A Snake !

We try walk about 1-3 times in a weekend. Well in our typical weekend walk yesterday, in one of our local National Recreation Areas, dh was running ahead to catch up to little S, and M and I were walking enjoying the views. M was on my right, and out of the side of my eye I caught a glimpse of a long black stick...something in my strange brain triggered me to yank M to the left of me and I stepped weirdly to the left as well, in some strange fluid dance like motion! I paused and looked back and yelled "Hey did you see the dead snake?" To which dh and S came running back to look. Its body was all lumpy and bumpy which suggested to me it was newly dead.



M and I began to study it from a distance, using the things we had learned from other "Caged" snake encounters, and her Brownie Try it book. I looked for a rattle, and note-able danger markings, keeping far enough away from it ... M noted that it had a tiny "NON SPADE" like head which suggested it was non-venomous. We had no idea what kind of snake it was - it looked all black with no note-able markings. So I assumed it was a Black Rat Snake.

We stood looking at this funky looking snake that looked dead as its body had shriveled up and it was all lumpy - but again my brain said, 'wait a sec, its head is up... and there is no rock for it to rest on.... its not dead - its playing dead.' So I said that aloud and dh curiously agreed. We watched it for a sec, dh moved in for a closer look, camera in hand of course.... and we watched. Sure enough in a split second it flicked its tongue. Slowly the lumpy-bumpy -ness of the body smoothed out and it slowly slithered away into the underbrush of leaves and ground debris.

You can't really see in the above picture the details but we did get a close look at. Its body had large spots when it stretched out, a light underside. It was about 2-2.5 ft long, so it was still quite young. As M says a teen.

I discovered that it was likely a Black Rat Snake in its juvenile state as it still had the markings of a Gray Rat Snake.

It was an interesting life science lesson - that we hadn't even planned to have! LOL!

#5 Poison Ivy (100SpeciesofPlant Challenge)

Continuing on with the 100 Species of Plant Challenge

Name: Poison Ivy

Things I already knew: We've been seeing this in our yard for the better part of a year. It grows throughout the United States and Canada, commonly found in the forest understory. It grows in clusters of 3 leaves, hence the saying "Leaves of three, leave it be!"

Things I recently learned: The toxin that it emits which causes the rash is called urushiol. I didn't know that it does not grow in Alaska, Hawaii, Newfoundland or California (according to Wiki.) Only 15% to 30% have no reaction to the plant but most if not all become sensitized to it with repeated exposure - this growing reaction can eventually lead to anaphylaxis. So far M & I have not gotten a reaction to this but Dh does and it has gotten worse with time!

That rubbing the sword fern frond - spore side down after a stinging nettle sting will removed the sting. (this would have been handy to know in May! LOL!)

Also WORTH NOTING: "If it is growing up the trunk of a tree, the presence of copious root-hairs will identify it, leading to the 'hairy vine, no friend of mine' warning."

For more info try wiki

#4 Fern (100SpeciesofPlantChallenge)

Continuing on with the 100 Species of Plant Challenge

Name: Fern

Things I already knew: I was able to identify these pretty easily on sight. In the Maritimes (Canada), they eat fiddle heads as a delicacy in the spring! That several species of fern have been adapted to house plants like the Boston Fern.

Things I recently learned: There are more than 20,000 known species of fern. They were around during the early-Carboniferous period, and the first ferns related to the modern plants of today were around during the Triassic period.

That rubbing the sword fern frond - spore side down after a stinging nettle sting will removed the sting. (this would have been handy to know in May! LOL!)

For more info try wiki

#3 Goldenrod (100SpeciesofPlantChallenge)

Continuing on with the 100 Species of Plant Challenge

Name: Goldenrod

Things I already knew: I knew that it flowers around the same time as ragweed, that many claim to be allergic to it. I could identify it from a distance but had never seen it truly up close.

Things I recently learned: I thought they were rods of individual flowers but they are puffy miniature dandelion like flowers - very pretty.

According to wiki "the goldenrod is often unfairly blamed for causing hay fever in humans. The pollen causing these allergy problems is mainly produced by Ragweed (Ambrosia sp.), blooming at the same time as the goldenrod, but is wind-pollinated. Goldenrod pollen is too heavy and sticky to be blown far from the flowers, and is thus mainly pollinated by insects."

Interestingly there were "Galls" all around the ground where the ragweed from a few weeks ago had been mowed down.... we were unaware of what they were until much later. (The wiki article explains the galls - under the wasp photo!)

