becoming my go-to camera. They say that the best camera is the one you have with you. This one takes decent enough photos, and doesn't fog up! I never did pull out the other camera.</p><p>But the reason I spent an hour in the flower patch was that there was so much going on just on this single species of flower that I couldn't stop searching for more. As the morning warmed and the sun moved higher and brighter, the insects became more active, and new ones showed up. Butterflies, for example, were late arrivals. It was great fun and I had forgotten from last year just how much I love spending time crawling around in the flowers. I couldn't help but think that if there is this much life in a small flower patch, just imagine a prairie or a forest or a jungle. And this was just what I could see with my naked eye. So exciting--hello summer! </p><p>Here are some images from my morning in the Rudbeckia as I waited for my other camera to thaw. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTv8gx7GAuoLrvcsXYxXP8l-harlMgBOV1FIBfhhmfTsc7W63Iooqt-vZ6PtufUgKTFuOd_2CRqn8vZjN40FYF-54Nrt7Zv64B1Ouzw1_cxvVttHEnwTPG4jjjw4ZuazlW_VDkgNHU8Xn71Z4fBknUN1wNqrVQW8KS41Myw3fw_G6irj2ffaNEKQErR0/s1280/IMG_8121.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTv8gx7GAuoLrvcsXYxXP8l-harlMgBOV1FIBfhhmfTsc7W63Iooqt-vZ6PtufUgKTFuOd_2CRqn8vZjN40FYF-54Nrt7Zv64B1Ouzw1_cxvVttHEnwTPG4jjjw4ZuazlW_VDkgNHU8Xn71Z4fBknUN1wNqrVQW8KS41Myw3fw_G6irj2ffaNEKQErR0/w640-h640/IMG_8121.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoptveI9ImHWVhGdWFia2HbNDLj9XK6xahGNGs_mJ5EgiBQ3ggn1Y629UoD6wavIBxUamzPQwax-gdzpug9fH7_E5e5_uglFrEq8BBqtsTw22lEMd_T1duEKWsimoQIo0QBe7bL3e0A8uz90PzQuVjNBZfMmMzH9f_z1lew_fdFGMUIK-Rv9t0i9ZF2s/s1280/IMG_8124.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoptveI9ImHWVhGdWFia2HbNDLj9XK6xahGNGs_mJ5EgiBQ3ggn1Y629UoD6wavIBxUamzPQwax-gdzpug9fH7_E5e5_uglFrEq8BBqtsTw22lEMd_T1duEKWsimoQIo0QBe7bL3e0A8uz90PzQuVjNBZfMmMzH9f_z1lew_fdFGMUIK-Rv9t0i9ZF2s/w640-h640/IMG_8124.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caterpillar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzCncWuIe88sU2sKlCx7WqUawqTiF6P5N07rDwuCNHKwN2UCeR6OzogkqeFRPRBoF3aiIG9DnokoyGwqHsMIgSq6Pui9LHG6cdWn_Daq-jt3MMVD3CjO85STYYqwP1x2_T9MGuYpGAVUvl_CA0mwDHSsoM1QFALdcS5QcampI8X_NjoQW_8giMz7p8nc/s1280/IMG_8125.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzCncWuIe88sU2sKlCx7WqUawqTiF6P5N07rDwuCNHKwN2UCeR6OzogkqeFRPRBoF3aiIG9DnokoyGwqHsMIgSq6Pui9LHG6cdWn_Daq-jt3MMVD3CjO85STYYqwP1x2_T9MGuYpGAVUvl_CA0mwDHSsoM1QFALdcS5QcampI8X_NjoQW_8giMz7p8nc/w640-h640/IMG_8125.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy Scoliid Wasp</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2LXubMfNlt0NLvb0fmn1NIORYwNdRB68rNoqKuAPipVc3H6HcVXzfnGbAedb_COZolkU7xf1DyRixtWhpexcC_vB2ezDlUASqk0gTeAAoSrYvgpKcayqJDWT2PYCTXRm3WhdJggsJp1qRVsVmO-H4ZBxgwBYN4twMilmhTFaK1_ittPKB9T7McQ0GxM/s1280/IMG_8129.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2LXubMfNlt0NLvb0fmn1NIORYwNdRB68rNoqKuAPipVc3H6HcVXzfnGbAedb_COZolkU7xf1DyRixtWhpexcC_vB2ezDlUASqk0gTeAAoSrYvgpKcayqJDWT2PYCTXRm3WhdJggsJp1qRVsVmO-H4ZBxgwBYN4twMilmhTFaK1_ittPKB9T7McQ0GxM/w640-h640/IMG_8129.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy Leaf-cutter Bee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqRgvtg_ZvFaUB_Qz92RR_ArTG7w-2ir9tJdDopuQULbp8qgwLMhBBk-SfE8q7Z5uxyD8uNGz-fddzKbGsLn00FzNgaV52UojP_xix7S9cISN_mCbCnbsFkHN_aOtBstQljWH3p7191y2dHUo6DaZPhsSQ74BBChfZHPvbppOejSVTzRjzWAwtf0JGrY/s1280/IMG_8131.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqRgvtg_ZvFaUB_Qz92RR_ArTG7w-2ir9tJdDopuQULbp8qgwLMhBBk-SfE8q7Z5uxyD8uNGz-fddzKbGsLn00FzNgaV52UojP_xix7S9cISN_mCbCnbsFkHN_aOtBstQljWH3p7191y2dHUo6DaZPhsSQ74BBChfZHPvbppOejSVTzRjzWAwtf0JGrY/w640-h640/IMG_8131.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leafhopper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuaLQgqFeyctP4IDzFDaBRJlPjbOT9rdctwZ7aIwF10BEexVquzV9ozoivt6YIWys2vyH_ptBVOimdrAEyZKUNCkzfr8AFIz3RXyyc9WvLe5vjPBw6Y8zmVdnVPAeYaSyBOd_zZPPyxGDtX7JDR8-T0NXY6l-gsURpC4QEt6H9a0Q6V0ZoFVSIVeEp8I/s1280/IMG_8133.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuaLQgqFeyctP4IDzFDaBRJlPjbOT9rdctwZ7aIwF10BEexVquzV9ozoivt6YIWys2vyH_ptBVOimdrAEyZKUNCkzfr8AFIz3RXyyc9WvLe5vjPBw6Y8zmVdnVPAeYaSyBOd_zZPPyxGDtX7JDR8-T0NXY6l-gsURpC4QEt6H9a0Q6V0ZoFVSIVeEp8I/w640-h640/IMG_8133.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny Wasps</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy72X_Ap1fCrS-LdXHoTjyx4zd8SPJh4wWy14_zFx2h-hTQ05Er9Tn4k7JMGUKUEjESjlTX0K-S691S_Fpw0ZlS12qezVYKfzNoUBHbhU-oE6lrSOrR9-NZ6PYBxG4r_8Iy3GbV3T6bfhFWxXHyo2p-84OlLpl7BYP5LuDj3gXLAP44YrPZLBeyzdlZbE/s1280/IMG_8167.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy72X_Ap1fCrS-LdXHoTjyx4zd8SPJh4wWy14_zFx2h-hTQ05Er9Tn4k7JMGUKUEjESjlTX0K-S691S_Fpw0ZlS12qezVYKfzNoUBHbhU-oE6lrSOrR9-NZ6PYBxG4r_8Iy3GbV3T6bfhFWxXHyo2p-84OlLpl7BYP5LuDj3gXLAP44YrPZLBeyzdlZbE/w640-h640/IMG_8167.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planthopper Nymph</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJfkT1OVmdbWE1Q8RDesFpoAQWQhPj0TwZcIqOlAOixqgYR1avRpEy2fCbBAKK7S_5MKZnJjvF0lJf-Il4CZokk2uufBiYAzvOcxkgl0HhP3WGbXxfFqmz5XmOSpQjkN1U55ZDEcK9UiehxaZa4MxgANG8WErxC8Iq1XHzAChiVIJ2xLVP4v4ekaKyqM/s1280/IMG_8157.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJfkT1OVmdbWE1Q8RDesFpoAQWQhPj0TwZcIqOlAOixqgYR1avRpEy2fCbBAKK7S_5MKZnJjvF0lJf-Il4CZokk2uufBiYAzvOcxkgl0HhP3WGbXxfFqmz5XmOSpQjkN1U55ZDEcK9UiehxaZa4MxgANG8WErxC8Iq1XHzAChiVIJ2xLVP4v4ekaKyqM/w640-h640/IMG_8157.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sort of Nectar Feeding Fly</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnDFNlnzyez7NAvvIdvpAxdW36FSL1lzAXS2OC0w-ej8QjRR6n46Nt0BfJ9TQFH8rydLNnVNz7o-ClPosE4Ja7SsZmE8ssdoz-WWlvyjHVH77TkMjN2IUUYV0Y3ntfa1gIkkqY0NGc_zbuF9P3elYpAgfYy1X1AyqtNhH7RTJd0AOhX4sPK2WBj_QfrA/s1280/IMG_8147.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnDFNlnzyez7NAvvIdvpAxdW36FSL1lzAXS2OC0w-ej8QjRR6n46Nt0BfJ9TQFH8rydLNnVNz7o-ClPosE4Ja7SsZmE8ssdoz-WWlvyjHVH77TkMjN2IUUYV0Y3ntfa1gIkkqY0NGc_zbuF9P3elYpAgfYy1X1AyqtNhH7RTJd0AOhX4sPK2WBj_QfrA/w640-h640/IMG_8147.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacewing Egg (circled)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2b_MEbEzbj4woatSuC1imYH0riMMcDAYtrE7N2yri97X6ClLsEPwNBpN2H2e-HiaEh5h5Mn1g-tl5f4DTNyFOTVDN-gvijzeOd3VDFeVpx_vGyMm7VgUXD2toweDKfAtB1aqM_XXrWHXC3fh1pZoip-Iy8l-s3PDf1KJ_jrMkDWx6oJi3LIqcqVmZqM/s1280/IMG_8144.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2b_MEbEzbj4woatSuC1imYH0riMMcDAYtrE7N2yri97X6ClLsEPwNBpN2H2e-HiaEh5h5Mn1g-tl5f4DTNyFOTVDN-gvijzeOd3VDFeVpx_vGyMm7VgUXD2toweDKfAtB1aqM_XXrWHXC3fh1pZoip-Iy8l-s3PDf1KJ_jrMkDWx6oJi3LIqcqVmZqM/w640-h640/IMG_8144.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybeetle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj4xTTSP8-Red12UCSva_zrf1qnMm02RLABAs7JVgY1kheAwAXXckrGgg9R6GG1slXEjsqmhG_-8YU22bgJEdMmgeH0qp4PnZtX50kSYtbiN4M4PErJfUSZUfWEO-KnNYgQlVZLnl7Vj73dPi2AFacz_xyNwmHyOTxaQnB6wWUNvHp8tjAM2Dk3L7c8E/s1280/IMG_8141.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcj4xTTSP8-Red12UCSva_zrf1qnMm02RLABAs7JVgY1kheAwAXXckrGgg9R6GG1slXEjsqmhG_-8YU22bgJEdMmgeH0qp4PnZtX50kSYtbiN4M4PErJfUSZUfWEO-KnNYgQlVZLnl7Vj73dPi2AFacz_xyNwmHyOTxaQnB6wWUNvHp8tjAM2Dk3L7c8E/w640-h640/IMG_8141.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd6YTWt5PvMugrdP-1iUuXkOMlwPy8Kr0iy0iHy_Ty7I6MG1nPYEf76XZCcoqZ7RY5vOHhPM8x73084vjWfswywpGrJYXPbSKbLWR8lNFzTucV0E-7zHsOwQ6wo-r64Cs7kot3QyXYw39y0cdJd3k4Ju2lssEd4uDmTJPMKHJe6cBvn6h8r27QPRsZNo/s1280/IMG_8136.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd6YTWt5PvMugrdP-1iUuXkOMlwPy8Kr0iy0iHy_Ty7I6MG1nPYEf76XZCcoqZ7RY5vOHhPM8x73084vjWfswywpGrJYXPbSKbLWR8lNFzTucV0E-7zHsOwQ6wo-r64Cs7kot3QyXYw39y0cdJd3k4Ju2lssEd4uDmTJPMKHJe6cBvn6h8r27QPRsZNo/w640-h640/IMG_8136.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assassin Bug</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JKDkUgu5Zf9FuIheO17QEz3lkmheL8gDI-7HPA7h3HqpMAoWGDaylZjq1at2uc9e7zRZLsPB5G7EnReJO3D6gdA1aOtZFiLD1rPOubpFBiTlqGWCVNGUO_GiDBs0jmbGU4aOMpFla_5bPAavRYw-mtSCprmxp_BL-9XgsRDFDDYOTRLf9w4Qrt3gjRM/s1280/IMG_8177.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JKDkUgu5Zf9FuIheO17QEz3lkmheL8gDI-7HPA7h3HqpMAoWGDaylZjq1at2uc9e7zRZLsPB5G7EnReJO3D6gdA1aOtZFiLD1rPOubpFBiTlqGWCVNGUO_GiDBs0jmbGU4aOMpFla_5bPAavRYw-mtSCprmxp_BL-9XgsRDFDDYOTRLf9w4Qrt3gjRM/w640-h640/IMG_8177.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crab Spider</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfFFdfXJbikIOE9aYTyafXpISGG26kk5WFI2pvVQ7cR2gHFD9Lz-7jfCAF2C0qCjdKXCTJ2lAhHFfilhOdp1m1D0sHXzlNV5qCLzPgQpbCoOXuU_fTQEuLZ3fhUH55vWAKU2EuIoS2a9cNcMlO-gf96c8VVwilW2RaIy3vFCSQRDLMR0xxBQkRRMzytQ/s1280/IMG_8179.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfFFdfXJbikIOE9aYTyafXpISGG26kk5WFI2pvVQ7cR2gHFD9Lz-7jfCAF2C0qCjdKXCTJ2lAhHFfilhOdp1m1D0sHXzlNV5qCLzPgQpbCoOXuU_fTQEuLZ3fhUH55vWAKU2EuIoS2a9cNcMlO-gf96c8VVwilW2RaIy3vFCSQRDLMR0xxBQkRRMzytQ/w640-h640/IMG_8179.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stink Bug Nymphs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv3WBKRs1bSFvmJXFcDMjKak9Gyk3iFXXPyIxykPsHuDGhVxgynEHHBb4PfFf13391R8FghVIqUCP5ez_75V-w6km-9qwWpMO80h4g9STR_NvlzlqnCWxtdnX8XVRLnhVy4ZgKagr4Wi7rUP5Ux6M6eSOYddny7YeAD6q0QAJce2tIklOo57RnfSueTw/s1280/IMG_8188.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVv3WBKRs1bSFvmJXFcDMjKak9Gyk3iFXXPyIxykPsHuDGhVxgynEHHBb4PfFf13391R8FghVIqUCP5ez_75V-w6km-9qwWpMO80h4g9STR_NvlzlqnCWxtdnX8XVRLnhVy4ZgKagr4Wi7rUP5Ux6M6eSOYddny7YeAD6q0QAJce2tIklOo57RnfSueTw/w640-h640/IMG_8188.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Cocklebur Weevil. They feed "primarily on Asteraceae species, including sunflowers, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur, joe-pye weed, ironweed, and rosinweed"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOb8H1IJLXdVeRET8xf0VTehwTLkhEUiI6FI0anfQU5sIzaLH-JUfDSnPWOwC_ipRyxes08zxfspoSAd2qujfq2xpzlPVWi68CfHbza_mMvNrH0qEX3kY6xgrLN5w5m2Ky76rcGTsnAlW62_MtQ6fEB0m-iK0NYhN_7gKoWlbBhsNkPQ3p3PMY1Frvjc/s1280/IMG_8189.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOb8H1IJLXdVeRET8xf0VTehwTLkhEUiI6FI0anfQU5sIzaLH-JUfDSnPWOwC_ipRyxes08zxfspoSAd2qujfq2xpzlPVWi68CfHbza_mMvNrH0qEX3kY6xgrLN5w5m2Ky76rcGTsnAlW62_MtQ6fEB0m-iK0NYhN_7gKoWlbBhsNkPQ3p3PMY1Frvjc/w640-h640/IMG_8189.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Lynx Spider</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMcXHlzqrRcq3V1k9MFWvR26af1t4OsG0jfa_mZbTIQzeM57MPYsIijrlCQGrxtkpodEJUPKgQkII8XjHJn9SZubwkQFspRqBo-1_jhtYs2PNEQkeuLKfYFPOQJe6JTud4gUQRjpI6nm90K7bU5ldB8gKQkWbVAEyzfdMQip2VttmOo_bxzFR0K4cOdY/s1280/IMG_8192.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMcXHlzqrRcq3V1k9MFWvR26af1t4OsG0jfa_mZbTIQzeM57MPYsIijrlCQGrxtkpodEJUPKgQkII8XjHJn9SZubwkQFspRqBo-1_jhtYs2PNEQkeuLKfYFPOQJe6JTud4gUQRjpI6nm90K7bU5ldB8gKQkWbVAEyzfdMQip2VttmOo_bxzFR0K4cOdY/w640-h640/IMG_8192.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honey Bee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23iPgCRi-WDw_vbxnHt18AlZK_09ScEroI3TLDt7x-eyL7NBMB0jKHiWsfC2Pso6AjfJNaIcVp2vNNdwlhTimHtJsPL7gOqlLUQBdrravwevlLr8xK3UZPburpsqS8NgdQ5jl9xZnhC2l7HiLa48JQHgm8dbps2nxN4oSYM-UA7k79NEUYVJjptJwfsA/s1280/IMG_8197.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23iPgCRi-WDw_vbxnHt18AlZK_09ScEroI3TLDt7x-eyL7NBMB0jKHiWsfC2Pso6AjfJNaIcVp2vNNdwlhTimHtJsPL7gOqlLUQBdrravwevlLr8xK3UZPburpsqS8NgdQ5jl9xZnhC2l7HiLa48JQHgm8dbps2nxN4oSYM-UA7k79NEUYVJjptJwfsA/w640-h640/IMG_8197.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCm3xhjcfLMjKjxmwyxJ7uGGY-VgLtnyjksrAA_thEEOFx_SkK18lB0tM8lGDF-9tcMCrzT-HIRQz9hcUl_C2fxOEcyezfZOD9U6_f1HCHqQwcqxHdi-jjvd_AqUzgrM4z_sEfovhenCf4sghpmDtLWy-MqKoHqpAdSGYVeklndMq8o1Zcaf_g9Ioe-o/s1280/IMG_8208.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCm3xhjcfLMjKjxmwyxJ7uGGY-VgLtnyjksrAA_thEEOFx_SkK18lB0tM8lGDF-9tcMCrzT-HIRQz9hcUl_C2fxOEcyezfZOD9U6_f1HCHqQwcqxHdi-jjvd_AqUzgrM4z_sEfovhenCf4sghpmDtLWy-MqKoHqpAdSGYVeklndMq8o1Zcaf_g9Ioe-o/w640-h640/IMG_8208.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Leaf Cutter Bee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7KmNHSK_wZ38kbXoEs3Wmnc3dAddCADY9tqdSS0uLGrxifaQhKzivjmFRosAYjN982TmFP85kAKxEsMYSnQ0oVGm7szWj_qNNCorvzta0FyPZtnTVE-RGV9egBLxE84JvpIcIOHFXHbLeFyxmjZuX9XHn96OeZenEli1qzifoZxsCe-Q1hzk_GuspcE/s1280/IMG_8211.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7KmNHSK_wZ38kbXoEs3Wmnc3dAddCADY9tqdSS0uLGrxifaQhKzivjmFRosAYjN982TmFP85kAKxEsMYSnQ0oVGm7szWj_qNNCorvzta0FyPZtnTVE-RGV9egBLxE84JvpIcIOHFXHbLeFyxmjZuX9XHn96OeZenEli1qzifoZxsCe-Q1hzk_GuspcE/w640-h640/IMG_8211.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiery Skipper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-66792222663364155772023-02-10T15:20:00.002-05:002023-02-10T15:31:25.190-05:00Dailyappreciation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcywSb34YbKp3vqvnQYAr7UtMrEvnFMGcVEgAIUCtGzWi5vPKxLuKnBy8Did-95VZPDzuAZF4GAW_HqHfY8-N0AebAjsFfdLW_8USDvdDnCZ4foz-wS_rOAfTRlXT9aFC-86feG4CU02VFQCYwqEyfyDqwwOmPW67myG1rWoJhRNd9yKrId_G43a/s1440/IMG_4828.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcywSb34YbKp3vqvnQYAr7UtMrEvnFMGcVEgAIUCtGzWi5vPKxLuKnBy8Did-95VZPDzuAZF4GAW_HqHfY8-N0AebAjsFfdLW_8USDvdDnCZ4foz-wS_rOAfTRlXT9aFC-86feG4CU02VFQCYwqEyfyDqwwOmPW67myG1rWoJhRNd9yKrId_G43a/w640-h480/IMG_4828.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I recently got my copy of Patti Smith's "A Book of Days". It is a collection of a year of her photos and thoughts, memories and celebrations from her Instagram page, most of them created during the pandemic. There is a page for every day of the year. I've really enjoyed it so far and decided to read it one day at a time to fully appreciate the images and messages. Reading her introduction, it dawned on me that I had been doing something similar this past year with my photos and my life. I would never dream of comparing myself to Patti Smith, except in recognizing an intentional practice that we both seemed to have turned to in what she called, "deeply uncertain times". She has been in the habit of taking a photo and writing every day for years. I am a newcomer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPH-M6umTHk4cvL3uOT4hEYwah0bGJo66s6IQ0M0WauAgMe_douT9_ZDIJydGJx_kHNRCG8sJgErEbXZWf36MhP-5fS9LFEQMaBCDaYooaa7UgQds-__yAs9IiQdPw06VDrooVO84_bj1R4tB7nrxrv-b0HoJSBRNVvof7pCJybt3vj0hmNspXgZ1/s3024/IMG_0598.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPH-M6umTHk4cvL3uOT4hEYwah0bGJo66s6IQ0M0WauAgMe_douT9_ZDIJydGJx_kHNRCG8sJgErEbXZWf36MhP-5fS9LFEQMaBCDaYooaa7UgQds-__yAs9IiQdPw06VDrooVO84_bj1R4tB7nrxrv-b0HoJSBRNVvof7pCJybt3vj0hmNspXgZ1/w640-h640/IMG_0598.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I have really been struggling for a while, and especially so in the last 2 years. My optimistic goals to power through the early part of the pandemic with nature walks and writing only worked so long. But then Covid and its variants stayed around and kept coming, and our activities took so long to return to normal, in addition to unbelievable political craziness, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fire, drought, war, shootings, riots, and ecological disasters, including the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake in my home state, I just couldn't keep it up. I tried. I composed dozens of "inspired" essays in my head when I took walks or gardened or went birding, but by the time I got home, I found that most of what I wanted to say felt unimportant and trite along side of the huge issues all around me and I'd let it go. As a result, I rarely posted in my blog. Eventually, I didn't really feel like going on those hikes, or even leaving home unless I had to. I was tired, and didn't see the point. I'm pretty sure I was depressed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFtEl9sbh73KhwXnUuatFm7fLPYI7XRmynLa0r4xBTOO71rhjrl65Bcw5O7zAUE2OA96pygwSxXDxSLgTsi7c60bseS9V-bLY4nOFU1GkQH9G9IgYgox3cSTGUu7u78Jgn3rHwS2lIg_7Ekf4l60R6cuYBfY21v6F5tilX5br34zWKo6hc_hcWbRv/s3024/IMG_9024.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFtEl9sbh73KhwXnUuatFm7fLPYI7XRmynLa0r4xBTOO71rhjrl65Bcw5O7zAUE2OA96pygwSxXDxSLgTsi7c60bseS9V-bLY4nOFU1GkQH9G9IgYgox3cSTGUu7u78Jgn3rHwS2lIg_7Ekf4l60R6cuYBfY21v6F5tilX5br34zWKo6hc_hcWbRv/w640-h640/IMG_9024.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>On New Year's Day 2022 I decided that I needed to do something to pull myself out of the funk. I recognized that I always feel good when I am photographing nature, especially, the tiny things. I felt that a good way to start would be by making myself get out and find at least one thing that caught my attention or made me feel good every day, take a photo, and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #dailyappreciation. Posting made me accountable to other people and it would make it harder for me to ditch my personal goal, and Instagram doesn't necessarily require any text. Brevity is good. Some days I didn't go much further than my back yard, posting photos of a bug on the window, birds at the feeder, or lichen on twigs that fell from the big water oak. But the project forced me to look for something outside of the news, and that felt good. Most of the time I took pictures just with my phone. As the year progressed, and our activities returned to the new normal, we traveled and started visiting with family and friends, attending concerts and festivals again. I flew to visit my mom for the first time in 2 years. Sometimes out of cell phone contact, or traveling in the car cross country, there were days that I scrambled to find a picture and post it. But I was determined. There were a few days that the weather was bad or the day got away from me because I was too busy (a good thing!), and I dug into my photo archives for something memorable from that day sometime in the past, but I tried not to lean too much on that option. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAJfORWipy3EwbbHCI9szeBowZxfY5FGzZh0mJXXp-MgLz54cYrGoRSymN0T5MzLa6RxMKQXC5a_meypwtNTllj0AWiRdEaXrtdQ945EBoH-MJWdXw3pKrSKCYQ2_J7Ak4EaIT6-t0uQfh8V-3lq3DSN5MjesCBJtvcIYLb-e37gpaYCGI2smQpM0/s2472/IMG_9824.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="2472" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAJfORWipy3EwbbHCI9szeBowZxfY5FGzZh0mJXXp-MgLz54cYrGoRSymN0T5MzLa6RxMKQXC5a_meypwtNTllj0AWiRdEaXrtdQ945EBoH-MJWdXw3pKrSKCYQ2_J7Ak4EaIT6-t0uQfh8V-3lq3DSN5MjesCBJtvcIYLb-e37gpaYCGI2smQpM0/w640-h640/IMG_9824.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I started to hear comments from people who thanked me for my posts and that they looked forward to them as something beautiful or interesting each day. Their feedback buoyed me. I had a mission now and did not want to let my followers down. My meditative practice was spreading good energy, not just to me but to my friends. And so I posted every day, sometimes twice, for one year. The resulting body of work made me feel good and looks like a beautiful patchwork quilt in the Instagram layout. If I can ever figure out how to print the year, I will. It would be a cool poster. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJPdq8_zUWUlbznGq1rtd3JzszZgbLP9oogQN-E4BhZ1wNMPs-PcGJ6tz0CJQdMnMRXQWVeUOs9sruCMtq5Xh8Hiyk3tpZtprrQpTQAxByJAx30nJA1DLwGcffj9IEIkHEgNnJ8ELzUChbnzN8CgluSuraTD_nTPo8bJPSIsSGmEMlblTJBOqgTWS/s3024/IMG_4336.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJPdq8_zUWUlbznGq1rtd3JzszZgbLP9oogQN-E4BhZ1wNMPs-PcGJ6tz0CJQdMnMRXQWVeUOs9sruCMtq5Xh8Hiyk3tpZtprrQpTQAxByJAx30nJA1DLwGcffj9IEIkHEgNnJ8ELzUChbnzN8CgluSuraTD_nTPo8bJPSIsSGmEMlblTJBOqgTWS/w640-h640/IMG_4336.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>So here I am, a year later, still working on tuning out the noise. It's still not easy, and I'm afraid the uncertain times will be with us for a long time--maybe forever. But I'll keep looking for those things to appreciate and to steer myself out of the malaise, and I'll work at getting my deep thoughts out of my head and onto the page. Maybe not every day--that gets to be a grind! But I'll keep working and looking for the little things. And I'll keep sharing with my friends, because their feedback makes me feel good, and we all need a little beauty and love in our lives. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nCA-otuLkoLBA7tpxc87v0jpjDe0Laj2IvFnKB4L0Sqy7vV0A2DebKNBL1TigcG2Pir93rbCbeQVu-EIcCTMTpXNcNYAPZRBhWxIPILsMf-dAsVk3ijvs352s8IUBINJZFpondakc66XgywYhbg0mHCsVhgzSi5b6auQwgfEAFJ3_epR58gjFHQf/s2778/IMG_5429.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="1284" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nCA-otuLkoLBA7tpxc87v0jpjDe0Laj2IvFnKB4L0Sqy7vV0A2DebKNBL1TigcG2Pir93rbCbeQVu-EIcCTMTpXNcNYAPZRBhWxIPILsMf-dAsVk3ijvs352s8IUBINJZFpondakc66XgywYhbg0mHCsVhgzSi5b6auQwgfEAFJ3_epR58gjFHQf/w93-h200/IMG_5429.png" width="93" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK_k834ClnlbkEUqEDBXHf2bwV7FS7mehZrKoxMr-PrLMOM2oZc-DFbKnvCZy36DI88QZP6vLK6pE9WClBBWQ1u1ZC-xF6HakPZgURmK5b9RRjbMKSeKFASwikSn8t1_2Maag1fgX_seYBv4Zauq9K6eOLFbfKNurp9TZfisr8idnnasqxQxPzyjR/s2778/IMG_5430.png" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="1284" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2mepBDjre6UFqZaafCYtbTRpQ5Tg02lv9BhW_Uh_uLE7UlAtcer8c-0AVWFFZ9pyUivjqISDMyX3JGNOS2vlNZFpNegarmxWs8Divtu-_6YbTPl5y9RAk31gzIE1_40j_GBb8ALCheV1PRr6gjqWtJsU-Rb5XfmS5o7P7mpBcBvF-EUxla-GuZ4H/w93-h200/IMG_5453.png" width="93" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08_e6QajhlWyuUbjCpg_xyAY3ngD3XCrfAjCeH_IuLhwz_sWBANeKsxQy1wWZapq3I_tFFwNg8E_qg1FaGGz1tflGtTNoEAGsq0a-Xn54DUpsw_6SHzjFjf_oxMDzg2dhaZKMymrqQ4eiTxcnTyr7brJpHj165_9xqgpL68g3I222u-88b68qRFX3/s2778/IMG_5454.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="1284" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08_e6QajhlWyuUbjCpg_xyAY3ngD3XCrfAjCeH_IuLhwz_sWBANeKsxQy1wWZapq3I_tFFwNg8E_qg1FaGGz1tflGtTNoEAGsq0a-Xn54DUpsw_6SHzjFjf_oxMDzg2dhaZKMymrqQ4eiTxcnTyr7brJpHj165_9xqgpL68g3I222u-88b68qRFX3/w93-h200/IMG_5454.png" width="93" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-58829723271459980182021-12-30T11:44:00.001-05:002021-12-31T08:53:59.943-05:00Goodbye 2021<div class="separator"><br /></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwI1BmC6dZIS7LOEtvwkv0pxJXaj2iPKqH3Gdud5pDadwRZpFQxUIwKz8IyBlVya19_RSbbD8EoMZ7Ws9dWwzc5bQFdjqpbM96VxYfeWzF2uii-y48Eh5_mKLbUSikQj8TfHfkQhAsVhzTUwqURBJAGhBehocHg3iarjqlnIahuCv3liJ1j3_wkDya=s5472" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwI1BmC6dZIS7LOEtvwkv0pxJXaj2iPKqH3Gdud5pDadwRZpFQxUIwKz8IyBlVya19_RSbbD8EoMZ7Ws9dWwzc5bQFdjqpbM96VxYfeWzF2uii-y48Eh5_mKLbUSikQj8TfHfkQhAsVhzTUwqURBJAGhBehocHg3iarjqlnIahuCv3liJ1j3_wkDya=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriole and Bluebirds visit our Backyard Feeder Every Winter<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Darn it. I'm so sick of this COVID business, but it looks like we're going to have to keep dealing with it into 2022 now. We all hoped that 2021 would be better, but instead, it was another tough year. Just when we got our long hoped for vaccines and we thought things were looking up, along came Delta, and then Omicron, and here we are in December, masking up and hunkering down again. The 5th wave. It's hard to know if we are being too cautious or not careful enough. While I may feel comfortable with my own risk level, I really fear bringing sickness to others. So for now, we're playing it safe and keeping our distance. I yearn for the days where I felt totally at ease walking into a restaurant or buying concert tickets, or hopping on a plane to California or Argentina. But that doesn't seem smart yet, so we are learning to make do--getting takeout from our favorite restaurants instead of dining in, meeting with friends outside, and traveling longer distances by car. This year we spent Christmas tent camping in Florida and it was really nice, though we were always wary of crowds and potential exposure. I feel fortunate that we have been able to visit with our granddaughters several times this year, and we managed to hold some special celebrations with family and friends. But there is a lot of uncertainty each time we get together with young kids who can't be vaccinated yet or other vulnerable people. I really miss my family who live too far away to drive to for a visit. It can feel very discouraging. I swing back and forth between joy and despair almost daily. But I have to remind myself that just stepping outside can move the gauge to the positive side. It really helps to actively look for daily inspirations, like a firefly or a bird's egg or a full moon, to feel the warm sun and to breathe fresh air. Those things tell me that everything is not FUBAR, and I can feel hopeful that it will get better someday. Meanwhile, I continue enjoy the snug comfort of home with my husband and pets (we got another COVID puppy this year) and video calls with dear family. And I watch the birds and butterflies in my yard and in natural areas around town. I find that photographing and observing nature is my best therapy. It keeps me (relatively!) sane. I really welcome "assignments" like the June Challenge, the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Georgia Pollinator Census that make me get out and exploring, when sometimes I need a little prodding. My resolution for 2022 is to try look for those inspirations every day, and to write more. <p>These are some of my favorite photos from the year. I hope you they you find them soothing, too. Take care and here's to a Happy, Healthy New Year!</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzIK-Vy4EU3TxKUFxRCi9tZyZSo6finS9tmIwroMn78B5TefxkqCaGuZKw9byrqAV_oJW6ujEV88VvPzuAMqzYDHfJldqtsNJEqmVH2IEarFNmhdlBw2piZDfbImu1MKf4anfBe_mlEeJ5pJCZZX_OETjXHyewt7LJotSIj9G_Ln_P9TSIopQ9WDDQ=s5472" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzIK-Vy4EU3TxKUFxRCi9tZyZSo6finS9tmIwroMn78B5TefxkqCaGuZKw9byrqAV_oJW6ujEV88VvPzuAMqzYDHfJldqtsNJEqmVH2IEarFNmhdlBw2piZDfbImu1MKf4anfBe_mlEeJ5pJCZZX_OETjXHyewt7LJotSIj9G_Ln_P9TSIopQ9WDDQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jelly Fungus and Lichen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNVbdiLvCx6JrzdzctbbPiY3oglPG8x5WCoAlW6ajQu3j2qUlc4N6Q04PKdge42ZU3ZU_WG5VqLEeaNYF4fuck-vgneuDqMFlvDnNaz5DFVGETv-vKnBnmCdas5ds9ngPVhT2kvi2wE0s4pao5uC6C6jBGq3XhgGWeDKrrWL21aKlSxk1q-A3KGAJB=s5472" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgNVbdiLvCx6JrzdzctbbPiY3oglPG8x5WCoAlW6ajQu3j2qUlc4N6Q04PKdge42ZU3ZU_WG5VqLEeaNYF4fuck-vgneuDqMFlvDnNaz5DFVGETv-vKnBnmCdas5ds9ngPVhT2kvi2wE0s4pao5uC6C6jBGq3XhgGWeDKrrWL21aKlSxk1q-A3KGAJB=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWr5tNwMzQWZfsBvltMCaIwE8WD3yLcDordEPUUIib46O2E8LpnE5UGlTNjI_F-w-lgniYRbUeqDPf43Byjbml2_SfgrmXGLCQgky9gXFpP_iuWLHYAtQDbvENFfWKk-R5XkB4xxc4248pqyxEQ4HAVz8KaKbV1Iy6Mvyog2tWeYJL22IsaYQswiK9=s5472" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWr5tNwMzQWZfsBvltMCaIwE8WD3yLcDordEPUUIib46O2E8LpnE5UGlTNjI_F-w-lgniYRbUeqDPf43Byjbml2_SfgrmXGLCQgky9gXFpP_iuWLHYAtQDbvENFfWKk-R5XkB4xxc4248pqyxEQ4HAVz8KaKbV1Iy6Mvyog2tWeYJL22IsaYQswiK9=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Siskins arrived in huge numbers this year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZTvCR6F1Z7mH0xDwBwzgJkzDxuUIqGPjEV8Kelrk2rqyFY05A2uJYvFFjdc9AKg4Rvr5jT9aog-_ELUdM3ou9Cq3GpyF7VZkOtFqPTKYFGgAr2IM6SgQsG93_yuLf7LdgfEs2tYDX-Aszwhljf7bow3f6o21Da7_A4QD69wjjnYx7TVlUeTnOpxtA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZTvCR6F1Z7mH0xDwBwzgJkzDxuUIqGPjEV8Kelrk2rqyFY05A2uJYvFFjdc9AKg4Rvr5jT9aog-_ELUdM3ou9Cq3GpyF7VZkOtFqPTKYFGgAr2IM6SgQsG93_yuLf7LdgfEs2tYDX-Aszwhljf7bow3f6o21Da7_A4QD69wjjnYx7TVlUeTnOpxtA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjRbTPonOFxI3xTEglaeOLS9sqr9E7-fowPDKP-_vl9B70e35x_CMRnNTTijQks7HJ30qVJyXoNuwAGnZM4-fW1bcm2sjhXr3MNYmdeY_VtjZd2yCrCbZr617Q1t9_E1Wlg1Ii7AYDjGtB35FafQE1SCplWlWtkeT5O7qwyP_EE6If9zlLyUHQXpQH=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjRbTPonOFxI3xTEglaeOLS9sqr9E7-fowPDKP-_vl9B70e35x_CMRnNTTijQks7HJ30qVJyXoNuwAGnZM4-fW1bcm2sjhXr3MNYmdeY_VtjZd2yCrCbZr617Q1t9_E1Wlg1Ii7AYDjGtB35FafQE1SCplWlWtkeT5O7qwyP_EE6If9zlLyUHQXpQH=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field of Bloodroot Flowers (Sanguinaria canadensis)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvT7Su3iO56R1kl7IcAzaS_KSAFQ3I_e9GgvFP1Lb2ywXv3qCAZD-TAcBjKy6viv763ROin0q-Es-SrxQy2V3VdOXo0jJYpcxzILRqWMbD73y9pw55E81-cF4hGeKETtUq5_ddUGrgqwbHz1O3dXX8nNiPt6TTZVwzXj8x3Ofs8V2mew6ds6wsC7_0=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjvT7Su3iO56R1kl7IcAzaS_KSAFQ3I_e9GgvFP1Lb2ywXv3qCAZD-TAcBjKy6viv763ROin0q-Es-SrxQy2V3VdOXo0jJYpcxzILRqWMbD73y9pw55E81-cF4hGeKETtUq5_ddUGrgqwbHz1O3dXX8nNiPt6TTZVwzXj8x3Ofs8V2mew6ds6wsC7_0=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Jessamine means Spring is here!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBMztKk8yqYbYMOTvoDCmWzlFPapiqo7EqjOvBkykvQ5aOy2bVSp8xGkmORfb2687N-PzUnUkaKrUumRrAAdn8cPPP5pMtoVAvJMuPMAFdPmrbrAZU7swphvkftmrrUMRzst6wfIy6iP02RaPZYsOVJb8VHjtXlplAL6-wlOGmSG4AMjDgYmHQvqo_=s4544" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3029" data-original-width="4544" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBMztKk8yqYbYMOTvoDCmWzlFPapiqo7EqjOvBkykvQ5aOy2bVSp8xGkmORfb2687N-PzUnUkaKrUumRrAAdn8cPPP5pMtoVAvJMuPMAFdPmrbrAZU7swphvkftmrrUMRzst6wfIy6iP02RaPZYsOVJb8VHjtXlplAL6-wlOGmSG4AMjDgYmHQvqo_=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juniper Hairstreak on Elf Orpine (Diamorpha smallii)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjTL5AIfmFCqTae5X5G-N9FQfYdy8MMivy_ieEK4_NG-BAYtawTIF6xpycVmW8LYDpJL8gARvs4iMJSKUHjjoL6GCivER5IWmPVdJJCzmbGNNmntlq37CzMpZcrJsO-vRrRGKLOwzelinKzn-6n-rPyBeFaXIF83vgg8w1Ps33ZGz4v_xD51aqnnP=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjTL5AIfmFCqTae5X5G-N9FQfYdy8MMivy_ieEK4_NG-BAYtawTIF6xpycVmW8LYDpJL8gARvs4iMJSKUHjjoL6GCivER5IWmPVdJJCzmbGNNmntlq37CzMpZcrJsO-vRrRGKLOwzelinKzn-6n-rPyBeFaXIF83vgg8w1Ps33ZGz4v_xD51aqnnP=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunnybell (Schoenolirion croceum) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCGKv2jZP4TYbkcsO5LBDt9oWv27TA6G_bxg6IzU8TPsufbVS52JAAQlairB3XLBAKX6-_JcGolRgubFIghvp2Y46dzXcCqiRUDcUSR4h2tGZmPQJnzq8kpsJoPOKJwRCWRiVf-SBbywfY9V2F23ptHwibCWyhkxILVJt3lkrK6gkpm1HK9_1_VMhW=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5568" data-original-width="3712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCGKv2jZP4TYbkcsO5LBDt9oWv27TA6G_bxg6IzU8TPsufbVS52JAAQlairB3XLBAKX6-_JcGolRgubFIghvp2Y46dzXcCqiRUDcUSR4h2tGZmPQJnzq8kpsJoPOKJwRCWRiVf-SBbywfY9V2F23ptHwibCWyhkxILVJt3lkrK6gkpm1HK9_1_VMhW=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzFnd6q6tbWIoH3xIpnZt62_7dmUDTeX7FedIUF7FRwtIuE49z8Kbbnb_yoIDEQnvJok9KuexujQ4BwrJXHgzlMvVzFDGbOHuOFEE08zbnp6e0_dF33cRa-PPVu3fpw8rxU01Rv6sGsoRX_CjMUCMpWdcx9Q1y1l12KoAtgMSAXxAJlG9kv1GCSvRj=s4404" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2936" data-original-width="4404" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzFnd6q6tbWIoH3xIpnZt62_7dmUDTeX7FedIUF7FRwtIuE49z8Kbbnb_yoIDEQnvJok9KuexujQ4BwrJXHgzlMvVzFDGbOHuOFEE08zbnp6e0_dF33cRa-PPVu3fpw8rxU01Rv6sGsoRX_CjMUCMpWdcx9Q1y1l12KoAtgMSAXxAJlG9kv1GCSvRj=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scruffy Baby Cardinal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuW8bTSVwce18SaZY0X12AcGwc70CeRi00isaAmU09upVWM3GwfDusdZuqpMRuj8DWpz4czX2hvwmj3anVuT_jZsfKic3tAqkMNerALPy5YPkcIaxHfvFP1nVQ0OjvuLYwe7axGhb9WF9p4nS7TnltogfUal4-iimi2wXKN8Tm9G6Xqne0bJMq8kIB=s5472" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuW8bTSVwce18SaZY0X12AcGwc70CeRi00isaAmU09upVWM3GwfDusdZuqpMRuj8DWpz4czX2hvwmj3anVuT_jZsfKic3tAqkMNerALPy5YPkcIaxHfvFP1nVQ0OjvuLYwe7axGhb9WF9p4nS7TnltogfUal4-iimi2wXKN8Tm9G6Xqne0bJMq8kIB=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)by our pond had a good year!