Ramble Report June 13 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Dale Hoyt.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Dale Hoyt.

Today’s Focus:

32 Ramblers met today.

Today's reading: Today’s non-inspirational, fact-filled reading about Witch Hazel was from Donald Culross Peattie’s A Natural History of Trees of Eastern and Central North America. (If you are at all interested in trees, this is a book you should own.)

Ramble Report June 6 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Dale Hoyt.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Dale Hoyt.

Announcements:

1.     From Karen Porter: There is a Tallassee Forest SPLOST2020 information session at the Kenney Ridge Community Center this coming Sunday. I'm inviting Ramblers to this community event because most of them have visited the Forest and know its conservation value as well as the desirability of having public access in an environmentally protective way.

Ramble Report May 30 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Dale Hoyt.

Today’s Focus:  Herb and Physic Garden, Purple Trail, Purple Trail Spur to Flower Garden, Flower Garden, Heritage Garden

32 Ramblers met today.

Today's reading: No reading today.

Show and Tell:

Ramble Report May 23 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Dale Hoyt (Added Milkvine text by Linda.)

Today’s Focus: Power line right of way and Carolina Milkvine.

29 Ramblers met today.

Show and tell:

Luna moth cocoons
(click to enlarge)

1)      Kathy brought two empty Luna Moth cocoons.

Red Mangrove embryo
(click to enlarge)

2)      David brought a Red Mangrove embryo that he collected on a recent trip to the Florida Keys. He told us the fascinating story of mangrove reproduction. 

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher nest
(click to enlarge)

3)      Avis brought a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher nest. It resembles a gigantic hummingbird nest.

Ramble Report May 16 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Linda Chafin.

29 Ramblers met today.

Today's focus:  Cool-season grasses along the White Trail and in the powerline right-of-way.

Show and Tell:

Halley brought a section of tree top that recently fell in her yard.  It was a hollow section with a large hole for a woodpecker nesting cavity.  Eugenia thinks it may be a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) nest.

Announcements: Tomorrow (Saturday, May 18) is Snake Day at Sandy Creek Nature Center (12 to 4 p.m.)  Bring the children or grandchildren!

Ramble Report May 9 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Linda Chafin.

29 Ramblers today. We were happy to have Sandra Hoffberg, a former Nature Rambler who left us for a post-doc at Columbia University, back with us today. She brought a long a friend named Todd, who is studying salamanders at UGA – read further about his salamander finds today.

Show and Tell:

Catawba Rhododendron
(click on photo to enlarge)

Linda brought two flower clusters of Catawba Rhododendron,

Ramble Report May 2 2019

Today's Ramble was led by Dale Hoyt.

Here's the link to Don's Facebook album for today's Ramble. (All the photos in this post are compliments of Don, unless otherwise credited.)

Today's post was written by Dale Hoyt.

Today’s Focus: Seeking what we find on the Purple and Orange Trails.

21 Ramblers met today.

Announcements:

1.      This weekend is the big fund-raising event for the State Botanical Garden of Gerogia. Andrea Fischer told us that the contributions from this year’s Ball will be earmarked for the Conservation program.

2.      Friends First Friday, is usually, as the name implies, held on the first Friday of each month. But due to preparations for this weekend’s Gala it has been postponed until the following Friday, May 10. Our very own Don Hunter will be talking about the Nature Ramblers and other activities he is involved with. Expect plenty of wonderful photographs. Sign up soon if you plan to attend.

Today's reading: Dale read an excerpt from the book Crow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt; Little, Brown & Co., 2009, pp. 4-5: