"… to be used for nature study and as a preserve for birds and other wildlife."- Carmen Hambleton Warner
We’ve reach the fourth weekend in October and the autumn foliage is now at its peak here at Wahkeena and the Hocking Hills.
Sights of the fall season are everywhere now. The water lilies in Lake Odonata are beginning to disappear as the pond undergoes a seasonal phenomenon known as fall turnover. During the cold night the water at the surface of the pond cools, becomes… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 42”
Here we are at the second weekend in October 2015. The warm days and cool nights have set the foliage color change into full motion. The Dogwoods ( Cornus florida) are displaying bright red leaves now that the cells that made the green pigment… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 41”
When I walked out the door this morning, I was greeted by the fella below. I say fella because this is a male Walkingstick. You can determine the sex by the narrow body and the claspers at the end of the abdomen, which are… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 40”
A walk through the woods at this time of years reveals dappled sunlight and splashes of crimson red.The bright red berries are those of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Spicebush is a common native understory shrub and this was a very good year for blossoms in… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 39”
This week we began having school groups again, so most of our time was spend in preparation for providing those educational programs. We have schools scheduling through October 28, so needless to say that will consume much of our time and energy! The kids… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 38”
It’s the end of the second week in September and the fall colors are showing themselves. Above Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is one of the very first plants to change color each year. This five-leaved climbing vine is easily seen on the trunks of… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 37”
Here’s to another caterpillar filled week! Earlier this week Kathryn and I hiked up to the meadow on another part of the preserve and collected Monarch Caterpillars to raise. 25ish caterpillars later, I again have my hands full with plenty of munching mouths to… Continue Reading “A Day in the life… Part 36”
This last week of August has been quite nice, with cool temperatures and low humidity it has felt more like October. But all of the wildflowers in bloom are typical of last summer- like the Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) seen below. The tall purple plant… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 35”
The insect theme continues this week at Wahkeena. While walking the Shelter Trail I noticed a tell-tale sign on the forest floor. The grayish stain was an indication of activity in the tree above. The stain is the droppings from an active colony of Woolly Aphids… Continue Reading “A Day in the Life…Part 34”