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd3XLaqdebkXJykcQVC0cm3nQgMfAUK0Q-tsOMaNtnbl3h9GDpGbpQq7ChuH6fDUWN-Mwa5h-_6exvZoXXB-6_7rBEN-T47WTz2mF1kP-gmwN6Fhb0RueGi2cmy8WJqh8EOUh60VgUd5VvOaSDcxK25OVf9ilA7KuCiRG_cNND6DwsjvWv0a-fxZii=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd3XLaqdebkXJykcQVC0cm3nQgMfAUK0Q-tsOMaNtnbl3h9GDpGbpQq7ChuH6fDUWN-Mwa5h-_6exvZoXXB-6_7rBEN-T47WTz2mF1kP-gmwN6Fhb0RueGi2cmy8WJqh8EOUh60VgUd5VvOaSDcxK25OVf9ilA7KuCiRG_cNND6DwsjvWv0a-fxZii=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower Fly on Spiderwort (Tradescantia hirsuticaulis)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihc0-kvh6QwieQItwcgySibl-AT9Mib02n_7PThEn4oTW8LZAWwY_B7OZEmfs3XAgvoeognfwxeWimBs5idHP1eyDdLus97xwTOCxy2LxLQ86wmaLikEmsHQqA3Ya7nalcf9D3zBM7xlvh93gPwVG8gmxkZgz8I4ELT-YbFLEbMLNrPYWjj_i_p4XJ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihc0-kvh6QwieQItwcgySibl-AT9Mib02n_7PThEn4oTW8LZAWwY_B7OZEmfs3XAgvoeognfwxeWimBs5idHP1eyDdLus97xwTOCxy2LxLQ86wmaLikEmsHQqA3Ya7nalcf9D3zBM7xlvh93gPwVG8gmxkZgz8I4ELT-YbFLEbMLNrPYWjj_i_p4XJ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ants drinking water and probably nectar from Tulip Tree flower petal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_QKKtIEdigbQ4Nyhts4bzgpzSNXTOH2Ym-PYGSjSx7k1BnXuP3Pz59J8HLLmwn_76hQzvwsop-CC4n_E2shHPTtoW5U1T-GL9TL9kCu_sQcQ4hrnXAc_lFHFO5GrMpEt7piqBD3vxQ-6DLm7g2s3E-hvqi8HFTTJo4owECRfTS1ioyGvuD81MpABl=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_QKKtIEdigbQ4Nyhts4bzgpzSNXTOH2Ym-PYGSjSx7k1BnXuP3Pz59J8HLLmwn_76hQzvwsop-CC4n_E2shHPTtoW5U1T-GL9TL9kCu_sQcQ4hrnXAc_lFHFO5GrMpEt7piqBD3vxQ-6DLm7g2s3E-hvqi8HFTTJo4owECRfTS1ioyGvuD81MpABl=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-eyed Vireo looks out of her nest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim2UDoNrtVNyJJLFI8osm71nlJKjL4i7KI5pmj-ecq16xKU23QqSbFKm7aplBZLxWC0u_SuC8wj204pNk_lqIycsFyk0cQlsPSJiGe1tkdb4H7SIHrMJTGrBl-qlK5FYb1GPWA1WeWiGB7ZetCQzUECTjJ7QaH8wEA7QbAw0_B2lVIzf_R5jZ0mjkN=s2491" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2491" data-original-width="2453" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEim2UDoNrtVNyJJLFI8osm71nlJKjL4i7KI5pmj-ecq16xKU23QqSbFKm7aplBZLxWC0u_SuC8wj204pNk_lqIycsFyk0cQlsPSJiGe1tkdb4H7SIHrMJTGrBl-qlK5FYb1GPWA1WeWiGB7ZetCQzUECTjJ7QaH8wEA7QbAw0_B2lVIzf_R5jZ0mjkN=w630-h640" width="630" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiery Searcher Beetle Wing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWymUnujvQA9FYW3TBX2QCI7-IyzEaocb0UFMd6jUFC4MuobvF_ZmIFi3WYZlSRvJyxXTtgJZsHC7iQhb-jVxi2PxEoc-9dLP8rHJD5kMk_8r4AWxIJCdnC2gGxjlbfxO7sPd95-lV7u2avUTSoq5rmAWn1hbF-kqpI2AvwSmkLK_4BqSLC5Ne3b2=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwWymUnujvQA9FYW3TBX2QCI7-IyzEaocb0UFMd6jUFC4MuobvF_ZmIFi3WYZlSRvJyxXTtgJZsHC7iQhb-jVxi2PxEoc-9dLP8rHJD5kMk_8r4AWxIJCdnC2gGxjlbfxO7sPd95-lV7u2avUTSoq5rmAWn1hbF-kqpI2AvwSmkLK_4BqSLC5Ne3b2=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough Green Snake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6jsTmeSjtAzIqy875HloT5haojEeKdyDCkJ-GzLNX-Zsve_FD6y3yQT8RKPwFLHy9ij77t5KEEdMaqhbatkPbLGGOLdOK0EFaCK3hDs7gfnTJFBH6pmc8dQ4EITnoPLDn2oj8FP3uMbNzINM4H6NSfJXE4-OZ4TDsQvt1Dyhw-vnb8RQsTn1fg4fw=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6jsTmeSjtAzIqy875HloT5haojEeKdyDCkJ-GzLNX-Zsve_FD6y3yQT8RKPwFLHy9ij77t5KEEdMaqhbatkPbLGGOLdOK0EFaCK3hDs7gfnTJFBH6pmc8dQ4EITnoPLDn2oj8FP3uMbNzINM4H6NSfJXE4-OZ4TDsQvt1Dyhw-vnb8RQsTn1fg4fw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drone Fly on a Daisy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9uoY2DoaI_v1wknChqKaImojud8qIujHe0Zi00NCiZpyQhxZS_WMe6zVdz6XDv840bDn-8oidlPettQj4IqhmjAZqMljs8IGOa_WAgv0geDMU6jkKnH1m9_3rQQgSRkGofygFVhts0Dbc1KWLswrTZNo8N5u7Q1KJB9PCPGZNzSnooCVvjlSdWgPj=s5009" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5009" data-original-width="3339" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9uoY2DoaI_v1wknChqKaImojud8qIujHe0Zi00NCiZpyQhxZS_WMe6zVdz6XDv840bDn-8oidlPettQj4IqhmjAZqMljs8IGOa_WAgv0geDMU6jkKnH1m9_3rQQgSRkGofygFVhts0Dbc1KWLswrTZNo8N5u7Q1KJB9PCPGZNzSnooCVvjlSdWgPj=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click Beetle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHTvRIR5YpXk7sxLSMO9alEZecSWr_PkiOIdag9ltJMxqW7LbKciPEfgqny4kFTa4voUxIwMrG9xkB4aOkzvv8SpP9__RpuUd_5YUF0luGxdC_nfLe2e4GvMMLAAyYm-gwgXxrv-GW17AzG-U1I9weAxm_X43SSOzdAvprQYKEYwPH3XgdO5imJ0Zc=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHTvRIR5YpXk7sxLSMO9alEZecSWr_PkiOIdag9ltJMxqW7LbKciPEfgqny4kFTa4voUxIwMrG9xkB4aOkzvv8SpP9__RpuUd_5YUF0luGxdC_nfLe2e4GvMMLAAyYm-gwgXxrv-GW17AzG-U1I9weAxm_X43SSOzdAvprQYKEYwPH3XgdO5imJ0Zc=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planthopper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg90pJ_BkTflGOM9JFGf0jJVm-MYxXyuMsqNoyF9qclo1KB3yWS8DH7PNYeQQ4SsIPQc8KOkrbtfhZTC3wwx6KMBGLuXyeiVYn6JDa2KLhLp0cSxh68ltGu5WzMrgO1LC4j_bl5XheP2bdLTpZWfwWi2wYskRHL1iZyGhfPAd9Xm_YFCTtaShx-WAHz=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg90pJ_BkTflGOM9JFGf0jJVm-MYxXyuMsqNoyF9qclo1KB3yWS8DH7PNYeQQ4SsIPQc8KOkrbtfhZTC3wwx6KMBGLuXyeiVYn6JDa2KLhLp0cSxh68ltGu5WzMrgO1LC4j_bl5XheP2bdLTpZWfwWi2wYskRHL1iZyGhfPAd9Xm_YFCTtaShx-WAHz=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuliptree Silkmoth in the parking lot at Tractor Supply!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAnGIdp-jajpgJRAWDaSkOw-2qVtNnc4iAtJG1ibnCNc4JHSgbx8-KULKQhmM5NGB8dvw0C_s6-nNq0V_LnHHv5cHosaYFSatr6ZeQ3fjkhS5MJpwOVXN2AUs8-fJGE-bB8xSQi9NbzZypHsgKEgs_qUAlDNXe64DIW24MjIvQvMhoOiwyGP16yrrT=s4723" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4723" data-original-width="3149" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAnGIdp-jajpgJRAWDaSkOw-2qVtNnc4iAtJG1ibnCNc4JHSgbx8-KULKQhmM5NGB8dvw0C_s6-nNq0V_LnHHv5cHosaYFSatr6ZeQ3fjkhS5MJpwOVXN2AUs8-fJGE-bB8xSQi9NbzZypHsgKEgs_qUAlDNXe64DIW24MjIvQvMhoOiwyGP16yrrT=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mating Eastern Forktail Damselflies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii0nw91pBzBX2cnFs1wfIOn6PrItQMv0lkA6z9Pt5NTxDTAY8NaLZwj30RA8qd847zqotdufkGPbG6MS3Jomt3Zb50JsBcoZZ85TRJ6CSe3KrToWzuLIwqEGXNwZ2TG3Icf9suttUIp5jKhdRTPlvxjw-N-7vFzOuL_-35NVVTBku9-jM3Fj4BgEUS=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEii0nw91pBzBX2cnFs1wfIOn6PrItQMv0lkA6z9Pt5NTxDTAY8NaLZwj30RA8qd847zqotdufkGPbG6MS3Jomt3Zb50JsBcoZZ85TRJ6CSe3KrToWzuLIwqEGXNwZ2TG3Icf9suttUIp5jKhdRTPlvxjw-N-7vFzOuL_-35NVVTBku9-jM3Fj4BgEUS=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Anole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTaQs1uMx7r1sTdbccj-_ZlEmY4D324S9zUj0nMuD1AA4N021aw5WZRKFXSDyv5av2qg-4QAp4-PGjd_pFwTJI7STTUbHQRswQZ9L3IkLHo6Zt4n3wdjL6YIgKuFsr_M06pZkzIfwpCZDWGwniEc1VQ1LniI9Zm9hZzTLsJgNawZrSk-mWkj0xVJw3=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTaQs1uMx7r1sTdbccj-_ZlEmY4D324S9zUj0nMuD1AA4N021aw5WZRKFXSDyv5av2qg-4QAp4-PGjd_pFwTJI7STTUbHQRswQZ9L3IkLHo6Zt4n3wdjL6YIgKuFsr_M06pZkzIfwpCZDWGwniEc1VQ1LniI9Zm9hZzTLsJgNawZrSk-mWkj0xVJw3=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Gree Tree frog next to Japanese Flower Beetle for size comparison</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWrejQYA4_s0UEP1VbR_BXmYwF6Ln3_tv3YitJSbzqPYUCdc73eJBAo8MmNj_vr7Vuik1cyVOqRxch81xJC00x6bzE0Ur8R3Dt0qcEFlVFF3dwkv94QQQFsaybkQVowBaXnATW95fc97znjNwryN4msPM_Foa3mAGgVdO_QpbrO7ov4sGoxvaCZuRE=s4527" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3018" data-original-width="4527" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWrejQYA4_s0UEP1VbR_BXmYwF6Ln3_tv3YitJSbzqPYUCdc73eJBAo8MmNj_vr7Vuik1cyVOqRxch81xJC00x6bzE0Ur8R3Dt0qcEFlVFF3dwkv94QQQFsaybkQVowBaXnATW95fc97znjNwryN4msPM_Foa3mAGgVdO_QpbrO7ov4sGoxvaCZuRE=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Tailed Blue on Mountain Mint</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigS34Q3rzvPP9nFNWodRprJR-V49tRbdKXID4WGGNHRaC7lm56oCIT8Uz9re_xC1uixahZ7X9yRFQYG4cVMsY3NF8rB_L5AJuoNOHmhqmHLmB0MrsYncEy1X22WSsX8NS5dSbp2qEFTfH7aVl-yb7Ro8d0N-eyte79cmZ_kkEkVHdcWLGFJHfbmeaZ=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigS34Q3rzvPP9nFNWodRprJR-V49tRbdKXID4WGGNHRaC7lm56oCIT8Uz9re_xC1uixahZ7X9yRFQYG4cVMsY3NF8rB_L5AJuoNOHmhqmHLmB0MrsYncEy1X22WSsX8NS5dSbp2qEFTfH7aVl-yb7Ro8d0N-eyte79cmZ_kkEkVHdcWLGFJHfbmeaZ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby Throated Hummingbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikYWsq6kSZGh2do2bwgMZPBfwC_bnJ9oxCpmaQm4sy35yg_jczhfDITmbYcQnJgqMfhwCUNT4ZLBv9DPvMj9r6lDdd2AlPi6C5Q9zjxkTPxdmg9tGKRAAL_-G21sEhoYnxwWTVWdbvAHCkzymJy2MU_9814Q-Bi2h-vFw_i0eSsrPR4UHH6u60GvxP=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikYWsq6kSZGh2do2bwgMZPBfwC_bnJ9oxCpmaQm4sy35yg_jczhfDITmbYcQnJgqMfhwCUNT4ZLBv9DPvMj9r6lDdd2AlPi6C5Q9zjxkTPxdmg9tGKRAAL_-G21sEhoYnxwWTVWdbvAHCkzymJy2MU_9814Q-Bi2h-vFw_i0eSsrPR4UHH6u60GvxP=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Lynx Spider with prey</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyLLVBtRBGN-4vnVjxO9gOMDAWahMbykMQTgqTG5-vsPYhn08QW-cY2nlW-kR7NwMa-onxyLK4cx6R4W6e_2bF1Hc_idJoaIBrgEBFdMVYnCpNT82sTafqG6hSYiM9I3nzT5QN-KOKogJcgLz_jQ3nd8cNIpXXNLMfO2qFL10kD9YgYmEzeKKyWfMh=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyLLVBtRBGN-4vnVjxO9gOMDAWahMbykMQTgqTG5-vsPYhn08QW-cY2nlW-kR7NwMa-onxyLK4cx6R4W6e_2bF1Hc_idJoaIBrgEBFdMVYnCpNT82sTafqG6hSYiM9I3nzT5QN-KOKogJcgLz_jQ3nd8cNIpXXNLMfO2qFL10kD9YgYmEzeKKyWfMh=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween Caterpillar (Variegated Fritillary)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE7jo007hkRH-1L1rIKNChrhr3mTRGs6sI5YBHiXwyFEhMtSSyFBT3U0ia_Jwno8PtQ_Pv4LWwhHYb_Txv7-U7BnNUyYh9sQ8LnCHxwqIGPaAHM-SKywaO2g6KcifUek-9ttwtkiO24IImTGUibaqF5_-4gBzKm4hRZJYjqI_JQvP82SsPfmExSwLH=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE7jo007hkRH-1L1rIKNChrhr3mTRGs6sI5YBHiXwyFEhMtSSyFBT3U0ia_Jwno8PtQ_Pv4LWwhHYb_Txv7-U7BnNUyYh9sQ8LnCHxwqIGPaAHM-SKywaO2g6KcifUek-9ttwtkiO24IImTGUibaqF5_-4gBzKm4hRZJYjqI_JQvP82SsPfmExSwLH=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Magnolia Blossom and stamens</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsfEqAkrHRuJSwCf6_XAAgPlztFrZvyKDYSgrkxLrMPESBOHYgQB7ugGnqmY9BqtfJRiuhtJ3OiCyp12KfLlWbYp0wHz2whg18FZ0uqxuG_xFMd3gpynERqdX5nBpVJheZ1tSoOZGHJvbopO6NkiGaAPzpChEIQfbe5TLwgeDp7fqBftCSx58HoRlt=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsfEqAkrHRuJSwCf6_XAAgPlztFrZvyKDYSgrkxLrMPESBOHYgQB7ugGnqmY9BqtfJRiuhtJ3OiCyp12KfLlWbYp0wHz2whg18FZ0uqxuG_xFMd3gpynERqdX5nBpVJheZ1tSoOZGHJvbopO6NkiGaAPzpChEIQfbe5TLwgeDp7fqBftCSx58HoRlt=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral or White-Fingered Slime Mold, a millipede and an ant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3oEF_ck9GbM4--OS8DhZrdj6YMO6kIBsIgzRyqBX1hBrpYnsk3mpsPzfaOoq2Ny0BwtMpHneJVQb6SmF5pQA-_Usmj3FFIk3K_QpBVk3uMpGAbcSPmUb0X0xiHy0W59qEIoqB4Xf7WkboYw_pE69uRST1p7PrJfSwvqMnRuWKp6U4u1PvOym0IRPX=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3oEF_ck9GbM4--OS8DhZrdj6YMO6kIBsIgzRyqBX1hBrpYnsk3mpsPzfaOoq2Ny0BwtMpHneJVQb6SmF5pQA-_Usmj3FFIk3K_QpBVk3uMpGAbcSPmUb0X0xiHy0W59qEIoqB4Xf7WkboYw_pE69uRST1p7PrJfSwvqMnRuWKp6U4u1PvOym0IRPX=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Rick Rack Plant" (Desmodium sp.)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizV5Yky3u1rNsHDymLwj61VYFXaRPbViBfgm-otzxN9h2-bbGuAxMzHplNaekJXUsjLyqGyviRuQuX_kz5IXcUaaBD4mm9-v2B0fiwtnXKn_oEhz64ef-uI2G4ssckig1-LsUhyW-MAEh_PxagJYP_7QMfSvV1JzvV69w70oU7bCGQYj1qiscYcv_l=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizV5Yky3u1rNsHDymLwj61VYFXaRPbViBfgm-otzxN9h2-bbGuAxMzHplNaekJXUsjLyqGyviRuQuX_kz5IXcUaaBD4mm9-v2B0fiwtnXKn_oEhz64ef-uI2G4ssckig1-LsUhyW-MAEh_PxagJYP_7QMfSvV1JzvV69w70oU7bCGQYj1qiscYcv_l=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Box Turtle in the road at Sandy Creek Nature Center</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHBfho9I8EanXfR7ysk37XWOxqwqqJl0M2E4vbsWzvpZSiJTK20rNxSQyutORGlUmxlVN-PAKdgD_J-EVOeNc8YmsJwSznnoV_fcqqCSjD24JSPOyYSa9hooJIRq3B0NS3Zk-RHKOrhBkd4_DZ1Qzgcw8qMlO62rPnWwXjiAF1dmuMv7zLraVwbtWe=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHBfho9I8EanXfR7ysk37XWOxqwqqJl0M2E4vbsWzvpZSiJTK20rNxSQyutORGlUmxlVN-PAKdgD_J-EVOeNc8YmsJwSznnoV_fcqqCSjD24JSPOyYSa9hooJIRq3B0NS3Zk-RHKOrhBkd4_DZ1Qzgcw8qMlO62rPnWwXjiAF1dmuMv7zLraVwbtWe=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Magnolia seed pod</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhop92k7s8QaNzdqVSnVwhxYVipY4JR8DFDakqWXCsCANj9iUlrYxXRL8_JWzf68_swbPij9X3HLUCmNqphX0k28m9YD7Tmv3H8ClOmLnx5c6CMNzyNTaLPXJGKpU2-I1aLD95sogdSOY4ofwIptuzS-fjkpjB_M39nBvpbBqElAMfx80ZB6BrnhZ4_=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhop92k7s8QaNzdqVSnVwhxYVipY4JR8DFDakqWXCsCANj9iUlrYxXRL8_JWzf68_swbPij9X3HLUCmNqphX0k28m9YD7Tmv3H8ClOmLnx5c6CMNzyNTaLPXJGKpU2-I1aLD95sogdSOY4ofwIptuzS-fjkpjB_M39nBvpbBqElAMfx80ZB6BrnhZ4_=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape May Warbler in the yard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDUGLVm8pw10mii6obuyRhK6NDcd_UfBYj0-Jc-jo6sqsPvbZyHnsjuLT3aNiWkkGa9N63FVLd8nWyY6oP0H5JR0wNS4wTthqvZaI97SZwejph2lCSITJCTR_gifKqot4xm-i-molQu4WblddfKI5NSOaRG_YIpVhD0nKedU-YtbtjPBaPt--nSCbj=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDUGLVm8pw10mii6obuyRhK6NDcd_UfBYj0-Jc-jo6sqsPvbZyHnsjuLT3aNiWkkGa9N63FVLd8nWyY6oP0H5JR0wNS4wTthqvZaI97SZwejph2lCSITJCTR_gifKqot4xm-i-molQu4WblddfKI5NSOaRG_YIpVhD0nKedU-YtbtjPBaPt--nSCbj=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside out mushroom by our pond<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik6XjEa36_UahD4--HhojNrVEFJjxPmx3AN_S5ExAdK0X3Z8kn8ItXDDhJ_jYm_Oz0nG8z5lCqe38ByorxG1m9TZH5bT4xGvFiH0kef_4tjzMMtcdeGwh5RpEhtQnzB9Yad106abRMlcD7tdEQySjA5co7mi5U_5srQBmzI5MKF5bCLH-EqiKBFZZ8=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEik6XjEa36_UahD4--HhojNrVEFJjxPmx3AN_S5ExAdK0X3Z8kn8ItXDDhJ_jYm_Oz0nG8z5lCqe38ByorxG1m9TZH5bT4xGvFiH0kef_4tjzMMtcdeGwh5RpEhtQnzB9Yad106abRMlcD7tdEQySjA5co7mi5U_5srQBmzI5MKF5bCLH-EqiKBFZZ8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our COVID Puppies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEpM52iCNbGxN3_-rKq3_hZIXY5izKSSGDvZh-MuythemfBs5_TWzLXW0QfIgGwX2pfKxWnOpqWkEDGl6eL8gYX6T2PCNGmPGJWQpAQNs8B4ympTxNnPjEE7mbOVc639q-HzeX_M3mcqR57r8ez8iu7qLMeDmvhoX_RE-1sEXrr6azA5wgaLVJ7Luc=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjEpM52iCNbGxN3_-rKq3_hZIXY5izKSSGDvZh-MuythemfBs5_TWzLXW0QfIgGwX2pfKxWnOpqWkEDGl6eL8gYX6T2PCNGmPGJWQpAQNs8B4ympTxNnPjEE7mbOVc639q-HzeX_M3mcqR57r8ez8iu7qLMeDmvhoX_RE-1sEXrr6azA5wgaLVJ7Luc=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Camping<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw2fV0tn_GEqlN1UHdTB4Vm9vio7h03bxJ0AqSRZNzmLKGQjEagjpuyv1daD9JkyF1w6z3Se3iqCU5o712D7YnvnjkINS5bf-Ulns8NAJIh5_4gc1L8CMnFQEaAx164nC4jASZok49u20-H0ipSKL6YokCJrolrdWRINElD-blyfl9qtSnn4MdWYt-=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgw2fV0tn_GEqlN1UHdTB4Vm9vio7h03bxJ0AqSRZNzmLKGQjEagjpuyv1daD9JkyF1w6z3Se3iqCU5o712D7YnvnjkINS5bf-Ulns8NAJIh5_4gc1L8CMnFQEaAx164nC4jASZok49u20-H0ipSKL6YokCJrolrdWRINElD-blyfl9qtSnn4MdWYt-=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snail Kite in Florida</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwZ3Gxidoy0XutPZGXRIC7t7Dopc_1m7OQN-y9r-pDkA3AcPcAuFYEm_w246SCZPuGA0KQ2FUaq_X-tF2aBgVrhh_AHSUYQ9twnif95lUSvgODAXRaZE6zvOEqxTu3w8eB4KrixFuB_59KULcAsgg9p3QuDkiUKxBTg5fqPx9LGZv-51LSHdbKc8N-=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwZ3Gxidoy0XutPZGXRIC7t7Dopc_1m7OQN-y9r-pDkA3AcPcAuFYEm_w246SCZPuGA0KQ2FUaq_X-tF2aBgVrhh_AHSUYQ9twnif95lUSvgODAXRaZE6zvOEqxTu3w8eB4KrixFuB_59KULcAsgg9p3QuDkiUKxBTg5fqPx9LGZv-51LSHdbKc8N-=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Cranes in Florida</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNND64bHqFdWS9hU6r8EYv09NDFvLRMsr41s7cIGIPKj6o2YEBX5rlM3wiDWXen2kVJXG7lsbjUREBKR3EHXgtqTLjHzhNokMMzU0NdJyHuu-qTdJTSsR3VcfYLXn-RDzrjvj4dltR99gBs4HXJWikr2QeImZ7a2umMFYzeX4AEowvzniijiDjStY1=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNND64bHqFdWS9hU6r8EYv09NDFvLRMsr41s7cIGIPKj6o2YEBX5rlM3wiDWXen2kVJXG7lsbjUREBKR3EHXgtqTLjHzhNokMMzU0NdJyHuu-qTdJTSsR3VcfYLXn-RDzrjvj4dltR99gBs4HXJWikr2QeImZ7a2umMFYzeX4AEowvzniijiDjStY1=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Lichen at Christmas Campsite</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiLcPvDtLJ6ntrxRnYFIRc0MvRYvxxwuQ_8-Bl7VnTAQni-flEwcJcNegs1y196EULfKRpMjy5MT4MJwDoi6PSJX6V2PWtFof_FeT2ccNwETo1dt8BQ6bAcYMtGcGYwQ-f5pmKvX1mequ3uZ7_AAv6v3--KLA-THyuKteYjVwwoPr56RoYrHeMKZI8=s5568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3712" data-original-width="5568" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgiLcPvDtLJ6ntrxRnYFIRc0MvRYvxxwuQ_8-Bl7VnTAQni-flEwcJcNegs1y196EULfKRpMjy5MT4MJwDoi6PSJX6V2PWtFof_FeT2ccNwETo1dt8BQ6bAcYMtGcGYwQ-f5pmKvX1mequ3uZ7_AAv6v3--KLA-THyuKteYjVwwoPr56RoYrHeMKZI8=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer on the Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP4t2D1ksspyOQfNigGC-stqof4-jjU_HEEoojela1tOKsi7SsfqJ37svGoLji9kl-Fe96TWcYUBH5y3PIx9m2YzifNkzRKhRjsJ4_NfYVjOV6b2O4-AUWktAODwB3gzJMC_RmHqVWHXEzRblUDejVpUvhfoRqFYc_4yc2NvjZ5v8pA6R0JC7HaE25=s4608" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjP4t2D1ksspyOQfNigGC-stqof4-jjU_HEEoojela1tOKsi7SsfqJ37svGoLji9kl-Fe96TWcYUBH5y3PIx9m2YzifNkzRKhRjsJ4_NfYVjOV6b2O4-AUWktAODwB3gzJMC_RmHqVWHXEzRblUDejVpUvhfoRqFYc_4yc2NvjZ5v8pA6R0JC7HaE25=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida Sunset<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-83380234852555970822021-06-28T16:59:00.000-04:002021-06-28T16:59:57.844-04:00Happy Birthday to my Hiking Friend<p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d3i84-X4Fw6AAIa_AN8PzDztlWvNBv00L2TxgdlvvDUcGndoiwL-XY4wOl8-NjtSNvdFUMT50KsfZzw6tTnCMIRO47DPfda3SOroiCsBdW9HyVYSDowbcjRex88fDettIJMyyGDEvDc/s2048/Kettle+Creek--Walt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5d3i84-X4Fw6AAIa_AN8PzDztlWvNBv00L2TxgdlvvDUcGndoiwL-XY4wOl8-NjtSNvdFUMT50KsfZzw6tTnCMIRO47DPfda3SOroiCsBdW9HyVYSDowbcjRex88fDettIJMyyGDEvDc/w640-h480/Kettle+Creek--Walt.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>My friend and hiking buddy Walt turned 90 this weekend, and on the occasion of his birthday, a whole lot of his friends got together and threw him a party to celebrate him and recognize his astonishing contribution to the community as an educator, a conservationist, an environmentalist and a master trail builder. The Mayor came and read a proclamation and gave him a key to the city. And representatives of organizations that he founded or worked with spoke in his honor. After we sang Happy Birthday, we unfurled a banner listing all the trails he had created or worked on, and that banner stretched around an entire picnic pavilion. He has created an amazing legacy. Many people brought gifts--notes and keepsake photos. My gift to him was a book of photos of our adventures together, and I thought I'd share the text and some of the photos.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9e0nLEzYnuDk9_I2cCi7Uxa7bLNEcyIS2rZPLB6DSX2CUQQvsd2tYyZjI9o-WDfc_XGytA-TJktvqoU4m5VJioqY-P0CsFY1zh61G_JuoZdBfRPWmTt8oG0vVxGFIA8ioLqtxff5mgk/s2048/IMG_0877.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9e0nLEzYnuDk9_I2cCi7Uxa7bLNEcyIS2rZPLB6DSX2CUQQvsd2tYyZjI9o-WDfc_XGytA-TJktvqoU4m5VJioqY-P0CsFY1zh61G_JuoZdBfRPWmTt8oG0vVxGFIA8ioLqtxff5mgk/w640-h480/IMG_0877.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5o0HrNRNYCHflUh8ekhrD58N5dk0oTT476BdjA325dIKvLqvovFVZ2-piNgvbCkRtr1t8WmbtIeQHXsgdxT0CTf3BK5DiOd-IYWFyVvVbrVEnS78tnBtBqStutMFD-l6ynwLq6LiAnTI/s2048/IMG_6440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5o0HrNRNYCHflUh8ekhrD58N5dk0oTT476BdjA325dIKvLqvovFVZ2-piNgvbCkRtr1t8WmbtIeQHXsgdxT0CTf3BK5DiOd-IYWFyVvVbrVEnS78tnBtBqStutMFD-l6ynwLq6LiAnTI/w480-h640/IMG_6440.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwPYcsNEsQUA1Z3aHGJagpXgMr-MQFvEKCL7mCh-1w82XIa0BQVsC50dAUrnu8yTduSpqbJqZ0BxGgeKKU0SH3SMx1afQWiHo-YzejDx0F7OgTfSSADq8kDGOPI7k1tcWE7zrNgRAGjk/s3079/IMG_0900.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="3079" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwPYcsNEsQUA1Z3aHGJagpXgMr-MQFvEKCL7mCh-1w82XIa0BQVsC50dAUrnu8yTduSpqbJqZ0BxGgeKKU0SH3SMx1afQWiHo-YzejDx0F7OgTfSSADq8kDGOPI7k1tcWE7zrNgRAGjk/w640-h212/IMG_0900.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I'm happy to call Walt Cook my friend. We became friends in a rather unusual way--I bid on him at a Silent Auction! I should probably explain. Walt offered a guided hike as an item for the Silent Auction for the Sandy Creek Nature Center Annual Meeting in the fall of 2016. My husband and I were new to Athens, having just moved here the year before. I had gotten involved with the Nature Center and kept hearing about this fellow, Walt, who was one of the original founders of the Nature Center and seemed to know a lot about the local trails. I thought that this might be a good opportunity to meet him and to get to know a little about the trails around Athens. I bid on the hike, never expecting that I would get it. But as luck would have it, my bid won, and as they say, the rest is history!</p><p>I didn't collect on my hike until December. Walt arranged to meet us at Sandy Creek Park to guide us along the Oxbow Loop of Cook's Trail (named after him because he built it!). We made plans to hike the loop and then get some lunch together. Walt had scoped out a favorite Mexican restaurant nearby. When we arrived at the park, Walt seemed a bit disappointed that we didn't have any kids with us because he had scouted some items that he thought would be of special interest to kids. But I think he was pleased in the end because I LOVED all of it, including the Beaver Gnaw Stick that he had put aside as a keepsake for a lucky child. It was a freezing cold morning and we saw Frost Flowers and ice on the pond as we walked. Walt told us some of the history of building the trail, pointed out twists and turns and nice view that he liked, benches that sat in the right place and those that didn't, and a hillside of Christmas Ferns. I brought my camera and Walt had his, and we pointed out lovely moss and mushrooms to each other along the way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfyvkoni5IFH6yH7MWrOzWYIFH_ZeNhd07PYZwnggsSRZ0ZqObMbxx_4FGKhqtzoUCPkSnAtmEnw4iIfgBXDTfv6XF-A-WlGGWznkwQ9aFQwJcjEXP3h6e-c9efp9CG3JIA4dhK__iX4/s2048/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfyvkoni5IFH6yH7MWrOzWYIFH_ZeNhd07PYZwnggsSRZ0ZqObMbxx_4FGKhqtzoUCPkSnAtmEnw4iIfgBXDTfv6XF-A-WlGGWznkwQ9aFQwJcjEXP3h6e-c9efp9CG3JIA4dhK__iX4/w640-h480/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDGLRJJmMgw28zsWlZYyeWZ0DNrf2d1trdbCIA5p-48WPqLLR5mD8fgqVxyaQrSEDafeFNdA49f56M_L3_h8_qOv5N7pySLBAYAAd8gyRBCnOM9LF6MooD3ty1hEqHYK3iEkgRWskFio/s2048/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDGLRJJmMgw28zsWlZYyeWZ0DNrf2d1trdbCIA5p-48WPqLLR5mD8fgqVxyaQrSEDafeFNdA49f56M_L3_h8_qOv5N7pySLBAYAAd8gyRBCnOM9LF6MooD3ty1hEqHYK3iEkgRWskFio/w640-h480/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider on a Frost Flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_X0tNKWLEF-ZMCB1vt2DrOEVuoq_zDu0KTmRQsVMeJZZ50woyWxCyT1HAtOwBGpBJLTV93IBg2CPmO1UVxNL7oof9YjHtzZltF_AF2xe3SStBtpizC3yycn_HfTLkVlBasgZpkEV8IY/s2048/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25289%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_X0tNKWLEF-ZMCB1vt2DrOEVuoq_zDu0KTmRQsVMeJZZ50woyWxCyT1HAtOwBGpBJLTV93IBg2CPmO1UVxNL7oof9YjHtzZltF_AF2xe3SStBtpizC3yycn_HfTLkVlBasgZpkEV8IY/w640-h480/Cook%2527s+Trail--Walt+%25289%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>We finished the hike and ate a tasty lunch together, and then Walt started making plans for the NEXT hike! I almost had to pinch myself--somehow, I had hit the lottery! This was not going to be just a one-time deal--I was being welcomed as one of Walt's hiking friends. And the two of us have been hiking together every few months ever since (with the exception of during the pandemic).</p><p>It took me a while to figure this out, but Walt carefully curated our walks together, picking locations where he had build or designed the trails, or both. Many of the places he took me to were Oconee River Land Trust properties, some not accessible to the general public. Whenever we walk together, I am amazed to see how many of my favorite hiking places he has had a hand in.</p><p>A hike with Walt usually involves discussion about the grade of the path, trees and rocks that caused challenges during building, and special features along the way, like a beautiful boulder, a unique tree, a waterfall, a bridge or a spectacular view. Walt has been educating me about trail aesthetics and maintenance and I can often pick out his handiwork when I hike on my own now--a dip and hump built into the trail for drainage or an elegant meander through a particularly pretty grove. We talk about our lives, music, history, work, the things we like to do. We exchange good books. I try to pick his brain about the history of Sandy Creek Nature Center, since he founded it and I am now president of the board. I tell him about my family, projects I'm working on and trips I've taken. Sometimes we're just quiet, enjoying the day. A couple of times I helped him work, flagging trails or recording information on his maps. I'll admit that I never volunteer to help dig or build trails--I don't have nearly as much energy as he has! Walt usually leads, since he knows the property, knocking stray sticks off the trail with his walking stick and sometimes trimming an overgrown branch that might hit a hiker in the face with the clippers he often has on his belt. We have gotten lost more than once, but we always made our way back (I make sure I have my phone with me just in case). Sometimes we eat our lunch on a nice log or rock, but usually a hike ends with a stop at a favorite restaurant (Walt has a list). He introduced me to the "meat and 3". </p><p>I treasure our times together and look forward to more. Meanwhile, I have memories and photos of some of the hikes we've taken together. Thank you, Walt. Your friend, Katherine</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>CHARLIE ELLIOTT WILDLIFE CENTER</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_FYkwnSBAx7fYk-849SG-ifR4yv5TAtuNQkBT794h29HPkp4QL4-5JCSMeNEHxfbebLMy9yGLjZc9HiIbiBgFZju_hwx-nNiWQqU3tTgL67jcvctrrgwz6_854PAqzmnwQwH97G9V4I/s2048/Charlie+Elliot--Walt.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ_FYkwnSBAx7fYk-849SG-ifR4yv5TAtuNQkBT794h29HPkp4QL4-5JCSMeNEHxfbebLMy9yGLjZc9HiIbiBgFZju_hwx-nNiWQqU3tTgL67jcvctrrgwz6_854PAqzmnwQwH97G9V4I/w480-h640/Charlie+Elliot--Walt.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn-vIOs6x7j18SXwMk_v5N2EQjwwFUda0LSiH2UDlppRrMEptBRt4dUOtLz4RTDHuJLxUad37qYp3Ef9_-Yu4I5-rW8SiNF75M9vDGlyRGEEc-JDaAxGl753-zUKJuVU0RdnQuHuOeyA/s2048/Charlie+Elliot--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn-vIOs6x7j18SXwMk_v5N2EQjwwFUda0LSiH2UDlppRrMEptBRt4dUOtLz4RTDHuJLxUad37qYp3Ef9_-Yu4I5-rW8SiNF75M9vDGlyRGEEc-JDaAxGl753-zUKJuVU0RdnQuHuOeyA/w640-h480/Charlie+Elliot--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie Elliott has an archery range with a giant tiger, a wolf and a T-Rex to shoot at</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><b>CAMP KIWANIS</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGEV5DQsmDEG0Pk-1nFbaj7zlodjSpPI_GJiudQ4OQi6Wqa0KZsmkFuICnnvwzqu1aBuRiLOaYiMLJcnwTXviDDoPGA1Lgeh1h-2SAjCpJI9PFf94UdwD1nvosEi3z1QjVsX17Fg5Qt4/s2048/Camp+Kiwanis--Walt+%25285%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGEV5DQsmDEG0Pk-1nFbaj7zlodjSpPI_GJiudQ4OQi6Wqa0KZsmkFuICnnvwzqu1aBuRiLOaYiMLJcnwTXviDDoPGA1Lgeh1h-2SAjCpJI9PFf94UdwD1nvosEi3z1QjVsX17Fg5Qt4/w640-h480/Camp+Kiwanis--Walt+%25285%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT7BbUsUlllKTmTPq2N8ygvXMKn_OK40PZa4AHj7A-tBQ8nGpZQ94pXrsxwKktQpVIlNqsSbIOj2VDMrF9da2mJzMsUd_ibieTzK7lGq8GDw8rr0bK9OqwqXgEM906sERl-58hTHNNHk/s2048/Camp+Kiwanis--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT7BbUsUlllKTmTPq2N8ygvXMKn_OK40PZa4AHj7A-tBQ8nGpZQ94pXrsxwKktQpVIlNqsSbIOj2VDMrF9da2mJzMsUd_ibieTzK7lGq8GDw8rr0bK9OqwqXgEM906sERl-58hTHNNHk/w640-h480/Camp+Kiwanis--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SANDY CREEK PARK</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1vWhoVvgrQCfnYfdp-VxdDt_Rs6B4eoKerDk-zWvIBuSetfY2V1NpzLvpRdxWbfxx7b4Uq-DG1kN-SoUf60WZ8Grh63WwFEAi0oJoc24l-1szQJC0B7xPDJAzPjJ72HhEjOyIynOVwQ/s2048/Sandy+Creek+Park--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1vWhoVvgrQCfnYfdp-VxdDt_Rs6B4eoKerDk-zWvIBuSetfY2V1NpzLvpRdxWbfxx7b4Uq-DG1kN-SoUf60WZ8Grh63WwFEAi0oJoc24l-1szQJC0B7xPDJAzPjJ72HhEjOyIynOVwQ/w640-h480/Sandy+Creek+Park--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdj7QY5keqdsdgZZrKZpdQBBpzgiddJic_iutpvYqlyX8tt67PBiZoh7SfxT3bcGemmsLZzLPGLo7swqg5b-D2Xb5sZurjWCc7nc0YShxRuFsP3PlIAJ9zvsLK76qt0jexP6A8hjU7P8/s2048/Sandy+Creek+Park--Walt+%252811%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdj7QY5keqdsdgZZrKZpdQBBpzgiddJic_iutpvYqlyX8tt67PBiZoh7SfxT3bcGemmsLZzLPGLo7swqg5b-D2Xb5sZurjWCc7nc0YShxRuFsP3PlIAJ9zvsLK76qt0jexP6A8hjU7P8/w640-h480/Sandy+Creek+Park--Walt+%252811%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>BEECH HAVEN</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNaC6lRYQCiWKkN2OAXjQNU3c2U6IYx-9GrNvYvbd93hjS51bOnZxq3FWI_5ylaQcokpjO66SfskxKz22-vFZ7BTAJ5uEs7dPsuMXr7Dps8SDsUEUUyAjEU0YrKORrF87Ummb-m-iG7I/s2048/Beechhaven--Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNaC6lRYQCiWKkN2OAXjQNU3c2U6IYx-9GrNvYvbd93hjS51bOnZxq3FWI_5ylaQcokpjO66SfskxKz22-vFZ7BTAJ5uEs7dPsuMXr7Dps8SDsUEUUyAjEU0YrKORrF87Ummb-m-iG7I/w640-h480/Beechhaven--Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marking maps</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDk1n6LCw83TEeh3cgF4VYmlwtT5ny6tIgpGsndXQWjtf7IkEMxO8rWLjMLy9l5pjJjKzTpF6RrFdLv_qF7VGIoynEP7zNhpQBoOvbyUtMUpASuieCeg_caqo5kWSFf-akko1Ows4tR4/s2048/Beechhaven--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDk1n6LCw83TEeh3cgF4VYmlwtT5ny6tIgpGsndXQWjtf7IkEMxO8rWLjMLy9l5pjJjKzTpF6RrFdLv_qF7VGIoynEP7zNhpQBoOvbyUtMUpASuieCeg_caqo5kWSFf-akko1Ows4tR4/w640-h480/Beechhaven--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>BIRCHMORE TRAIL</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VATFtpo_PgqAG1BVfPFrvZAIECj-fecaar2OPZkbGbuShtZyoLx1tiPxE0Bao1zDilZ-15IQ3SQ-EhfgxevF242Vu4hiTXz6VIcBTiZLzRMc6Fkl8xVRGBVGAfOJuKitEEoEM9Mu7bY/s2048/Hikes+with+Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VATFtpo_PgqAG1BVfPFrvZAIECj-fecaar2OPZkbGbuShtZyoLx1tiPxE0Bao1zDilZ-15IQ3SQ-EhfgxevF242Vu4hiTXz6VIcBTiZLzRMc6Fkl8xVRGBVGAfOJuKitEEoEM9Mu7bY/w640-h480/Hikes+with+Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8aQQ0FkdPAsw-gBwRPEAMMNIdcOrxmJa-4YqQwSIoyqUTBDCOqWwJqHWCXw8fK1t6w7Ub018RH7PJEFrxfIHU48fKES4r9Ua-VblseW1J0APIDXbzSAVv_n9JDNIRSpMHKPBZUrp_9U/s2048/Hikes+with+Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8aQQ0FkdPAsw-gBwRPEAMMNIdcOrxmJa-4YqQwSIoyqUTBDCOqWwJqHWCXw8fK1t6w7Ub018RH7PJEFrxfIHU48fKES4r9Ua-VblseW1J0APIDXbzSAVv_n9JDNIRSpMHKPBZUrp_9U/w480-h640/Hikes+with+Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>"LOTSANOTTY"</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn0Kqknfa2_jcSDcB-FGKx8_y2eKPqXUKXBbjguT1AewyVgVHf4uF3B9TQTcP6NFTAl6Q6jbRpR8LZvcRasPzIJwqirKVNA3BCszwtQkztuq0dYfyLsVSVfOsctioeHwwcvxeFoBIsNA/s2048/Lotsanotty--Walt+%252811%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn0Kqknfa2_jcSDcB-FGKx8_y2eKPqXUKXBbjguT1AewyVgVHf4uF3B9TQTcP6NFTAl6Q6jbRpR8LZvcRasPzIJwqirKVNA3BCszwtQkztuq0dYfyLsVSVfOsctioeHwwcvxeFoBIsNA/w640-h480/Lotsanotty--Walt+%252811%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lotsanotty" is a property that Walt donated to the Land Trust</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JAmQTDyrVl1p4pYh5W4HHqticLZTyBPTR3QvGjn7zjrskvnIq_DwAhog4kutxs1c4poZedofagE4dKDL_R81udAcf3l1X4alOonaMGFgUZgMzJcsAbzmTT0VLZYMaMS9bT8X742aXu8/s2048/Lotsanotty--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8JAmQTDyrVl1p4pYh5W4HHqticLZTyBPTR3QvGjn7zjrskvnIq_DwAhog4kutxs1c4poZedofagE4dKDL_R81udAcf3l1X4alOonaMGFgUZgMzJcsAbzmTT0VLZYMaMS9bT8X742aXu8/w480-h640/Lotsanotty--Walt+%25288%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Knot Fungus growing on a Beech Tree</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><b>ROCK AND SHOALS</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6ppKpCzLvMgKX3xviglP8G1nws0oPZX7cEI6olwks3dJEzXF218Z3E0WIPrGHXRMvsQGhoj8fCSuCza1RSuTd0sEuPizEjlrzMKrQgFoW3pmDCP9co18Mp93IlfhyJWhhNKBB7zG2Q0/s2048/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6ppKpCzLvMgKX3xviglP8G1nws0oPZX7cEI6olwks3dJEzXF218Z3E0WIPrGHXRMvsQGhoj8fCSuCza1RSuTd0sEuPizEjlrzMKrQgFoW3pmDCP9co18Mp93IlfhyJWhhNKBB7zG2Q0/w640-h480/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Specialized plants that grow on Stone Outcrops</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GfgVC8MGEIox03j-y6udgkmEphJ853FyiUO8gmwJyYbQxtK8TPr7FrCxWPXy-To_J_sFypgajJxSGrDTJ4v-dsPwEioLDDAEeqqDE0JEKEvh_7gBgxtmH0Vyu4Gqmf3JFR6MfGvgf7E/s2048/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252822%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GfgVC8MGEIox03j-y6udgkmEphJ853FyiUO8gmwJyYbQxtK8TPr7FrCxWPXy-To_J_sFypgajJxSGrDTJ4v-dsPwEioLDDAEeqqDE0JEKEvh_7gBgxtmH0Vyu4Gqmf3JFR6MfGvgf7E/w640-h480/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252822%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That summer there was a magnificent Coreopsis field blooming on the Outcrop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv494GXtacZN5SNyaRj0U13ANk4il6BPWN3F-YwCl4bSUjQhXl2HGUDXcDEdB7irog7ADTbLT8SYv6TbVvwRbjM8cP1X8ThNjjUKuKiKLs7sSBVSqcoPKWS_0V158vGrwF81EHr97fLa0/s2048/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252834%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv494GXtacZN5SNyaRj0U13ANk4il6BPWN3F-YwCl4bSUjQhXl2HGUDXcDEdB7irog7ADTbLT8SYv6TbVvwRbjM8cP1X8ThNjjUKuKiKLs7sSBVSqcoPKWS_0V158vGrwF81EHr97fLa0/w640-h480/Rock+and+Shoals--Walt+%252834%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>KETTLE CREEK REVOLUTIONARY BATTLEFIELD</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt8kkyaGtQgm2gWt2AsRmXJtqzMWp9HGUJq1fn9yFYz0Hdz95oDHsxT-4xj8jyYkH5-F0ZJtxN_fHUl22WQdKa2v_0xO52Uv4KnO-kch0RQoyFd-4fUUkB67zD07DhZFrJ0-2zNYFFfI/s2048/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWt8kkyaGtQgm2gWt2AsRmXJtqzMWp9HGUJq1fn9yFYz0Hdz95oDHsxT-4xj8jyYkH5-F0ZJtxN_fHUl22WQdKa2v_0xO52Uv4KnO-kch0RQoyFd-4fUUkB67zD07DhZFrJ0-2zNYFFfI/w640-h480/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh846xEq3Zlb4tLO3iOUNGHA82W_LkKepCfuCBPEViC0a4ScBEfxnGbing-kgSqhoxfgKlYy3tqbmrxo_dCUqKvBgxZ1iyRKp58V38pjob0RoqwLD-kIZNmMbKob3w_RTu-bfWg7iMiDSU/s2048/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%252815%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh846xEq3Zlb4tLO3iOUNGHA82W_LkKepCfuCBPEViC0a4ScBEfxnGbing-kgSqhoxfgKlYy3tqbmrxo_dCUqKvBgxZ1iyRKp58V38pjob0RoqwLD-kIZNmMbKob3w_RTu-bfWg7iMiDSU/w640-h480/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%252815%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FA2YxuKboHeBJSGt33G9nN9_v4QVDShjAnUQ9qe7mqt_70K4imNRIrlDxe50YxwhDFAUkQ6mSufyQpIKddHoK0tZvL5_8WBozeAGTqsrJbfgF9_LX7-jDtVbz5O0dvYafAAg1QZw3ro/s2048/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FA2YxuKboHeBJSGt33G9nN9_v4QVDShjAnUQ9qe7mqt_70K4imNRIrlDxe50YxwhDFAUkQ6mSufyQpIKddHoK0tZvL5_8WBozeAGTqsrJbfgF9_LX7-jDtVbz5O0dvYafAAg1QZw3ro/w640-h480/Kettle+Creek--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>BUILDING TRAILS AT A FRIEND'S PROPERTY</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D2gFkGV4P7YI8TtNOASEzPspTBrPouqCbEDW48sISdeKwaPzG5cfJKIeFcrzCxDcqk6vkRzqlElH1CWCDNTBi1RXT5SqCPTokRuzfvf6hcXUi7stcew7zF6Ip-EBKk9FQ3jNw6OtgNU/s2048/Stengle+Property--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5D2gFkGV4P7YI8TtNOASEzPspTBrPouqCbEDW48sISdeKwaPzG5cfJKIeFcrzCxDcqk6vkRzqlElH1CWCDNTBi1RXT5SqCPTokRuzfvf6hcXUi7stcew7zF6Ip-EBKk9FQ3jNw6OtgNU/w480-h640/Stengle+Property--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfwgxQD73O7p7dkB3-Zv616sOooWTY0XS9VTJArDeCSFZqK-QX5Pp-rJWDTKYPFlyDAGy2A7tQJB0AS3VH4k1nNwMyFuR9mVCLm8BRoB-Il5Tg-3b1r90iHyMLcVxyv2YVHdTUJ97KAU/s2048/Stengle+Property--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQfwgxQD73O7p7dkB3-Zv616sOooWTY0XS9VTJArDeCSFZqK-QX5Pp-rJWDTKYPFlyDAGy2A7tQJB0AS3VH4k1nNwMyFuR9mVCLm8BRoB-Il5Tg-3b1r90iHyMLcVxyv2YVHdTUJ97KAU/w640-h480/Stengle+Property--Walt+%252814%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flagging Trails</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SANDY CREEK NATURE CENTER</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_yf8n0CNN3wx5opjU1KxFRB2nJmPoZcKkjH1f0Lyi6L1jLOVLEs1xIKVxK0simyoYy_575ysrG-BR_L7YRtr18NhEfJDBtSG-Ng4GbBN2jXab4z7ChLKcPgfBS_cD8EBpLgGNDt2Ehg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_yf8n0CNN3wx5opjU1KxFRB2nJmPoZcKkjH1f0Lyi6L1jLOVLEs1xIKVxK0simyoYy_575ysrG-BR_L7YRtr18NhEfJDBtSG-Ng4GbBN2jXab4z7ChLKcPgfBS_cD8EBpLgGNDt2Ehg/" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PbT1C9jRA3rdKhVeN2Aa6Db4LBDQdgGmEBFc0YrH-Dtzc13nvbTuLHdNxhuplnlTARqHNRmpzpk5JeDNiJ3ScSIaPime2ek64bUHl6hn2QGgDM_NB1Wgr70RWovoknqsgFuLcHT0ZfY/s2048/SCNC--Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PbT1C9jRA3rdKhVeN2Aa6Db4LBDQdgGmEBFc0YrH-Dtzc13nvbTuLHdNxhuplnlTARqHNRmpzpk5JeDNiJ3ScSIaPime2ek64bUHl6hn2QGgDM_NB1Wgr70RWovoknqsgFuLcHT0ZfY/w640-h480/SCNC--Walt+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I enjoy it when we walk at Sandy Creek Nature Center because Walt tells me a lot about the history of how it came to be. his memories help me feel a deeper connection now that I am president of the organization he helped found in 1973.