What doesn’t belong on this sign?
If you said the apostrophe, you’re right.
I’m not being critical or judgmental. People who have trouble with grammar and spelling are among my clients. It’s my job to find and correct these mistakes before they go public.
I wish these sign makers were my clients. (more…)
Tags: Hiking, Mammals, Political, Writing Life
My early morning nature hikes make me feel like I am in a holy place. With images like this, what other way is there to see the natural world? (more…)
Tags: Birds, Flowers, Hiking, Journal, Mammals, Reptiles
I tried to freeze violet blossoms for future use. My only real success in terms of preserving the shape of the blossom was in my violet blossom ice cubes.
I dipped each blossom in sugar, then froze them on a plastic-lined cookie sheet for 24 hours before adding them to the water in the ice cube tray. (more…)
Tags: Flowers, Foraging, Wild Food Recipes
The eMail never stops.
I hate the feeling of unfinished business. It reminds me of how in third grade Mrs. Cavanaugh would give us sheets of arithmetic problems to add, subtract, multiply and divide from the time we entered her room until the school day officially started.
Eventually we caught on that these papers were never graded. It was busy work. Even the obedient kids stopped doing them and joined the others in running around the room.
eMail feels like that.
Tags: Internet
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) buds and unripe seed pods are the only palatable parts of this plant.
The buds open quickly, so harvest the tiniest ones immediately.
Tags: Flowers, Foraging, Hiking, Wild Food Recipes
Spending two days documenting fungi with COMA folks is the best way to learn fungi.
For many people the world of mushrooms begins and ends with morels. But to the truly dedicated, learning to identify fungi is a lifetime pursuit.
COMA participated along with over 100 naturalists in locating, identifying and documenting the plants, animals, and invertebrates inhabiting a number of Westchester County, NY parks. The effort not only provides important data, but is valuable in helping to secure funding and support for nature-based projects and educational programs.
I am beginning to connect Latin and common names. I am also seeing fungi in a new way.
Both of the following photos are wine-cap mushrooms (Stropharia rugosoannulata), which frequently grow in wood chips and mulch. The wider, darker mushroom grew in shade; the other mushroom grew in the sun. I got permission to harvest a sample of each. Now I want to see if they will release spores when transplanted.
Tags: Foraging, Fungi, Hiking, Wild Food Recipes