April 22, 2009 6:10 am
In my world, every day is Earth Day. Here’s another way to enjoy a walk in the woods.
All you need is a a mid-calf length pair of old wool socks (or wool leg warmers), plastic bags, a bit of water and a sunny space. This works great with wool leg-wear that has moth holes.
If you have an extra large pair of wool socks, try putting them outside your shoes or a pair of sandals. Otherwise put the wool socks or leg warmers on so they cover the outside your trousers from your ankles to just below your knees.
Take a walk through your local forest, field park or yard, making sure to brush against several different plants.
Then take off the socks and moisten or spray mist them, so they are damp, but not soaked. Put them in a plastic bag that seals out air. You can also put one sock in each of two plastic bags.
If you use one plastic bag, place it in a sunny place and check daily to see what, if anything, sprouts. If you use two bags, place one in a sunny place and the other in the shade and compare the results.
If your socks or leg warmers are really old and beat up, try planting them to see if a micro meadow grows.
April 19, 2009 6:16 pm
This is a new mushroom to me and my first new find of the season.
The common name is “velvet foot.” Its botanical name used to be Collybia velutipes, but mycologists now call it Flammulina velutipes.
It’s important to note that this mushroom has a deadly poisonous look-alike, Galerina autumnalis. So I made spore prints, and checked by email and in person with Dianna Smith and Gary Lincoff.
I added it to my breakfast omelet and I’m fine.
7:28 am
Gary Lincoff and Dianna Smith agree that as a presenter, Taylor Lockwood puts the “fun” in “fungi.” I hope COMA can arrange to schedule him as a speaker.
Meanwhile, I checked him out online and if his speech is as compelling as his photography, I’m already excited.
As for fun, click on the Myco-Myst link on Lockwood’s site and play the game. It’s a good way to learn. His DVD trailers are also excellent.
April 11, 2009 8:35 pm
Each year at this time I dig out my Birding By Ear tapes. I often hear more than I see, especially once the trees are in full leaf.
After years of struggling to identify warblers, I discovered that in addition to the many experienced bird watchers who lead tours through New York’s Central Park, a number of passionate Audubon Society members are very willing to share information on where to spot them if you turn up in the right part of the park with binoculars around your neck. It seems that city warblers are nowhere near as shy as their rural cousins. I’ve seen more birds in the last two weeks in NYC than I’ve seen on my own in several years.
New York bird watchers are to the birding world what “Wildman” Steve Brill is to the foraging world and Gary Lincoff is to mycology – passionate urban naturalists who are delighted to share their discoveries.
Here are a few birds I’ve seen for the first time: (more…)
April 6, 2009 10:24 am
April showers bring May mushrooms – I hope.
In the meantime, this is a fun way to apply the concepts of evaporation and condensation, while keeping plastic out of the landfill.
Materials:
- A pair of scissors
- A clear plastic 2-litter soda bottle, with cap
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1 cup of hot tap water (not boiling water)
Procedure:
- Leave the cap on and cut the top third off the plastic soda bottle.
- Put the cup of ice cubes into the cut off bottle top.
- Pour the hot water into the bottom part of the plastic bottle.
- Immediately set the top part of the plastic bottle, cap side down, into the bottom part of the plastic bottle.
- Watch as the water vapor fills the bottom part of the plastic bottle, rises, and cools as it reaches the ice. Keep watching and you’ll see water drops condense and fall from your cloud.
April 1, 2009 7:51 am
A writer friend sent this to me several weeks ago. This brain-teaser is deceptively easy – but not necessarily at first glance.
The complexity of the English language is endlessly fascinating. I enjoy word games and puzzles, especially when I learn new words, new ways to use words or new ways to play with words.
So, have fun, take your time and see if this little puzzle suddenly reveals itself.
The challenge: What do the following words have in common?
- Banana
- Dresser
- Grammar
- Potato
- Revive
- Uneven
- Assess
The bolded first letter is a clue.
(more…)