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>BEN BURTON PARK</b></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDiyh3wtFwgqpRsfpFovTexkkuk6XCegRrtfygXzDBlB2S1l8hmYUGBrhAPF3PO7vFcOgnymmVUwPLR73uytb-I7SltuzNXG4ROvR3r3IY_AfXQ0NEsru4FVqZMuPdq74Sa67x2C8OG4/s2048/Ben+Burton+Park--Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDiyh3wtFwgqpRsfpFovTexkkuk6XCegRrtfygXzDBlB2S1l8hmYUGBrhAPF3PO7vFcOgnymmVUwPLR73uytb-I7SltuzNXG4ROvR3r3IY_AfXQ0NEsru4FVqZMuPdq74Sa67x2C8OG4/w480-h640/Ben+Burton+Park--Walt+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPqJKwdDcyuTH03BsEngTOfQbba6IlVWDphQ9XyAAgTycGF1hWUxdmCZgs1ioKTxX4iTJFD5mT2v4B7TEjGTrZk50uQYpOzBQjqzKTrr7FFbPfEt55OCNrhWJNzva6cRgA84xQNjBrYs/s2048/Ben+Burton+Park+2--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPqJKwdDcyuTH03BsEngTOfQbba6IlVWDphQ9XyAAgTycGF1hWUxdmCZgs1ioKTxX4iTJFD5mT2v4B7TEjGTrZk50uQYpOzBQjqzKTrr7FFbPfEt55OCNrhWJNzva6cRgA84xQNjBrYs/w640-h480/Ben+Burton+Park+2--Walt+%25284%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of the first places we visited when we first dared to get together in the pandemic.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>WATKINSVILLE WOODS</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx6qcNYN1uR3_yT5mC9jjrXQaL50JCohPcg2uwZjLf_06VnstH-zPofaHx86lsfd_GC7N1rosobYsZ4a3vrfn_N1cUO94fKlwX7t5bCZtQY5mx_dqgUd5vzvQgC1z7CdLnQ2FdRJY1Y8/s2048/Watkinsville+Woods+%25286%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYx6qcNYN1uR3_yT5mC9jjrXQaL50JCohPcg2uwZjLf_06VnstH-zPofaHx86lsfd_GC7N1rosobYsZ4a3vrfn_N1cUO94fKlwX7t5bCZtQY5mx_dqgUd5vzvQgC1z7CdLnQ2FdRJY1Y8/w640-h426/Watkinsville+Woods+%25286%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnTwFp3Lsj85uySCFXQlouLgCPOefjtv_KWw-SMg_T8WNmnpGih8_ZWjNA_Ve81mfSt-qWxPg3ViUiagLg_Q1eNq1ha_9v4kw5bu_68P3NohXwmqe4gzTm1KiQt3lPkDIbiDk2dfJLTw/s2048/Watkinsville+Woods+%252810%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnTwFp3Lsj85uySCFXQlouLgCPOefjtv_KWw-SMg_T8WNmnpGih8_ZWjNA_Ve81mfSt-qWxPg3ViUiagLg_Q1eNq1ha_9v4kw5bu_68P3NohXwmqe4gzTm1KiQt3lPkDIbiDk2dfJLTw/w640-h426/Watkinsville+Woods+%252810%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always curious, Walt wanted to get down at ground level to see the ground bees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMgPKYOpJ6KrCEbdX9EW9vFH97gtL6d_sJkEdHLgDu9C7bXUgO3gBgAdjBBfAzaeob7LpilC601e2xP-RJGgm_1_Q4p3rBzdT110UixX946fCLmaKJ0AixNxsUNVn6zHs3Ea6kWdyCIc/s2048/Watkinsville+Woods+%25289%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMgPKYOpJ6KrCEbdX9EW9vFH97gtL6d_sJkEdHLgDu9C7bXUgO3gBgAdjBBfAzaeob7LpilC601e2xP-RJGgm_1_Q4p3rBzdT110UixX946fCLmaKJ0AixNxsUNVn6zHs3Ea6kWdyCIc/w426-h640/Watkinsville+Woods+%25289%2529.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ground Bees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm very happy that I bid at the auction. Happy 90th Birthday, my friend!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-38055015197940793612021-04-29T16:07:00.003-04:002021-04-29T16:24:09.985-04:00My Wonderful Garbage<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZbQiFMli-q9bCRbAzZSwxSx1svOqUuKCeegrzsb5uVdz2ypGebWBUW_CpQ1cQ5emQq_vVo_VVHHrTcSWfyUhc9KtwbmxDc_wgIyzdQAR8-kDis7ZcB52y5YlnhlUwn2Jjit6GfGqVVM/s2048/IMG_5828.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZbQiFMli-q9bCRbAzZSwxSx1svOqUuKCeegrzsb5uVdz2ypGebWBUW_CpQ1cQ5emQq_vVo_VVHHrTcSWfyUhc9KtwbmxDc_wgIyzdQAR8-kDis7ZcB52y5YlnhlUwn2Jjit6GfGqVVM/w640-h480/IMG_5828.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicate Pink Worm Strings</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b><br /></b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Feeding the Worms</b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><b>by Danusha Laméris</b></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever since I found that earth worms have taste buds</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>all over the delicate pink strings of their bodies, </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I pause dropping apple peels into the compost bin, imagine</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>the dark, writhing ecstasy, the sweetness of apples</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>permeating their pores. I offer beets and parsley,</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>avocado, and melon, the feathery tops of carrots.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>I'd always thought theirs a menial life, eyeless and hidden,</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>almost vulgar--though now, it seems, they bear a pleasure </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>so sublime, so decadent, I want to contribute however I can,</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>forgetting, a moment, my place on the menu.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>I'll admit it right now. I'm a pretty lazy composter. We have a bin in the backyard, and have for years. But I don't do much to help it along. And I haven't pulled any finished compost out of the door at the bottom since I set it up in 2015. I don't crush my eggshells, and I never peel off the plastic tags from the produce. I have a special tool for stirring up and turning the compost, but I forget about it for months or years. We used to have 2 bins, before we moved, but only kept one to save space. And since I set it up, oh so many years ago, I have done precious little besides pouring in the kitchen scraps and tossing in the occasional armful of dry fall leaves when it gets too wet. I could feel guilty about my shortcomings, but I don't. It's compost. And lucky for me, the compost bin basically runs itself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLkdhq_2ABe-10UKyqfUxz3AmbObXsPDqizUq-wpyGdeLrdSKrTTKBpnV_L_S3VqKfVE1y1Sa9i_Ch3DAayfIjTGk1hU5nLmc5gAdKoJZGGbiSPamt2wM2RgdOq_qU0l6aPpzDqpI7To/s2048/IMG_5754.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLkdhq_2ABe-10UKyqfUxz3AmbObXsPDqizUq-wpyGdeLrdSKrTTKBpnV_L_S3VqKfVE1y1Sa9i_Ch3DAayfIjTGk1hU5nLmc5gAdKoJZGGbiSPamt2wM2RgdOq_qU0l6aPpzDqpI7To/w480-h640/IMG_5754.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bin</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />About 2 1/2 months ago, the compost bin was getting close to overflowing. We had some painters coming to work around the house and I was self-conscious about the strong smell of coffee grounds and orange peels that would waft off the top of the un-turnable pile for a few days after dumping, right next to their work area. I knew it was time to empty it out, and even move it to a new and better place. But I was not in the mood to do that. Besides everything else, a large contingent of winged ants had amassed on the outside of the bin, preparing for mating flights. They were there for days. This wasn't a good time to dig in. So I just stopped using the bin for a while. It felt strange putting all the kitchen trimmings in the trash, after making a habit of saving scraps for composting. Our trash bags were suddenly wet and smelly, and the outdoor garbage bin filled faster. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC2ubTrP0ygd7ZuAnvhfcEDaeFgsAFSTrMeVKH8mPisM5oFNLJAo9bcrNL_hmSOjnGl7jASo0gn2ZrEOsPvc6o2mDK78sGSd8h3A4ISHYTkNZ1047wtv3qE5upW3dzBnUSCzHYXwPGzg/s2048/IMG_5423.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguC2ubTrP0ygd7ZuAnvhfcEDaeFgsAFSTrMeVKH8mPisM5oFNLJAo9bcrNL_hmSOjnGl7jASo0gn2ZrEOsPvc6o2mDK78sGSd8h3A4ISHYTkNZ1047wtv3qE5upW3dzBnUSCzHYXwPGzg/w640-h480/IMG_5423.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the bin: Stickers, shells, avocado pits. Note large ant pile of humus on lower left. <br />(I took out the stick--don't know what that was doing there)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>One day, about 6 weeks later (painting took a long time), I got curious and opened the lid of the bin. To my amazement, the pile had sunk a good 6 inches. It smelled gorgeous--fresh and earthy. A large colony of ants had settled in and had fluffed up a pile of the rich, dark humus--the result of the composted plant matter. It turns out that ants do a lot of work in a compost bin, turning over the detritus and bringing in fungus and bacteria that help break everything down. I read that turning the pile can deter them. Good thing I never maintain my compost bin! (Little joke.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMqk_-5_gadH4mgLfKj9lQFUWuMjpMQuQeTjQoZwBUnFt8U_0l0OmbDJaYDPRyXkQq6Hiy2A8QqxZ-yhyphenhyphenv8ZCHFnO4teQqTZNm-jEATazJNe-Q5TM85yENmnkn3W1HyScTa7Une447FU/s2048/IMG_5590+%25281%2529.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMqk_-5_gadH4mgLfKj9lQFUWuMjpMQuQeTjQoZwBUnFt8U_0l0OmbDJaYDPRyXkQq6Hiy2A8QqxZ-yhyphenhyphenv8ZCHFnO4teQqTZNm-jEATazJNe-Q5TM85yENmnkn3W1HyScTa7Une447FU/w640-h480/IMG_5590+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny flies and spider webs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUzGHYZIER_zVDFBwPtf8o67M39kI2ZyNjJ6yb7pC-byiFV_op3x2Ig5QE03ezIYh8uNXqlkrob-T3nCR54Rb4EdUZqkMeAOd1tIEoWnBOPHm8pJTfpac4T4-rKTTG1g_EXO_L5QwZcI/s2048/IMG_5455.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUzGHYZIER_zVDFBwPtf8o67M39kI2ZyNjJ6yb7pC-byiFV_op3x2Ig5QE03ezIYh8uNXqlkrob-T3nCR54Rb4EdUZqkMeAOd1tIEoWnBOPHm8pJTfpac4T4-rKTTG1g_EXO_L5QwZcI/w480-h640/IMG_5455.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special Spider Habitat in an Eggshell</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-A9njDn4mgloBhr3HPImA3BWUXWAPwe6FNzJI5A2Hdjr964V0swrs4tMQPZqOTWNmDzWtNH36z2GrDGQP58JW56pDovez20aFCNMmAQG7cxdEj7HzdYKH7pGiGGvJlRwbEuLQkB7zKM/s2048/IMG_5831.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-A9njDn4mgloBhr3HPImA3BWUXWAPwe6FNzJI5A2Hdjr964V0swrs4tMQPZqOTWNmDzWtNH36z2GrDGQP58JW56pDovez20aFCNMmAQG7cxdEj7HzdYKH7pGiGGvJlRwbEuLQkB7zKM/w640-h480/IMG_5831.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato Bugs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C8NquOxDyYMpvl6dRI7nd6s0xvH2TkjKprmlFs4M_2QTsHvJNMIFVvmGdqHIJbSozCbcG-Uar9XfrvQmoz9cPnmoUpl_pARTO1kzw2ifclVEszc6tV1r_cup0TfQGljiW8af_5D7MBw/s2048/IMG_5632.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4C8NquOxDyYMpvl6dRI7nd6s0xvH2TkjKprmlFs4M_2QTsHvJNMIFVvmGdqHIJbSozCbcG-Uar9XfrvQmoz9cPnmoUpl_pARTO1kzw2ifclVEszc6tV1r_cup0TfQGljiW8af_5D7MBw/w480-h640/IMG_5632.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roaches Dive for Cover</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vEusb5dIXCd0HHVXdEGWaBKp5nMr4NwKW9RGmQCOcNPeuuot4Lv97xkBygr_l-ErwvLknlKMZJ65LE83TtC28OFx_3rtbFDgjmox-jLmU-W6k1TksssReN_V6BR-N9085n1U4Lqh9GM/s2048/IMG_5453.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vEusb5dIXCd0HHVXdEGWaBKp5nMr4NwKW9RGmQCOcNPeuuot4Lv97xkBygr_l-ErwvLknlKMZJ65LE83TtC28OFx_3rtbFDgjmox-jLmU-W6k1TksssReN_V6BR-N9085n1U4Lqh9GM/w480-h640/IMG_5453.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earwig Among the Ants (I don't know if this is a peaceful encounter)</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />As I examined the shrunken heap, I was fascinated to see the many arthropod inhabitants. I saw tiny flies and flying insects on the walls, and figured that they must eventually end up as food for the dozens of spiders who had each inhabited her own eggshell. Potato bugs (or roly-polys or pill bugs) scurried out of sight when I lifted the lid, as did the numerous, large cockroaches and earwigs--the detritus eating A-Team! Sometimes when I opened the lid, a lucky fly would land on the decaying produce (or maybe they were unlucky if they got shut in and eaten by the spiders). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAzGYJaYJvO023hTkMJh8VCHVCssCJ2hWg33CTlr2iSNDTm1kMo46hyphenhyphenhryhU05f-r53QObDd-3PktwTRVufilezbHPdeWZEgF0gjwdgarkID2xrf1OSccvRdvpFwtl5aQSQTnUXErmBc/s2048/IMG_5557.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAzGYJaYJvO023hTkMJh8VCHVCssCJ2hWg33CTlr2iSNDTm1kMo46hyphenhyphenhryhU05f-r53QObDd-3PktwTRVufilezbHPdeWZEgF0gjwdgarkID2xrf1OSccvRdvpFwtl5aQSQTnUXErmBc/w480-h640/IMG_5557.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free Range Spider</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3-P28JpZIXgXlA4Z4GHCFDq4RppWTeuHCPU3QgnAP-F2UR_HIg3eafSUd474hbVGmmAso5cOh5dF7aWWwECV8xowBvmymsi8e590LVs3PtRK1oQxA7sIgw0EQ9iWZiDH1O0SID-S_1A/s2048/IMG_5592.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3-P28JpZIXgXlA4Z4GHCFDq4RppWTeuHCPU3QgnAP-F2UR_HIg3eafSUd474hbVGmmAso5cOh5dF7aWWwECV8xowBvmymsi8e590LVs3PtRK1oQxA7sIgw0EQ9iWZiDH1O0SID-S_1A/w480-h640/IMG_5592.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fly on the Ant Mound</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AyMsZc7Bop4hp99R_aPduWKqUanMFnZCwVlD5tIPIa5463LHw0BGWfY5U2k2QWCMO7LwgmUnKegqe8ti7FA_g3k4z5pjA7CwKSNwaX6yPbOidAAudKySetYTBPK4UyqEpq6r0wFI0A8/s2048/IMG_5604.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8AyMsZc7Bop4hp99R_aPduWKqUanMFnZCwVlD5tIPIa5463LHw0BGWfY5U2k2QWCMO7LwgmUnKegqe8ti7FA_g3k4z5pjA7CwKSNwaX6yPbOidAAudKySetYTBPK4UyqEpq6r0wFI0A8/w480-h640/IMG_5604.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">False Blister Beetle Seems Out of Place Here--Usually Found on Flowers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQNmlIyfqGBw97SM8aAZ5PAuIPCSR5p92nvzTRHPxuaH_U1HLYCTAmwyT6p9eslk0ux1GzOLP-cG9qKdAForCAb75jbOjNblsl6kJu7qIDmCf7lXhyphenhyphenFTGmN90ScxedgOHnd4hZ9S7TSQ/s2048/IMG_5634.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQNmlIyfqGBw97SM8aAZ5PAuIPCSR5p92nvzTRHPxuaH_U1HLYCTAmwyT6p9eslk0ux1GzOLP-cG9qKdAForCAb75jbOjNblsl6kJu7qIDmCf7lXhyphenhyphenFTGmN90ScxedgOHnd4hZ9S7TSQ/w480-h640/IMG_5634.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egg Casings--not sure species</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8ObIMLkfS4Dzcx0Qv6e35ItdLJKCR_IDVtzU5koLRi9cv-e6bcMuPeysieaQ2hD5PJMpLD6v9U6bK4i6it8C9VZv19drn20z6Nl2xWsLR1xIk5JHKR4YCzAzchVLi-4BTYZ2II9SJ0g/s2048/IMG_5824.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8ObIMLkfS4Dzcx0Qv6e35ItdLJKCR_IDVtzU5koLRi9cv-e6bcMuPeysieaQ2hD5PJMpLD6v9U6bK4i6it8C9VZv19drn20z6Nl2xWsLR1xIk5JHKR4YCzAzchVLi-4BTYZ2II9SJ0g/w480-h640/IMG_5824.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Bottle Fly</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Checking on the goings on in the compost bin has become my latest hobby. I find something new every time I look. I enjoy quickly lifting the lid to see if anything surprising is happening in the darkness. The sunlight and my movement causes quick dives for cover. Many of my photos of the scurriers are blurry or partial because of that mad dash for shelter! This week when I looked, I noticed a new, larger species of ant patrolling the rim of the bin. I don't know my ants well, so I can't be sure they were not just the soldiers of the ones I'd seen before, but it would not surprise me to know that there were several species living inside. I also found large clusters of ants tending eggs. Some had even taken over the egg shells that had previously been occupied by spiders. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcZvNvwzuYOgbYez8dpeVQRnM1cK-1NsKPISSJRyfAnm820rZ2BrwxYp2LjQNjotHGUVIXVKckvy4AUkPx-xTSNT4EA18Yfm7COzlZos5mXDO_C2GAgCQbkBQKs19ssXt6Jz5ol8yXVs/s2048/IMG_5746.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcZvNvwzuYOgbYez8dpeVQRnM1cK-1NsKPISSJRyfAnm820rZ2BrwxYp2LjQNjotHGUVIXVKckvy4AUkPx-xTSNT4EA18Yfm7COzlZos5mXDO_C2GAgCQbkBQKs19ssXt6Jz5ol8yXVs/w480-h640/IMG_5746.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ants, Eggs and Larvae in an Onion</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxbqsaQJjwALKJnJm4vA0AA1zOfM-3SE7syXLHp_AIZKsjNadvMT7ySeOaOTjCtMib7gvdneqtrRMzriQADeVZ4a2cxZv7fXD3_4rIMdfEbtOgy4RXd8Gu4YsZRx8-9Vz74eDh8KKNo/s2048/IMG_5742.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIxbqsaQJjwALKJnJm4vA0AA1zOfM-3SE7syXLHp_AIZKsjNadvMT7ySeOaOTjCtMib7gvdneqtrRMzriQADeVZ4a2cxZv7fXD3_4rIMdfEbtOgy4RXd8Gu4YsZRx8-9Vz74eDh8KKNo/w640-h480/IMG_5742.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ants Have Evicted the Spider</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />I guess the point of this all is that there is wonder to be found everywhere, if you just look. Even in the compost. After seeing the multiverse that exists in my compost pile, I feel a bit hesitant to move it or stir it up, because it's so marvelous. But I also know that my garden can always use some nice rich soil, and I'm tired of throwing away all those valuable veggie scraps. And the worms and ants and spiders and roaches will all get back to work again about as fast as I can set up the bin in the new location. They're self starters. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCDwRgnaqiPi2Pcx766-uwf_XVmZiqGqHgXJcU-Jat-5VnzdDNoakSjU80NyhTFcb9geqcvQZmdFIh10Vcu0Y4XqSytdPt_dnkFQIJbn5MVH3Bdlp0anDelpMWxKD-vNIILaO3Xsu2Ig/s2048/IMG_5437.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCDwRgnaqiPi2Pcx766-uwf_XVmZiqGqHgXJcU-Jat-5VnzdDNoakSjU80NyhTFcb9geqcvQZmdFIh10Vcu0Y4XqSytdPt_dnkFQIJbn5MVH3Bdlp0anDelpMWxKD-vNIILaO3Xsu2Ig/w640-h480/IMG_5437.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh, Sweet Humus, with some Cantaloupe Seeds Tossed in for Fun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-89107610721651572402021-02-05T15:59:00.003-05:002021-02-05T16:42:40.505-05:00Winter Colors: Brown<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6sdVt4GXkyql-pz6mF556nmo3oB42ZLgHjgoPs2y0dYElwxEz2tNqmRx_BZanmmUQ8xuNbZhW13IZyiBltMx1Cz2TGE1O2piTeSrA0o3QgxJ4hyphenhyphen9FJYEbfLAEky7CdnzKTCZgKGAUaM/s1280/Brown+Leaves.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6sdVt4GXkyql-pz6mF556nmo3oB42ZLgHjgoPs2y0dYElwxEz2tNqmRx_BZanmmUQ8xuNbZhW13IZyiBltMx1Cz2TGE1O2piTeSrA0o3QgxJ4hyphenhyphen9FJYEbfLAEky7CdnzKTCZgKGAUaM/w640-h428/Brown+Leaves.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bare Brown Woods</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />I watched the colors change over the course of the fall, and before I knew it, fall became winter, leaving the landscape bare and brown. The colors faded as the sunlight waned and the temperatures dipped, turning the woods from garish yellows, oranges and reds to sudued earthtones. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees, except for the Beech leaves that hang on and rustle in the breeze. The leaves that fell will break down to form new soil, at first leaving only a skeletal outline of veins and stems before decaying altogether. Acorns, Buckeye and flower seeds, ripened to a rich brown, become a delicious feast for the lucky finder. Freezing winter nights bring sparkling leafy treasures to find on a morning walk. The groundhog saw his shadow this week, predicting six more weeks of winter. This is fine with me because for a short while it is easy to spot birds and squirrels out in the open, without the protective cover of leaves. For now I enjoy the quiet and cold and wait for the sun to warm the soil. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBGYki12FnJV_mZ2YLpXfw251IYfI8Yon7PMqnit_0Sd5Y9fZ7hP0GTw42WB7f08fyt3f-Vj7skUJewiVkjx2MBntsu_PvNK6txCvrcIJnWMX0WfP0_fJCLa2LV_Mjm5GZ7wR8yBqa0g/s1280/Beech+Leaves.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="854" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBGYki12FnJV_mZ2YLpXfw251IYfI8Yon7PMqnit_0Sd5Y9fZ7hP0GTw42WB7f08fyt3f-Vj7skUJewiVkjx2MBntsu_PvNK6txCvrcIJnWMX0WfP0_fJCLa2LV_Mjm5GZ7wR8yBqa0g/w428-h640/Beech+Leaves.jpeg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beech Leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBow3N4GgyNnJScE7KqvWH5p0uRO2EsoVqg3rFwDDkMdkdX6vUGKGha9QrinUTvHnrJYqjWWSrslE-TAOe3oKLSfaDTyv0n-LB4V4MxVETc2gZmV32wnMh699W5okOf4Y0gP-P_GgDUpA/s2048/Leaf+skeleton.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBow3N4GgyNnJScE7KqvWH5p0uRO2EsoVqg3rFwDDkMdkdX6vUGKGha9QrinUTvHnrJYqjWWSrslE-TAOe3oKLSfaDTyv0n-LB4V4MxVETc2gZmV32wnMh699W5okOf4Y0gP-P_GgDUpA/w480-h640/Leaf+skeleton.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaf Skeleton</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVxxR8IX0lavqu0bN3Y_2B_Hnf_O9x3dGeZvm5YkwounzDeZYUBq8DsQZt2Pn2IRJEm8cB7XnrGzUC7H7h3Q0UeWIOAlBBvOzPrWxJJXJR9ECq2zVOHtW9lSBa555w9P-9tT-HBXdf6c/s2048/Flower+Seed+Heads.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVxxR8IX0lavqu0bN3Y_2B_Hnf_O9x3dGeZvm5YkwounzDeZYUBq8DsQZt2Pn2IRJEm8cB7XnrGzUC7H7h3Q0UeWIOAlBBvOzPrWxJJXJR9ECq2zVOHtW9lSBa555w9P-9tT-HBXdf6c/w640-h426/Flower+Seed+Heads.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripened Flower Seeds<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyprO_4PM2GupOljGBZZy5H93YjLHy950yvLHz2vuIoLinQOzxcIYFrDAYvbIUAkifOruYF23yvc8Pi0bKsvirwXL7anSK9ZnxzyYExyOb82Ylvyk3w_7TFNhzakM8X7MbCkE6S1WGCwo/s2048/Buckeye.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyprO_4PM2GupOljGBZZy5H93YjLHy950yvLHz2vuIoLinQOzxcIYFrDAYvbIUAkifOruYF23yvc8Pi0bKsvirwXL7anSK9ZnxzyYExyOb82Ylvyk3w_7TFNhzakM8X7MbCkE6S1WGCwo/w640-h426/Buckeye.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye Seed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcthk9Cx1CoEWMtVJwDs-iEGII82RZE1yQkSQFo5Dh5yg3G7Qg9KQJ3BIltTWl1gOzXnf4dI0ryUuJBI3j-rAzs44007ww1FkZXEckZz4XG1pbF8OZQFwYe4vi0zLDgsKtM-QwVBwOa40/s2048/Acorns+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcthk9Cx1CoEWMtVJwDs-iEGII82RZE1yQkSQFo5Dh5yg3G7Qg9KQJ3BIltTWl1gOzXnf4dI0ryUuJBI3j-rAzs44007ww1FkZXEckZz4XG1pbF8OZQFwYe4vi0zLDgsKtM-QwVBwOa40/w640-h480/Acorns+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorn Pile</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4vj64YVcFpmYMNpqjHe8k1gIuy91EpRKT0qLL9BzGiOluJH-Q7V87azPMKVT9NsGQA-rpmIlCenqylkSnBtLVs2361vDX7OAazVHEhuT3LDCCuQX0cq4oMIwLHOoWou_z2JL0sw8KXM/s1280/Frost+Leaf+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4vj64YVcFpmYMNpqjHe8k1gIuy91EpRKT0qLL9BzGiOluJH-Q7V87azPMKVT9NsGQA-rpmIlCenqylkSnBtLVs2361vDX7OAazVHEhuT3LDCCuQX0cq4oMIwLHOoWou_z2JL0sw8KXM/w640-h640/Frost+Leaf+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frosty Sweet Gum Leaf<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4GKR1AKz7wcx3M086_cSGppKN7tlBTWNCQHijaO9KAPOMFr0qRPcaZvWyPVUHrIZC3BzX41xY9RZ_i1lyjG8lhRK5I720wbbHj2SUgGeg_JVfuwvdl0dZKdUJR_K_sFtpgwz0ONydtk/s1280/Sparkling+treasures.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4GKR1AKz7wcx3M086_cSGppKN7tlBTWNCQHijaO9KAPOMFr0qRPcaZvWyPVUHrIZC3BzX41xY9RZ_i1lyjG8lhRK5I720wbbHj2SUgGeg_JVfuwvdl0dZKdUJR_K_sFtpgwz0ONydtk/w640-h480/Sparkling+treasures.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparkling Frozen Landscape<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZE-xkLwH8gHMEtmj5BVqSTh6ozom0HojIvFmzkVYuunww9qC9q6Zz4TRKrnS8lcE2S4iDpvvHX_vQT-olBKXHheUigblFsDXp1vYYJSio0IhRHPwdcJfhA7vnoftI1ebt98fLo5oc50/s2048/Brown+Creeper.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZE-xkLwH8gHMEtmj5BVqSTh6ozom0HojIvFmzkVYuunww9qC9q6Zz4TRKrnS8lcE2S4iDpvvHX_vQT-olBKXHheUigblFsDXp1vYYJSio0IhRHPwdcJfhA7vnoftI1ebt98fLo5oc50/w640-h480/Brown+Creeper.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Creeper<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINdGxwSTZ20gpdg-jo_UvYhK4UTq4WJgcGlZXuBAdsOLgraX66O95Hw3kKTytdLuk8QFyb_kyE39Rt_ey_Aw3wuKLEjAVOwJVEK4gezYKhYvzjfAGNDctzBQBNvhNgh34juVTQbeiMCQ/s1280/Grey+Squirrel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINdGxwSTZ20gpdg-jo_UvYhK4UTq4WJgcGlZXuBAdsOLgraX66O95Hw3kKTytdLuk8QFyb_kyE39Rt_ey_Aw3wuKLEjAVOwJVEK4gezYKhYvzjfAGNDctzBQBNvhNgh34juVTQbeiMCQ/w640-h480/Grey+Squirrel.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Squirrel<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdKE8FUojOWJlLCDstrLEjUNr4ExPZ7hyCSDjoZeP-GwaCsIy_RuQnBXeAd9stHhZcQWuhw1ytIg5rN01vKaB5EiQo1BWbcZKtPeUtUDqeYnwQiUdgpTM1KJbrGsqnL276jgHs73Z7TA/s2048/Carolina+Wren.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdKE8FUojOWJlLCDstrLEjUNr4ExPZ7hyCSDjoZeP-GwaCsIy_RuQnBXeAd9stHhZcQWuhw1ytIg5rN01vKaB5EiQo1BWbcZKtPeUtUDqeYnwQiUdgpTM1KJbrGsqnL276jgHs73Z7TA/w640-h480/Carolina+Wren.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Wren<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEzGrgWpL99B8ZPKB-zc2bSToVo3tjxmHJp1i7ui4Xc9F1U9nOLPHX3a8yB2jFJ0tHrm2565iX3S6-7hA7UNZ2gt8PXODlbX5REUSshYovL4e4PqAcehqeZY-9pb79ssbZqDQUDLrajQ/s1280/Deer.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEzGrgWpL99B8ZPKB-zc2bSToVo3tjxmHJp1i7ui4Xc9F1U9nOLPHX3a8yB2jFJ0tHrm2565iX3S6-7hA7UNZ2gt8PXODlbX5REUSshYovL4e4PqAcehqeZY-9pb79ssbZqDQUDLrajQ/w640-h480/Deer.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Tailed Deer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZNKDXduT-fHcfoUjc3ha10h-tfP7Kr0lLNR4OlrlgnC4Zl0F_K5pd_1jmhPKmdOwiEfkFDibpq_1pNUvZT3d9GmXluEZpzZq9nKGR1P-ZHKQkutBKldgdHSQnQI7S3Lj7Mtl_BwHR1Q/s1280/Hermit+Thrush.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZNKDXduT-fHcfoUjc3ha10h-tfP7Kr0lLNR4OlrlgnC4Zl0F_K5pd_1jmhPKmdOwiEfkFDibpq_1pNUvZT3d9GmXluEZpzZq9nKGR1P-ZHKQkutBKldgdHSQnQI7S3Lj7Mtl_BwHR1Q/w640-h480/Hermit+Thrush.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit Thrush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEBCshv0MSQDbeh1OP40Xj_Ta6ltPIvFaC74XVFUe8sKiO-TBZnAHcXuEGsGA94pPt3fhXatTn8fPUi7UBZq9pyQWxvPWUzGDlHq-ko1yvR4lyR4dyoHPlHUNR-Xr_tEXRvIA8NPD_rc/s1280/Eastern+Towhee.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1280" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEBCshv0MSQDbeh1OP40Xj_Ta6ltPIvFaC74XVFUe8sKiO-TBZnAHcXuEGsGA94pPt3fhXatTn8fPUi7UBZq9pyQWxvPWUzGDlHq-ko1yvR4lyR4dyoHPlHUNR-Xr_tEXRvIA8NPD_rc/w640-h436/Eastern+Towhee.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Eastern Towhee<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo5yxN8gBw2fDzTPTWC3tVujjjG8tIOUQpoUelag-RF_dyt60PCt4xT0BmoDJNkrWqZDyD7YWsDF75oi3fiWdyJIW3M1l92mIzfJG616yvLbIwuMHOELC7AJmGx41NT8BuIFQxA1V1Zo/s2048/Turkey+Tails.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXo5yxN8gBw2fDzTPTWC3tVujjjG8tIOUQpoUelag-RF_dyt60PCt4xT0BmoDJNkrWqZDyD7YWsDF75oi3fiWdyJIW3M1l92mIzfJG616yvLbIwuMHOELC7AJmGx41NT8BuIFQxA1V1Zo/w426-h640/Turkey+Tails.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Turkey Tail Fungi</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-78368657702132790062020-12-31T16:38:00.001-05:002021-01-02T19:38:18.587-05:00 So Long 2020<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QehCFyYL3aGHr8AKxCDb9tdqDSusDPrhM32awOVLYspiasDQp3Qr3OtT5wlLYQ5xLOkMUybosSEXcPEuaTlXe5wJP9-37lQUXaoAQ1iub71fTL1MSG8IH5Cc9APMwrnF9PKHGqYxyU8/s2048/Canada+Geese.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QehCFyYL3aGHr8AKxCDb9tdqDSusDPrhM32awOVLYspiasDQp3Qr3OtT5wlLYQ5xLOkMUybosSEXcPEuaTlXe5wJP9-37lQUXaoAQ1iub71fTL1MSG8IH5Cc9APMwrnF9PKHGqYxyU8/w640-h480/Canada+Geese.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Family of Canada Geese</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>I was looking through a collection of the year's photos in the paper the other day and I was shocked at the number of major, traumatic events that I had completely forgotten. They seemed years ago, and yet they happened sometime within the last 12 months. To say that this has been a tough year is an understatement. All of us feel dazed and tired, and no wonder. Our world has changed completely, and even if you're not struggling merely to survive or keep a roof over your head or feed your family, you also have had to develop coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of this constant state of emergency. We can't be with our family and friends. We can't do the things we're used to doing, like going to school and work. Our government is in turmoil. Nothing is normal. So people meditate or go running, or read lots of books, or watch everything on Netflix, or play music, or write, or knit or sew or cook. Whatever it takes to get through this. It's all better than "doom scrolling", which I have been guilty of quite a bit during this "Dumpster Fire" of a year. My personal plan has included lots of baking (I've definitely put on the Covid Extra 19), sewing face masks, and trying to stay connected to my family and friends online. But the most therapeutic practice for me has been to take photos in the woods and in my yard. This is an assortment of images from nature that have brought me peace this year. I hope they do the same for you. Let's hope for a better, safer, kinder new year. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj3XWgt2OtzqFnyGQD2peuaqP6_Rcg2KoqusWcfJMLe50w-dRnTqSTAsBbLtuW8h7BXYq2LffdZDBhEEYTw_xveoOx6oC88s0CokeJNyA_Bg0CcBv7BYh5IdASPEHo330f3EFTRbNkzA/s2048/Baby+Phoebes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNj3XWgt2OtzqFnyGQD2peuaqP6_Rcg2KoqusWcfJMLe50w-dRnTqSTAsBbLtuW8h7BXYq2LffdZDBhEEYTw_xveoOx6oC88s0CokeJNyA_Bg0CcBv7BYh5IdASPEHo330f3EFTRbNkzA/w640-h480/Baby+Phoebes.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Phoebes on a Branch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutZUWNJFPwqRibrhmNt0-2W4_zJQIYqC9xc6V5BIRi5Q2x4nluwRU82DfhIV4goJiXIrnwvnipzLNp61S4bqttgTm1tmfhEhxxzbJqrZsvV8VcsV9z4xJfZK1D2MXUmE3DvGaQVX3ei8/s2048/Barred+Owl.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutZUWNJFPwqRibrhmNt0-2W4_zJQIYqC9xc6V5BIRi5Q2x4nluwRU82DfhIV4goJiXIrnwvnipzLNp61S4bqttgTm1tmfhEhxxzbJqrZsvV8VcsV9z4xJfZK1D2MXUmE3DvGaQVX3ei8/w640-h480/Barred+Owl.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Barred Owl Watches me from High</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSpjkLWaP-ew1jzXlEfyDNZ9aj41g_45u45EkCdX0uJeQ4czHqfK2bGO-frnl2EX2ET_3Z4mT_h3r435XUIFiaUuH5uGrTF6Bvgxv6g8V6JSUxfZef7YygEyVr-q-vndxHGn4s7ijJ4I/s2048/Basking+Turtle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSpjkLWaP-ew1jzXlEfyDNZ9aj41g_45u45EkCdX0uJeQ4czHqfK2bGO-frnl2EX2ET_3Z4mT_h3r435XUIFiaUuH5uGrTF6Bvgxv6g8V6JSUxfZef7YygEyVr-q-vndxHGn4s7ijJ4I/w640-h480/Basking+Turtle.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Turtle Basks on a Log</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0bO5SLzOLfN0mw0uXIRJ9A7HYSLJLx9b_y5IO_DylAmPn2cpwav1nqsnpRejDoTKoR8Y9kJOWX8IXCBJMF9BZsrT2PG-9RkXhtCWn5_DN26TsPMWP8erEom8wZOP6N4MlNESeM669Uw/s2048/Beautyberry+Flowers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0bO5SLzOLfN0mw0uXIRJ9A7HYSLJLx9b_y5IO_DylAmPn2cpwav1nqsnpRejDoTKoR8Y9kJOWX8IXCBJMF9BZsrT2PG-9RkXhtCWn5_DN26TsPMWP8erEom8wZOP6N4MlNESeM669Uw/w640-h640/Beautyberry+Flowers.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowers on a Beautyberry Bush (Calicarpa americana)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2urA1SubeJ01D2vL3eyz0WCOCDet8jYTJaNV2qtOQnEDsWMn0RX__8JLv0eWJiibGOJdHZ2VlszoHuA-aWzLO_-Z3bG-p1-WwT6366CPm9nKgtniriMOFHn53d9WVBizAZsgivIsOK2U/s2048/Big+Fishing+Spider.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2urA1SubeJ01D2vL3eyz0WCOCDet8jYTJaNV2qtOQnEDsWMn0RX__8JLv0eWJiibGOJdHZ2VlszoHuA-aWzLO_-Z3bG-p1-WwT6366CPm9nKgtniriMOFHn53d9WVBizAZsgivIsOK2U/w640-h480/Big+Fishing+Spider.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Great Big (Blue) Fishing Spider in a Hollow Tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxNwaaPh8jYvgUI7ILzJzBchsBIXABU1oR22YIw5YlVjVgF5_oqUgynBJOB5e7h4NkJlrgBQsPbLgVZr5czU27ezbDgHC2oXWPZ4JB8H6p5CtniZ2ISBNs6ZaFPzqedpwk3j_7SUWTis/s2048/Black+Rat+Snake.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxNwaaPh8jYvgUI7ILzJzBchsBIXABU1oR22YIw5YlVjVgF5_oqUgynBJOB5e7h4NkJlrgBQsPbLgVZr5czU27ezbDgHC2oXWPZ4JB8H6p5CtniZ2ISBNs6ZaFPzqedpwk3j_7SUWTis/w640-h480/Black+Rat+Snake.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Rat Snake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOhMvR9x5nnjKo6MFS1lKOdghEu6fc0RRCtAvQAPGR85myA8IohuUJnkVH2v024vXsazMaXRDYGMorgzNJBy9P-Zhl6zNWH823WeWOF9uT4kioDzrj6hVPHwYJY2STHLX6H_Fh55ztJc/s2048/Bloodroot+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOhMvR9x5nnjKo6MFS1lKOdghEu6fc0RRCtAvQAPGR85myA8IohuUJnkVH2v024vXsazMaXRDYGMorgzNJBy9P-Zhl6zNWH823WeWOF9uT4kioDzrj6hVPHwYJY2STHLX6H_Fh55ztJc/w640-h480/Bloodroot+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot Bloom (Sanguinaria canadensis)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHOW8MBR497PJYpEnChvwneLsqn-7w1DFzBggBWqrtD8pOoSCVExkqOgXSmlNnYUacSy-pxUphUzmUEelk3NygBJix0ES2d-Cr0oC7fVHOsh6MGUyMGJhiO8ktVeje3FqsVTf1tWVraE/s2048/Brown+Creeper.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHOW8MBR497PJYpEnChvwneLsqn-7w1DFzBggBWqrtD8pOoSCVExkqOgXSmlNnYUacSy-pxUphUzmUEelk3NygBJix0ES2d-Cr0oC7fVHOsh6MGUyMGJhiO8ktVeje3FqsVTf1tWVraE/w640-h480/Brown+Creeper.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Brown Creeper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3DpPQsVlGBe6Ugqx8MzCZ7-iUSptdEdQdI4U8BLLVCTpGdJig_FLlZUyHTr2n7dINqPSTjkr2WPywgQ6cVapki5k0WKR8qwcvJrTLUJRgFrkzp0nHgZ9rHrPSE-s5jAZ2-Pc58XFnzc/s2048/Brown+Thrashers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3DpPQsVlGBe6Ugqx8MzCZ7-iUSptdEdQdI4U8BLLVCTpGdJig_FLlZUyHTr2n7dINqPSTjkr2WPywgQ6cVapki5k0WKR8qwcvJrTLUJRgFrkzp0nHgZ9rHrPSE-s5jAZ2-Pc58XFnzc/w640-h480/Brown+Thrashers.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Thrasher Adult feeding its Young</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-m7QyG1NWlBm4Tsb8eBzoedfUt4Rbuo67ylPOa1IcpCdX6o3y2Lox8ZFuntJ5g__FmKcLtWJ2dDup_EjDrBd-dFr3Y9TLvyOx-HwOj98INoLcB2FYr1n_2k5XJ4wENQoYnxooIy8_pU/s2048/Butterfly+Milkweed+and+Bug.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin-m7QyG1NWlBm4Tsb8eBzoedfUt4Rbuo67ylPOa1IcpCdX6o3y2Lox8ZFuntJ5g__FmKcLtWJ2dDup_EjDrBd-dFr3Y9TLvyOx-HwOj98INoLcB2FYr1n_2k5XJ4wENQoYnxooIy8_pU/w480-h640/Butterfly+Milkweed+and+Bug.