I also didn't know "Goldenrods are, in some places, held as a sign of good luck or good fortune;" as where I am - our society seems to find them a noxious weed!

#2 Spindle Berry Plant (100SpeciesofPlantChallenge)

Continuing on with the 100 Species of Plant Challenge



Name: Euonymus (Spindle Berry)

Things I already knew: Nothing other than it produced interesting berries - and it was my 7 yr old that discovered it.


Things I recently learned: "Euonymus (Spindle Berries) are large shrubs to small trees from open, slightly moist spots in woods throughout Europe to Japan. Very easy in cultivation, good to cut back. Spindle Berries have usually small, greenish flowers in spring, yet very decorative, bright pink to scarlet fruits which open to shed brilliant orange to rose covered seeds in autumn and early winter. Foliage turns bright yellow to burning red in autumn.

Note: All parts (especially the attractive fruits) are poisonous if eaten."

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So one wonders how the 7 yr old identified this plant, when the rest of us had no clue? Apparently there is a Fairy by this name and there are plenty of pictures of the plant in her fairy books. *sigh* Fascinating where she picks up her info.

Ragweed

100 Species of Plant Challenge

Since I apparently can't tolerate contact with this darling plant (currently suffering near bronchitis because of it!), I figured maybe I should consider borrowing a photo off the internet instead of trying to go back and photograph the thing! (so this image was borrowed from Wiki)

Name: Ragweed

Things I already knew: It's Perennial. Its pollen produces severe and widespread allergies. I am allergic.

Things I recently learned: It can be a annual, perennial or a shrub. It grows on a taproot, or a creeping Rhizome. It can grow over 5 feet tall. I'm very very Allergic! :(

I also learned that during Ragweed season those with severe allergies to this plant can often be sensitive to other members of it's family, including sunflower seeds, chamomile, cantaloupe and Bananas.

You might find this article interesting. Its definitely worth noting!

Since discovering what this plant was on our recent walk, I've been totally obsessed with it. It sad to me that I had NO IDEA what Ragweed looked like. But now I know what it looks like, feels like and does to my poor respiratory tract, I guess I shall never forget this lesson!

100 Species of Plant Challenge!

One of the preschool homeschool group moms posted a link to this Challenge and since I'm hacking up a lung after a recent encounter with ragweed, I figure what a fun and educational Natural Science project!

So I guess I'll officially participate! :)

And will post as soon as we get our first photo! I think it would be awesome fun to identify 100 Plants within walking distance of our home. The info would be totally useful! :)

So if you want to participate too....here are the rules! :)

Here are the rules:

1. Participants should include a copy of these rules and a link to this entry in their initial blog post about the challenge. I will make a sidebar list of anyone who notifies me that they are participating in the Challenge.

2. Participants should keep a list of all plant species they can name, either by common or scientific name, that are living within walking distance of the participant’s home. The list should be numbered, and should appear in every blog entry about the challenge, or in a sidebar.

3. Participants are encouraged to give detailed information about the plants they can name in the first post in which that plant appears. My format will be as follows: the numbered list, with plants making their first appearance on the list in bold; each plant making its first appearance will then have a photograph taken by me, where possible, a list of information I already knew about the plant, and a list of information I learned subsequent to starting this challenge, and a list of information I’d like to know. (See below for an example.) This format is not obligatory, however, and participants can adapt this portion of the challenge to their needs and desires.

4. Participants are encouraged to make it possible for visitors to their blog to find easily all 100-Species-Challenge blog posts. This can be done either by tagging these posts, by ending every post on the challenge with a link to your previous post on the challenge, or by some method which surpasses my technological ability and creativity.

5. Participants may post pictures of plants they are unable to identify, or are unable to identify with precision. They should not include these plants in the numbered list until they are able to identify it with relative precision. Each participant shall determine the level of precision that is acceptable to her; however, being able to distinguish between plants that have different common names should be a bare minimum.

6. Different varieties of the same species shall not count as different entries (e.g., Celebrity Tomato and Roma Tomato should not be separate entries); however, different species which share a common name be separate if the participant is able to distinguish between them (e.g., camillia japonica and camillia sassanqua if the participant can distinguish the two–”camillia” if not).

7. Participants may take as long as they like to complete the challenge. You can make it as quick or as detailed a project as you like. I’m planning to blog a minimum of two plants per week, complete with pictures and descriptions as below, which could take me up to a year. But you can do it in whatever level of detail you like.