Category: Natural History
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Cold-hardy Blooms
It is an extremely interesting plant – October and November’s child – and yet reminds me of the earliest spring. Its blossoms smell like spring – and by their color and as well as fragrance they belong to the saffron dawn of the year. ~Henry David Thoreau, 1851 I’ll be catching up with some past… Read more…
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Good Mamas
Motherhood: All love begins and ends there. ~Robert Browning It has been a good few months for new mothers at work with several new babies among the staff. So, it seems only appropriate that I share a couple of extraordinary mothers from the Garden’s animal kingdom as well. First, an update on the amazing green… Read more…
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Big Cat in the Garden
Venom spitting spiders hatching out all over Alabama make great mothers. ~Ben Raines, title of article in Real Time News from AL.com You may remember this photo from about a month ago in another post. It is a female green lynx spider perched near her recently hatched egg case, with many spiderlings visible in the… Read more…
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Halloween Spider
The difference between utility and utility plus beauty is the difference between telephone wires and the spider web. ~Edwin Way Teale Every year about this time I run into (sometimes literally) one of my favorite spiders, the striking Marbled Orbweaver, Araneus marmoreus. This widespread beauty is usually seen in late summer and fall, hanging out… Read more…
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The Long Sleep
We are like caterpillars contemplating pupation. ~Terrence McKenna Last weekend was one filled chores around the house. It seems many things have gone undone this fall with our hectic schedules. In putting away various caterpillar cages, floral tubes, plastic bags, and other gear associated with our many caterpillar programs last month, Melissa decided to look… Read more…
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Whistle While You Eat
Forget your trouble Try to be Just like the cheerful chickadee And whistle while you work ~Alternative lyrics to the Disney song from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs A brief post today to share a remarkable scientific study on an unusual caterpillar behavior. In an earlier blog, I mentioned the unique sound-producing capabilities of… Read more…
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Sexy Slugs
The mating of the leopard slug is one of the most sensuous film sequences you’ll ever see in your life. ~ Sir David Attenborough The bizarre happenings just outside our door continue to astonish me. As is often the case, this discovery came while I was out on a completely different mission. I had several… Read more…
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Fall Herps
One of the most beneficial and valuable gifts we can give to ourselves in this life: is allowing ourselves to be surprised! It is okay if life surprises you. It’s a good thing! ~ C. JoyBell C. The busy schedule at home and work have left little time for getting out and about these past… Read more…
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A Fondness for Caterpillars
And what’s a butterfly? At best, He’s but a caterpillar, drest. ~John Grey Another season of caterpillar finds and larval programs is winding down. We have been searching high and low for larvae and, consequently, caring for a menagerie of crawling critters for several weeks now. My caterpillar programs have ended, and Melissa’s will be… Read more…
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Hiking Among Giants
Walk in the Sequoia woods at any time of the year and you will say they are the most beautiful and majestic on earth. ~John Muir I am far behind in posting about recent events, sightings and travels. But I guess that is a good problem to have – doing and seeing so much that… Read more…
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Roads End Naturalist 