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and a Milkweed Bug</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUJ-m9zPKKDkoayEf6mrokVh_urlHtU69hAAVmwCDEOlbolWserDVAuM5UttuB8GV4q0tYuMW6Z-7M6d_uDATaj9sSEGVc7ZxhyphenhyphenBcj2xNAfLH6ESFKjAq-wAdR-b12EUZvk1a7E4j7qA/s2048/Cardinal+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUJ-m9zPKKDkoayEf6mrokVh_urlHtU69hAAVmwCDEOlbolWserDVAuM5UttuB8GV4q0tYuMW6Z-7M6d_uDATaj9sSEGVc7ZxhyphenhyphenBcj2xNAfLH6ESFKjAq-wAdR-b12EUZvk1a7E4j7qA/w640-h480/Cardinal+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Very Cold Cardinal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTvQ0WjkYDjKCpft8EwMT7P1XH9KpqLeuM_TLy6Ig1zR99aZKoIIQd8PgPBrtVdz3a_Hnl8UEXHBFf7OUnvC61B4HIzhZKkkZjiCON6fZgNoyHisjH72AfkKW_kT4EnYeOtyHbnXiohQ/s2048/Catbird+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTvQ0WjkYDjKCpft8EwMT7P1XH9KpqLeuM_TLy6Ig1zR99aZKoIIQd8PgPBrtVdz3a_Hnl8UEXHBFf7OUnvC61B4HIzhZKkkZjiCON6fZgNoyHisjH72AfkKW_kT4EnYeOtyHbnXiohQ/w640-h480/Catbird+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Gray Catbird Chatters from the Bushes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAxLpbMwUHbVM6ObKf90T3SaiL6nzlLesC6d3L49hOKEQQ8sARK_GFazjPKMzEcbNHWHO9KjUEPR6fDODaD8wiL8BzwbkxvvMJnlSFmo8c5H3VYhXIBjtmtQmJLF1oBryH5upgy1L6BU/s2048/Cedar+Waxwings.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAxLpbMwUHbVM6ObKf90T3SaiL6nzlLesC6d3L49hOKEQQ8sARK_GFazjPKMzEcbNHWHO9KjUEPR6fDODaD8wiL8BzwbkxvvMJnlSFmo8c5H3VYhXIBjtmtQmJLF1oBryH5upgy1L6BU/w640-h480/Cedar+Waxwings.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Flock of Cedar Waxwings Sunning in a Treetop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMvgGzTJpU33XUERzmy4Sfrs08pDRO3eiRvIpzOGg9p5s7vifKQPNvxkJZBDgBcsw9xfziuvNjn4UiisXnP-Ll-qIxtaKiIJvNnxlBl6bHmTCybLCnaKPG4rihrMGYuDKFfCwOuUmzwg/s2048/Chipmunk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMvgGzTJpU33XUERzmy4Sfrs08pDRO3eiRvIpzOGg9p5s7vifKQPNvxkJZBDgBcsw9xfziuvNjn4UiisXnP-Ll-qIxtaKiIJvNnxlBl6bHmTCybLCnaKPG4rihrMGYuDKFfCwOuUmzwg/w640-h480/Chipmunk.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Chipmunk Scurries up a Tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqH0kia97onPe6ybHOKfap5PFXdI1PndgBiKjmmARDc1I02FI2eXZ_m61PVlEZ_Ml5HuyiX7vQ0C_7V5HhVyu9NbDnNeiif476M7hzq2pSuTsJQEUd7XaYpXixw2yLgekCGCUJP54utI/s2048/Chrysalis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqH0kia97onPe6ybHOKfap5PFXdI1PndgBiKjmmARDc1I02FI2eXZ_m61PVlEZ_Ml5HuyiX7vQ0C_7V5HhVyu9NbDnNeiif476M7hzq2pSuTsJQEUd7XaYpXixw2yLgekCGCUJP54utI/w640-h640/Chrysalis.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis With Shiny Gold</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUhvm3kZg57U9Twc0i4XlzDF5SEiyrMwI4s9rmW-GFo9UFnrB7iJtYzSq8BKZ1e1zDk8r42e76hbKu2leML7tO4T4KMRHskrYTE5SsVX_LyW8aQUr7fyubPjEpSMSl-iYtH6oSOEvVHY/s2048/Column+Stinkhorn+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUhvm3kZg57U9Twc0i4XlzDF5SEiyrMwI4s9rmW-GFo9UFnrB7iJtYzSq8BKZ1e1zDk8r42e76hbKu2leML7tO4T4KMRHskrYTE5SsVX_LyW8aQUr7fyubPjEpSMSl-iYtH6oSOEvVHY/w640-h640/Column+Stinkhorn+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Column Stink Horn Fungus in the Leaves Looks like an Alien Being</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk02WuqDc05LRveU735Rp_AHgy9Nb-oK-soARE2MbuvICoROOpBrhGG3x2CO07AgBYLdLZUdaBFYdlOhhDTrXBsfPXBCqbin-bqzzIaXOyO3RsDdfzy0RrfHNsjRa8RqcT2KPIzfrH1c/s2048/Cottontail+Rabbit.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk02WuqDc05LRveU735Rp_AHgy9Nb-oK-soARE2MbuvICoROOpBrhGG3x2CO07AgBYLdLZUdaBFYdlOhhDTrXBsfPXBCqbin-bqzzIaXOyO3RsDdfzy0RrfHNsjRa8RqcT2KPIzfrH1c/w640-h480/Cottontail+Rabbit.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cottontail Rabbit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid30ktnjAwqsNvyyZ_ZaF-mvlgDpPNwqPqS5D3ITSMvgFx3yxr0KLNZk8sA9-dQ3j1puYENb4xEms7QflkFoAvpRkl-q4DyVy-Hez-_lmOW-2RV1Gt8mJkfp5ZoqKbmlBn2U3FeN1ztIA/s2048/Eastern+Bluebird.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid30ktnjAwqsNvyyZ_ZaF-mvlgDpPNwqPqS5D3ITSMvgFx3yxr0KLNZk8sA9-dQ3j1puYENb4xEms7QflkFoAvpRkl-q4DyVy-Hez-_lmOW-2RV1Gt8mJkfp5ZoqKbmlBn2U3FeN1ztIA/w640-h480/Eastern+Bluebird.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivid Blue Eastern Bluebird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBO-849MvDYvjFaHIZ_r2B95F7RLyDFWgoP5CzCk7yi8c4p8_E_icRJUqkcpjr3guzuERzw5DZrOs_RH2qgunjJY4Hi-1qivMYbil2EY787xEeCrSwcDENy3Ef7dRN-c3F9RzXJZqovc/s2048/Eastern+Meadowlark.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBO-849MvDYvjFaHIZ_r2B95F7RLyDFWgoP5CzCk7yi8c4p8_E_icRJUqkcpjr3guzuERzw5DZrOs_RH2qgunjJY4Hi-1qivMYbil2EY787xEeCrSwcDENy3Ef7dRN-c3F9RzXJZqovc/w640-h480/Eastern+Meadowlark.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Meadowlark Stretches to Look Over the Tops of the Grass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMJu9YpIm5aAvFC-xMAyZvraeODVNL3l91hsDJdRJ-Y7h0T0_QCdcQ5JYUAWr1ts_POuVB82cu16c4pT7s75V_Es3PD3EehU1Mg49BDusBnJj8WLjEoEieCvt-65IMhf0_l-GpqmVe5A/s2048/Eastern+Phoebe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMJu9YpIm5aAvFC-xMAyZvraeODVNL3l91hsDJdRJ-Y7h0T0_QCdcQ5JYUAWr1ts_POuVB82cu16c4pT7s75V_Es3PD3EehU1Mg49BDusBnJj8WLjEoEieCvt-65IMhf0_l-GpqmVe5A/w640-h480/Eastern+Phoebe.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Phoebe with a Katydid</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB29_8FHwn22B_upKTNV9qDqKMmt_Sdmr76_krF6YVaIznm7WViz-Wx3J3CItve88fLXsuL8AQpCXXxK4rKtin1N0SA_E2vL9tr46lpz24HBbPb6Q54n8mLPdOYReh1I-_-sexW65S3x4/s2048/Eastern+Towhee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB29_8FHwn22B_upKTNV9qDqKMmt_Sdmr76_krF6YVaIznm7WViz-Wx3J3CItve88fLXsuL8AQpCXXxK4rKtin1N0SA_E2vL9tr46lpz24HBbPb6Q54n8mLPdOYReh1I-_-sexW65S3x4/w640-h480/Eastern+Towhee.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towhee Gives me the Stinkeye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprd5C2nC64a06JnCwHSofGxPAwcdaYY6w9QhdxKhGVtdv7uI8E_cnk2puHMSBFyFctFucbKzWnwmCOg3Cg8rA4ydffT9KZORaSUYGP5qYnN-1VFO9896e1e_48iEF8pmZpHpRHb48cPQ/s2048/Flicker+Feathers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprd5C2nC64a06JnCwHSofGxPAwcdaYY6w9QhdxKhGVtdv7uI8E_cnk2puHMSBFyFctFucbKzWnwmCOg3Cg8rA4ydffT9KZORaSUYGP5qYnN-1VFO9896e1e_48iEF8pmZpHpRHb48cPQ/w480-h640/Flicker+Feathers.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pair of Feathers from a Northern Flicker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ9qcEiTT3SWKOa-sveyIRmQqvI7lSgIx5R21YSMFPxMIDUbasDIOwDAhERHxJehsL2402CIxKvSTqEYVGfoEb1p_s0vuWiRdbgHLY3qwc7Wu1txI4MGoLRvjAabBk-zJjh1IdP1KEwc/s2048/Fox+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ9qcEiTT3SWKOa-sveyIRmQqvI7lSgIx5R21YSMFPxMIDUbasDIOwDAhERHxJehsL2402CIxKvSTqEYVGfoEb1p_s0vuWiRdbgHLY3qwc7Wu1txI4MGoLRvjAabBk-zJjh1IdP1KEwc/w640-h480/Fox+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox in the Woods</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WWDKsYaqbV31X6nsmTTBgrQRnAZuIpqvoemszp0a8J3ww26IQAThSHhSnIV9Bsz-IDDum5Wvfl7GVS7A90tfBlAi0SrZbLinbNoKNbu33ccU1L2yyn6YDzw2UvPXn4Cal7TWkrNjk7o/s2048/Frog+Feet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WWDKsYaqbV31X6nsmTTBgrQRnAZuIpqvoemszp0a8J3ww26IQAThSHhSnIV9Bsz-IDDum5Wvfl7GVS7A90tfBlAi0SrZbLinbNoKNbu33ccU1L2yyn6YDzw2UvPXn4Cal7TWkrNjk7o/w640-h480/Frog+Feet.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me these Oak Leaves Don't Look Like Frog Feet!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr7rkdOkiha5TDy7DLieaKkFZAwxoN5yYK8BopN6D31IsDuU_pi0-lzC2jytUdRudmqh3g6L60yEOYX_M_gGEJsICtIbTGBdfpVrBby9t1hCOt5M-cva82jVETIkxbooPZB__7lmZA2E/s2048/Frost+Leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKr7rkdOkiha5TDy7DLieaKkFZAwxoN5yYK8BopN6D31IsDuU_pi0-lzC2jytUdRudmqh3g6L60yEOYX_M_gGEJsICtIbTGBdfpVrBby9t1hCOt5M-cva82jVETIkxbooPZB__7lmZA2E/w480-h640/Frost+Leaf.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frost Rimmed Leaf</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsNWtFyRK9Jhk2RDJSN3GdDGFw_NaylWxnyzO2J74Rz_x30NWHyPx2GxYAzpRJh1mKnzEe-JvgC88G0sfVanH3dKkwYA8NI9Db15gmdz3L9QPhdxTEXC5Z7t5opb9IlFmzbLT-QRv8hk/s2048/Full+Moon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsNWtFyRK9Jhk2RDJSN3GdDGFw_NaylWxnyzO2J74Rz_x30NWHyPx2GxYAzpRJh1mKnzEe-JvgC88G0sfVanH3dKkwYA8NI9Db15gmdz3L9QPhdxTEXC5Z7t5opb9IlFmzbLT-QRv8hk/w640-h480/Full+Moon.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full Moon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR_kz8PHBfVvixL9LW6u9bshViMPEHj6ouOj6CxOcopRUfhm-UQ4SWCRh6689JEKnMmHD_6dk3iWpkuOyeEM393Ihh18sPLKq4XukOElC6t9wnrdz1Gdx9mPQ1p5_lRrhG2KybteYQB8/s2048/Goldfinch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR_kz8PHBfVvixL9LW6u9bshViMPEHj6ouOj6CxOcopRUfhm-UQ4SWCRh6689JEKnMmHD_6dk3iWpkuOyeEM393Ihh18sPLKq4XukOElC6t9wnrdz1Gdx9mPQ1p5_lRrhG2KybteYQB8/w640-h480/Goldfinch.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Yellow Goldfinch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59TkLR8bHmwADNBZamZNlTzjFtdn3_uScYyxXVFTO-uh7fCa0yJimibUQ_GnDqUVfWuGGNAWU7r953dJoQEpPqrtXr9HSf7vzih85JNq_D-b6xHlilR5i6fYe2fMD0Q4w3eGJhKLIhbA/s2048/Great+Blue+Heron.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59TkLR8bHmwADNBZamZNlTzjFtdn3_uScYyxXVFTO-uh7fCa0yJimibUQ_GnDqUVfWuGGNAWU7r953dJoQEpPqrtXr9HSf7vzih85JNq_D-b6xHlilR5i6fYe2fMD0Q4w3eGJhKLIhbA/w640-h480/Great+Blue+Heron.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Great Blue Heron on a Frigid Morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5_uxNXTwyk4WWkQIEzearc_rEKryyOdwUssXyW7Bmzts_TRAt-lcbieRb1kXAD4IcRvdnjfEaHlIgtZusM0SD7SftZ_KOUQ3v3z6LQdXyJP5ROiHgSKK418_gsIws5YlzwoL-5ETHGE/s2048/Great+Purple+Hairstreak.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5_uxNXTwyk4WWkQIEzearc_rEKryyOdwUssXyW7Bmzts_TRAt-lcbieRb1kXAD4IcRvdnjfEaHlIgtZusM0SD7SftZ_KOUQ3v3z6LQdXyJP5ROiHgSKK418_gsIws5YlzwoL-5ETHGE/w480-h640/Great+Purple+Hairstreak.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Purple Hairstreak in our Butterfly Garden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau_dqB86q6T-SfdiVA9ISUCe3MGyqFxVBlsNuTy5s5thqYPKq_LXl1_3kTWOdixonuFCuWPMFRV4-PQgmouydfcebIGwpSORVKDG1CNPG9Bz-AnAatd3qF2QbTl8YSYLjFgVYHQ4wNN0/s2048/Green+anole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau_dqB86q6T-SfdiVA9ISUCe3MGyqFxVBlsNuTy5s5thqYPKq_LXl1_3kTWOdixonuFCuWPMFRV4-PQgmouydfcebIGwpSORVKDG1CNPG9Bz-AnAatd3qF2QbTl8YSYLjFgVYHQ4wNN0/w640-h426/Green+anole.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Anole with Blue Eyeshadow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK0vpDX9D-SetdTOcoxJ4-uQY0eyx4nrhm1T4XSc1iKG4Uu3tvBZrkQBB-vOaxKIkjUXhbdldg5PRF2fPVhx5YU6NIz5L6Y1Zx9Aw3Gv4FzcqKyLgaG3kL6pEBN_SoYx_oC8r8YDkzgQ/s2048/Green+Treefrogs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK0vpDX9D-SetdTOcoxJ4-uQY0eyx4nrhm1T4XSc1iKG4Uu3tvBZrkQBB-vOaxKIkjUXhbdldg5PRF2fPVhx5YU6NIz5L6Y1Zx9Aw3Gv4FzcqKyLgaG3kL6pEBN_SoYx_oC8r8YDkzgQ/w480-h640/Green+Treefrogs.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Treefrogs </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dlDX-3fcpEEUrLbqn8NMWcJ5XVD9VfYIVB7x0VXDTCTxImMHZgjGYeDHD38Xm9CzzlhnI99YcAA0w97oD20r8pkrnM2r3KIXO7O_SkEegOAbxRAzsZbjNG3hefRkQHmgTRsUkoqWbOI/s2048/Hermit+Thrush+with+a+Hornet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dlDX-3fcpEEUrLbqn8NMWcJ5XVD9VfYIVB7x0VXDTCTxImMHZgjGYeDHD38Xm9CzzlhnI99YcAA0w97oD20r8pkrnM2r3KIXO7O_SkEegOAbxRAzsZbjNG3hefRkQHmgTRsUkoqWbOI/w640-h480/Hermit+Thrush+with+a+Hornet.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermit Thrush has Caught a Hornet for Lunch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGAFptcuygEHtdq2xOS4dILi8jcGlJQNNvcOpflwU_ttloLHE4R2iQPCLzs_rGjjmVPnxuNj26nb-RZ4UkDTcRKDNBxNNArVvLyZBojnnCEBYYkgmkE3nBm32XkQjYhwpXl6K_em1sRY/s2048/Horned+Grebe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGAFptcuygEHtdq2xOS4dILi8jcGlJQNNvcOpflwU_ttloLHE4R2iQPCLzs_rGjjmVPnxuNj26nb-RZ4UkDTcRKDNBxNNArVvLyZBojnnCEBYYkgmkE3nBm32XkQjYhwpXl6K_em1sRY/w640-h480/Horned+Grebe.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horned Grebe with Fiery Red Eyes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgBYRohlYhgAMacGRW12Fiy2LgWMs168M7ULiOCnug4AxweMgoOKkzreGQtdOakX9n4NfbFNkmrFA8FqwHBPG5qgbX5bJcSAybYJQ08AATYwRkqwykBaDcvduX_spQ-D_8hyphenhyphenKLzNneyY/s2048/Jessamine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgBYRohlYhgAMacGRW12Fiy2LgWMs168M7ULiOCnug4AxweMgoOKkzreGQtdOakX9n4NfbFNkmrFA8FqwHBPG5qgbX5bJcSAybYJQ08AATYwRkqwykBaDcvduX_spQ-D_8hyphenhyphenKLzNneyY/w640-h640/Jessamine.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Jessamine After the Rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_XVqt4e-yIHhUV8hUcFgFBDITTPivmlCdpCU1_NKGrpL1yHIKmfW35FwgtSKrXKpxt_YPrKCLbJEmg0ohTPwZ-3EfW1cOmZ2aSS_T6ySDB-09hv08Sd8s3fWaaXh1i6Cj-f5vwSrWvA/s2048/Joro+spider+black+morph.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_XVqt4e-yIHhUV8hUcFgFBDITTPivmlCdpCU1_NKGrpL1yHIKmfW35FwgtSKrXKpxt_YPrKCLbJEmg0ohTPwZ-3EfW1cOmZ2aSS_T6ySDB-09hv08Sd8s3fWaaXh1i6Cj-f5vwSrWvA/w640-h480/Joro+spider+black+morph.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jōrō Spider, Black Morph (solid black legs)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyagZSeFRusevuDgxYejwuN5RFnrCS398Pq4tXL1MbrqC3vxxrzZtcKuViJilfT66KXhoxiZ6Oc7vXjT1qYvKA0goBo_0XlgZOP_ROF22khAuD8pLnHsAhCez4kcmF2VAqkyEJ86fCLyE/s2048/Kingfisher.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyagZSeFRusevuDgxYejwuN5RFnrCS398Pq4tXL1MbrqC3vxxrzZtcKuViJilfT66KXhoxiZ6Oc7vXjT1qYvKA0goBo_0XlgZOP_ROF22khAuD8pLnHsAhCez4kcmF2VAqkyEJ86fCLyE/w640-h480/Kingfisher.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaeYKDPV0PywpTJpy0aSnASSiw2P3pl1uRI-XcLf54JS6OZDm3iR8C6cuP_4IH9J7i9P9tWntgnPw9rNb-zHxyEfRvNTWMdM26uVw2uYdkBgii0xaOtCHd0jm34KcuCA_0YL2iVsCLpo/s2048/Lace+Leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaeYKDPV0PywpTJpy0aSnASSiw2P3pl1uRI-XcLf54JS6OZDm3iR8C6cuP_4IH9J7i9P9tWntgnPw9rNb-zHxyEfRvNTWMdM26uVw2uYdkBgii0xaOtCHd0jm34KcuCA_0YL2iVsCLpo/w640-h640/Lace+Leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lacy Leaf</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSSAI4f6TvrNFvSowa5RsvK1Grj3zIB3-VzzmbzEG-_LuT0v47EkUjeFqG4VAlEMaizTunCt1djb_cTbk9MnKpNPeW50NF2wDLhgxB0uOJiioG1uG4zwsHoKv_9pWuJtHpSzmv6xxpK4/s2048/Late+Monarch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSSAI4f6TvrNFvSowa5RsvK1Grj3zIB3-VzzmbzEG-_LuT0v47EkUjeFqG4VAlEMaizTunCt1djb_cTbk9MnKpNPeW50NF2wDLhgxB0uOJiioG1uG4zwsHoKv_9pWuJtHpSzmv6xxpK4/w640-h480/Late+Monarch.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late Season Monarch Feeds on Salvia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZPXh9tvyBJ54VwQnTIqbqcjJ4zWtqAldjW4C-0iEG0bb-5hzjclo6Qcr2Edr0xPMprUG6XkYnbNVPYc2086SBgTXjyVF-yxcP3jQTgn6kWjKzXtGUNSlHMXBA4CTJS4gXW_BgCM9_UI/s2048/Least+Skipper+on+Wingstem.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZPXh9tvyBJ54VwQnTIqbqcjJ4zWtqAldjW4C-0iEG0bb-5hzjclo6Qcr2Edr0xPMprUG6XkYnbNVPYc2086SBgTXjyVF-yxcP3jQTgn6kWjKzXtGUNSlHMXBA4CTJS4gXW_BgCM9_UI/w640-h480/Least+Skipper+on+Wingstem.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Least Skipper Feeding on Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldr_He5_IrR-J0VP3ZwWoER9jGLJR3mikaVAeGrnc6iNFlEm_Ru4m2DQFtuvA88Zg8t89wrPswAYE-ojT_5hISCMHSc3YZJKcYvjCinTaR83J8lXqmHbQgtn-DtcimYSLHx1o0uiVEsc/s2048/Lichen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldr_He5_IrR-J0VP3ZwWoER9jGLJR3mikaVAeGrnc6iNFlEm_Ru4m2DQFtuvA88Zg8t89wrPswAYE-ojT_5hISCMHSc3YZJKcYvjCinTaR83J8lXqmHbQgtn-DtcimYSLHx1o0uiVEsc/w640-h640/Lichen.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frilly and Hairy Textures of Lichen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiRpJ22K5zGuDCmFVyXy-C3ac4onrQpuom39Et4LVwqGpVRyA7AhBUkvUL1rCcNamb4flxoXMaUlTRAoY_mFOwe-ajAdncItkO1J_EnZSjF8cS7eHIdH15LiFhZoH9R9PiS7myZ-v5zs/s2048/Mantis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiRpJ22K5zGuDCmFVyXy-C3ac4onrQpuom39Et4LVwqGpVRyA7AhBUkvUL1rCcNamb4flxoXMaUlTRAoY_mFOwe-ajAdncItkO1J_EnZSjF8cS7eHIdH15LiFhZoH9R9PiS7myZ-v5zs/w640-h480/Mantis.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantis Waits</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIboESF5gRfV5cRBtt2Y9_BjXdqvOmb6BwZPBtzon35VfqLOaRcGO1qkYa-tXRumBzEY-Lhllm5IbPF9taK6oggwRSnBUSNxi6RicVV7YqGDU0EjagI377vlT0e3J4R9QrwJTaVIOKVs/s2048/Not+an+alligator.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIboESF5gRfV5cRBtt2Y9_BjXdqvOmb6BwZPBtzon35VfqLOaRcGO1qkYa-tXRumBzEY-Lhllm5IbPF9taK6oggwRSnBUSNxi6RicVV7YqGDU0EjagI377vlT0e3J4R9QrwJTaVIOKVs/w640-h480/Not+an+alligator.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Not an Alligator (Made You Look!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHu0edGyHNvGadQJC9jRz4Jl6nqkkk4DTESmOclIeiGBKCenp4CdKXuL6eQco4RbTzif8BSzooq9LVCC8IAi0j7Vez-yztHO8aKnEUQ3ZrEyA_g_IUe-UnDZvCv5zQ9ED8wHPEn2QZIQ/s2048/Orchard+Oriole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHu0edGyHNvGadQJC9jRz4Jl6nqkkk4DTESmOclIeiGBKCenp4CdKXuL6eQco4RbTzif8BSzooq9LVCC8IAi0j7Vez-yztHO8aKnEUQ3ZrEyA_g_IUe-UnDZvCv5zQ9ED8wHPEn2QZIQ/w640-h480/Orchard+Oriole.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orchard Oriole Sings </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdH2oBCRKM9c-7cuh4S4rX91l4pP9_aC4l1no0fcaUWiDg56A4IQEIrw_Ilkapk7qVCtUzFi8OxOBTNr9Ttzf1uaZfAMiqj8Rn94dEYnTJC4AoomAshsSp6qlbHpTeVKWfoafNNyQWtE/s2048/Pollen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdH2oBCRKM9c-7cuh4S4rX91l4pP9_aC4l1no0fcaUWiDg56A4IQEIrw_Ilkapk7qVCtUzFi8OxOBTNr9Ttzf1uaZfAMiqj8Rn94dEYnTJC4AoomAshsSp6qlbHpTeVKWfoafNNyQWtE/w640-h480/Pollen.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollen Rings on the Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK0PEQyU1RGUyMkyt7ISwbIWpui6DZLjqI45XWetDcrGPlEXQcaURj7CZq7ywHTrYEkJwYUYKBt2xKIEKXicpJJik_U9hf7NW0c8-0znjQgR9S4leBN9VI9-5oyZ30x4VHJMgNuYQO1c/s2048/Raccoon.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK0PEQyU1RGUyMkyt7ISwbIWpui6DZLjqI45XWetDcrGPlEXQcaURj7CZq7ywHTrYEkJwYUYKBt2xKIEKXicpJJik_U9hf7NW0c8-0znjQgR9S4leBN9VI9-5oyZ30x4VHJMgNuYQO1c/w640-h480/Raccoon.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raccoon Stares at me Through the Poison Ivy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlCxFUjMK2CmkmTRW3CMLK4sLo9gNW2tWViQsXjOZJVWJz5X-A-tjb2QBxHwOswkPuGOO33Zp7qA_aUhmUz5CfwVJd_6PcQ6_k19KUu-djpjV0TsXSc2nldT_VLULYMQam-BvXNzgjP0/s2048/Red-headed+Woodpecker.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlCxFUjMK2CmkmTRW3CMLK4sLo9gNW2tWViQsXjOZJVWJz5X-A-tjb2QBxHwOswkPuGOO33Zp7qA_aUhmUz5CfwVJd_6PcQ6_k19KUu-djpjV0TsXSc2nldT_VLULYMQam-BvXNzgjP0/w480-h640/Red-headed+Woodpecker.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-headed Woodpecker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFNXIIts0KJ0IdlReunGdHLyqLawNBS13ZEelDoo2IQMaWlkVQmMTCh_JghdRNc_kHMZa-JbQ1sh-dS1viI_R-uV4QycYDI2fvaFnD4WZzwmIarVBZ9iyRIRe8rP0IVErBg6-43tIzzg/s2048/Red-spotted+Purple.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFNXIIts0KJ0IdlReunGdHLyqLawNBS13ZEelDoo2IQMaWlkVQmMTCh_JghdRNc_kHMZa-JbQ1sh-dS1viI_R-uV4QycYDI2fvaFnD4WZzwmIarVBZ9iyRIRe8rP0IVErBg6-43tIzzg/w640-h480/Red-spotted+Purple.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-spotted Purple Butterfly Sucking Minerals from the Wet Sand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN5dHG4fW2TopJgI3UlmUZR3poS7AAQUKPHK2t7hipmXTjq9i7wmMiPbJWCV-0BHay0LFU-Ykvm2GeRFGprth0LFghJcejYobs4lIijdIACsPz76Wtcxn3t1Oju26txFaOxKbukPcxtE/s2048/Robin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN5dHG4fW2TopJgI3UlmUZR3poS7AAQUKPHK2t7hipmXTjq9i7wmMiPbJWCV-0BHay0LFU-Ykvm2GeRFGprth0LFghJcejYobs4lIijdIACsPz76Wtcxn3t1Oju26txFaOxKbukPcxtE/w640-h480/Robin.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Early Winter Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5vEJy6v6WGtPzJPnRqRl9EOHvHVvLmaR3QV6ndYZxVtdn3V5k6uAMa3OT6npw24eE80hs0dTsfWQTsZ-mP4kpB-2q-kIqsve1JndyJ204ja5nEaD9E3S9nAAvyTiw-0lsfU2qq-xrZY/s2048/Rose-breasted+Grosbeak.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5vEJy6v6WGtPzJPnRqRl9EOHvHVvLmaR3QV6ndYZxVtdn3V5k6uAMa3OT6npw24eE80hs0dTsfWQTsZ-mP4kpB-2q-kIqsve1JndyJ204ja5nEaD9E3S9nAAvyTiw-0lsfU2qq-xrZY/w640-h480/Rose-breasted+Grosbeak.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy Rose-breasted Grosbeak Male Visited our Yard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUM08hMA_GXKRQpY2gnOI7UW8mPpbOwAOsqGbqHhXuaKSdGfiWlUfqTCM4uBiEk_mmhC3ciG7SUl4AYQ_UfVlCyMXDts39yTulQ3UNzo_jkhqQt_O9qhN-1_qWqCiJNj3alupvobiQYA/s2048/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUM08hMA_GXKRQpY2gnOI7UW8mPpbOwAOsqGbqHhXuaKSdGfiWlUfqTCM4uBiEk_mmhC3ciG7SUl4AYQ_UfVlCyMXDts39yTulQ3UNzo_jkhqQt_O9qhN-1_qWqCiJNj3alupvobiQYA/w640-h480/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby-throated Hummingbird Rests</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjwQfuJO8Kid-Cp5W-OmrFLLQvf7YDf4bzliRGTl-JoCV-ERd7An53iYcFpmn5u2pFeo5ouxpp_l70hqzV-R9U2W9vPcFXPPnvMsT_fQU5KiQj6m_6Peh_WfDyn9JD5w75ynxuNckAKs/s2048/Scarlet+Tanager.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjwQfuJO8Kid-Cp5W-OmrFLLQvf7YDf4bzliRGTl-JoCV-ERd7An53iYcFpmn5u2pFeo5ouxpp_l70hqzV-R9U2W9vPcFXPPnvMsT_fQU5KiQj6m_6Peh_WfDyn9JD5w75ynxuNckAKs/w640-h480/Scarlet+Tanager.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Tanager, Bright Red Against Green Leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl9HbaC3LkGmQXSxWf6Azd5cv9vEa22nVDDIRwqZACuopN2VVQWRYSmnaYAeazSBILT6T4kWiqp3Bd6NbNnvTFpzOVWDgzydIw2uZKxN8lVETYcnmT8cYmI8shjzfcc-pKSVUCDrczWI/s2048/Skink.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl9HbaC3LkGmQXSxWf6Azd5cv9vEa22nVDDIRwqZACuopN2VVQWRYSmnaYAeazSBILT6T4kWiqp3Bd6NbNnvTFpzOVWDgzydIw2uZKxN8lVETYcnmT8cYmI8shjzfcc-pKSVUCDrczWI/w640-h480/Skink.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Big Skink (Its front leg is just underneath)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaHD20jdXjpNPv25eGM8E1xn-Gvmugt5L98MVbGnzNFPRTjBq5qFxeouCGoui7tRKgyKAqtQFRkijy-8Rk7fVdBj5O3UM4QgwCVEpDNJiUncdgrPJfr8UFYR9QatJI-9DIfzJiRrJXk/s2048/Snapping+Turtle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcaHD20jdXjpNPv25eGM8E1xn-Gvmugt5L98MVbGnzNFPRTjBq5qFxeouCGoui7tRKgyKAqtQFRkijy-8Rk7fVdBj5O3UM4QgwCVEpDNJiUncdgrPJfr8UFYR9QatJI-9DIfzJiRrJXk/w640-h480/Snapping+Turtle.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snapping Turtles Have Interesting Eyes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW40pI-zUDp41njZWH_DWmz15ZTyEkH5Nab1kNepefO_gDIPj6_D5zTRlPZH8hf5R4KSPeIOY0JyscT6XVqHTmS5uKfkK29PFh5WyU-NdFPs1Vl_UC-Gn0vJiol5eH-K0ESSVy6w8UOfg/s2048/Snowy+Oriole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW40pI-zUDp41njZWH_DWmz15ZTyEkH5Nab1kNepefO_gDIPj6_D5zTRlPZH8hf5R4KSPeIOY0JyscT6XVqHTmS5uKfkK29PFh5WyU-NdFPs1Vl_UC-Gn0vJiol5eH-K0ESSVy6w8UOfg/w640-h480/Snowy+Oriole.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Orioles That Visit Our Yard Didn't Care When it Snowed in February</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9jewKeK8cbu3M0OIU2LO3kPnHY3o7-R2ibPURiVfTxgD8XXBq8LoCgAO07xp_UAgUjsoILi80uEqxv0f0QOGbGROW8z69cacAarTQrjSzS-jzRYk3XJwx248igLZ9Itt-2qGyYaFuz4/s2048/Song+Sparrow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9jewKeK8cbu3M0OIU2LO3kPnHY3o7-R2ibPURiVfTxgD8XXBq8LoCgAO07xp_UAgUjsoILi80uEqxv0f0QOGbGROW8z69cacAarTQrjSzS-jzRYk3XJwx248igLZ9Itt-2qGyYaFuz4/w640-h480/Song+Sparrow.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Little Song Sparrow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZi_g5vSxPaB6d5zWtyOXTGiASdRotw0aeOT8nKFSd5kc8Tt-ki8XH6bkjgXfemTUbScXByXquaJBEtvI26uG5UGzp-K1VGZ7XXqU2HAtVjPQbfYBMBnxc2nrd0wS2dV1q7qKlO2DnfA/s2048/Sulphur+Caterpillar+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZi_g5vSxPaB6d5zWtyOXTGiASdRotw0aeOT8nKFSd5kc8Tt-ki8XH6bkjgXfemTUbScXByXquaJBEtvI26uG5UGzp-K1VGZ7XXqU2HAtVjPQbfYBMBnxc2nrd0wS2dV1q7qKlO2DnfA/w640-h480/Sulphur+Caterpillar+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Spots and Yellow Strips on a Sulphur Butterfly Caterpillar</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfadyfjFfdduPjJ8MXvlSLWt2TvoEKbXSyybob_71bS1ynHZNTQItUAfBIfYn885RcZD61WGlgov1FsqUEVHvyRT9qk49wByOV93G0yk6gRrZn6FaAdCrGsTYrlBFIPfA1cr0GFoopIM/s2048/Swallow-tailed+Kite+%25282%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2048" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfadyfjFfdduPjJ8MXvlSLWt2TvoEKbXSyybob_71bS1ynHZNTQItUAfBIfYn885RcZD61WGlgov1FsqUEVHvyRT9qk49wByOV93G0yk6gRrZn6FaAdCrGsTYrlBFIPfA1cr0GFoopIM/w640-h552/Swallow-tailed+Kite+%25282%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dozens of Swallowtail Kites Showed up Put on a Show at a Local Farm, Feeding on Insects</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehjtFMbsYzbp375Ohyphenhyphen81lAPY_mHvb15uGDwdLn98botspn4jg9IyLGkEjEAz3FKnrKMX9C_PFVvrAoGQmYBi0fOtx75URxkV4DgiQ7fCpnDusB8_rMLO2Yw-Bzap1F5IWuozQIQ-QgxQ/s2048/Tiger+Swallowtail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehjtFMbsYzbp375Ohyphenhyphen81lAPY_mHvb15uGDwdLn98botspn4jg9IyLGkEjEAz3FKnrKMX9C_PFVvrAoGQmYBi0fOtx75URxkV4DgiQ7fCpnDusB8_rMLO2Yw-Bzap1F5IWuozQIQ-QgxQ/w640-h480/Tiger+Swallowtail.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiger Swallowtail and a Bumblebee Share a Thistle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUqdkgVxHCBL8_sx8yqpCCkIAAb-AOvas-kExMEwvfNvtS7rR-SM9zhK5aKf80-hqcmtwA0REkEf1SZIU0ToibK8jRYfxQ1wuPtQY4DwKLybXZ-pdCqFoJBZaEoZkMju_dslj-VZzHyw/s2048/Titmouse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUqdkgVxHCBL8_sx8yqpCCkIAAb-AOvas-kExMEwvfNvtS7rR-SM9zhK5aKf80-hqcmtwA0REkEf1SZIU0ToibK8jRYfxQ1wuPtQY4DwKLybXZ-pdCqFoJBZaEoZkMju_dslj-VZzHyw/w480-h640/Titmouse.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Tufted Titmouse Has Found a Spider's Eggsac</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4y81oCshRS6pQZo0zcAfNlBx6EAlrKl4oe3rLOlUHoXch8kTE8LfUGr5I95hWhMRbJbHrqX_kHJRb6cBtW102XmTXtMIO4GuxkNmGM4u7kL1CgQPCEyO0Ovhj1F7bGoHfSTxS_UHTKA/s2048/Wood+Boring+Beetle.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4y81oCshRS6pQZo0zcAfNlBx6EAlrKl4oe3rLOlUHoXch8kTE8LfUGr5I95hWhMRbJbHrqX_kHJRb6cBtW102XmTXtMIO4GuxkNmGM4u7kL1CgQPCEyO0Ovhj1F7bGoHfSTxS_UHTKA/w480-h640/Wood+Boring+Beetle.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metallic Woodboring Beetle </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sv966zHgV4OH_ou0EjLS7Xm9n6AsQ_UkL6RsdUFRTyFFTv9hC8I5z4fwuP6SxOWKxx6eq75AyLGCfY2dkMRZix6tAznbkI-8KgTGA6R8vb-r3U3YqTVXXBWuqtAWGgRO3VaCCqeBnxQ/s2048/Wood+Thrush.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sv966zHgV4OH_ou0EjLS7Xm9n6AsQ_UkL6RsdUFRTyFFTv9hC8I5z4fwuP6SxOWKxx6eq75AyLGCfY2dkMRZix6tAznbkI-8KgTGA6R8vb-r3U3YqTVXXBWuqtAWGgRO3VaCCqeBnxQ/w640-h480/Wood+Thrush.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Thrush Sings and Sings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRnMMWnAnCcJriv7aggUSPljiuYwhIUAYgf-6WEE5AAjdMSpfsDIvXOSI0DMKItweLEKL_NTLIKIDyL7jkJBYK5_Gy8RoF1oBNDnfG9-QC-9Wwdq3D_45ZS8BCAxqA5q2Vob4mRzzYt0/s2048/Wooly+Bear+Caterpillar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPRnMMWnAnCcJriv7aggUSPljiuYwhIUAYgf-6WEE5AAjdMSpfsDIvXOSI0DMKItweLEKL_NTLIKIDyL7jkJBYK5_Gy8RoF1oBNDnfG9-QC-9Wwdq3D_45ZS8BCAxqA5q2Vob4mRzzYt0/w640-h640/Wooly+Bear+Caterpillar.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Leopard Moth Caterpillar Shows Red Stripes When Curled</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-69451923304884504412020-12-20T14:44:00.003-05:002020-12-20T19:16:42.034-05:00Fall Colors: Blue<p>Here it is-- the last day of fall. Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. A few freezing nights have toasted just about all the fall blooms, except for a few that were protected close to the ground or close to the house. The prevailing landscape colors are muted earth tones, and they are lovely. But every so often, I glimpse a flash of blue as a bluebird or bluejay zips past, or catch the brilliant blue sky from between the branches of the leafless trees and it jolts me awake from my cold weather nap. Blue is my favorite color and has been since I was little. My first memory of loving the color comes after I visited Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake. Somehow I got it into my head that stars were blue. Maybe they appeared that way on the dome of the planetarium, or maybe we looked at a mineral that had some blue in it, but Cobalt blue seemed magical ever after, and is the one that really makes my heart sing, though most blues will do it for me. Lapis lazuli. Sigh. Blue makes me smile, quickens my pulse, brightens my eyes. It pops. Blue symbolizes hope and promise, loyalty and calm. Blue skies peeking through the clouds let us know there is hope and a future after the storm. It also symbolizes sadness to some, though not to me. "The Bluebird of Happiness" "Blue Skies, smiling at me, nothing but blue skies, do I see". After the year we've just been through, I definitely need more blue in my world. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ovI5INDAZ6tC2t04GC6KJ5ixFW5YFPb8UoEhjPnhfq4QyHg7FsJSjG3yoxoHVVT0SjCRE0tZowgTTlv7D6pwQuv-I29otLB3Lz1h9UafAQQ2d6GW8gyFaaRFarl3rdNU2rNdiTLRZtw/s2048/DSCN4866.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ovI5INDAZ6tC2t04GC6KJ5ixFW5YFPb8UoEhjPnhfq4QyHg7FsJSjG3yoxoHVVT0SjCRE0tZowgTTlv7D6pwQuv-I29otLB3Lz1h9UafAQQ2d6GW8gyFaaRFarl3rdNU2rNdiTLRZtw/w640-h480/DSCN4866.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Chickadee feasts on the blue fruits of invasive privet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBRRNbc6xf01tMyE9Ia0AwI9t8oHgAi-pidzbAGx_9NkurmWO5cjLiqu7gpLIDREC1U85AvKYjb51fOQFEQo5mYZsdUaIQTwKa_Ls8bSk8jXjbOKJ2YmEQpx5reQ2mgj7bGT7RmY8pss/s2048/Skink+Tail.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBRRNbc6xf01tMyE9Ia0AwI9t8oHgAi-pidzbAGx_9NkurmWO5cjLiqu7gpLIDREC1U85AvKYjb51fOQFEQo5mYZsdUaIQTwKa_Ls8bSk8jXjbOKJ2YmEQpx5reQ2mgj7bGT7RmY8pss/w426-h640/Skink+Tail.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue tail of an immature 5 Lined Skink on a warmer day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX4PRwA9RlgNg_pmMauU2sLN7TFcBsOKVy48r_R6Fea4vOzn7stNiqk4PUfMT29kAMi5IC5z1beU85Gty95Rt8emZ6akzIoGsPgxLjlalAg7dO6paSbHlurVwuLGwzSkiM4hroF3P1Rg/s2048/Moon+in+the+Blue+Sky.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKX4PRwA9RlgNg_pmMauU2sLN7TFcBsOKVy48r_R6Fea4vOzn7stNiqk4PUfMT29kAMi5IC5z1beU85Gty95Rt8emZ6akzIoGsPgxLjlalAg7dO6paSbHlurVwuLGwzSkiM4hroF3P1Rg/w640-h480/Moon+in+the+Blue+Sky.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waning Moon in a bright blue sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl9uPsVHtiuCjT33GvsN5mJaqZja9avvR1li2BUQZ7DljGMBtLuJXbnHPahLFp4bFTGHB-dlRe-B4dyeZ68DlNhYjT5qYha0tlo_FG2S4_9ZNjKwdLf-Yv1K01C6_hGAQuinAnzYh3Jg/s2048/IMG_5139.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl9uPsVHtiuCjT33GvsN5mJaqZja9avvR1li2BUQZ7DljGMBtLuJXbnHPahLFp4bFTGHB-dlRe-B4dyeZ68DlNhYjT5qYha0tlo_FG2S4_9ZNjKwdLf-Yv1K01C6_hGAQuinAnzYh3Jg/w480-h640/IMG_5139.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny Bluejay feather</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jqBlCVptiLSVzoNLBYMsPEpaV-cKT4pb_5iBQjb9uHtb-YGclVjrZq6z-Cz8ObFun_v286Ol4TAYx40WbM2BcHsKhs5PA1SsAR1vfq3tv1tKwrCz2wGzwTombQ7t6CBR_z1PeGDJx48/s2048/Great+Blue+Heron.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jqBlCVptiLSVzoNLBYMsPEpaV-cKT4pb_5iBQjb9uHtb-YGclVjrZq6z-Cz8ObFun_v286Ol4TAYx40WbM2BcHsKhs5PA1SsAR1vfq3tv1tKwrCz2wGzwTombQ7t6CBR_z1PeGDJx48/w640-h480/Great+Blue+Heron.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron shows tinges of blue on the edges of its wings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrEOYGnxcdntfx-edkWG-6slwHbExa68M3jwduHvQCyXxXqRVBXMcCrsA3rFMnr2BtjOVSCazLs4rmJ9gBAmc8D5TAe6ZOS5Bpq5yPLRZXCgohQ3-KjOfdcbJYkehLWI3d4xJtz2uts0/s2048/DSCN5081.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrEOYGnxcdntfx-edkWG-6slwHbExa68M3jwduHvQCyXxXqRVBXMcCrsA3rFMnr2BtjOVSCazLs4rmJ9gBAmc8D5TAe6ZOS5Bpq5yPLRZXCgohQ3-KjOfdcbJYkehLWI3d4xJtz2uts0/w640-h480/DSCN5081.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belted Kingfisher, blue with cold! (It was 28 degrees that morning)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgY4TPYNJfZ6XItlWTGfI-Tk91TfFOsagB0Q4bK9as4eESSjukcQ13lrWnrl98Lc-1VTYnyBroM0-SIiEoo5QeDfYufqlVpyGJmDXcFK2xTbdN2FXiAlP4xl_D2ve5Lj_QD4pJBhac1k/s2048/DSCN5058.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgY4TPYNJfZ6XItlWTGfI-Tk91TfFOsagB0Q4bK9as4eESSjukcQ13lrWnrl98Lc-1VTYnyBroM0-SIiEoo5QeDfYufqlVpyGJmDXcFK2xTbdN2FXiAlP4xl_D2ve5Lj_QD4pJBhac1k/w640-h480/DSCN5058.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clear Blue Skies and Bare Trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG7poEVIDliEtVcxCz6uQPzecN2MmOYD4x6dh10MyubosLM-AbHmUXCjj0WDLyUTh5xUqXwvFaqiR1xg2lEVxntjUVltlfTBO218sACUBk67Zd_uElGAfOK_ir2_bDqFxcpgsDYd9Y9E/s2048/DSCN3743.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBG7poEVIDliEtVcxCz6uQPzecN2MmOYD4x6dh10MyubosLM-AbHmUXCjj0WDLyUTh5xUqXwvFaqiR1xg2lEVxntjUVltlfTBO218sACUBk67Zd_uElGAfOK_ir2_bDqFxcpgsDYd9Y9E/w640-h480/DSCN3743.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hungry bee feeding from the last of the Blue Salvia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbc1Cod4rWqAlTwoIB3gAUhihiQy75IUvrbJd-VBk2V8v4JNVAoTLYol7-JNeCXlcBUE6twXxjOghhRm_mpKrYTJcKGr10Kb17U96OlOH0joY-qJWNHK4bMV9kkaZqcgLaqVeMD5ps8o/s2048/Bluebird.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbc1Cod4rWqAlTwoIB3gAUhihiQy75IUvrbJd-VBk2V8v4JNVAoTLYol7-JNeCXlcBUE6twXxjOghhRm_mpKrYTJcKGr10Kb17U96OlOH0joY-qJWNHK4bMV9kkaZqcgLaqVeMD5ps8o/w640-h480/Bluebird.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebird of Happiness (Eastern Bluebird)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK_DqFcMhj-Nwfc3cP3rb12pxEST93S5D8cZOE5cHXO5RNZt50xM2cOdeY5fYUBi2gf1nGZl4e09dBynLj5UaDDcG68tpZTnMbCCnEleVhOyHdsRiZAx2eGYr35k5reaufhtS-ou4eaA/s2048/IMG_5161.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK_DqFcMhj-Nwfc3cP3rb12pxEST93S5D8cZOE5cHXO5RNZt50xM2cOdeY5fYUBi2gf1nGZl4e09dBynLj5UaDDcG68tpZTnMbCCnEleVhOyHdsRiZAx2eGYr35k5reaufhtS-ou4eaA/w480-h640/IMG_5161.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brighter Days ahead</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK_DqFcMhj-Nwfc3cP3rb12pxEST93S5D8cZOE5cHXO5RNZt50xM2cOdeY5fYUBi2gf1nGZl4e09dBynLj5UaDDcG68tpZTnMbCCnEleVhOyHdsRiZAx2eGYr35k5reaufhtS-ou4eaA/s2048/IMG_5161.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-43739979761757528822020-12-10T14:39:00.001-05:002020-12-10T14:39:33.989-05:00Fall Colors: Purple<p>Purple is a restful color. Not fiery red, not cool blue--but a pleasant and tranquil mix. We need more purple in our lives. Just a month ago, the color purple was everywhere. Purple asters sprinkled among the goldenrod that carpeted the roadsides, and clusters of purple berries and grapes hung ready to be gobbled by hungry birds and deer. But in December, the flowers are mostly spent and the beautyberry fruit, and poke and virginia creeper berries are mostly gone, save for a few that escaped the cold and the herbivory. Their days are numbered. Too late for Red-spotted Purple butterflies, and too early for violets. But walking around the woods and in my yard, I still was able to find a few bright purples flashes holding out before winter turns the landscape all brown and tan and white. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCtG6IhMJz-eVos451zoXYqvl_5yxUfv6eh8NmY0X8136VdCuuImoCYoZX9JHJ1A3gEaUkEiClZ9cQ2OeC6NuP6AMtQ8xWHRK3UI5snFPcrvj-fQd3m5AqpWpUiztPOFxuyV0NCKMIfc/s2048/10-22-2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCtG6IhMJz-eVos451zoXYqvl_5yxUfv6eh8NmY0X8136VdCuuImoCYoZX9JHJ1A3gEaUkEiClZ9cQ2OeC6NuP6AMtQ8xWHRK3UI5snFPcrvj-fQd3m5AqpWpUiztPOFxuyV0NCKMIfc/w640-h480/10-22-2020.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the fall, Sweetgum leaves come in all the colors. This one is purple, but I've found <br />yellow, orange, red and brown too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjWJ2mNtvp2xMOBrras4FfvMW9sbVNjLgvhRW4xOuAXTBcWXHkLpDMt7OMc35i5IiVlPqfkThIGEoEbUjRHUKibJYagDyEZSD1VgGZquhLQ5QJ0YVY_E_SMEx5eMhrbKRVTq22X8YMVg/s2048/12-3-2020.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjWJ2mNtvp2xMOBrras4FfvMW9sbVNjLgvhRW4xOuAXTBcWXHkLpDMt7OMc35i5IiVlPqfkThIGEoEbUjRHUKibJYagDyEZSD1VgGZquhLQ5QJ0YVY_E_SMEx5eMhrbKRVTq22X8YMVg/w640-h480/12-3-2020.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss Phlox blossoms in the Playscape at the Nature Center</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o-ZB2sNwAN4Rklodg8bR93xDcj-QuLNcw5OoZG6t4HoHnHI0tR5G5jee7fxt25gP8WtejqdLkmzfMMKZS6kEtBWNt7OHgvoZBn_ythPpnfy4Y0E7LZ9GVutlxQQoE4gpFI_NjTPLhac/s2048/Beauty+Berries.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0o-ZB2sNwAN4Rklodg8bR93xDcj-QuLNcw5OoZG6t4HoHnHI0tR5G5jee7fxt25gP8WtejqdLkmzfMMKZS6kEtBWNt7OHgvoZBn_ythPpnfy4Y0E7LZ9GVutlxQQoE4gpFI_NjTPLhac/w640-h426/Beauty+Berries.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A clump of Beautyberries that made it through the first frost</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict4hPxHzckJnMY4Q27VkUsPf0cVmi9rpmixmk6kt4RwHd_4AP_4brxGXLsYtRI1BudawXHE9mdgUSt7trZgD1F11dJe0BbM74_9tHhkRpSvz-1sDzcxREDY9PS7z1NN1p7KCaIe7-NxI/s2048/Georgia+Aster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict4hPxHzckJnMY4Q27VkUsPf0cVmi9rpmixmk6kt4RwHd_4AP_4brxGXLsYtRI1BudawXHE9mdgUSt7trZgD1F11dJe0BbM74_9tHhkRpSvz-1sDzcxREDY9PS7z1NN1p7KCaIe7-NxI/w640-h426/Georgia+Aster.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few Georgia Aster blooms are hanging on in our sheltered pond garden</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9eP8tzQQwtomkmUzYOetTCpiYt_m2mS7RgX9W96sE0NjZWln3AW3yEQDTdI75dXyx0pZTI2F6cEPgzOQyRzzWVM6Gc2uxyYnLdQ1jDq2wyIk0CICVaeVT0Fy1EnV0ik01LMXlCb1tuw/s2048/Muhly+Grass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9eP8tzQQwtomkmUzYOetTCpiYt_m2mS7RgX9W96sE0NjZWln3AW3yEQDTdI75dXyx0pZTI2F6cEPgzOQyRzzWVM6Gc2uxyYnLdQ1jDq2wyIk0CICVaeVT0Fy1EnV0ik01LMXlCb1tuw/w640-h426/Muhly+Grass.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flowers of Muhly grass are like soft purple clouds in the front yard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Hpg2V8zigQnJsaZkQYst97WnFOxGRvtnJ3ncX6LLT6-DITxHnx9udGYdJ96PnJjmEo2Jx483GWsAFEhYYqXH9sZaZ-uCv-dnX2f98mfZzqz3dK0IxFXdks8Y7pDiEfW1ePk91gk7v3A/s2048/Orchid+Leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Hpg2V8zigQnJsaZkQYst97WnFOxGRvtnJ3ncX6LLT6-DITxHnx9udGYdJ96PnJjmEo2Jx483GWsAFEhYYqXH9sZaZ-uCv-dnX2f98mfZzqz3dK0IxFXdks8Y7pDiEfW1ePk91gk7v3A/w480-h640/Orchid+Leaf.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The underside of a Crane-fly Orchid leaf (Tipularia discolor) is bright purple surprise</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GPU-uN7PDN9lQjt0DjPbWAQoJNIoBJCM9rHzrIPW2mvoK_HVwBD0uYP-pGfzN96n1wbSTvlK9ZrDbeBZECpa7bkQI9NAGfRPbd2rY0c3jPy-69-SkPyifWwuGISpXhTaFA7jJKibCMo/s2048/Puff+Ball+spores.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GPU-uN7PDN9lQjt0DjPbWAQoJNIoBJCM9rHzrIPW2mvoK_HVwBD0uYP-pGfzN96n1wbSTvlK9ZrDbeBZECpa7bkQI9NAGfRPbd2rY0c3jPy-69-SkPyifWwuGISpXhTaFA7jJKibCMo/w640-h480/Puff+Ball+spores.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spores from big white Puff Ball fungi leave purple/brown discs on the grass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsjd_y2fVMGCa9wS1mvkUiXtveJCWW6DiA-MZIoZ2XKonn_FSDnRcAthYXw9fIE9XoxjZbIX-MRAEgbimk8NlzVUIyCpFzNfmHpRQLTQPMAOFbySVOH0EB3pcgTLNKZcla47Qc9qt424/s2048/Purple+Cort+mushrooms.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsjd_y2fVMGCa9wS1mvkUiXtveJCWW6DiA-MZIoZ2XKonn_FSDnRcAthYXw9fIE9XoxjZbIX-MRAEgbimk8NlzVUIyCpFzNfmHpRQLTQPMAOFbySVOH0EB3pcgTLNKZcla47Qc9qt424/w640-h428/Purple+Cort+mushrooms.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> These Purple Cort (Cortinarius) mushrooms were so lovely that I had to include them, even though <br />I saw these a few years back on a hike with the Ramblers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1CTFPMY97W803q5nq1yXmRpGTSGAvVQ9b9d4CTTLtBbsKL2HjnaBAQgoobXwVmvDXc5QYSkGg51Cqw69VOuGtIDQ63_jeMfkTca2gXZcg50s9YBitzCqT3WbQkCGbOSf0meSI0kt0qw/s2048/Purple+Finch+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1CTFPMY97W803q5nq1yXmRpGTSGAvVQ9b9d4CTTLtBbsKL2HjnaBAQgoobXwVmvDXc5QYSkGg51Cqw69VOuGtIDQ63_jeMfkTca2gXZcg50s9YBitzCqT3WbQkCGbOSf0meSI0kt0qw/w640-h480/Purple+Finch+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Finches came with the migrant warblers and a few have stayed around, <br />now hanging with the Robins and Cedar Waxwings</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UumTosQKFBonItnY1niuAoifQG1gkJiQiPNqe-e_Lg7Kpw6TFl-wmXpYRuQ9mXZAZD-X3PRGNh3wNbGbrcJl7sYRVscCqnqvI8LXYFapCgOYlSvvJzteNbbo80EnWDcAvlBl1oA_YlM/s2048/Violet+Tooth+polypore.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UumTosQKFBonItnY1niuAoifQG1gkJiQiPNqe-e_Lg7Kpw6TFl-wmXpYRuQ9mXZAZD-X3PRGNh3wNbGbrcJl7sYRVscCqnqvI8LXYFapCgOYlSvvJzteNbbo80EnWDcAvlBl1oA_YlM/w480-h640/Violet+Tooth+polypore.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet Toothed Polypores, I believe. I don't know my fungi. My only clue is the purple edge. </td></tr></tbody></table>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-42704625920753422472020-12-04T18:05:00.001-05:002020-12-10T14:11:01.808-05:00Fall Colors: Red<p> I have been hoping that things will start to feel like normal one of these days soon. But I'm not so sure anymore. So I walk the woods and watch the colors and try to clear my mind. The world feels red hot and chaotic, but in the woods red is a calming, soothing color. Red leaves glow from across the lake, making warm reflections in the water. Red berries from Dogwood trees shine from branch tips, tasty meals for birds or squirrels. A handful of red Salvia blossoms linger after the first frost. Red mushrooms pop up after rain, only to be munched by the snails and slugs. Red Cardinals splash in the birdbath. Red Georgia clay, preferred building material for ants, is all over my hiking shoes and the floor of my house after the rains. The hot pink belly of an exotic Jōro spider hanging in her golden web with her mate, made it through the first hard frost. They won't survive the cold of winter, but their eggs will. Cedar Waxwings who arrive in huge flocks each fall, eat their weight in berries throughout the winter, their red wax tipped wings and yellow tails bright in the trees against a crisp blue sky. Fuchsia Maple leaves, changing from green to pink flash out along the trail like a beacon. Robin Redbreast is here for the winter and he brought a few hundred of his friends. A Red-tailed Hawk pair hunts from the top of a tower. Red leaves of Virginia Creeper climb a tree at the Nature Center. The brightness of red grabs my eye as I walk, pulling me into focus with nature and away from the worries of the world. Stay safe. Wear your masks. Be kind. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrt5Y4jtPgd4R5TWEUFbSdOyrgFrbR8yn_gTLp0Fqa2fAb04LxzgIU-aor-omryntdJL9Z13Qy1XfJcHRiay3dLawoqKxhyphenhyphenNtl4attvvIZWQdNikuOiif1TfUPJD6jkcp_WFpTcJBU98/s2048/Oakleaf+Hydrangea+leaf.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrt5Y4jtPgd4R5TWEUFbSdOyrgFrbR8yn_gTLp0Fqa2fAb04LxzgIU-aor-omryntdJL9Z13Qy1XfJcHRiay3dLawoqKxhyphenhyphenNtl4attvvIZWQdNikuOiif1TfUPJD6jkcp_WFpTcJBU98/w640-h480/Oakleaf+Hydrangea+leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oakleaf Hydrangea leaf turning</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDHhU6a3o6czT8iJ3e4TF4LKOgEow2-HUBrPlW_I1qc5g1YJj81pAuO8LOqxiF2mltBQmmbSROD7JG8pjYLHBy_4OqG_AuqajJU1-8NoBBqVQPi9TklaGORRqySrIRfbtdlfWIY3ld8U/s2048/Red+Oak+Leaves.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDHhU6a3o6czT8iJ3e4TF4LKOgEow2-HUBrPlW_I1qc5g1YJj81pAuO8LOqxiF2mltBQmmbSROD7JG8pjYLHBy_4OqG_AuqajJU1-8NoBBqVQPi9TklaGORRqySrIRfbtdlfWIY3ld8U/w640-h480/Red+Oak+Leaves.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Oak Leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLXYRVQfyDvNBgNAYdTpJdwEg3Q2WN9EOVRqOGIDSmotyI-j1SoXjwdlm-kney-peSlFoDCv11QLid62qYG3QIHwEL2XIPouHSbmfw1QQtA4eLqlIPBwhr3AVKBDT8r8AKe5xYvK8sK0/s2048/Red%252C+red.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLXYRVQfyDvNBgNAYdTpJdwEg3Q2WN9EOVRqOGIDSmotyI-j1SoXjwdlm-kney-peSlFoDCv11QLid62qYG3QIHwEL2XIPouHSbmfw1QQtA4eLqlIPBwhr3AVKBDT8r8AKe5xYvK8sK0/w640-h480/Red%252C+red.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red, Red, Red leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJMvTKYAt5utSswhPILCeJ8lraoK3GEajsvyCrzOA4I-PYpjd6QsZH4MRIiNxtkwnybQ_r1MC2SS4_97_UHLtujbMnMQmq3j_lbMAMF3hCPDEc6ep0iX7hoXdJEtSXJC0VcJFvrdGxp0/s2048/Sweet+Gum+Leaf.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJMvTKYAt5utSswhPILCeJ8lraoK3GEajsvyCrzOA4I-PYpjd6QsZH4MRIiNxtkwnybQ_r1MC2SS4_97_UHLtujbMnMQmq3j_lbMAMF3hCPDEc6ep0iX7hoXdJEtSXJC0VcJFvrdGxp0/w480-h640/Sweet+Gum+Leaf.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Sweetgum Leaf</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP0W_wqcrBfcmHWsYQolNQrXelvuwupR5HWhELEvJFTMElb1JzSpbvmWmrGfO5jyl2-tt2XyeUHTnK4RnHcy_38WlyK80fleP0jmtia6QSPYfIsijFpvy9qrQ8ztbY4lpy4rqMf0JRuE/s2048/Dogwood+Fruit.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP0W_wqcrBfcmHWsYQolNQrXelvuwupR5HWhELEvJFTMElb1JzSpbvmWmrGfO5jyl2-tt2XyeUHTnK4RnHcy_38WlyK80fleP0jmtia6QSPYfIsijFpvy9qrQ8ztbY4lpy4rqMf0JRuE/w640-h426/Dogwood+Fruit.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brilliant Dogwood Berry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeStrRFm7L2oL9taplfSBVrtxNrGwxfcGfz7whfsSwpTTJSwMaXzdPwVHz_GYTqFr_lPvh0N2BTljUqi4o6QIW3prME3OyjZ9dj2LH-t8A3665RTVz5wkTYrTj3eQhFdmYxlyuvIiHgg/s2048/Scarlet+Salvia.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeStrRFm7L2oL9taplfSBVrtxNrGwxfcGfz7whfsSwpTTJSwMaXzdPwVHz_GYTqFr_lPvh0N2BTljUqi4o6QIW3prME3OyjZ9dj2LH-t8A3665RTVz5wkTYrTj3eQhFdmYxlyuvIiHgg/w640-h480/Scarlet+Salvia.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Salvia flowers just before the frost</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBnMK9N_ZoyqUMOdGSiwRVsCrM0uloFPhgk1hunO_WcIJp0Y6GEr867HWaFhcRdHZMOBeGKXG9ipcUAfNbftNJWZhznzUHRfLmpyL1549hKWgd4xAUWjNd43ebv_ePsGYpO6GHMN6M74/s2048/Red+Mushroom.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBnMK9N_ZoyqUMOdGSiwRVsCrM0uloFPhgk1hunO_WcIJp0Y6GEr867HWaFhcRdHZMOBeGKXG9ipcUAfNbftNJWZhznzUHRfLmpyL1549hKWgd4xAUWjNd43ebv_ePsGYpO6GHMN6M74/w640-h480/Red+Mushroom.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Mushroom munched by snails</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLxHf2ts8M7jNA59XJU3_Z8uUJeHESwg5d-WoMNVZ3TxaeHsOB0scisrPy0T72wUqb3rSNhpx0_V3N27WdWikdm_jPZLKJs-2ggwQULxvJA-l87zW9IyOI_gLQh1YypIHGADLjLqA2bM/s2048/Cardinal+Bath.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLxHf2ts8M7jNA59XJU3_Z8uUJeHESwg5d-WoMNVZ3TxaeHsOB0scisrPy0T72wUqb3rSNhpx0_V3N27WdWikdm_jPZLKJs-2ggwQULxvJA-l87zW9IyOI_gLQh1YypIHGADLjLqA2bM/w640-h480/Cardinal+Bath.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Male Cardinal in the bath</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCvxa6sIo3cKPE_SfLQseYnBdnCpeI613RZt9HclYkiposQKkJyziHpzBv3-SHyjPHC16xVabMhuSMGhH4dLrvZ-4IT53KldqzMjvholFqm8-XI-SgIIT6ijLNBmDBUUiWyYU2lx9MxU/s2048/Joro+Spiders.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCvxa6sIo3cKPE_SfLQseYnBdnCpeI613RZt9HclYkiposQKkJyziHpzBv3-SHyjPHC16xVabMhuSMGhH4dLrvZ-4IT53KldqzMjvholFqm8-XI-SgIIT6ijLNBmDBUUiWyYU2lx9MxU/w640-h480/Joro+Spiders.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink belly of a female Jōro spider and her mate who made it through the first freeze</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnzlix0KXsQfQki1WGU9VJoyiOkZD9stfTU6OvpVpci5qGJRqtWoWqg1lzK51xKzjl7olC8RLgQGsUYBcWFXbs5F-Yq5wSBkegFagAL3xeCZkhtf4ITZrZL-PFjjreIBMTzEqIdaPEec/s2048/Red+dirt%252C+fire+ant+mound.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnzlix0KXsQfQki1WGU9VJoyiOkZD9stfTU6OvpVpci5qGJRqtWoWqg1lzK51xKzjl7olC8RLgQGsUYBcWFXbs5F-Yq5wSBkegFagAL3xeCZkhtf4ITZrZL-PFjjreIBMTzEqIdaPEec/w640-h480/Red+dirt%252C+fire+ant+mound.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ant chambers in the Red Georgia Clay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_-PJszj95E7k4-_PZWfQuVpUwINjcIm7SMra2zGwxVD0JMJWz100xi4duW1G255dkwxVUgn_KYKdaGoYnf2jyWQ5UHjsra2gjS56gdeeDfHmv8SzpGlRyrAutu6ofBuEhAuu9SDn9Pc/s2048/Cedar+Waxwing.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_-PJszj95E7k4-_PZWfQuVpUwINjcIm7SMra2zGwxVD0JMJWz100xi4duW1G255dkwxVUgn_KYKdaGoYnf2jyWQ5UHjsra2gjS56gdeeDfHmv8SzpGlRyrAutu6ofBuEhAuu9SDn9Pc/w640-h480/Cedar+Waxwing.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxy red tips of Cedar Waxwing</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-mISO1q3hwKRuRNaX2M2Zo4cHG8AmBdPYZt0gzNSOoxEdbWIp3-rcRuL3U2bJjNe84b9LsOuExxm-1kVQH68BSVXKfhaz2HFhXYdjgfiLYyJeGrEgf7W0wKcCQHJ4jmgAW3Mx2xpo0U/s2048/Fuchsia+Maple+Leaf.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-mISO1q3hwKRuRNaX2M2Zo4cHG8AmBdPYZt0gzNSOoxEdbWIp3-rcRuL3U2bJjNe84b9LsOuExxm-1kVQH68BSVXKfhaz2HFhXYdjgfiLYyJeGrEgf7W0wKcCQHJ4jmgAW3Mx2xpo0U/w640-h640/Fuchsia+Maple+Leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot pink Maple</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGmeQpXMSqUC15H_PL_QHBvG1gfcxSYa-J4u7NATA8U-Zb9gkRUCnBwc4MATi-Gf5EKrqktX7DsOukyNGc5NXnfOo8Elg0lwH138msAREB1L3chSVUnEgpC76lhxs7HEKjRFQFijFPI/s2048/Robin+Redbreast.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGmeQpXMSqUC15H_PL_QHBvG1gfcxSYa-J4u7NATA8U-Zb9gkRUCnBwc4MATi-Gf5EKrqktX7DsOukyNGc5NXnfOo8Elg0lwH138msAREB1L3chSVUnEgpC76lhxs7HEKjRFQFijFPI/w640-h480/Robin+Redbreast.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin Redbreast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5eG_m1NpVYWWqQ-N2OgY-1WKuuiHbOyv4Nad0SE1tlSCL2lBZWdWT6MhZNky6k7HIuwmhld5NFOM2RFr4COQwUzIFx3bS62BGTOFahasjJdqsYejtLrtKeij7kjGz74xgrnHQi9BiYs/s2048/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW5eG_m1NpVYWWqQ-N2OgY-1WKuuiHbOyv4Nad0SE1tlSCL2lBZWdWT6MhZNky6k7HIuwmhld5NFOM2RFr4COQwUzIFx3bS62BGTOFahasjJdqsYejtLrtKeij7kjGz74xgrnHQi9BiYs/w640-h480/Red-tailed+Hawk.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Tail of the Red-tailed Hawk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYhSeQoYjucA8XLqF76zxDyXUGMSIhw2igjl4BF4peQYwTY3L7JpQRd-P6NTCSoLzEdDbCfStJwRUZRk_J6wGvxxzR4jTh-OzgguaxpnMJ4abqgVTHJEO1RWxNz08E_dG8yEcbYXl8Tc/s2048/Virginia+Creeper.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYhSeQoYjucA8XLqF76zxDyXUGMSIhw2igjl4BF4peQYwTY3L7JpQRd-P6NTCSoLzEdDbCfStJwRUZRk_J6wGvxxzR4jTh-OzgguaxpnMJ4abqgVTHJEO1RWxNz08E_dG8yEcbYXl8Tc/w480-h640/Virginia+Creeper.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Creeper climbing a tree</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-39412084584307727772020-10-28T19:38:00.002-04:002020-10-28T19:38:55.943-04:00Fall Colors: Orange<p>Late October. The air is cooler. Colors are more muted. A leaf that last week was bright yellow has now turned dark with splotches of orange and brown. Dogwood trees glow like fire as their leaves morph: green to orange to pink. The sunlight is softening. There's a smell of rich decay in the air. Leaves fall and crunch as you walk. Migrant warblers stop for a rest on their way south. Year round resident birds fatten up on seed and bugs and berries. Butterflies and bees seem more intent as they search for the last blooms of the season. Damp woods and dead branches invite fungal spores and detritivores. I turn to the fall colors to reassure me that no matter what else is happening around me, the seasons turn and nature abides. </p><p>Orange is the color of leaves turning, berries ripening.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B5M1xMZTXmAKZ7wc4weE6xwKX4wP74ma29sPgbWTUHAN7QIlAIfpb4eKVqzcDhogW2tnAu2xxAgE6F4ujDpN80dqYgGK3pb06mTEND6b_qEmPSRHHArSBcUFoFdiAG-R60I434Tuayk/s2048/Tulip+Poplar.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B5M1xMZTXmAKZ7wc4weE6xwKX4wP74ma29sPgbWTUHAN7QIlAIfpb4eKVqzcDhogW2tnAu2xxAgE6F4ujDpN80dqYgGK3pb06mTEND6b_qEmPSRHHArSBcUFoFdiAG-R60I434Tuayk/w640-h480/Tulip+Poplar.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulip Poplar leaf turning from yellow to gold<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmf8OWsZVfh7DKGfomO8RoW2mVSP4XClKLcMd24uzABCaR47UyIeJTWGhyn3fSWf5dWsu6ccmd8A_UGOiS6MHyACK53ZqWBphoJIamqVdIleN8zL2JgAyYG-WPVIUIaxd7SVCYtKHVE4/s2048/Sassafrass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmf8OWsZVfh7DKGfomO8RoW2mVSP4XClKLcMd24uzABCaR47UyIeJTWGhyn3fSWf5dWsu6ccmd8A_UGOiS6MHyACK53ZqWBphoJIamqVdIleN8zL2JgAyYG-WPVIUIaxd7SVCYtKHVE4/w480-h640/Sassafrass.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The orange of Sassafras<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG6jJVHVoQhPxa4nAMWjE_j0oH567HzVhN4z1cqBq78Z7tB4Dk7wWG2VEFDkgYNCcW343g1gUv7cRCYJQt1HTuW1v7xUuXBleuoiNhKs1uYS3WmyuFbL-BmoFHEtYnHAR_-KvIPtFKgQ/s2048/Pyracantha.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYG6jJVHVoQhPxa4nAMWjE_j0oH567HzVhN4z1cqBq78Z7tB4Dk7wWG2VEFDkgYNCcW343g1gUv7cRCYJQt1HTuW1v7xUuXBleuoiNhKs1uYS3WmyuFbL-BmoFHEtYnHAR_-KvIPtFKgQ/w480-h640/Pyracantha.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pyracantha Berries are tasty treats for the birds<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCtnySziT9B0e46PUZYhX4wZVxCSMs5tOh_xF06eXHrt0HVC3khI0NNXgES_ZFIvPw7m7ndfavGACUFL3nyVikMfKctHO7b2Pa6kJ_cALH8ERk1l_01gjzDZiGhzEexFC-R_ZGQVLsvQ/s2048/Leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCtnySziT9B0e46PUZYhX4wZVxCSMs5tOh_xF06eXHrt0HVC3khI0NNXgES_ZFIvPw7m7ndfavGACUFL3nyVikMfKctHO7b2Pa6kJ_cALH8ERk1l_01gjzDZiGhzEexFC-R_ZGQVLsvQ/w640-h480/Leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange veins in leathery leaves<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3YiXM1fjSRZk31Xv0AUPZ71SKn_YTK-DnDzB_z04ww8iSuCzNHFY9YE7224UIpH7Clzspo5e5xQ90XhQzQryqpVr_qjDYwsBIt3P9lgRRXFDpKjXGrblqX9PhSSEvNmhAu63NMLjcnc/s2048/Dogwood+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3YiXM1fjSRZk31Xv0AUPZ71SKn_YTK-DnDzB_z04ww8iSuCzNHFY9YE7224UIpH7Clzspo5e5xQ90XhQzQryqpVr_qjDYwsBIt3P9lgRRXFDpKjXGrblqX9PhSSEvNmhAu63NMLjcnc/w640-h480/Dogwood+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogwood leaves glowing like fire<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Orange is the colors of fungi, bright on the forest floor.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9hmIQI0iBpMq6ldQcxmhdYL0C4dfbJc8TCSRNd-iIiaDbDOiZGUrPlRzQTuFZvk3fIBCrD-qfFRBTzOKNvLbeXnSjVaucixQhLB9VE5AFYIq7ibK23P0gROL5K-BWckTSsPcTsLunHc/s2048/Turkey+Tail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9hmIQI0iBpMq6ldQcxmhdYL0C4dfbJc8TCSRNd-iIiaDbDOiZGUrPlRzQTuFZvk3fIBCrD-qfFRBTzOKNvLbeXnSjVaucixQhLB9VE5AFYIq7ibK23P0gROL5K-BWckTSsPcTsLunHc/w480-h640/Turkey+Tail.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earth tone rainbow of a Turkey Tail fungus<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTF7pHR0Vie06Zo0NL_IZrmohlvld5IlKrxuyPrttPitK9rpo8-U9zTnUltrXnqprUgU1KKEdrrh08ZYf70aVzn7kQdH2DV71i6DFmpEV8WHsRQ90h1PwGsbHhLXnYSsFnSiKtOls2g0/s2048/Mushrooms.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTF7pHR0Vie06Zo0NL_IZrmohlvld5IlKrxuyPrttPitK9rpo8-U9zTnUltrXnqprUgU1KKEdrrh08ZYf70aVzn7kQdH2DV71i6DFmpEV8WHsRQ90h1PwGsbHhLXnYSsFnSiKtOls2g0/w640-h480/Mushrooms.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mushroom cluster<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuw3ir2lvTd8cC9ZsPZ3b9OEyXTGxtiFb1TTpe20pkA5e5bxGwoHF0UZ5SFpld8sMrmfIRSwMXHonxwiR7_nNsD0XilYbnF9PgLfYsa-mAGS_q53bJWkCPbTFkmeJCo_mKbaauPV2UDU/s2048/Fungus+and+lichen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuw3ir2lvTd8cC9ZsPZ3b9OEyXTGxtiFb1TTpe20pkA5e5bxGwoHF0UZ5SFpld8sMrmfIRSwMXHonxwiR7_nNsD0XilYbnF9PgLfYsa-mAGS_q53bJWkCPbTFkmeJCo_mKbaauPV2UDU/w640-h480/Fungus+and+lichen.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frilly orange fungus and green lichen<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJNi4OCkGxpYZeWOa-tpGIChB30GEdeOWG7rR7b4GDn31JYX_MUqGLRfEQLcGH3pw50snLkx2b2Dm5PIAzNXtgqLq1kJCVCGBoFqFOCVCKhqK9mcka54meYNf8b1J-c1OIXFGfDSqos/s2048/Coral+Fungus.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAJNi4OCkGxpYZeWOa-tpGIChB30GEdeOWG7rR7b4GDn31JYX_MUqGLRfEQLcGH3pw50snLkx2b2Dm5PIAzNXtgqLq1kJCVCGBoFqFOCVCKhqK9mcka54meYNf8b1J-c1OIXFGfDSqos/w640-h480/Coral+Fungus.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral fungus feeds a Carolina Mantleslug<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Orange is late fall flowers and the butterflies hungrily feeding and searching for host plants where they can lay their eggs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UOvZnNuvs_N6pybMLahU1yoSrz-mO3kxcCyve044jDR8tFG_z3YW10y5T9AlafIyUmmhJmxUcUIxldQfj2rg0mULgAukIuwKEKPCmZN9RpM6We0-mjGP_9pw9E2FEr6a-ffUEdK7ktk/s2048/Jewelweed+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UOvZnNuvs_N6pybMLahU1yoSrz-mO3kxcCyve044jDR8tFG_z3YW10y5T9AlafIyUmmhJmxUcUIxldQfj2rg0mULgAukIuwKEKPCmZN9RpM6We0-mjGP_9pw9E2FEr6a-ffUEdK7ktk/w640-h480/Jewelweed+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT084HgoHeaOQ8964g7AO2xbbGMUYayRrWhMEHACZ1I1ji2ImuD-acgcEOrYZTelD9bzbPpz0qNgpoc7iJnXLRYhzO5OPEI3TLqcAyGeNZNJbutrvSEPKJuTLcsnOtYwYdU3XmQQmHZE/s2048/Buckeye+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT084HgoHeaOQ8964g7AO2xbbGMUYayRrWhMEHACZ1I1ji2ImuD-acgcEOrYZTelD9bzbPpz0qNgpoc7iJnXLRYhzO5OPEI3TLqcAyGeNZNJbutrvSEPKJuTLcsnOtYwYdU3XmQQmHZE/w640-h480/Buckeye+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye feeding on Blue Mist Flower<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br />Orange is the rusty sides of bluebirds and warblers who come to our yard for sustenance and respite.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVL0j6Cgg1P01p9jGED7snf7d-AOgogwGgbZjYCOyUDw8NH49JkZLMLpojsFg3FZX4FzlVqZbT6XaNSIOKpSxrSCl7aLjIFv_DLYAjStBDNcXfzttulSLfLi3f8wzWFiiOPYiwmvqgAI/s2048/Bluebird.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVL0j6Cgg1P01p9jGED7snf7d-AOgogwGgbZjYCOyUDw8NH49JkZLMLpojsFg3FZX4FzlVqZbT6XaNSIOKpSxrSCl7aLjIFv_DLYAjStBDNcXfzttulSLfLi3f8wzWFiiOPYiwmvqgAI/w640-h480/Bluebird.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Bluebird<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTctbYstr0p_rRciuxYl4WNFc64wC1waqkUmZ9tVXcaxD1HtaiGn2Smzmh1KPxkscLE9TFvpOtT8HIXnjTsziuIadok75Re76tkFxrj4IDxA8ygOp3OMBuPBuNVOCZp6q0DuIrqOCvUiA/s2048/Bay+Breasted+Warbler.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTctbYstr0p_rRciuxYl4WNFc64wC1waqkUmZ9tVXcaxD1HtaiGn2Smzmh1KPxkscLE9TFvpOtT8HIXnjTsziuIadok75Re76tkFxrj4IDxA8ygOp3OMBuPBuNVOCZp6q0DuIrqOCvUiA/w640-h480/Bay+Breasted+Warbler.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay-breasted Warbler<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p></div>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-66870322248116087042020-10-15T14:23:00.003-04:002020-10-15T14:23:53.682-04:00Fall Colors: Yellow
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I continue in my effort to maintain sanity and calm in these unsettling times, rather than yelling at the radio and newspaper, I am watching the changing fall colors. Today is brought to you by the color Yellow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yellow is the color of migrating warblers who stop by our backyard pond to energize for their journey.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGcbNuNjti1NQrTZzw5aeagsCRB5W2-95nUZN-RT0CPVvoFoxMkxmaArHysigWbYOpfwQVilTcHzJKy68jWgzdJGMbctXk1xDlNtVDwHqmpiEilA6-q_vmd6rvtU5EKNoeCw6Lu5xue0/s2048/Black-throated+Green+Warbler.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGcbNuNjti1NQrTZzw5aeagsCRB5W2-95nUZN-RT0CPVvoFoxMkxmaArHysigWbYOpfwQVilTcHzJKy68jWgzdJGMbctXk1xDlNtVDwHqmpiEilA6-q_vmd6rvtU5EKNoeCw6Lu5xue0/w640-h480/Black-throated+Green+Warbler.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Green Warbler<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYKh8pVBybamSQWd5r8nY658AApm1lMHlJzJnlLISdschzWzoHRFKlzsthr3iiyJByu2-zAcP_5dvTSRwRDqLA4ykTEl3bq2OwfH0TDh9JPEVEi0XjKTKKumemPIRa1YJCLBCWNakq94/s2048/Sleepy+Orange.jpeg" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7Ydz6etSevoWPmq6O2G1t7gpNRIeslcRtmMUHQHTfDya_F25nyEczCqPJ1NRoGppSGvE7rKn0TZHXUIftaRCceFAt5tBY38TrQgMQSvdvaVH1SHlfu0NXC2XdqHpM3JvQMP7kWNWObo/w640-h480/Prairie+Warbler.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Warbler<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGJB7VIIIHlLuE6vD26nLk_fkgae0LQAoknWWvO9ulP9k9u0L-IpN8UZMk0kkOA4f3kylgm7NMQY_bEFtwAUISXlW7nFEP9dJBthT09FkHbz3FzXfsIkFP4GAtFhTXqGtfZKxWY2I7vc/s2048/Tennessee+Warbler.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGJB7VIIIHlLuE6vD26nLk_fkgae0LQAoknWWvO9ulP9k9u0L-IpN8UZMk0kkOA4f3kylgm7NMQY_bEFtwAUISXlW7nFEP9dJBthT09FkHbz3FzXfsIkFP4GAtFhTXqGtfZKxWY2I7vc/w640-h480/Tennessee+Warbler.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tennessee Warbler<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPbNacTe5UuPt4fCosFQIzt30HicOMfmy_LFRSWi3g8MmPn9ThqkFAF1cI39mX5wffnP5FALJminIyQjim9ebxod4Qbpn0Ymg-3u0YfBMAfAjwLI7OzuZgvg-aeYzaAcse0aJ9QGI_CU/s2048/Northern+Parula.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPbNacTe5UuPt4fCosFQIzt30HicOMfmy_LFRSWi3g8MmPn9ThqkFAF1cI39mX5wffnP5FALJminIyQjim9ebxod4Qbpn0Ymg-3u0YfBMAfAjwLI7OzuZgvg-aeYzaAcse0aJ9QGI_CU/w640-h480/Northern+Parula.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Parula<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Yellow is the color of wildflowers blooming in the garden, in the parks, and along the roadside, providing nourishment for pollinators and winter seed food for Goldfinches.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyCMxtAzGmscXZsNFnUPO5CFjwjdBYqQ4_qoZ5G9PU61-HBfH1X0sG9WuhuDqFjabLVqWv0ZfN2pYwnmnn5iYXkMbwz9ProBlgJtxcHj9bCAqbxuMEqKu_LIw90eLaLBsf1gh69aFG20/s2048/Black-eyed+Susan+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyCMxtAzGmscXZsNFnUPO5CFjwjdBYqQ4_qoZ5G9PU61-HBfH1X0sG9WuhuDqFjabLVqWv0ZfN2pYwnmnn5iYXkMbwz9ProBlgJtxcHj9bCAqbxuMEqKu_LIw90eLaLBsf1gh69aFG20/w640-h426/Black-eyed+Susan+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAtQThrnYJqi4VbFKA4HHZH2raJp_xCCUZDvNKMgAZBIHJAQXPkuga0L_5HltVrPsejvEidxeEomOu8uS5t-o1PmRrFYo5RSdLI4Iv3P-djvgD_CT0NSMSRNx7BuWMc8YeHDO04c2i5A/s2048/Camphorweed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAtQThrnYJqi4VbFKA4HHZH2raJp_xCCUZDvNKMgAZBIHJAQXPkuga0L_5HltVrPsejvEidxeEomOu8uS5t-o1PmRrFYo5RSdLI4Iv3P-djvgD_CT0NSMSRNx7BuWMc8YeHDO04c2i5A/w640-h426/Camphorweed.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillaris)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMIbqgX0R7qWklj-f_y_2xPTT-3UurI534qRB-xqoBVaGdtd2J6MjIywHDy-a83SGkKLLEvCcNa18ANSlZu0-MIQIUN8wHXmABhv0SkrZKl-_n1j4LOUY-89I1ijtbT_6QEvn2WgbKWs/s2048/Coreopsis.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMIbqgX0R7qWklj-f_y_2xPTT-3UurI534qRB-xqoBVaGdtd2J6MjIywHDy-a83SGkKLLEvCcNa18ANSlZu0-MIQIUN8wHXmABhv0SkrZKl-_n1j4LOUY-89I1ijtbT_6QEvn2WgbKWs/w426-h640/Coreopsis.jpeg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One lone Coreopsis bloom <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRTUrDYpVBBMbJV5Mvg82-PAYnbj5TD1csROq5aXfXwWxapYwWPGIjUypZGHQv45M0EosT4a2fTCBbJCGSNpQyG2WhoCKXperXQvwDCKiCwp3GdqRgy6iW0ltmWFriJguvE4KoudiwmA/s2048/False+Dandelion.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRTUrDYpVBBMbJV5Mvg82-PAYnbj5TD1csROq5aXfXwWxapYwWPGIjUypZGHQv45M0EosT4a2fTCBbJCGSNpQyG2WhoCKXperXQvwDCKiCwp3GdqRgy6iW0ltmWFriJguvE4KoudiwmA/w640-h480/False+Dandelion.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">False Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReWaD93R911QNyqerU7O8ohWAhTZsRxuQnx5coMyC-0t2raJehoIwqmcqlvZFFHxc1sL4pUCmXJRHXgkvABBnypXS2icuT2sbCcxgsMwP2RwfcssK3I3LUZWIsL5V30L3izXL7fBZg0w/s2048/Goldenrod.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReWaD93R911QNyqerU7O8ohWAhTZsRxuQnx5coMyC-0t2raJehoIwqmcqlvZFFHxc1sL4pUCmXJRHXgkvABBnypXS2icuT2sbCcxgsMwP2RwfcssK3I3LUZWIsL5V30L3izXL7fBZg0w/w640-h426/Goldenrod.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5mMT0OYXhmpvwPKFuCvnzclPLVrk7ZnLCNjz1g0BkBXlwmNJhaAF8Yy8n6kRNP1bqCc2xpwdHpCNhV3ZXX8box4mim_x0pzKTW6XPlWtjWdIr5TX0b8J2GDp-HWQ3y6PpWZprA_S16Q/s2048/Swamp+Sunflower+and+Honeybee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5mMT0OYXhmpvwPKFuCvnzclPLVrk7ZnLCNjz1g0BkBXlwmNJhaAF8Yy8n6kRNP1bqCc2xpwdHpCNhV3ZXX8box4mim_x0pzKTW6XPlWtjWdIr5TX0b8J2GDp-HWQ3y6PpWZprA_S16Q/w640-h426/Swamp+Sunflower+and+Honeybee.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A European Honey Bee visits the tall Swamp Sunflowers (Helianthus angustifolius)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCNqwZQze1iHmRqX8UvSiNn_Fe-R4t9StozZKeQBXPgAibeYTSHBOq9auCaqxwfwxaCp4YDMzvhFS4VyzVu-QTZh8BazE90nkYP7QvMN2HC_b6Yd8EvUjLxB9Wb-syAttgWAgXbzzePQ/s2048/Eastern+Tiger+Swallowtail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCNqwZQze1iHmRqX8UvSiNn_Fe-R4t9StozZKeQBXPgAibeYTSHBOq9auCaqxwfwxaCp4YDMzvhFS4VyzVu-QTZh8BazE90nkYP7QvMN2HC_b6Yd8EvUjLxB9Wb-syAttgWAgXbzzePQ/w640-h480/Eastern+Tiger+Swallowtail.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hungry Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flutters as it gathers nectar from Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>Yellow is the color of Cloudless Sulphur and Sleepy Orange butterflies that migrate south along the Eastern US to Florida and beyond. </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXD4dU4F0CO4dqxyn0SWQhjw1NeFLApLawsnuXOJOh6lxGRxrHGkFco07pUSFwNxv625g4QcMz_A2FyJvKAJwTS3E-8xrWGtORP893RcDCEge2D6NbzvTQsT7L74If8o53WolJ-UV7qY/s2048/Sleepy+Orange.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXD4dU4F0CO4dqxyn0SWQhjw1NeFLApLawsnuXOJOh6lxGRxrHGkFco07pUSFwNxv625g4QcMz_A2FyJvKAJwTS3E-8xrWGtORP893RcDCEge2D6NbzvTQsT7L74If8o53WolJ-UV7qY/w640-h480/Sleepy+Orange.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleepy Orange butterflies gather around clusters of asters to feed for their journey<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv2D_RtIb8eo-a0WhIKbzcqe6lSpw1He2e9ynyTu2IKSLjmfA-8EtwTTlcXDvlLAaWHCp1iE8LI8wxIaIdos9ybUqWlb1XTSTkTEfVbJslC-OIHoNO45wk5dseBvbnSDlkqkWzZcYX9Y/s2048/Cloudless+Sulphur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv2D_RtIb8eo-a0WhIKbzcqe6lSpw1He2e9ynyTu2IKSLjmfA-8EtwTTlcXDvlLAaWHCp1iE8LI8wxIaIdos9ybUqWlb1XTSTkTEfVbJslC-OIHoNO45wk5dseBvbnSDlkqkWzZcYX9Y/w640-h426/Cloudless+Sulphur.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look up in the sky on a fall day, and chances are you'll see a Cloudless Sulphur flying overhead<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Yellow is the ripening stalks of grass, glistening golden in the sun.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPn6UOpdNRj9UEhEqwf80m9bgR2b1od0_6e0rbtUzJnlTydOCAGusyg_kE8EtEQJtcWFLAJZ-spgqhIZCOKUUnprQj4HYNwYDO9Ta0xeE4jkmyIV6IvC5AILBp4d1fNWEpKTvL-qYVEU/s2048/Flowering+Grass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPn6UOpdNRj9UEhEqwf80m9bgR2b1od0_6e0rbtUzJnlTydOCAGusyg_kE8EtEQJtcWFLAJZ-spgqhIZCOKUUnprQj4HYNwYDO9Ta0xeE4jkmyIV6IvC5AILBp4d1fNWEpKTvL-qYVEU/w640-h426/Flowering+Grass.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden grass pollen tassels<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tURli6dT4QoYkQ67t9Hi4rNBox-KEm1QhtdTmc9PJ6mT2HdURGkM1axX6JjzD6n31UDo3rpQ2N6n2so9_v8Ndn5Mz4xkrAnySB-o7Pi-4GbtzMEs56bTc54KakS6YXxKbPWmUUiJVQw/s2048/Foxtail+Grass.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tURli6dT4QoYkQ67t9Hi4rNBox-KEm1QhtdTmc9PJ6mT2HdURGkM1axX6JjzD6n31UDo3rpQ2N6n2so9_v8Ndn5Mz4xkrAnySB-o7Pi-4GbtzMEs56bTc54KakS6YXxKbPWmUUiJVQw/w640-h426/Foxtail+Grass.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxtail Grass wears a halo of hairy awns<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Yellow is the color of fall leaves that shine from the forest floor and dot the woods with light.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAeFMj_mAHbjPlHNqd1mBipsMRHcUZtXi5t9_BzDzgcE7Q8i0a1JyIiKE5BRpLqRkH-rE94OdUQ1LJfESeHrMnZEdBuFkDhEwF9w6UVJt0mtx9B6KnCuFNKMfZYTys3wUAFzd6zKtMkg/s2048/Tulip+Poplar+leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAeFMj_mAHbjPlHNqd1mBipsMRHcUZtXi5t9_BzDzgcE7Q8i0a1JyIiKE5BRpLqRkH-rE94OdUQ1LJfESeHrMnZEdBuFkDhEwF9w6UVJt0mtx9B6KnCuFNKMfZYTys3wUAFzd6zKtMkg/w640-h426/Tulip+Poplar+leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulip Poplar <br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOkP0nQ53PdNSGqE2Xd0WN12NGkDSTaIEhAQXD2LCH2xZOuMnf-4LlYB8tomoNwYA_BGcXAvf10CkDtZSmyh_j7NjbYLUN5hn8-zwxz-Gq5ZicdbeDMSd4JFyD2noh_fpX8tDDXuLueI/s2048/Grape+Leaf.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOkP0nQ53PdNSGqE2Xd0WN12NGkDSTaIEhAQXD2LCH2xZOuMnf-4LlYB8tomoNwYA_BGcXAvf10CkDtZSmyh_j7NjbYLUN5hn8-zwxz-Gq5ZicdbeDMSd4JFyD2noh_fpX8tDDXuLueI/w640-h426/Grape+Leaf.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muscadine Grape leaf <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYjrlNYhe04HewDmhgtnKGTsNTsrvsY0rmXJ6Lkka1FT7sTrdldab-q8GHGZPId-1VBHUbWc3FjQM69QaD6i-2wFPXCjtAyo5J3h95bxN7-lwuo6dfJkxcURD_AOQYyG3fswj_zdaf94/s2048/Poison+Ivy+leaflet.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYjrlNYhe04HewDmhgtnKGTsNTsrvsY0rmXJ6Lkka1FT7sTrdldab-q8GHGZPId-1VBHUbWc3FjQM69QaD6i-2wFPXCjtAyo5J3h95bxN7-lwuo6dfJkxcURD_AOQYyG3fswj_zdaf94/w640-h426/Poison+Ivy+leaflet.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy leaf <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br /></div>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-24092736883563956872020-10-08T17:53:00.000-04:002020-10-08T17:53:37.268-04:00It's The Small Stuff<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n4ce5ID_C5i_G0f7Jrt9wppaJSPW1UlXo8A1EjC8eC1GEuJS9VQffmd88vzVGrYpft3XnDXxbFlJFYBwVDlgqgmNmGq3XdEpLUJdNawXXujKE1vgbtrLOKATXZPaCwz9M-r9tcpOLq8/s2048/Georgia+Aster.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1n4ce5ID_C5i_G0f7Jrt9wppaJSPW1UlXo8A1EjC8eC1GEuJS9VQffmd88vzVGrYpft3XnDXxbFlJFYBwVDlgqgmNmGq3XdEpLUJdNawXXujKE1vgbtrLOKATXZPaCwz9M-r9tcpOLq8/w640-h426/Georgia+Aster.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgia Aster<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You may or may not have noticed that I have not posted here for a long time. I have had a bad case of writer's block. I had lots of ideas, but found when it came to putting them down into words, I didn't have the spirit to do it. I have to admit that I've been struggling lately. I'm having a really hard time keeping positive. Between our toxic political situation, and the Covid-19 pandemic, everything feels pretty down and dark. Despite all my best intentions, I keep allowing myself to get sucked into doom spirals. I can't seem to stay away from it all. I know there is a solution for this--turn it off. And I want to do that, but I also believe in being an informed citizen. But it feels like the more I know, the worse I feel. It's a terrible and destructive cycle, and I'm complicit in my own misery. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv2D_RtIb8eo-a0WhIKbzcqe6lSpw1He2e9ynyTu2IKSLjmfA-8EtwTTlcXDvlLAaWHCp1iE8LI8wxIaIdos9ybUqWlb1XTSTkTEfVbJslC-OIHoNO45wk5dseBvbnSDlkqkWzZcYX9Y/s2048/Cloudless+Sulphur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv2D_RtIb8eo-a0WhIKbzcqe6lSpw1He2e9ynyTu2IKSLjmfA-8EtwTTlcXDvlLAaWHCp1iE8LI8wxIaIdos9ybUqWlb1XTSTkTEfVbJslC-OIHoNO45wk5dseBvbnSDlkqkWzZcYX9Y/w640-h426/Cloudless+Sulphur.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloudless Sulphur on Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I took a trip out to my yard yesterday and brought my macro lens to hunt for butterflies to photograph, since it is peak butterfly season. I haven't used that lens for a long time. While I was outside, I started searching around to see if there were any spiders or mantises hidden in the the jungle of blooms and stems, and I looked at the asters and sunflowers from every angle. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and I realized I felt light and happy and relaxed. Just what the doctor ordered.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt9giH0fYq2NjEGttr56WDLKNxn3mZHWKHOwLOAltofr5PcvFJYnziw9-smXWm6e7K3qLQSlOlJRoVBMmwBqmKwkH1P-kVrU37kUdOqFUVkYDBzEVF_zYSY_ZG_Upkda41yMAKkstGGg/s2048/Sleeping+Bee.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCt9giH0fYq2NjEGttr56WDLKNxn3mZHWKHOwLOAltofr5PcvFJYnziw9-smXWm6e7K3qLQSlOlJRoVBMmwBqmKwkH1P-kVrU37kUdOqFUVkYDBzEVF_zYSY_ZG_Upkda41yMAKkstGGg/w640-h426/Sleeping+Bee.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leafcutter Bee Sleeping in a Camphorweed flower<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />I thought I felt good just because I was outside surrounded by nature, but I can see now that it is also because I gave my brain a break. While I was crawling around looking at the wondrous tiny things, that's all I was thinking about. It was so refreshing. When I'm on my knees looking at a bee sleeping on a flower, my brain is focused on that. I have to control my breathing so I don't wiggle too much and can capture the details in my photo. I can't move or I'll scare off the bee. And while I'm looking at that bee, I can see that its wings are a gorgeous amber color and that there are tiny hairs all over its body. And its eyes are so big! I realized yesterday that as much as I like just taking photos while I'm rambling down a trail, what I really love is the new perspective I get when I look close with the macro lens. Macro photography was my first photo love, and now I remember why. Looking through the lens at the tiny things takes my breath away and as I sink into their beauty, they are my whole world. At least for a while.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNbS7P4Jp_0iONSFTvkS79zcHzC-Db7VqpzJ9GBCmnY6WO0fzrHdoHlzhtYQDcxg96v0T1M44jBOc_H0wTHBBS6Q0ZNTZP0ZACqSsZV5nME5cvT7bT8cGLiOYGz7Tf85ddJntTBe7viE/s2048/Anole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNbS7P4Jp_0iONSFTvkS79zcHzC-Db7VqpzJ9GBCmnY6WO0fzrHdoHlzhtYQDcxg96v0T1M44jBOc_H0wTHBBS6Q0ZNTZP0ZACqSsZV5nME5cvT7bT8cGLiOYGz7Tf85ddJntTBe7viE/w640-h426/Anole.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Anole with its blue green eye shadow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I read this article recently about taking <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/well/move/an-awe-walk-might-do-wonders-for-your-well-being.html?referringSource=articleShare" target="_blank">"Awe Walks"</a> and while I hate to admit that I might be getting old enough to fall into that demographic, I totally get the need to focus my mind on something that fills me with awe, and not on all the awful daily cares. So, when the world starts getting to me, I'm going to try pulling out the camera and start focusing on the small stuff. I may be doing that a lot in the next while.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPIzRfQQPfcWVHssGBdILzRzS7p8BF1eCMQbQYnEeF2KHeLyqtHqmec4hcgbmgWpFkjpE0iAIhc8HXFlFdeI2XZ42HEEs6eSU1kO1B4-nV-35yqQOF41MI7Nn7yibF6MXBORhem_IrM0/s2048/Green+Stinkbug+Nymph.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPIzRfQQPfcWVHssGBdILzRzS7p8BF1eCMQbQYnEeF2KHeLyqtHqmec4hcgbmgWpFkjpE0iAIhc8HXFlFdeI2XZ42HEEs6eSU1kO1B4-nV-35yqQOF41MI7Nn7yibF6MXBORhem_IrM0/w640-h426/Green+Stinkbug+Nymph.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Stinkbug Nymph<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-62079784674099771522019-10-01T11:52:00.000-04:002019-10-01T19:29:29.157-04:00La Selva Amazonas de Ecuador<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLVWtNkASxZ5kChDbMb13B8OiJpGL4-AumDY6t_HdGokQp4P2_L-qs7rTHt-E9c8FBjUL_BA010tr1bWGVnQapS0QCJecLpb4HfpbIu81AjwSe7ipOmzXzm3ijZj00FLaJfs_9JkLlz8/s1600/Unidentified+Flower-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLVWtNkASxZ5kChDbMb13B8OiJpGL4-AumDY6t_HdGokQp4P2_L-qs7rTHt-E9c8FBjUL_BA010tr1bWGVnQapS0QCJecLpb4HfpbIu81AjwSe7ipOmzXzm3ijZj00FLaJfs_9JkLlz8/s640/Unidentified+Flower-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle Flower</td></tr>
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It's hard to believe that a little more than a week ago it was early morning and I was waking up in the Amazon jungle to the sound of howler monkeys, buzzing insects, the "chuck chuck" of treefrogs and Oropendola birds gurgling in the background. In the days since I returned home, I've been trying to hold on to those sensations--the smells, tastes, sounds and sights of la selva Amazonas de Ecuador. The other day I bought some papaya for breakfast, and sat on my porch at sunrise to listen and watch for birds. But it's just not the same, and the memories of the tropics are slowly starting to fade. The only solution is to go back again, which I will gladly do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-DHQDR8O-rmhBlUwCBwCW-BBjiRIkBhof-5EodHwaIbH0XBqY_nqzjXQCOe9zgZ8Iha41WNKoKG6i8GXgqa3sd-B4jrX7koS-tOn_7wqIbf53PcZYbGI7E2RGMKAcaAoTdINIj8iwNM/s1600/Squirrel+Monkey+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik-DHQDR8O-rmhBlUwCBwCW-BBjiRIkBhof-5EodHwaIbH0XBqY_nqzjXQCOe9zgZ8Iha41WNKoKG6i8GXgqa3sd-B4jrX7koS-tOn_7wqIbf53PcZYbGI7E2RGMKAcaAoTdINIj8iwNM/s640/Squirrel+Monkey+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squirrel Monkey</td></tr>
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This September, I had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador with my husband for some work he was doing in Quito, and Tena, a small city on the edge of the Amazon jungle. We spent a week in each of those cities and while he worked, I was happily occupied hunting for birds and nature and exploring. The great thing about foreign travel is that everything is new and interesting, because it's not what you're used to at home. I am always sure that people who see me with my camera walking around and tracking their common birds and insects think I am strange, but to me they were all exciting. Ecuador has some of the greatest biodiversity in the world and every day there was another new thing for me. You can see some of my observations by clicking these links to albums on my photo website (<a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Travel/Quito-Ecuador-2019/" target="_blank">Quito</a>, <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Travel/Tena-Ecuador-2019/" target="_blank">Tena</a>, <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Travel/Sani-Lodge-Ecuadorian-Amazon-2019/" target="_blank">Sani Lodge</a>). After the working part of the trip was finished, we took advantage of our proximity to the eastern (jungle) side of the country and booked a short stay in an eco lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It was one of the best experiences we have ever had. We chose <a href="https://www.sanilodge.com/en/" target="_blank">Sani Lodge</a>, which is located on the Napo River, near the Yasuní National Park. Besides having very good reviews online and in guide books, one of the reasons we chose this place is that it is owned and operated by the local Kichwa Sani Isla community. The lodge provides an income source for the community of about 600 people, while also sharing the natural beauty of their land and educating the public about their culture, in addition to promoting sustainable ecotourism.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_W6bz5o0LhhWOR0dAIW49xZoj4CK-TbnelQ6tydg9sLTPNX4bDv9buMrFPOlEk7IqSAYOhH4pmSQ8K2VfcDlmDbLe9FvLDIKat1VldzC029zTVAYdM27xseFMROHWyeVR5f5l2Q_6c8/s1600/Sani+Lodge+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_W6bz5o0LhhWOR0dAIW49xZoj4CK-TbnelQ6tydg9sLTPNX4bDv9buMrFPOlEk7IqSAYOhH4pmSQ8K2VfcDlmDbLe9FvLDIKat1VldzC029zTVAYdM27xseFMROHWyeVR5f5l2Q_6c8/s640/Sani+Lodge+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sani Lodge</td></tr>
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It takes a bit of work to get to Sani Lodge. We drove first for about 3 hours from Tena to Coca, a port city on the Río Napo, which is a tributary to the Amazon river. There is a small airport there, too. At Coca, we met our guide, Olger, and his assistant, Johnny, who we would be teamed with for the entire stay, and we began a 3 hour journey down the Napo River in a motorized canoe. It was interesting to ride down the river. The Río Napo is a water highway, with lots of other motorized canoes, river taxis, and even some river cruise ships. There is quite a bit of petroleum exploration and industry in the area and we were passed several times by large barges hauling gas and oil semi trucks and heavy building machinery. It made me selfishly sad to see all that industry so close to the Amazon, but they do bring income to very poor people, so it is unfair for an outsider like myself to be too judgmental about it, specially while riding in a gas powered canoe. But this is yet another good reason to support an eco lodge which gives the local people a more environmentally sustainable way to earn a living. The expertise of the boat captain was apparent as we wove back and forth across the river to avoid the ever changing sand bars and hazards on the wide river.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMvYHkK5cyieLpNdwjECV0HFCeen5iSd5CaKnUQJVAPICzoVXPExm_94jX3B3Iu6vShcAZ2kXJ8Ocg_PURX3pf44o7X4b-rnqHcpV0mWMNiw68BHs7UK3LmDCehupa5lNV5rBexsJN7Y/s1600/Motorized+Canoes+on+Rio+Napo-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtMvYHkK5cyieLpNdwjECV0HFCeen5iSd5CaKnUQJVAPICzoVXPExm_94jX3B3Iu6vShcAZ2kXJ8Ocg_PURX3pf44o7X4b-rnqHcpV0mWMNiw68BHs7UK3LmDCehupa5lNV5rBexsJN7Y/s640/Motorized+Canoes+on+Rio+Napo-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Motorized Canoes at Coca</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1KDJ6llrQ1BT7epqujU321L586Ze_3_rVBQNpZsbAOYY29WLIQWFLCClWUoktRCFdaeLzApkZaexhKq5SDdENtlZ9u13B0iVHXtAvwEjsBeddKRo3ziRDxf44PHnqhEDtVuqtIWz4Es/s1600/Barge+Carrying+Tanker+Trucks-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1KDJ6llrQ1BT7epqujU321L586Ze_3_rVBQNpZsbAOYY29WLIQWFLCClWUoktRCFdaeLzApkZaexhKq5SDdENtlZ9u13B0iVHXtAvwEjsBeddKRo3ziRDxf44PHnqhEDtVuqtIWz4Es/s640/Barge+Carrying+Tanker+Trucks-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil Trucks head up the Napo River</td></tr>
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Eventually we arrived at the dock for Sani Lodge, but we still had some travel ahead. A 10-minute walk on a boardwalk through a mangrove swamp gave us our first tastes of the jungle. We really lucked out with our guides. Olger was a highly trained and experienced guide, and an expert birder. He knew about the culture and natural history of everything around us and could call the birds, monkeys and caimans. He helped me add 60 new birds to my list during our stay. Johnny didn't speak much English, but he had a keen eye and ear and knew when something interesting was near. <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Travel/Sani-Lodge-Ecuadorian-Amazon-2019/i-f92HKRw/A" target="_blank">Typically, Johnny was in the lead, using a machete to clear vines and fallen branches from the trails, while Olger was right behind, carrying his birding scope and guiding us. </a>We followed them like that for 3 1/2 days of hikes and adventures. On the short walk that first day we saw Black Mantled Tamarin monkeys, giant Blue Morpho butterflies and some neat birds--Woodcreepers and Anis. We were told that anacondas frequent the water under the path and lake, as well as piranhas and electric eels, so no swimming! Soon we came the end of the boardwalk and another dock from which we rode in a paddle canoe across Lake Challuacocha to the actual lodge. As we floated through dark mangrove channels with hanging vines and thick greenery, our guide pointed out the birds and monkey sounds. It was a perfect welcome to the jungle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eQcVhC6vIhEP046QS4yvPeEfcY_Vq25xERxF2tM1XRi-sxb2Y_9DpgDIyI2Fs7AQbYiz_IAT-rT45Nr61iWmDOKuxIunDB8AMr5rq0wBt821lQR_UkS0TMumLisAbmMdM-zzrWUoMdY/s1600/Black-mantled+Tamarin-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eQcVhC6vIhEP046QS4yvPeEfcY_Vq25xERxF2tM1XRi-sxb2Y_9DpgDIyI2Fs7AQbYiz_IAT-rT45Nr61iWmDOKuxIunDB8AMr5rq0wBt821lQR_UkS0TMumLisAbmMdM-zzrWUoMdY/s640/Black-mantled+Tamarin-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Mantled Tamarin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4MyknqKQV0WgqPI_Fg7lZOsUcskYXfyKv8V1WyeTGJzeXweyBDgyRL8zk4q4b12l5Q16LfI23W8gpXDu0QC49lhbggnGV78WYqT58CeuxSZqbDjNhr60UWMIqK4O8EgNDADwAZn1cf0/s1600/Owl+Butterfly-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM4MyknqKQV0WgqPI_Fg7lZOsUcskYXfyKv8V1WyeTGJzeXweyBDgyRL8zk4q4b12l5Q16LfI23W8gpXDu0QC49lhbggnGV78WYqT58CeuxSZqbDjNhr60UWMIqK4O8EgNDADwAZn1cf0/s640/Owl+Butterfly-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owl Butterfly</td></tr>
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The lodge itself is a collection of thatched buildings at the edge of the lake, tucked in amongst the trees. Ours was a small but comfortable cabin with beds and a bathroom and shower. The covered front porch was a pleasant shady spot to sit and watch birds in the trees, or for my husband to play his guitar. We had electricity for lights and to charge our devices, provided by a solar array on the lake, and hot water from solar water heaters. Mosquito netting over the beds kept the bugs away at night. For our meals (and they fed us very well!), we ate on an open porch next to the water because they were re-thatching the roof of the dining room. I was just as happy sitting by the water because we could see turtles and the resident caiman, and heard the Pauraque (Nightjar) calling at dusk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW_EUWNr51CfBvVVgPFw5hyphenhyphenQsR7piMLddJvVBopfDbGVaEBE86P05Tq0Vt-jN9DGgTRial5JKSnSQIzyYsWtLvB90KrS4iUAxmNqvqW9npe8lCujL7Mnm87NIKfrB5HUpo23t2SA-35g/s1600/Hoatzin-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW_EUWNr51CfBvVVgPFw5hyphenhyphenQsR7piMLddJvVBopfDbGVaEBE86P05Tq0Vt-jN9DGgTRial5JKSnSQIzyYsWtLvB90KrS4iUAxmNqvqW9npe8lCujL7Mnm87NIKfrB5HUpo23t2SA-35g/s640/Hoatzin-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoatzins, aka "Stinky Turkeys"</td></tr>
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After dinner on our first evening, we put on our rubber boots and took a night hike. I forgot to mention that it had rained hard the 2 days prior to our visit and the water was high and the trails were muddy. All our hikes for the rest of the trip were muddy. We slogged along a trail behind the lodge with our flashlights and my camera. I really hoped we would see some of the charismatic mega fauna--aka, anteaters, anacondas or sloths. We did not see any of those, but we saw enough other great critters that I was happy anyway. Our guide told us that sloths are pretty common, but that they are really hard to see. They don't move much, live high up, and have great camouflage, so the odds were against us. But I wore my lucky sloth earrings just in case. As we walked, Olger and Johnny flicked their flashlights on the underbrush, looking for the reflective eyes of spiders, snakes and birds. They found lots of neat bugs and some frogs and toads, and a skinny boa hanging down from a tree branch that we almost walked into. It was just so cool! Art and I were giddy when we got back to our cabin, and really excited about our morning's adventure, even though we had to meet the guides at 5:30am.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNsyu2gZ_PGYah4jp_mdXkBlasQrDiFvQTsd3LXd_5gRB7NEelNrwpRD4fx98TmY5b9sgt9XrruzIuq5ThvvmoL5Bt5S5pzy8uKmgfzz_P8glc53zMAe6bsfeKCxHGRstUkP18RHsAY/s1600/Boa-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynNsyu2gZ_PGYah4jp_mdXkBlasQrDiFvQTsd3LXd_5gRB7NEelNrwpRD4fx98TmY5b9sgt9XrruzIuq5ThvvmoL5Bt5S5pzy8uKmgfzz_P8glc53zMAe6bsfeKCxHGRstUkP18RHsAY/s640/Boa-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVMKFxWH627QWbEVx-ybGa00jOj9r3GxKF5TakQTvhj2NgKvcMsbij8I8P88X1rcMpCDUX50r172qDCJ2655cTjT8MfsNE3Gf7ephS8-tA1F4zfGtiAgi2cGyFmQMic_dBLlJd3MZYOw/s1600/Treefrog+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVMKFxWH627QWbEVx-ybGa00jOj9r3GxKF5TakQTvhj2NgKvcMsbij8I8P88X1rcMpCDUX50r172qDCJ2655cTjT8MfsNE3Gf7ephS8-tA1F4zfGtiAgi2cGyFmQMic_dBLlJd3MZYOw/s640/Treefrog+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Frog</td></tr>
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It rained again that night and I fretted a bit about how to handle my camera gear. I had a poncho, and a rain cover for the backpack, but wondered during the night if I'd even be able to pull out any cameras if it was raining heavily. It turned out that my worries were misplaced because the rain cleared up, but my point and shoot camera didn't charge properly, and the extra battery I should have checked for that morning was left behind in the cabin in another bag. I won't do that again next time I visit. Luckily I had 2 cameras, but they had specific lenses and I was not prepared to take any landscape shots, which is unfortunate. Thank goodness for my husband's phone!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDd_KIAiPdZERrlkkKvjWaU8up5OsGLxnWnc8qCB2QgXGGmBjVapjFQAC-q6vdcQqZzAwLaKrur4_bsXOv1zexb2wU3PgXfmnlpY2LCGy1nQCuoYSjGkdBaOHRpnbzFO4I_slbcM6QRE/s1600/Blue-and-yellow+Macaws-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDd_KIAiPdZERrlkkKvjWaU8up5OsGLxnWnc8qCB2QgXGGmBjVapjFQAC-q6vdcQqZzAwLaKrur4_bsXOv1zexb2wU3PgXfmnlpY2LCGy1nQCuoYSjGkdBaOHRpnbzFO4I_slbcM6QRE/s640/Blue-and-yellow+Macaws-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue and Yellow Macaws</td></tr>
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<br />
Our visit that morning was to the observation tower in the canopy of a huge Ceibo or Kapok tree. We began with a canoe ride across the misty lake. It was just getting light and the birds and monkeys were stirring. <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Travel/Sani-Lodge-Ecuadorian-Amazon-2019/i-grctsBW/A" target="_blank">The Red Howler monkeys started to roar</a> and we saw bands of them clamber through the treetops on the shore. A short walk up the trail brought us to the base of an enormous tree, hundreds of years old. There was a metal stair constructed next to the tree to climb the 100 feet to the platform at the top. Johnny had walked ahead of us and was already there with our breakfast, which we enjoyed from the top of a tree while looking out over the jungle below. It was incredibly luxurious. We looked for Harpy eagles, which are often found there, but didn't see them this time. We did see toucans, macaws, parrots, monkeys and lots of small and colorful perching birds. This is a link to a <a href="https://www.sanilodge.com/en/observation-tower/" target="_blank">video about the observation tower</a> on the Sani Lodge web page.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bIus8BHI2vkdwUEZRIGwq3A6Y8aVnXPCL0Ok1mgkqXup-V9YneybXRRH2GqqyyOYxv5VjUCb-xUF_D0OOolX4KynIklvutaqEFvM29cXOphKwTMleUrTS3Ha55MspYyc7ob_3ZGvQgA/s1600/Looking+out+over+the+Tree+Canopy-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bIus8BHI2vkdwUEZRIGwq3A6Y8aVnXPCL0Ok1mgkqXup-V9YneybXRRH2GqqyyOYxv5VjUCb-xUF_D0OOolX4KynIklvutaqEFvM29cXOphKwTMleUrTS3Ha55MspYyc7ob_3ZGvQgA/s640/Looking+out+over+the+Tree+Canopy-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out over the Jungle Canopy</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4noNuOtBNBLZLZ-XJffw8nWe9Ats_CFsgBBbxYDn0HSpBpTrldH9DEFhPJxk2frDQqaIB9G5luxFF58FWtDky2uwoDVjv_np5DOtild11miY-0Bg3p0QgmpUb1r21rlxvzhcWeEjJvE/s1600/Black-faced+Dacnis-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4noNuOtBNBLZLZ-XJffw8nWe9Ats_CFsgBBbxYDn0HSpBpTrldH9DEFhPJxk2frDQqaIB9G5luxFF58FWtDky2uwoDVjv_np5DOtild11miY-0Bg3p0QgmpUb1r21rlxvzhcWeEjJvE/s640/Black-faced+Dacnis-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-faced Dacnis at the top of the Kapok Tree</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz7qYuAmePiQ1Tmsonbe02400tQO-IXQulGTOAJM_sWuSwWeE2_xX2-Ocm-E3_7nu1IbvS-h37kZUfgYMV1BHY8JPYTkeAJ3FVkc_MU69Y0481GTUkWYR3z0XfmV610BR05AaMJVaawc/s1600/Masked+Crimson+Tanager-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz7qYuAmePiQ1Tmsonbe02400tQO-IXQulGTOAJM_sWuSwWeE2_xX2-Ocm-E3_7nu1IbvS-h37kZUfgYMV1BHY8JPYTkeAJ3FVkc_MU69Y0481GTUkWYR3z0XfmV610BR05AaMJVaawc/s640/Masked+Crimson+Tanager-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Crimson Tanager</td></tr>
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<br />
After about an hour in the Kapok tree, we climbed down and hiked through the jungle for the rest of the morning. Even though it was very hot outside (the Chachalaca birds were calling that morning, so we knew it was going to be a scorcher!) the dark jungle was fairly pleasant, if steamy and muddy. The light made photography tough, but I managed. We saw lots of interesting insects and toads and followed a band of Titi monkeys off the trail but never quite caught up with them. We had several hours of exploration every morning and afternoon and ended up walking 6-7 miles a day by my reckoning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovflR0ZLuNGndNr9Y0gL3K9N-NT80TxXEdCBo2aDWF0uME_SqtDG-nf0jWyxFjDoDx8nj9FkwhU13WMWkXBoG-nEkQNCuAbd0FT9dfrfgT8ElkfLkxn0Fki_tD7pE4O3aKtUvVLfAELg/s1600/Awesome+Bug-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovflR0ZLuNGndNr9Y0gL3K9N-NT80TxXEdCBo2aDWF0uME_SqtDG-nf0jWyxFjDoDx8nj9FkwhU13WMWkXBoG-nEkQNCuAbd0FT9dfrfgT8ElkfLkxn0Fki_tD7pE4O3aKtUvVLfAELg/s640/Awesome+Bug-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic Bugs</td></tr>
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<br />
After lunch that afternoon we hiked behind the lodge, where we had been the night before. We found a boa (perhaps the same one that had hung down over the trail!) but this one had a full belly. Pancha, a wild peccary that adopted the lodge, followed us on the hike, stopping every few feet to root around in the mud, looking for food. She would insert herself in the middle of our group and then stop. If we tried to get around her she would block the path for a while, and then move on. Or she would run off, but a few minutes later we'd hear a commotion behind us or to the side, and in would run this wild peccary. Another visitor to the lodge told us that Pancha sometimes rode in the canoes. She was pretty funny. Deep in the woods we came upon 2 bands of monkeys rustling in the trees overhead--some capuchins and some squirrel monkeys. The leader of the capuchins apparently considered us a threat, and so he started breaking big branches off of the trees and throwing them down near us, from 40-50 feet up! We all got away safely, Pancha included.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHLXj-0LgtvfM833K2gKloNyfCbnrcyHSp1KZ1sGecC22lYVU97kYjPgzXUTscjIzFH7zzYInMTjeEdBwQOhofYOPRgt84Mm6K1sLE1YP2PNdc6ZHY_yROg9_cQnB-4f9Uu6w3Q67Nso/s1600/Hiking+with+Pancha-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHLXj-0LgtvfM833K2gKloNyfCbnrcyHSp1KZ1sGecC22lYVU97kYjPgzXUTscjIzFH7zzYInMTjeEdBwQOhofYOPRgt84Mm6K1sLE1YP2PNdc6ZHY_yROg9_cQnB-4f9Uu6w3Q67Nso/s640/Hiking+with+Pancha-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking with a Wild Peccary</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGHEqzUv5HApw8rwvj8hpWoZc9O5xavH_mIYCiJhemOwMIWxT9AuH88tg2hI8lA9jzWnCQ78az0QpgWOxY7Jsbm3jI34Do2aDUkUj8Rev2XrxALGSmUrkfIpWsviJzlC9aQ93e-BVlqY/s1600/Angry+Capuchin-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGHEqzUv5HApw8rwvj8hpWoZc9O5xavH_mIYCiJhemOwMIWxT9AuH88tg2hI8lA9jzWnCQ78az0QpgWOxY7Jsbm3jI34Do2aDUkUj8Rev2XrxALGSmUrkfIpWsviJzlC9aQ93e-BVlqY/s640/Angry+Capuchin-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry Capuchin</td></tr>
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<br />
The next morning we were up early again in order to see the parrots at the clay lick. Parrots and macaws need to eat clay to help them process toxic fruits and seeds in their diet. They arrive in large flocks at clay deposits at the river banks in the early morning. We were lucky to see a large group of 4 species of parrots and parakeets. Olger noticed some parrots hopping about in the trees nearby and said there was probably a snake worrying them. Of course, he was right. His ability to spot animals from a distance was a constant source of amazement to us. He would see the animal right away, find it in his birding scope, and then spent a lot of time helping us to find it. We had a tough time seeing the snake. He finally borrowed my camera so he could take a picture for us. After we got home and looked at the pictures on the big screen, I came to believe that there were 2 large snakes. The photos aren't great, but we saw the diamond pattern of a boa on one branch and hanging loops of a larger snake on another.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAAagotRH9zA3gHZrqPLrgEGb08Gyrfokgrca4bQUaJoAtE0N-dJZ99TYHRm-EBoIcSVB9xqHAtDo68yzjevkAMPEtsuDirTutnkPwqDMGeEThVwBvC10mbxSpRPTMFoAvpxiO1SQqzI/s1600/A+Visit+to+the+Parrot+Clay+Lick-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAAagotRH9zA3gHZrqPLrgEGb08Gyrfokgrca4bQUaJoAtE0N-dJZ99TYHRm-EBoIcSVB9xqHAtDo68yzjevkAMPEtsuDirTutnkPwqDMGeEThVwBvC10mbxSpRPTMFoAvpxiO1SQqzI/s640/A+Visit+to+the+Parrot+Clay+Lick-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrots and Parakeets at the Clay Lick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOMFPUbzPTFB8si-qYCkaGjNhQQmCFzdyjVjzyMAaM9NUNVViGGq0d2hJTz7btkvXdUTsqZyQj7jcUFCWzZeFqeSHBl7txLn9edm9JmHuNvF_N6tJEJVZ5aLP-3XYKuoeBQ6ZHxjGGjQ/s1600/Snakes+Bothering+the+Parrots-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOMFPUbzPTFB8si-qYCkaGjNhQQmCFzdyjVjzyMAaM9NUNVViGGq0d2hJTz7btkvXdUTsqZyQj7jcUFCWzZeFqeSHBl7txLn9edm9JmHuNvF_N6tJEJVZ5aLP-3XYKuoeBQ6ZHxjGGjQ/s640/Snakes+Bothering+the+Parrots-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snakes Bothering the Parrots</td></tr>
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<br />
After the clay lick we visited the Yasuni National Park and hiked through "Terra Firma"--literally "firm earth", land that is high and dry, out of the floodplain. In the heat and humidity, it was more tiring than I expected to climb up, but the views were worth it. And we saw or heard 6 species of monkey, saw tapir tracks, and spotted a Long-tailed Potoo. Yasuní National Park is huge we only saw a small fraction of it. We were surprised to learn that there are remote sections of the preserve where a few isolated tribes still live, preferring to remain separate from modern culture, some of the very few isolated cultures in the world today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32kIvasZ1Otf-4sqEN8gvOncLBgIFdQ6yahW_3gN4ny60vtQe9E9ZIci_kEb6z-YOfXDLoM8QFU9I6o5-66z4AKAzNRlozolqSGYGgBu1vOU-0yXDrFtH7i4V2V_22TGliK-LZ6vO2MA/s1600/Long-tailed+Potoo-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32kIvasZ1Otf-4sqEN8gvOncLBgIFdQ6yahW_3gN4ny60vtQe9E9ZIci_kEb6z-YOfXDLoM8QFU9I6o5-66z4AKAzNRlozolqSGYGgBu1vOU-0yXDrFtH7i4V2V_22TGliK-LZ6vO2MA/s640/Long-tailed+Potoo-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-tailed Potoo</td></tr>
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After the hike, we rode down the river again and visited the Sani Isla community that is supported by Sani Lodge. We saw their school, examples of farms, crops, solar and water systems, and were treated to a lunch of traditional foods. We ate grilled sweet plantain, and palm hearts wrapped in leaves and cooked over the fire. It was delicious. Afterwards, we saw and purchased some of the handicrafts that the women of the community create to sell. We also took turns shooting darts at a banana from a blowgun. I whiffed the banana the first 2 times, but shot it through and through the third time!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aPWX4476wcDDPqEeEM0uVKMXOyzk5Hlsqdx_Yo_MmuRGjFHZm0w9vpDs0gv-lbFof1RMkJByOQ2fwRRIiLcbO7Czx5ffcnrpT9gG0kkD8BKPMJPNoWgN_S6JDwTa356yvhlpPxfwpgM/s1600/Lunch+at+the+Community-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aPWX4476wcDDPqEeEM0uVKMXOyzk5Hlsqdx_Yo_MmuRGjFHZm0w9vpDs0gv-lbFof1RMkJByOQ2fwRRIiLcbO7Czx5ffcnrpT9gG0kkD8BKPMJPNoWgN_S6JDwTa356yvhlpPxfwpgM/s640/Lunch+at+the+Community-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted Plantains and Palm Hearts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsGXwOJF_629-HUQ2ilCtjT8MTPLKCbFM2CfGmmmLY6_tQ7ec2LQ10xXi8UegnZFl1LyQ3bX_05wbvQWCiqYIxVGJt_NgWBwuVRlYf9_VZTD3BaE-DQzcAAgE9Vo8eeKqLgIAbY63Qy8/s1600/Blow+Gun-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsGXwOJF_629-HUQ2ilCtjT8MTPLKCbFM2CfGmmmLY6_tQ7ec2LQ10xXi8UegnZFl1LyQ3bX_05wbvQWCiqYIxVGJt_NgWBwuVRlYf9_VZTD3BaE-DQzcAAgE9Vo8eeKqLgIAbY63Qy8/s640/Blow+Gun-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nailed It!</td></tr>
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<br />
After dinner we took a night paddle and that was probably the most magical thing either of us has ever seen. We went out on the dark water in the quiet canoe. The moon was full a few nights before and had not risen yet and the sky was very dark, so the brilliant stars of the milky way shone from all edges of the horizon. And then we saw the fireflies. I have no idea how many species they have there, but there were so many flashes of light, and they were everywhere. The size and intensity of the glow varied from the trees down to the water plants. And another tiny species glowed on the water's surface, like someone stirred a campfire and sent sparks flying. It was so, so beautiful and was a deeply moving experience. As we paddled, we looked for animals. We kept our flashlights off, but Olger would turn his on in a quick burst and scan, looking once again for eye reflections. We found a caiman and paddled closer, and watched as it sunk down into the water and away. Then he saw something further back, about 50 yards, and said, "I think that's a snake". As we got closer, we saw a boa, thin as a rope, hanging from one of the leafy plants. Once again, our guide's ability to spot from far away just wowed us.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIReB_UtrJO3YaXr99FC722UB61ERZGaD8MBgXlrIEO_30jXsAItIc6RLXneh5kwBamPvPI7qyf17AHhKwcjUKKrtWrYU2pf2WQ4bHhxiYa6SmW739UusuHt_vRXM62_NflAaO8J2NVM/s1600/Pencil-thin+Boa-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIReB_UtrJO3YaXr99FC722UB61ERZGaD8MBgXlrIEO_30jXsAItIc6RLXneh5kwBamPvPI7qyf17AHhKwcjUKKrtWrYU2pf2WQ4bHhxiYa6SmW739UusuHt_vRXM62_NflAaO8J2NVM/s640/Pencil-thin+Boa-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pencil Thin Boa</td></tr>
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The last day took us on hiking trails into the jungle on two sides of the lake. We followed fresh tapir and peccary tracks, but never saw the animals that left them. How a 300 pound mammal could hide from us is beyond me, but the forests are thick and vast. We saw some more marvelous birds, more insects, more toads, no snakes this time, and no sloths. We saw the flowers and fluff from Kapok trees (used at the end of darts in the dart gun to give something to blow against), Strangler Figs, bromeliads and curare vines (one of the sources of poison for darts). At the end of the day, our expert guides exhibited their superior observation skills once again. After some conversation with Johnny, Olger trained his scope on a tree far, far back in the forest and said, "look, I think this is a monkey finger". Sure enough, we saw one little finger hanging onto a knob on a tree! Then he sent Johnny back to thump on the tree with his machete and we watched in awe as this sleepy looking Night Monkey raised its head in confusion and looked around. It was simply amazing and a wonderful way to end the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejfAUIbKXto1xt4lauPxWNLmNkgm4ggrs3XZSfmNrhEl2dhsmuzeyP16DIlJebekdXwHUxKVj_7o96hLtHK2ugbMX5ZxT09GQ0Y0Z-vRKgZ6A1nzGD91VbTmGlH-YSylUvrBqbVsSwZU/s1600/Strangler+Fig+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejfAUIbKXto1xt4lauPxWNLmNkgm4ggrs3XZSfmNrhEl2dhsmuzeyP16DIlJebekdXwHUxKVj_7o96hLtHK2ugbMX5ZxT09GQ0Y0Z-vRKgZ6A1nzGD91VbTmGlH-YSylUvrBqbVsSwZU/s640/Strangler+Fig+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strangler Fig</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rBUeSZgIlqFFqknBluicLnNxbSE6w3ZcLX9-G5NRswOconsxgBhIgkky_JF0SBDfTyKrwLGQfR3aQFoevWk9F28c0T3T989r8DVDmg1x6ggNG4lwfccgpvSTLyVO7zAId8ngulJDueE/s1600/Noisy+Night+Monkey-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rBUeSZgIlqFFqknBluicLnNxbSE6w3ZcLX9-G5NRswOconsxgBhIgkky_JF0SBDfTyKrwLGQfR3aQFoevWk9F28c0T3T989r8DVDmg1x6ggNG4lwfccgpvSTLyVO7zAId8ngulJDueE/s640/Noisy+Night+Monkey-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprised Noisy Night Monkey</td></tr>
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On the way back to the lodge that evening, we lingered a little to get some last moments floating on the smooth water, listening to the sounds and watching the birds coming in to roost. The stars were just starting to appear as we pulled up to the lodge. The next morning we loaded everything back into the canoe and took our trip in reverse, back up the Napo River, and back to Coca, then to Quito and home to Georgia. We were back home again in hours, but a world away. And now the Amazon is a sweet memory that we yearn to repeat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjay-aOquZNb6YAyMeI_9SVzQQqAjqUgbjg5XRXP5K1TZOPBHztqZGXUCzv5BsPhuQAofi2q2pLENZjWbjaFBu50uDakGSb6fXY6gEG3yXQhQnoY_SGvoGqwGl29cX3Vht4ZEKe6Pf6U/s1600/Final+Evening+Paddle-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjay-aOquZNb6YAyMeI_9SVzQQqAjqUgbjg5XRXP5K1TZOPBHztqZGXUCzv5BsPhuQAofi2q2pLENZjWbjaFBu50uDakGSb6fXY6gEG3yXQhQnoY_SGvoGqwGl29cX3Vht4ZEKe6Pf6U/s640/Final+Evening+Paddle-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening Paddle</td></tr>
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<br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-88343315187340367392019-08-12T17:18:00.003-04:002019-08-12T17:18:37.969-04:00Leaving the Nest<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NxzxQLoaZFjOXaiDWul2GGMJiiWdZ1ISKavzcr4otYMWpknQ7int2iz3h25a6lIg6P4BpNpwElG6wr4HuoAZ1TgX3KLEUSIdhLLct0xYim3GJVYBa0tk1geVyGr1vw9ifMz8VOIuMwk/s1600/Borwn+Thrashers-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NxzxQLoaZFjOXaiDWul2GGMJiiWdZ1ISKavzcr4otYMWpknQ7int2iz3h25a6lIg6P4BpNpwElG6wr4HuoAZ1TgX3KLEUSIdhLLct0xYim3GJVYBa0tk1geVyGr1vw9ifMz8VOIuMwk/s640/Borwn+Thrashers-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult and Juvenile Brown Thrashers--"I know the food is right under my feet, but I'm HUNGRY!!! Feed me!"</td></tr>
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For the past couple of weeks I have observed a steady increase in the amount of bird food necessary to keep our bird feeders full. We're going through 20 pound bags of seed in no time at all. Suet blocks disappear seemingly overnight (and it's not due to squirrels!). A batch of hummingbird nectar a few weeks ago would last for weeks, but now I need to make more every few days. There is a quadruple batch cooling on the counter as I type. So what's causing this feeding frenzy? As it turns out, we have a yard full of fledglings and juvenile birds that are still learning to take care of themselves and they are really hungry! When the baby birds first hatch they are helpless and featherless and their parents bring food to them in the nest. But when they grow some feathers and fledge from the nest, the parents hide them in the bushes and trees and bring food to them. Soon the adults bring them to the food and feed them while teaching them skills like how to forage for themselves and how to watch for predators. And eventually, the juveniles are on their own. The young birds and their parents know that our feeders are a quick and easy source of nourishment. In a perfect world, there would be plenty of naturally occurring seed, fruit, nectar and insects for the birds to eat. But as human activity such as building and pesticide use decreases the available natural habitats and food sources, backyard feeders and wildlife gardens provide an important supplement during this vulnerable period in their lives. The young birds need to eat as much as they can so they are strong enough to survive the cold winter and, in many cases, such as with the hummingbirds, migrate. The adults need to fatten up for winter, as well, while also gathering enough to feed their young. It all adds up to a lot of bird food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUajkdKXrpiUNnFkeXPIx8k5gH7bFG6JcdO5JxmKUXkRTj1TNsyuk_7IAqxV2kutO4v-3RDy7YyV-xfLxdXxmhVYcq0FYMcp_Dfyp6820z_efOhn-rK36vSutk0fj-KpBrWaOe_UcRcc/s1600/Goldfinches-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUajkdKXrpiUNnFkeXPIx8k5gH7bFG6JcdO5JxmKUXkRTj1TNsyuk_7IAqxV2kutO4v-3RDy7YyV-xfLxdXxmhVYcq0FYMcp_Dfyp6820z_efOhn-rK36vSutk0fj-KpBrWaOe_UcRcc/s640/Goldfinches-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult and juvenile American Goldfinches</td></tr>
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<br />You can't help but smile when you watch the young birds. They're kind of goofy looking and easy to spot. They are often unsteady flyers with scruffy, incomplete feather growth, big, bright (often light colored) eyes, and wide, sometimes yellow mouths, fluttering their wings and noisily calling for their parents feed them. They keep up the flapping and begging well after they know better. Many times I'll watch young birds that are completely able to fly and forage for themselves, flap and beg to no one in particular as they eat alone.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3l_D6TwKnlU7kchmzmZ9l5BgxXrMG_LZ2GXW-P6LGWsMU-1MGASgz5O8qcKj5bAI2EGnHkE6ijW6nPnz-3jVLaaYG3WskDozOVI0WQV7OmasR2QJNNpfpW7Gdz5sxm_3V8Ummh8hpR8/s1600/Brown+Thrasher-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3l_D6TwKnlU7kchmzmZ9l5BgxXrMG_LZ2GXW-P6LGWsMU-1MGASgz5O8qcKj5bAI2EGnHkE6ijW6nPnz-3jVLaaYG3WskDozOVI0WQV7OmasR2QJNNpfpW7Gdz5sxm_3V8Ummh8hpR8/s640/Brown+Thrasher-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fledgling Brown Thrasher--Young, scruffy and pretty helpless</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgUlRcphGhIEj_nuo9O4u2kBFP8EDrS9zOZgTPyAIfH1GhiOkUqTpPfj3jBhnNCAjq3b-KGPXianO4aeaQMIIfgSHH4uQ9fvLukDjIwj5D6ge4aIbPCvkQyleVFcJ10hmt349NwqTFyY/s1600/Brown+Thrasher+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgUlRcphGhIEj_nuo9O4u2kBFP8EDrS9zOZgTPyAIfH1GhiOkUqTpPfj3jBhnNCAjq3b-KGPXianO4aeaQMIIfgSHH4uQ9fvLukDjIwj5D6ge4aIbPCvkQyleVFcJ10hmt349NwqTFyY/s640/Brown+Thrasher+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly older Brown Thrasher Juvenile, awkwardly teetering on the perch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOyTQX3TOwHUepL-NXE3px0aCkoMWnFP1DlupsI4TazYoVq7_6Z4GbE6zqJ3eAMxN2yd4Xy0oUQBWXNB7YXRDsHqnkbhM8sXYEzUpHiNyYhdQAmfK10PY_DNuUBAH1a_v2ihrnHIMmf4/s1600/Red-bellied+Woodpecker-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOyTQX3TOwHUepL-NXE3px0aCkoMWnFP1DlupsI4TazYoVq7_6Z4GbE6zqJ3eAMxN2yd4Xy0oUQBWXNB7YXRDsHqnkbhM8sXYEzUpHiNyYhdQAmfK10PY_DNuUBAH1a_v2ihrnHIMmf4/s640/Red-bellied+Woodpecker-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker that hasn't quite grown its pretty red head feathers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Fx1KAICEQa4Aa3-ZLZ-a0kicGVU_rw88ENLJ2g_Ol_lOsObsNzNpC58AA-d37RDHKISbxvNTqEil_DexsMzMOXgR_55rk4eLMPrG_OBA0ui2Vapt_jRPWvTk1HT0xOh-mkLb3WSMX8/s1600/Northern+Cardinals-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_Fx1KAICEQa4Aa3-ZLZ-a0kicGVU_rw88ENLJ2g_Ol_lOsObsNzNpC58AA-d37RDHKISbxvNTqEil_DexsMzMOXgR_55rk4eLMPrG_OBA0ui2Vapt_jRPWvTk1HT0xOh-mkLb3WSMX8/s640/Northern+Cardinals-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Northern Cardinal begging to be fed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnwG3uDszPctWZkELBybCwvmEv9t6kIvLoYLTC8PoRFnHfwm9QExw4VMnscLBFrvlUVGDo2j1ffmcL0oVrs2XSRKtGWu1DJOpTIdZBQHlAddATstMvxehbFbTX_Fg6QPVmrybBVxJJDo/s1600/Northern+Cardinal+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnwG3uDszPctWZkELBybCwvmEv9t6kIvLoYLTC8PoRFnHfwm9QExw4VMnscLBFrvlUVGDo2j1ffmcL0oVrs2XSRKtGWu1DJOpTIdZBQHlAddATstMvxehbFbTX_Fg6QPVmrybBVxJJDo/s640/Northern+Cardinal+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same Cardinal 30 seconds later--"oh yeah, I guess I get it"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3UaMqzzQrRy-JgiBgTjNJSP8sC2Ct1o12Ab10WOZ-NTB254EJrwJCctHjyyzfm2L30slqRt0MbrazjKsZlTaDG7NTC_lRJaDzoiQRNDZr_j5zPOgOSgu8S9LiIw_mq2dq0wogNTpTEY/s1600/Eastern+Bluebird+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3UaMqzzQrRy-JgiBgTjNJSP8sC2Ct1o12Ab10WOZ-NTB254EJrwJCctHjyyzfm2L30slqRt0MbrazjKsZlTaDG7NTC_lRJaDzoiQRNDZr_j5zPOgOSgu8S9LiIw_mq2dq0wogNTpTEY/s640/Eastern+Bluebird+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Juvenile Eastern Bluebird is easy to peg as a youngster, with its big eyes, wide yellow mouth and dotted chest feathers</td></tr>
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It's a rough world out there. The young hummingbirds are constantly chased away from the feeder by the older and dominant birds, and later by their siblings. Sometimes I wonder how they can ever eat enough to supply all the calories they burn just in the chasing. Juvenile jays and towhees are chased out of the flat feeder by the pushy grackles and mourning doves. Wary Carolina wren and catbird parents make loud alarm calls to warn the young when predators (like me) are in the vicinity, but fluffs of feathers from the mockingbirds or cardinals that didn't see the hawk are a reminder that this adulting stuff is hard. But chances are good that the hawk is a juvenile working on its skills, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYSkDMUUiP1YCBK3UHIQENJQfeBRZzgJaBzmzVvIHGMcBKH9SQbm4_o5e3FcEnPn_UBlwUWvzNlPtwTBLdWFx082XUj676SQrKTjdYiWiixD1DO3cSgNdy3nEGsEAgo8MXuVfmIYBqHs/s1600/Barred+Owl-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYSkDMUUiP1YCBK3UHIQENJQfeBRZzgJaBzmzVvIHGMcBKH9SQbm4_o5e3FcEnPn_UBlwUWvzNlPtwTBLdWFx082XUj676SQrKTjdYiWiixD1DO3cSgNdy3nEGsEAgo8MXuVfmIYBqHs/s640/Barred+Owl-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Juvenile Barred Owl tried to fly away from me as I walked by, but screeched so much that I couldn't help but see it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKHyeJysVyvb_i7-QxgW1kgFiAIv5uPTAdOf-y3Ljx8nnKcaKHeGAJgsquocVe660r_uCqV7jUy3Bd6rjsOoyoaf2f7Z5niafonCMeMF0TcVMyV-EPWVYv_oTcbkd6wcsLbAc4ch8B6o/s1600/Juvenile+Red+Shouldered+Hawk+and+Gnatcatchers-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCKHyeJysVyvb_i7-QxgW1kgFiAIv5uPTAdOf-y3Ljx8nnKcaKHeGAJgsquocVe660r_uCqV7jUy3Bd6rjsOoyoaf2f7Z5niafonCMeMF0TcVMyV-EPWVYv_oTcbkd6wcsLbAc4ch8B6o/s640/Juvenile+Red+Shouldered+Hawk+and+Gnatcatchers-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk being buzzed by angry Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. The hawk was just perching when they got started to attack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYsGfOZ09y56fP1CVX9dH7iRnVeVPGMv8BInC_2M9nRYfCLXDsVQg9pC1u91ig2kIxvjSIFdmyAFkHu-A_qsuT07wza-1Co_zI0_4_OyTu9yEjCHLhzk3ID3d_MQ_8NCfDc0QeYYin9c/s1600/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYsGfOZ09y56fP1CVX9dH7iRnVeVPGMv8BInC_2M9nRYfCLXDsVQg9pC1u91ig2kIxvjSIFdmyAFkHu-A_qsuT07wza-1Co_zI0_4_OyTu9yEjCHLhzk3ID3d_MQ_8NCfDc0QeYYin9c/s640/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby-throated Hummingbirds preparing a feeding truce. They're probably hungry after chasing each other around the yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1GJi86wJr9PbNE_0N6A85TKd50wkRlq9odSw7RzDRoo6rov5Tw7A5NaOMhUMsaP3iwcKOAwmXf57JydA9XRo2FY12QEWkxuhbyoAJHTm9N0skBetg9EnXJv30NSTfi_t-0zhcLZrAdQ/s1600/Bluejay-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1GJi86wJr9PbNE_0N6A85TKd50wkRlq9odSw7RzDRoo6rov5Tw7A5NaOMhUMsaP3iwcKOAwmXf57JydA9XRo2FY12QEWkxuhbyoAJHTm9N0skBetg9EnXJv30NSTfi_t-0zhcLZrAdQ/s640/Bluejay-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Blue Jay hides in the bushes after being chased off of the feeder by Mourning Doves</td></tr>
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At this time of year, from the vantage of my yard that is literally across the street from the university, I can't help but make the comparison between the birds I am observing at home and the students next door who are preparing to embark on the college journey. Move-in day took place this past weekend and the street was buzzing with the new arrivals and their parents as they unloaded clothes, computers, lamps, bikes and other "necessities" from their cars and trailers. When the parents drove away, leaving their youngster to make their way, I'm sure they felt some anxiety, hoping their young adults would be ok. I remember those feelings, well, and I have family and friends who will be experiencing this soon. My hearts go out to you all, but it will be ok! This morning I watched groups of giddy young people walking to the bus stop, maps in hand, as they figured out their new surroundings. Like the young birds, the young students are easy to pick out and fun to watch. They are a little loud, a little unsure, eager to impress their friends, but so full of excitement and energy. They also have a big job ahead of them. Like the birds, they need to figure out how to take care of themselves in their new semi-independent life. They need to learn how to feed themselves but they also have to figure out how to budget their finances and time, find their classes, pick a major, make friends, learn where everything is, figure out the rules (yes, you DO need to stop for pedestrians at the flashing crosswalks), study, and hopefully come away from it all with a path to a good career. As with the birds, the students face dangers--driving, drinking, sexual assault, and stress, to name just a few. But they have been preparing to be independent adults their whole lives and with luck the lessons they have been given along the way will have sunk in when the crucial time comes.<br />
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Yes, it is time for the next batch of young ones to leave the nest and enter the world. Here's to a successful and happy year.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xv6qWuhYToajoTwlmNv3YROjrG4Qk9GjMI5PlCDg3ZbaOOm_TEiLR_wHpAGkiyqyP8SkjeCxzLi3XgocB1VjLwO5hPKF-jugdvDAuRQayV-ZyI6hCn0Ab9DbqsGIMqZH7eeF1I_SbDI/s1600/Eastern+Bluebird-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xv6qWuhYToajoTwlmNv3YROjrG4Qk9GjMI5PlCDg3ZbaOOm_TEiLR_wHpAGkiyqyP8SkjeCxzLi3XgocB1VjLwO5hPKF-jugdvDAuRQayV-ZyI6hCn0Ab9DbqsGIMqZH7eeF1I_SbDI/s640/Eastern+Bluebird-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Eastern Bluebird, just a little more experienced</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoWRJNxrGvksfuF4viWdySciREkd2Siq6Z4Q1q_4JRGYaQLwc5PBzJHPc5MnJv3hCy75rvSD6M1ccXmapHWaD-FzB0B6OU4TYu9SSYvtliAyLdG2WgSbeGyZ8RjmMTlISEnhZdR7MmnE/s1600/Northern+Mockingbird-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoWRJNxrGvksfuF4viWdySciREkd2Siq6Z4Q1q_4JRGYaQLwc5PBzJHPc5MnJv3hCy75rvSD6M1ccXmapHWaD-FzB0B6OU4TYu9SSYvtliAyLdG2WgSbeGyZ8RjmMTlISEnhZdR7MmnE/s640/Northern+Mockingbird-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Northern Mockingbird--"I can do this!"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhE6BIBIqhxbyG-v6eJ5MWuXORgYfDWA0JaQhK7e22HSWitpvXmS5t94_A8BUts6qgaCcvx3MbjaFoOHCur_MBFxg32VrqIC836S5nBgzSAfkLVypXeJtfGw3g2gcWxG_VriUY63HUTY/s1600/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhE6BIBIqhxbyG-v6eJ5MWuXORgYfDWA0JaQhK7e22HSWitpvXmS5t94_A8BUts6qgaCcvx3MbjaFoOHCur_MBFxg32VrqIC836S5nBgzSAfkLVypXeJtfGw3g2gcWxG_VriUY63HUTY/s640/Ruby-throated+Hummingbird+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird resting on the Fennel after a busy day</td></tr>
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<br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-19632649519919218772019-07-10T23:17:00.000-04:002019-07-14T16:24:21.180-04:00Up to the Challenge<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLiy4KIj7idTC9oTTAduoJXu4pU0K6yaRy5MV5k3u-zEYL6w5gVGCggaZAGNsKYU_swBI9zZX98N_JCL2r9WgJr_QrCQPTkJ_jkY9WVVuBHc1WsWxddVvUJqOOCwAmGi6L2kKh_pLW0A/s1600/Acadian+Flycatcher-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLiy4KIj7idTC9oTTAduoJXu4pU0K6yaRy5MV5k3u-zEYL6w5gVGCggaZAGNsKYU_swBI9zZX98N_JCL2r9WgJr_QrCQPTkJ_jkY9WVVuBHc1WsWxddVvUJqOOCwAmGi6L2kKh_pLW0A/s640/Acadian+Flycatcher-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acadian Flycatcher in the treetops</td></tr>
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We're well into July and I think I'm finally getting back into my normal routine. But for the month of June, I was somewhat possessed, after immersing myself in this year's June Birding Challenge. Everything but the pursuit of my list of target birds took a back burner--family, garden, friends, laundry, bills, cleaning, eating, and even personal grooming! I became single minded, scarfing meals on the run while I tracked reports on ebird and mapped my daily excursions. Most nights I dropped off to sleep, completely exhausted after walking for hours in the heat, binoculars and camera around my neck. And I had a blast! Luckily my husband was out of town for a chunk of this, or he would have felt ignored. I know the dog did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtKhEtNHfS2CSAnnfSrRmOne72FhQV0ZFg0wgn2xG4ld8jGZJp-EjZn0v5z67LMp-BFcOmy0miw1wXXnlNKP0rn_b_MGgA-D3DpqwlPn7sqY9uz-doT1VJd462T-0IWCRV4qd_tZw4Kg/s1600/Forest+Path-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtKhEtNHfS2CSAnnfSrRmOne72FhQV0ZFg0wgn2xG4ld8jGZJp-EjZn0v5z67LMp-BFcOmy0miw1wXXnlNKP0rn_b_MGgA-D3DpqwlPn7sqY9uz-doT1VJd462T-0IWCRV4qd_tZw4Kg/s640/Forest+Path-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the Trails through the Woods</td></tr>
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For those who have not read about this in my previous posts, the June Challenge is a friendly birding competition put on by the Alachua County Florida Audubon chapter. The goal is to see (not just hear) as many wild bird species within the county limits as possible. Because it is a friendly competition, people share information when they find a special or rare bird and the more experienced birders lead several field trips to help everyone see as many as possible. It's a lot of fun and I looked forward to June when I lived in Florida. Since moving to Georgia, I have tried to keep participating on my own but have (so far) not been able to convince anyone to join me. Maybe one of these years I'll get some converts and this can become a thing in Athens, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6AaI2d6cAGKBFCNm8YsE2mtdQ5LHqG8cYpXVIudH5t1yKgvNQHP125Bx8bQOu4p8ujOEDhJ4mhc4QIzsNjIWcLUOjsy4SjoBkqt4jbmCWUGs_1TBeR6s5Dwscoi2TwrxJ7JyYN4L2lM/s1600/American+Kestrel-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6AaI2d6cAGKBFCNm8YsE2mtdQ5LHqG8cYpXVIudH5t1yKgvNQHP125Bx8bQOu4p8ujOEDhJ4mhc4QIzsNjIWcLUOjsy4SjoBkqt4jbmCWUGs_1TBeR6s5Dwscoi2TwrxJ7JyYN4L2lM/s640/American+Kestrel-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Kestrel</td></tr>
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For the past few years I had assumed that I was at a disadvantage birding up here because Clarke County is so much smaller (about 1/10th the size) than Alachua County, so I allowed myself to expand the search territory. But this year I looked on ebird at the list of birds that might be found here in June and was delighted to see that the numbers were higher than I had thought. If I managed to see every bird on the list (extremely unlikely) my numbers could be pretty respectable. Of course, the folks in Gainesville will always be way ahead of me. They have a whole lot more birds available down there, especially the wading birds, and lots of expert birders, and I am no expert. But I decided to give it a try, sticking just to my county, and anyway, as I remind myself every year, the experience is so much more than just checking birds off my list.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy-IzM4u4HCmG58aBYC3w97scro0tIh9_yBG8vPjovLttW3-GW9tGmlPJh-QLPFCtBcXJpK7UfL9Np7LRjNz-wMVOMxhdDz9f5kIxR7hQsSwwlTakmnirUja-VAG4VllE8BD4ZhVSE_g/s1600/Spider+Web+Orb-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy-IzM4u4HCmG58aBYC3w97scro0tIh9_yBG8vPjovLttW3-GW9tGmlPJh-QLPFCtBcXJpK7UfL9Np7LRjNz-wMVOMxhdDz9f5kIxR7hQsSwwlTakmnirUja-VAG4VllE8BD4ZhVSE_g/s640/Spider+Web+Orb-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orb Weaver</td></tr>
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As always with the June Challenge, I found new parks and natural areas to explore. This year I spent a lot of time on the North Oconee River Greenway and in Southeast Clarke Park and visited the Lake Herrick/Oconee Forest Park several times a week. And I finally bought an annual pass to Sandy Creek Park, one of our county nature parks. I am coming to appreciate that for a small county, we have a wonderful number of natural areas. I have more to explore in Junes to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxfKrXh8zDN_4f0XlVWU6vHh-ep8Rx1kcMzXp7fNCZI3Ot6afb8tiQKRcfDgFdPs9Tbh9SJZp7D-YnGQrViyFZaBmbpAcNxB9q0tOG2hiMMpk6LG3f7Ow_ByR7Q_RV5fr3wEnHw738wQ/s1600/Box+Turtle-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzxfKrXh8zDN_4f0XlVWU6vHh-ep8Rx1kcMzXp7fNCZI3Ot6afb8tiQKRcfDgFdPs9Tbh9SJZp7D-YnGQrViyFZaBmbpAcNxB9q0tOG2hiMMpk6LG3f7Ow_ByR7Q_RV5fr3wEnHw738wQ/s640/Box+Turtle-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Box Turtle peeks out of the English Ivy</td></tr>
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We may not have all the fancy and abundant wading birds up here that Florida has, like the Spoonbills and Ibises, or water birds like Anhingas and Gallinules, but we have our own specialties. Grey Catbirds and Brown Headed Nuthatches take a little planning to find in Gainesville but I have them both in my backyard feeders. Canada Geese poop all over the fields near my house--not so common for the Alachua folks. Robins--we have Robins a-plenty, all year. People get excited when they find them down in Florida in June. And I see a Hairy Woodpecker just about every year, which I never did in Florida. But I think the only unique bird I had that they won't find down there at all is the White Breasted Nuthatch, another one that visits my yard feeders.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnCTUnA7OeGffLYIg53SeTdMEGDmSIuYLct05LWVoSdtpNR1eZwZK6fzW6bfx5blios3dklvZRHw0kCRWYVxjZ6UzyMCOa3-rqPSRqsoW31GBIkOmP1T52lnqCrhvr-qg6P3-yHF1cBU/s1600/Canada+Geese-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnCTUnA7OeGffLYIg53SeTdMEGDmSIuYLct05LWVoSdtpNR1eZwZK6fzW6bfx5blios3dklvZRHw0kCRWYVxjZ6UzyMCOa3-rqPSRqsoW31GBIkOmP1T52lnqCrhvr-qg6P3-yHF1cBU/s640/Canada+Geese-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada Geese</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoD_yL6cH8-CzOzuohAQz3lifD1uh7HOvsH8oNBQBV0ntHDidyrk8ZNntwtg713UL6XJ3RfZmK4jJLcg3tmNCVt6muesXRqPj5vOA8Nr-R2D1xslrAo9An6VCRa2vBFPYDVQ2EphNdDw/s1600/American+Robin-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoD_yL6cH8-CzOzuohAQz3lifD1uh7HOvsH8oNBQBV0ntHDidyrk8ZNntwtg713UL6XJ3RfZmK4jJLcg3tmNCVt6muesXRqPj5vOA8Nr-R2D1xslrAo9An6VCRa2vBFPYDVQ2EphNdDw/s640/American+Robin-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv25qdAWugQCzsQ4_zcWEOA75mLTnGEI6JHaI1GYSJ2FXaBKwh6X-LfJ6AwkisCflNu4VoOFqA7SxiQDZwR26AOjCRfkrROlCignmcuLoI6doj6tQv0n3l6t1cxYSqx6G3ruY51wpVts/s1600/White+breasted+Nuthatch-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYv25qdAWugQCzsQ4_zcWEOA75mLTnGEI6JHaI1GYSJ2FXaBKwh6X-LfJ6AwkisCflNu4VoOFqA7SxiQDZwR26AOjCRfkrROlCignmcuLoI6doj6tQv0n3l6t1cxYSqx6G3ruY51wpVts/s640/White+breasted+Nuthatch-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-breasted Nuthatch</td></tr>
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On my excursions (BTW, I averaged about 10,000 steps daily for the month, even though there were days I did not go out birding) I encountered not only birds, but rabbits, deer, beavers, a groundhog, armadillos, squirrels, turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, toads, a salamander, spiders, butterflies, bees, wasps, fungi and slime mold. I found living things and dead. I saw things that were funny and strange and sad. I saw beautiful wildflowers and fireflies and heard the sounds of the cicadas and baby owls. I was out in the sun and rain with walkers and runners, dogs and children. I birded in the morning and evening but mostly in the heat of the day because I can never get my act together for an early morning outing. But the most important thing was that I was outside enjoying nature just about every day. What a great diversion from all the bad news these days. It made me feel so alive and in love with the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwgUfEzgLCI6lATE3MLamffvzAafFsvXZqbrAH15S911Jj2_yyCaLIPfoeHqKKs03JHGM8dq56xPKQr0ogem1Exl5B5oeSJOf1FVhGzfxN9KaeNPdySYLSS8YFiLQwvLWygrvexp-CE8/s1600/Turtle+with+a+Dragonfly+on+its+nose-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwgUfEzgLCI6lATE3MLamffvzAafFsvXZqbrAH15S911Jj2_yyCaLIPfoeHqKKs03JHGM8dq56xPKQr0ogem1Exl5B5oeSJOf1FVhGzfxN9KaeNPdySYLSS8YFiLQwvLWygrvexp-CE8/s640/Turtle+with+a+Dragonfly+on+its+nose-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Turtle with a Drafonfly on its nose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5JzFMGFFt9Pw-NlwVeLbP6zd9iGLIKh3T6S3eEOJDDdIbo-Itefd3ipLv5EgEOf1l6GZjGepNZ7OH5Fw1bgsQwb0TOgZDQqwEUmGAfyvomH9ov3ajcstvjbCKD7yd_ptMxNnDUta_i4/s1600/Beaver+Photobomb-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5JzFMGFFt9Pw-NlwVeLbP6zd9iGLIKh3T6S3eEOJDDdIbo-Itefd3ipLv5EgEOf1l6GZjGepNZ7OH5Fw1bgsQwb0TOgZDQqwEUmGAfyvomH9ov3ajcstvjbCKD7yd_ptMxNnDUta_i4/s640/Beaver+Photobomb-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Blue Heron photobombed by a Beaver</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWjeKZR4D0ToyQCl1UHIn4cVJp3SzRo1lTTPiARnEvatFljU0HrPXGLZbT1MrfQrAsth0urhLY0ZamY_31kWTi3FjlDwtLXHwkG4fa5wDsHaxbbxcwdshyphenhyphen9hkDc1afFVOuCg2ygWhY84/s1600/Opossum-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWjeKZR4D0ToyQCl1UHIn4cVJp3SzRo1lTTPiARnEvatFljU0HrPXGLZbT1MrfQrAsth0urhLY0ZamY_31kWTi3FjlDwtLXHwkG4fa5wDsHaxbbxcwdshyphenhyphen9hkDc1afFVOuCg2ygWhY84/s640/Opossum-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the Head of an Opossum. Nothing else. Probably from an owl or hawk meal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5QsYfc8fxICpk3Fc1PjYFMBlwzDocAc0r0qYyKiRWhx8TYE0tPiDCHroNtr25NYZ_ShMiDqBiutI5ESwcxJQlIw06Qn-yxceD9eqx7Zy6saNYGxUqbuT2q73YjSqPhsD6hH5i5TJJvU/s1600/Baby+barred+owl-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5QsYfc8fxICpk3Fc1PjYFMBlwzDocAc0r0qYyKiRWhx8TYE0tPiDCHroNtr25NYZ_ShMiDqBiutI5ESwcxJQlIw06Qn-yxceD9eqx7Zy6saNYGxUqbuT2q73YjSqPhsD6hH5i5TJJvU/s640/Baby+barred+owl-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Juvenile Owl and its sibling hissed so much that I finally saw them. Otherwise, my June would have been Owl-less.</td></tr>
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<br />
In all I counted 75 birds. I tried but never did see a Scarlet Tanager, even though there was one in my yard in May. I expected to find a Nighthawk, but never heard one. I know I see them flying around the football stadium during night games in the fall. And I tried to find Eastern Meadowlarks, but learned that their habitat in our county is disappearing and was unsuccessful. My big scores were the Prothonotary Warbler that I heard then saw on the Greenway and the American Kestrel (rare bird) that I tracked using reports from another birder. I'm pretty happy with my list. I think I am improving each year. A lot of the birding here in Athens in the summer is in thick forests and learning bird sounds is really helpful. I found lots of birds by tracking their sounds and looking for movement. Birds such as the Wood Thrush, Black and White Warbler, Yellow Billed Cuckoo, Northern Parula and Summer Tanager. Of course, when I saw the Alachua County results, I came in at the back of the pack, but I'm ok with that. It's the journey. I plan to take the challenge again next year. If you're in the area, feel free to join me! <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Adventures/June-Challenge-2019/" target="_blank">If you are interested in seeing an album of photos I took during the month, click here.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbtkBFFf933ZqZ333PwMVD3LICyJFje1WOn5incckqEYt425jqxTbSoL1F5gVLXrgMlbqak0cmSs73kP-ouVwdDTyH01SEF1odCvycvzUNYin2Bx30WxUZFSa1l4VeUCnMkytAamBZ10/s1600/Sunset+at+the+lake-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbtkBFFf933ZqZ333PwMVD3LICyJFje1WOn5incckqEYt425jqxTbSoL1F5gVLXrgMlbqak0cmSs73kP-ouVwdDTyH01SEF1odCvycvzUNYin2Bx30WxUZFSa1l4VeUCnMkytAamBZ10/s640/Sunset+at+the+lake-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the lake</td></tr>
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Here's my list:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">1) Northern Cardinal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">2) Chimney Swift</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">3) American Robin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">4) Common Grackle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">5) House Finch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">6) Downy Woodpecker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">7) Brown Thrasher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">8) Mourning Dove</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">9) Gray Catbird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">10) Blue Jay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">11) Ruby-throated Hummingbird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">12) Carolina Wren</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">13) Eastern Towhee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">14) Eastern Bluebird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">15) Northern Mockingbird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">16) Tree Swallow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">17) Tufted Titmouse</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">18) Fish Crow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">19) Carolina Chickadee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">20) Brown-headed Cowbird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">21) Chipping Sparrow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">22) White-eyed Vireo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">23) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">24) Red-eyed Vireo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">25) Barn Swallow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">26) Brown-headed Nuthatch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">27) Pine Warbler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">28) Wood Thrush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">29) American Goldfinch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">30) Turkey Vulture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">31) American Crow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">32) House Wren</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">33) Acadian Flycatcher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">34) Red-bellied Woodpecker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">35) Hairy Woodpecker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">36) Louisiana Waterthrush</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">37) Common Yellowthroat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">38) Indigo Bunting</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">39) White-breasted Nuthatch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">40) Summer Tanager</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">41) Red-shouldered Hawk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">42) Yellow-throated Vireo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">43) Coopers Hawk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">44) Great-crested Flycatcher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">45) Black Vulture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">46) Killdeer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">47) European Starling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">48) Great Blue Heron</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">49) Green Heron</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">50) Eastern Phoebe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">51) Red-headed Woodpecker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">52) House Sparrow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">53) Eastern Kingbird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">54) Red-tailed Hawk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">55) Yellow-billed Cuckoo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">56) Eastern Wood Pewee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">57) Rock Pigeon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">58) Mississippi Kite</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">59) Canada Goose</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">60) Mallard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">61) Northern Rough-winged Swallow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">62) Pileated Woodpecker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">63) American Kestrel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">64) Broad-winged Hawk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">65) Hooded Warbler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">66) Belted Kingfisher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">67) Blue Grosbeak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">68) Barred Owl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">69) Osprey</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">70) Prothonotary Warbler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">71) Great White Egret</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">72) Northern Parula</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">73) Black and White Warbler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">74) Cliff Swallow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucidagrande"; font-size: 11px;">75) Bank Swallow</span><br />
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<br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-89490211775992911672019-05-28T19:29:00.001-04:002019-05-28T22:14:21.330-04:00Itchy Scratchy<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLcfSxW_XF2HTFPWlGVP6VOUCWn7G2f4EKsdqkSZPf-T3xQpL3FTzAKBdoF8Na2u8dfZ4DcQ6XMOlcihSbCMHICWyEeLZOGxZL6m2AmpoESW_1nFqVWBFG86wYOwzaCZ45yeV-hbF4ds/s1600/Muscle+Wood+with+Poison+Ivy-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQLcfSxW_XF2HTFPWlGVP6VOUCWn7G2f4EKsdqkSZPf-T3xQpL3FTzAKBdoF8Na2u8dfZ4DcQ6XMOlcihSbCMHICWyEeLZOGxZL6m2AmpoESW_1nFqVWBFG86wYOwzaCZ45yeV-hbF4ds/s640/Muscle+Wood+with+Poison+Ivy-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy climbing a Hornbeam or Musclewood Tree in Florida</td></tr>
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This is a public service message brought to you by a representative of the sensitive skin club. Me. It's that time of year again when the birds and bugs are active and the new summer flowers are blooming on the roadsides. It's also the time that the skeeters are biting, the ticks and chiggers are lurking in the grass, and the Poison Ivy is sprouting. And when I go out in pursuit of nature adventures and good photos, I keep finding myself face to face (or ankle to leaf) with the whole lot of them. Today I would like to familiarize you with Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). Perhaps some other day I will have something nice to share about ticks and chiggers. I have a hard time seeing any redeeming points in those pests, so I have (so far) no photos. But Poison Ivy, on the other hand, is actually a pretty plant. And it is also bigger than a pinhead (unlike chiggers and ticks), so I have lots of photos to share. But I digress.<br />
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This all came to me a month or so ago when I was traveling in Northern California at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and came across a huge patch of Pacific Poison Oak. I'm not so familiar with Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), but I was able to recognize it because of some helpful signage, and therefore kept my parents and myself from accidentally brushing against it. It did look somewhat similar to the good ol' itchy stuff from back home, but as a lush and bushy plant, it had a different habit and I might have accidentally blundered into it without the signs.<br />
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When I got back home it was time to lead school groups on trail walks at the nature center, and the beginning of Poison Ivy season, and I always try to help the kids learn to identify the plant so they can enjoy the outdoors without the itch. My experience in California got me thinking that I wasn't sure I knew the difference between Poison Oak and Poison Ivy. I have often heard people equate the two, so I did some research and learned some interesting facts about these plants. I have never come across Poison Sumac which also grows in the South, though I am familiar with other types of Sumac.<br />
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Poison Ivy is not actually ivy, and Poison Oak is not an oak. Both plants, and Poison Sumac are all in the same plant family, Anacardiaceae--the Sumac or Cashew family. The family also includes Mangoes and now Pistachios. These plants are not poisonous in the sense that they will kill you (unless you have a severe allergic reaction). But they have sap that contains Urushiol, a compound that causes (sometimes severe) contact dermatitis. I recently learned that the people who process cashew nuts can get a similar reaction from handling the sap and so it is important to buy cashews from ethical sellers who protect the health of their workers.<br />
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All parts of a Poison Ivy plant can cause the skin reaction. The leaves, the berries, the vine, and even the dead leaves and vines. Urushiol can become airborn if the plants are burned, or ground fine with a mower, so care must be taken when handling the plants at all times. I believe that Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are similar, but I am not sure because I don't have direct experience with either one. But as I read more I learned that though Eastern Poison Oak does occur in the Southeast, it is not as common and looks a lot like Poison Ivy and it is hard to distinguish between the two. Poison Sumac is also present in the Southeast, though it is even less common, and this may explain why I don't know those plants well. Poison Ivy, on the other hand, is widespread across the eastern half of the US. Pacific Poison Oak is extremely common along the entire West Coast.<br />
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Most people are allergic to these plants, though not all. About 85% of people react. The other 15% can consider themselves fortunate, but they still need to be careful because the oils from the plants can be tracked into the house on shoes, tools, clothing and even pets, and when that happens, the reactive people in the household will become very angry. Animals do not seem to be bothered by the irritating oils, maybe because of fur or feathers, or they're just born lucky.<br />
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If you do come in contact with one of the itch-causing plants, wash and scrub immediately and vigorously with cold, soapy water, or with special soap such as Technu. Simple handwashing won't work. And warm or hot water is not good because it opens your pores and lets the oils sink in deeper. If you can find some Jewelweed, which conveniently grows in the same habitat as Poison Ivy, it is supposed to help. If you get the rash, I pity you, but calamine lotion does help. But the best thing is to just avoid it. I have had Poison Ivy rashes twice. Once when I didn't know the plant and got into it in my Florida yard. It took 3 weeks for the rash to stop itching and oozing. The other time I just got careless and brushed my cheek against a vine, even though I had been told to watch out. Another 3 weeks of itching and oozing later, and I was a crusader for Poison Ivy avoidance.<br />
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If you have Poison Ivy in your yard, my experience is that you can remove it if you are cautious. Use disposable gloves and clean your cutting and digging tools very carefully and you should be ok. Be careful not to let it get on your clothes or you can spread it to other items in the washing machine. As I mentioned, if you mow or burn, be careful not to breath the airborn sap, or you may find yourself in the hospital or taking steroids.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov9n7gbWFHYRWK_4j6qoBlFDdKxRkuUSqK1soKns0RlAwUPvS5sLjTqRW5oDn6y9dImNmx3pqRT_ftDfeZCz50NZgHbMS2n3RflkE75LTNEBSv7oigugMIrQkcnk5OJlnsqUpXZcSSvc/s1600/Impatiens+capensis-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjov9n7gbWFHYRWK_4j6qoBlFDdKxRkuUSqK1soKns0RlAwUPvS5sLjTqRW5oDn6y9dImNmx3pqRT_ftDfeZCz50NZgHbMS2n3RflkE75LTNEBSv7oigugMIrQkcnk5OJlnsqUpXZcSSvc/s640/Impatiens+capensis-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a traditional remedy for Poison Ivy rash</td></tr>
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So how do you avoid this stuff? Get to know it and stay away from it! And wear closed toed shoes and long pants in the woods. That's how you keep the ticks and chiggers away, too, so I'm always ready.<br />
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I don't know anything about Poison Sumac, so I won't try to help you with ID. You're on your own there. Photos I find online resemble other Sumacs I've seen. And I'm not an expert with Poison Oak, either, which appears to be a shape shifter that can grow into a big bush that looks like an oak tree. Descriptions say they can have 3 or 6 or 9 leaves. Here is my one photo from California. You can see that this one does resemble Poison Ivy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyG2FtgsBf-Ea2Ur4paSiYVjo5r6y7pDW6iyaS4CIqiyGSYxmd6ld9xwrbJf4iW5Pe9NecYSMWhmB54wTYLq0YJh39oHcVcVoK220uClWiXvdBpBjr83dcG55n2n2v5_wKMY0FKGbEEo/s1600/Pacific+Poison+Oak-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyG2FtgsBf-Ea2Ur4paSiYVjo5r6y7pDW6iyaS4CIqiyGSYxmd6ld9xwrbJf4iW5Pe9NecYSMWhmB54wTYLq0YJh39oHcVcVoK220uClWiXvdBpBjr83dcG55n2n2v5_wKMY0FKGbEEo/s640/Pacific+Poison+Oak-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)</td></tr>
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But for Poison Ivy remember these:<br />
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<b>"Leaves of three, leave it be" or "Leaves of three, don't touch me"</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingceHzBiXp8rtdVWfl8BMwS5wFXM8RE6r2c3poPqst7lbkUyu7i78BhZsINkmiD9pmzqTucc8cKTePtZZdu8Owp5TIukjFMfJHHoL6CxzccnvKWktFKB3TeGJ1xgz9gTk5lTzqC2S_0E/s1600/Poison+Ivy+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingceHzBiXp8rtdVWfl8BMwS5wFXM8RE6r2c3poPqst7lbkUyu7i78BhZsINkmiD9pmzqTucc8cKTePtZZdu8Owp5TIukjFMfJHHoL6CxzccnvKWktFKB3TeGJ1xgz9gTk5lTzqC2S_0E/s640/Poison+Ivy+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), 3 leaflets. I think that on young plants, the outer two leaves look like mittens.</td></tr>
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Poison Ivy leaves grow with three leaflets on a stem. The edges can be smooth, or lobed, but the leaflets will grow in clusters of three. Often the young leaves have a shiny, waxy look. I think the young outer leaflets resemble mittens.<br />
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Poison Ivy can be a trailing vine, a climbing vine or a small shrub. It will not have thorns. If it has thorns, you may get poked, but you're safe from Poison Ivy! (Unless they're growing on the same tree, which happens a lot). Many plants are mistaken for Poison Ivy. Here are a few.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0otciNBKMLojfq6U2THuFDlJK8XM0MW3shClVBAlSlq4zHhDkbC7MH618OUMSpF2Z1ZU__IDj_6zsI5cBgoQHvcEFVr43znTeR86wakv-WrNA8JIp5ozEbnFXPvtL_hca9cWQKt5aado/s1600/Not+poison+ivy+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0otciNBKMLojfq6U2THuFDlJK8XM0MW3shClVBAlSlq4zHhDkbC7MH618OUMSpF2Z1ZU__IDj_6zsI5cBgoQHvcEFVr43znTeR86wakv-WrNA8JIp5ozEbnFXPvtL_hca9cWQKt5aado/s640/Not+poison+ivy+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one looks like Poison Ivy but it is a Boxelder sapling. Look for toothed leaf edge, and opposite pairs of leaf stems from the main stalk.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzqv1B-wo0izp1f7XDbbl-ILWCvGW5QUFObpjVcqTGcLFEbweUyafIsyFChsjXeNF4wCpbX5kbXgn5pjyFCAiNb7eMLBbPzl-iMey9YsbLgFaeUJnkXq7uw5HS2VBV3qESCXpkN_hYcE/s1600/Not+poison+ivy-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzqv1B-wo0izp1f7XDbbl-ILWCvGW5QUFObpjVcqTGcLFEbweUyafIsyFChsjXeNF4wCpbX5kbXgn5pjyFCAiNb7eMLBbPzl-iMey9YsbLgFaeUJnkXq7uw5HS2VBV3qESCXpkN_hYcE/s640/Not+poison+ivy-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Poison Ivy. This is a Blackberry. The leaves are toothed and the stem has small thorns.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyWi64HQ_aLXBbrbMj7t2Qbq6Cu6AA-j7vk3NidkcmcxzCC4ZjJZq-NO1zm7Z2wSpl5t4GqRwqV5mW_0HBNLMjtrDTst4T4vsSBB8fm1AjUuMpaolD7LTEM-LKhtQmEwJt0dLZwIz5pI/s1600/Wrong+three+leaves-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyWi64HQ_aLXBbrbMj7t2Qbq6Cu6AA-j7vk3NidkcmcxzCC4ZjJZq-NO1zm7Z2wSpl5t4GqRwqV5mW_0HBNLMjtrDTst4T4vsSBB8fm1AjUuMpaolD7LTEM-LKhtQmEwJt0dLZwIz5pI/s640/Wrong+three+leaves-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also not Poison Ivy. This plant is in the Legume (pea) family. It has 3 leaves, but they are a more teardrop shape and the leaves are hairy.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtkxWCLSxbU_50nD4mWFhQ0nIxAWILzdup6imS5EZYJJEKnDUSfRESg_9GcKfT9xq3QwFgOsueBY9AXVT91LDHkCbb7rRv-JhOHTwAQZx1W6rCFfk4GsgX5E72KoOXeKJnwH8-TRENJM/s1600/Virginia+Creeper-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtkxWCLSxbU_50nD4mWFhQ0nIxAWILzdup6imS5EZYJJEKnDUSfRESg_9GcKfT9xq3QwFgOsueBY9AXVT91LDHkCbb7rRv-JhOHTwAQZx1W6rCFfk4GsgX5E72KoOXeKJnwH8-TRENJM/s640/Virginia+Creeper-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Virginia Creeper and is often mistaken for Poison Ivy, but it is not. Notice the 5 leaflets rather than 3.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXqekQiqA5A3B5VrOORxt0bircb3ScTYCiF35GlsZl4wuEAoZQJqtBWPe0fWqulsCI8d5tgKKf-CbiudP1mw3jRe85ZLLsVArzWgw30jZNhpwMrYhjm2TOoZgeXRFfcXHuFKtNJ4WLTs/s1600/Oak+leaves-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXqekQiqA5A3B5VrOORxt0bircb3ScTYCiF35GlsZl4wuEAoZQJqtBWPe0fWqulsCI8d5tgKKf-CbiudP1mw3jRe85ZLLsVArzWgw30jZNhpwMrYhjm2TOoZgeXRFfcXHuFKtNJ4WLTs/s640/Oak+leaves-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak Leaves. Not Poison Ivy or Poison Oak</td></tr>
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Poison Ivy plants sprout on the ground and the vine grows, often climbing a tree. An older vine can be deceptive because it can grow branches and the leaves can be huge. But they will still adhere to the "leaves of three" rule. If you have climbing vine a you can use the next mnemonic,<br />
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<b>"Hairy is Scary"</b><br />
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Poison Ivy vines have root hairs to attach to the tree trunk and the older vines can almost look like a furry beast climbing a tree. In the winter when the vines have dropped their leaves (they are deciduous), the hairy vine can be your only clue that there is Poison Ivy nearby. Don't hug trees with hairy vines. And speaking of deciduous vines, be cautious when collecting spear-shaped red and orange leaves if you don't know what tree they came from. They could be Poison Ivy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl4S-B8tDNU6dqtBnweObBcY_tuUMnvZXNLKQbKpJJKzOQ7rskjqEJb-2MmJROCFCHFRDb67heOBw_NpZwh9UlrzMoVugasNNG_T6wTJsVYVnMYYXXvPAs1R_m4R9Be1BTUBvfoSuo4w/s1600/Hairy+is+Scary-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl4S-B8tDNU6dqtBnweObBcY_tuUMnvZXNLKQbKpJJKzOQ7rskjqEJb-2MmJROCFCHFRDb67heOBw_NpZwh9UlrzMoVugasNNG_T6wTJsVYVnMYYXXvPAs1R_m4R9Be1BTUBvfoSuo4w/s640/Hairy+is+Scary-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big and hairy vine. To me it looks like a monkey tail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoqsWeptiRVP_b4XA3b5rx3CnC_nKzmC-fgZDnmodsOPcnfjFPirX4IyUsvtgdnck0mfEEkLD81UjXBPazhX6pmdm0PRHQPdM9ceJVu1xlRTPcSwhJNsar1EeGjU9zYwnp6L-E-KJ4Gc/s1600/Poison+Ivy+pretending+to+be+branches+on+the+tree-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoqsWeptiRVP_b4XA3b5rx3CnC_nKzmC-fgZDnmodsOPcnfjFPirX4IyUsvtgdnck0mfEEkLD81UjXBPazhX6pmdm0PRHQPdM9ceJVu1xlRTPcSwhJNsar1EeGjU9zYwnp6L-E-KJ4Gc/s640/Poison+Ivy+pretending+to+be+branches+on+the+tree-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy vine that climbed a Tulip Poplar and grew branches. Most of the branches you see are the Poison Ivy. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTqD4RDIXTLMzfX-o9IZCcvbjOigIAuNZ6hj79m6OL6309rLbo0RKN8KuX0WCd6eixm2hY2lJTEnJaFZ23xlaU40PjN75Njy1KX6UHJ4uvula6Fk-pg9DGIl7EFjSQWOl4Z6sXGTvOMw/s1600/Poison+Ivy-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTqD4RDIXTLMzfX-o9IZCcvbjOigIAuNZ6hj79m6OL6309rLbo0RKN8KuX0WCd6eixm2hY2lJTEnJaFZ23xlaU40PjN75Njy1KX6UHJ4uvula6Fk-pg9DGIl7EFjSQWOl4Z6sXGTvOMw/s640/Poison+Ivy-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy in fall colors. It is beautiful!</td></tr>
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So if these plants are to be avoided at all cost, why don't we just eradicate them? The kids always ask me that. But I tell them to consider this: the leaves are pretty, lush and green. In the fall they are a gorgeous red, orange and yellow. They provide cool shade and oxygen in the forest and contribute to the biomass. They give shelter to birds, insects and squirrels, and their berries are food. Poison Ivy is just another part of the forest. Just because something annoys people doesn't mean that it shouldn't exist. We just need to find a way to live around our annoying neighbors because they are the spice of life.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkuYU-bzAJLal7Z2GWZfnfNSCAJQz_e2kFKPmlIjpR0GR1kolgTOM5vC8hleM9UjO9jBOrr0b_kvag1cSJOSYzbFXGMK_YWC8n8dJ-8iUP2g5-e_HxXYsUyA1BbkIlnPZfR94S7zYgdI/s1600/Poison+Ivy+Berries-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkuYU-bzAJLal7Z2GWZfnfNSCAJQz_e2kFKPmlIjpR0GR1kolgTOM5vC8hleM9UjO9jBOrr0b_kvag1cSJOSYzbFXGMK_YWC8n8dJ-8iUP2g5-e_HxXYsUyA1BbkIlnPZfR94S7zYgdI/s640/Poison+Ivy+Berries-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poison Ivy berries (they are white--this is an identification tool) provide important food for wildlife</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DNxK_tT0H-plkCRpf4e-zy5YuJIERjEL7I9A71EgBLAY7-MszNkx6VVaTeWkp-HqciXBPvRH2j3AbhKP288TX18w6RRYH3KcLDR6Il7L8s4sH1K3TMDVYQQnnAxhcizgzQ3Qwv2Btyw/s1600/Yellow+Bellied+Sapsucker-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DNxK_tT0H-plkCRpf4e-zy5YuJIERjEL7I9A71EgBLAY7-MszNkx6VVaTeWkp-HqciXBPvRH2j3AbhKP288TX18w6RRYH3KcLDR6Il7L8s4sH1K3TMDVYQQnnAxhcizgzQ3Qwv2Btyw/s640/Yellow+Bellied+Sapsucker-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Sapsucker climbing a tree with hairy Poison Ivy vines</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSGI63dUf3JCTsiB58A-hXX_J1IaOOv_mjzj8sIfMDvpZKPaw-z90vfDBNkeTLhApEkIUkdQTtvxuOvxhLx2lxUU_ScyIFEv3fGFm1UJIrHWQv9Xbcb5x4rfGJcg1Z6SiUzNlwKgbM80/s1600/Question+Mark-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSGI63dUf3JCTsiB58A-hXX_J1IaOOv_mjzj8sIfMDvpZKPaw-z90vfDBNkeTLhApEkIUkdQTtvxuOvxhLx2lxUU_ScyIFEv3fGFm1UJIrHWQv9Xbcb5x4rfGJcg1Z6SiUzNlwKgbM80/s640/Question+Mark-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Question Mark Butterfly amid the Poison Ivy leaflets</td></tr>
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<br />Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260889779800995527.post-62541587315405498062019-02-04T21:03:00.002-05:002019-02-09T17:01:29.257-05:00Friendly Reminder<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEL1tLuC0U6fSrlSXpvah8NX2HrWxvgVNF30ioX5fNCYvxyyGrAgVpsxPzBoxxC-IZWDeUvMELrMTRcQ2S3rv6FKxJ7KQYJMKAXzA1sTGqsrJk1JtpAFIloBViBxXYkZtzjZt0ztZ0fo/s1600/Sandhill+Crane+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEL1tLuC0U6fSrlSXpvah8NX2HrWxvgVNF30ioX5fNCYvxyyGrAgVpsxPzBoxxC-IZWDeUvMELrMTRcQ2S3rv6FKxJ7KQYJMKAXzA1sTGqsrJk1JtpAFIloBViBxXYkZtzjZt0ztZ0fo/s640/Sandhill+Crane+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family of Florida Sandhill Cranes at Barr Hammock near Gainesville</td></tr>
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Yesterday I was digging through my t-shirt drawer, weeding out the ones I never wear anymore, and uncovered a sock that was tucked inside the neck of a shirt. I just about shouted for joy! It was my long lost sandhill crane sock that had disappeared sometime after a trip to Florida at Thanksgiving. I was really sad that I had lost it and finding it made me so happy that I was smiling and in a good mood for the rest of the day. It's a little hard to explain, but I have a strange emotional attachment to some of my socks and earrings. They each give me comfort in some way. The sandhill cranes were one of the things I missed most about moving away from Florida (besides family and friends, of course!) and these silly socks were a friendly reminder of the birds I had grown to love during our time living there.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8KqHACUJoSDY-KYWennEpPBJVlvpFzhoMlA6E3uMYIpU2vpP2x2SCotRKHLjPcQfiQhQCf_0qTL3BpD3xOmzUsFEA1gky-7Zqd-C2O2KZT7kf9ZuN8U1W_Hhmvp1bxel3iHs_1USeMw/s1600/IMG_8751-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8KqHACUJoSDY-KYWennEpPBJVlvpFzhoMlA6E3uMYIpU2vpP2x2SCotRKHLjPcQfiQhQCf_0qTL3BpD3xOmzUsFEA1gky-7Zqd-C2O2KZT7kf9ZuN8U1W_Hhmvp1bxel3iHs_1USeMw/s640/IMG_8751-imp.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headline News: Beloved sock, found again!</td></tr>
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Gainesville might be famous for the Gators, but it should also be known for the cranes. Sandhill cranes are a huge part of the natural history of Florida and of Gainesville. According to the All About Birds website run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "the earliest Sandhill Crane fossil, estimated to be 2.5 million years old, was unearthed at the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida." The cranes that come to Florida spend their summers in the Great Lakes region and fly south roughly along the I-75 corridor, arriving in November and December. They are a separate subpopulation from the cranes that migrate and gather in the spring to refuel in famously huge numbers (500,000 plus) at the Platte River in Nebraska. (There is also a threatened sub-species called the Florida Sandhill Crane that lives in Florida year round and raises young there. They are somewhat smaller than the migratory cranes.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRwKOWNwztfmGZyZ7GrqMPEpyEYCx8zUURrRLtr2Ozv3plHEFPkJx-_NFmAQO4IDGg-6HFd0wQtkGIuuCesT4-MxTBQwVXONK0g5n1z004AThMqdu8vCJZWIpPo_2JItbgjoJzJiSiE0/s1600/sandhillcranemigrationrouteUSGSMap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRwKOWNwztfmGZyZ7GrqMPEpyEYCx8zUURrRLtr2Ozv3plHEFPkJx-_NFmAQO4IDGg-6HFd0wQtkGIuuCesT4-MxTBQwVXONK0g5n1z004AThMqdu8vCJZWIpPo_2JItbgjoJzJiSiE0/s640/sandhillcranemigrationrouteUSGSMap.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USGS Map of Crane Migration. Note that the scientific name for the Sandhill Crane has recently changed from <br />
Grus canadensis to Antigone canadensis</td></tr>
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Sandhill cranes are beautiful and large birds (3-4 feet tall) with long legs, a huge wingspan, long bills and a striking red patch on the forehead. They live in families or pairs, but during migration and winter gather together in large flocks. They prefer marshes and fields where they can feed on seeds, roots, bugs and small critters. The marshes give them protection from predators. Over the years, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, just outside of Gainesville, with its wet prairie and wide open spaces, has been a preferred wintering ground. Their breeding ground is far to the north where they spend the summer. For the cranes that migrate to Florida, this means Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and up further into Canada. When the cold and snowy weather arrives in the fall, like all good snowbirds, they head down south. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4iJLuKa5IdtYCGfTS0WoOrSZcsIMLtjlBnV8aaKJR7JP_rRmwELyJhZOriMsSDOAzS3IZTyS-NO-BdvZcW2PhqsmcTGk4zZDl6WEb_NonoPg913ZHKWo5zHh9kGNSukoVUibIx41koM/s1600/DSC_2238-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4iJLuKa5IdtYCGfTS0WoOrSZcsIMLtjlBnV8aaKJR7JP_rRmwELyJhZOriMsSDOAzS3IZTyS-NO-BdvZcW2PhqsmcTGk4zZDl6WEb_NonoPg913ZHKWo5zHh9kGNSukoVUibIx41koM/s640/DSC_2238-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Beautiful Bird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCbev2B7tbXsFmh90HtNzzWRJISjf1_K0N7gB940anZLsyd9llwmhBQxV1LutrfqFPpJEa7WAmEsCabSgyr-YUrA16A5_01An-RM_WvS4Mi5oZxIAg14BKUN4Z_BlQ1q9NCWysvjczro/s1600/Sandhill+Crane+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCbev2B7tbXsFmh90HtNzzWRJISjf1_K0N7gB940anZLsyd9llwmhBQxV1LutrfqFPpJEa7WAmEsCabSgyr-YUrA16A5_01An-RM_WvS4Mi5oZxIAg14BKUN4Z_BlQ1q9NCWysvjczro/s640/Sandhill+Crane+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Splash</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dqhOtv5QFR9uY1YbKiPQeFG0FuKqOhmv_kqRrWbOPZVuf5HnzU-Jf6RXWkTZaAVCDl44C81wmHJ7ORGOVmwyI5PHwu1bIXrJsocCB_1ipI3e1ShLE6DiHnlSrw0LTjiCHEU75Nqfy9c/s1600/Sandhill+Crane-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dqhOtv5QFR9uY1YbKiPQeFG0FuKqOhmv_kqRrWbOPZVuf5HnzU-Jf6RXWkTZaAVCDl44C81wmHJ7ORGOVmwyI5PHwu1bIXrJsocCB_1ipI3e1ShLE6DiHnlSrw0LTjiCHEU75Nqfy9c/s640/Sandhill+Crane-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That big bill is good for probing the soil</td></tr>
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The cranes arrive in bunches, usually flying in at night. I read that they can fly 170-450 miles per day, probably depending on a good tail wind and whether they find good resting and feeding spots along the way. More cranes keep arriving all month and the flocks grow bigger. After a few weeks it will be common to see large V's of cranes taking off together around mid-morning from their nighttime resting spots to the marshes and farm fields where they pick through the muck and animal feed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gS0-l6a5dNFHjGctD23wJRWXTSCWLndxxbesFJrvfilCl6cphnxJo5uOFGkz6BsSPwYzmf8ZLsI4tlV3eE8_K4ZP0BYNUQy41W3ED7Kr8tMT5ef1Wkv_AfIDSbQ4CocC_4S9XI63kA0/s1600/Digging+Deep-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gS0-l6a5dNFHjGctD23wJRWXTSCWLndxxbesFJrvfilCl6cphnxJo5uOFGkz6BsSPwYzmf8ZLsI4tlV3eE8_K4ZP0BYNUQy41W3ED7Kr8tMT5ef1Wkv_AfIDSbQ4CocC_4S9XI63kA0/s640/Digging+Deep-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Searching hard for food. Got to get every last bit!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FO2xsUsONsg9wCwkiqFEBZTUfrJa0an4-_mAIXpXIHue1KrCgwLiYO7SIx0LSYgJqk3tric6kq_54YoLb31uahJbROJecG8KYOLJ1wWYjYq8ASyvXEeX51XbgZi5hJLQr3p6ynpEd-I/s1600/DSC_9317-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FO2xsUsONsg9wCwkiqFEBZTUfrJa0an4-_mAIXpXIHue1KrCgwLiYO7SIx0LSYgJqk3tric6kq_54YoLb31uahJbROJecG8KYOLJ1wWYjYq8ASyvXEeX51XbgZi5hJLQr3p6ynpEd-I/s640/DSC_9317-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming in for a landing</td></tr>
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They stick around in sunny Florida, fattening up until February or March, then start the trip back north to breed. They usually lift off mid-morning, maybe because the thermals are better for flying. They circle overhead, waiting as the groups gather, and then they leave in waves, like squadrons of fighter planes moving out. As with arrival, leaving goes on for a few weeks.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8RBNMyKlTLCyNRYBlIDiJk6PkDDm3kymmr9cWDMHfskbZ5l6mWBIWMppM8CCh2kJGxjW8GPgXM5r4yTd7L-cv7d28VUSEQJX4ZPJZsXtGMYlIyVIAFXhHJPoIzVE1ETOfp0dHX9pM6Y/s1600/Sandhill+Cranes+copy-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8RBNMyKlTLCyNRYBlIDiJk6PkDDm3kymmr9cWDMHfskbZ5l6mWBIWMppM8CCh2kJGxjW8GPgXM5r4yTd7L-cv7d28VUSEQJX4ZPJZsXtGMYlIyVIAFXhHJPoIzVE1ETOfp0dHX9pM6Y/s640/Sandhill+Cranes+copy-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squadrons heading out</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnygHAdC_lLXr9xBlK4OOBHQdhxwPhejhvOsBtjTiVXp0D8ID_QndiscFnLkW4spilCQ4DY6NA3OAEJ5O3GFMbnP9n-Pi_7R1_7Phuj3ZFt7_h3DP2ACr80E4AuNgtqh1-UdCcMmrPGE/s1600/sandhill+cranes+%25285%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnygHAdC_lLXr9xBlK4OOBHQdhxwPhejhvOsBtjTiVXp0D8ID_QndiscFnLkW4spilCQ4DY6NA3OAEJ5O3GFMbnP9n-Pi_7R1_7Phuj3ZFt7_h3DP2ACr80E4AuNgtqh1-UdCcMmrPGE/s640/sandhill+cranes+%25285%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading north again</td></tr>
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<div>
Both our homes in Gainesville were under the flyway and I'm not sure if I can count the number of times I was outside working in the yard or out running errands or walking and heard the unforgettable sound of cranes calling. I would stop whatever I was doing and just stand watching them as they flew overhead, calling and answering in their familiar trumpeting voices. I felt a thrill but also felt sadness as I said goodbye for the season, wishing them well on their journey. Until next fall, friends.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJWbmCk1cDignIxm37zNl4WaZlEfCRSOtptb05ojrGQzC7l0bN4n6OQYHpy0PVpw3wtcVsHtSOU4kOLIPkwA1th2GMm_JgxSKQ0bDc5o0hcpyghJM-A83slwtHirJZGIyD-5CZ1k3iko/s1600/DSC_1957-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJWbmCk1cDignIxm37zNl4WaZlEfCRSOtptb05ojrGQzC7l0bN4n6OQYHpy0PVpw3wtcVsHtSOU4kOLIPkwA1th2GMm_JgxSKQ0bDc5o0hcpyghJM-A83slwtHirJZGIyD-5CZ1k3iko/s640/DSC_1957-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes endangered Whooping Cranes will join Sandhills, as this one did on the UF campus one year. The Whooping Crane is the tall all white bird in the center</td></tr>
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In 2008-9 an exceptionally large number of cranes wintered at Paynes Prairie. People estimated that there were 8000 cranes in Gainesville that year. It was an amazing sight. You should see the mess left when a big flock of cranes has spent the winter. The ground was all turned up and every green sprout and seed and slug had been pull out in their furious search for nutritious food. It looked like it had been rototilled. But the plants grew back again, though the cranes really had changed the landscape that year.<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span>When the huge flocks headed back north that spring, the sound as they flew and honked overhead was like a roar from a stadium. I remember being so excited that I grabbed the phone and called my mom and dad in California so they could hear it, too, forgetting that there was a time difference. I'm pretty sure I woke them up, but it was for a good reason. <a href="https://kvedisonnaturephotos.smugmug.com/Video-for-blog/i-8wGffgh/A" target="_blank">Click here for to see a short video and hear just 2 cranes calling to each other.</a> Multiply that sound by several thousand and you can get the idea.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhTzxiszQCzCizWwL-8XqfHi6e_ZgewkxW0gAfOVlgGU3cs-jY_QUZw9TXJiY60YUiO_XsGI3kFF7FN-15H0jzwcSLdIhR27cjQeskERI-kCnZRs05yzyZ6hVU6mc-JiUkZxekEGYlNA/s1600/Sandhill+Cranes+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhTzxiszQCzCizWwL-8XqfHi6e_ZgewkxW0gAfOVlgGU3cs-jY_QUZw9TXJiY60YUiO_XsGI3kFF7FN-15H0jzwcSLdIhR27cjQeskERI-kCnZRs05yzyZ6hVU6mc-JiUkZxekEGYlNA/s640/Sandhill+Cranes+%25281%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying in</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0JkSwfwSUc-sWTzApfPaKvhQgHQPkHGDKldQVNVDmfwWG-R0LGXCf39QULgc1FZppEUpvjZPZGovYAu2CfllCxnFV4s1MdP3wjyZIO8xAoSXzKoQeD9kGM-WIl8rctvYFHly0CtlgTA/s1600/Sandhill+cranes+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0JkSwfwSUc-sWTzApfPaKvhQgHQPkHGDKldQVNVDmfwWG-R0LGXCf39QULgc1FZppEUpvjZPZGovYAu2CfllCxnFV4s1MdP3wjyZIO8xAoSXzKoQeD9kGM-WIl8rctvYFHly0CtlgTA/s640/Sandhill+cranes+%25282%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding. See how they have turned the soil?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw6duSWTHmwtBE0H2x51-peNEayUKj_Z87_8V3NLX7C2XzZAKZ-HpExdNPIu46yv8CsFxG3v65lrW17a-vpZeHojxiy_QLdb50fGhVX8hqgVHgE1_UTvqAJJaDVy1RM55zPlaFKaxKkY/s1600/sandhill+Cranes+%25284%2529-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw6duSWTHmwtBE0H2x51-peNEayUKj_Z87_8V3NLX7C2XzZAKZ-HpExdNPIu46yv8CsFxG3v65lrW17a-vpZeHojxiy_QLdb50fGhVX8hqgVHgE1_UTvqAJJaDVy1RM55zPlaFKaxKkY/s640/sandhill+Cranes+%25284%2529-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More landing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Over the last several years, fewer cranes have been wintering in Gainesville. Whether this is due to flooding from hurricanes, loss of habitat along the way, climate change, better food elsewhere, is not clear. It is also not clear if they will return to the area in large numbers again. I don't believe that the population is suffering, but they might just be relocating. This year I heard that more were reported at Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. Thousands of cranes still make the trip down to points south and to Florida, and the non migratory population will stay as long as they can find good habitat. Overall, the success story of the sandhill crane is heartening. At one time there were fewer than 1000 left. But due to conservation efforts they have thrived. They still face threats from habitat loss, pollution, hunting and climate change, but their numbers are currently strong. My friends in Gainesville say that the cranes are gathering and heading north again and people around Kennesaw, north of Atlanta are seeing them now, too. Unfortunately here in Athens, we are far enough away from their flyways that we don't often get to experience the huge flocks flying overhead. I saw one lone crane flying over Athens last fall but never heard the rattling call that thrills my heart. For that experience I still need to head closer to I-75. Even better, maybe one day I can visit the Platte River in Nebraska in the spring. I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to hear the sound of 500,000 plus cranes calling. Meanwhile, my socks are mementos of the cranes I love. But I worry that they will wear out one day. Maybe I need to find something a bit more permanent to hold onto. Like a tattoo? Hmmm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-CMRDBAjcggRN94ZS-9vmtmZXKtgedd5EkcatGS5qWc05GS1hp-RUulHbAWo60RxzUGbJXGbDMDYPabOXseBp3IPAx2GPZL3R75NufU3olNHl1U9JjKBGFEcsoWOcxNUUl3Q_LhWVGs/s1600/DSC_9834-imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-CMRDBAjcggRN94ZS-9vmtmZXKtgedd5EkcatGS5qWc05GS1hp-RUulHbAWo60RxzUGbJXGbDMDYPabOXseBp3IPAx2GPZL3R75NufU3olNHl1U9JjKBGFEcsoWOcxNUUl3Q_LhWVGs/s640/DSC_9834-imp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Florida Sandhill Crane family I saw at Circle B Bar Reserve last spring</td></tr>
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Katherine Edisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12908293008714076538noreply@blogger.com4