tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31177487187139280052024-03-13T06:24:33.290-05:00Wanderingswhere nature and technology join my lifejuliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-90345628985699174592017-11-24T19:57:00.000-06:002017-11-24T19:57:03.194-06:00Through the Woods and to the RiverNumbers 2 and 4 accompanied me this afternoon. We went off-trail most of the way to the river -- there were just so many people with the warm weather that we wanted more isolated space.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmo1gIRct6JION19DRx_SSIZfpJ1dea-o_fZ4AeK37vKeGoHSe_HDAIikksIaqn1uRGl660_oJtL6e2nlX5i2l_JBv5QOnn6Bq4VoMf8wc9wigiPdc365mqryXLD0Qxrj7Tw0ZoX6Kug0/s1600/IMG_20171124_142149844.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmo1gIRct6JION19DRx_SSIZfpJ1dea-o_fZ4AeK37vKeGoHSe_HDAIikksIaqn1uRGl660_oJtL6e2nlX5i2l_JBv5QOnn6Bq4VoMf8wc9wigiPdc365mqryXLD0Qxrj7Tw0ZoX6Kug0/s320/IMG_20171124_142149844.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFu-ws5pW_lemvA-U3jB5mDgtoNgqieor8jyUToRBVAJ_0ZBIYmlYj6xFdYPLGcDTFnMJZbi-SOCe9M2H8e4PR5EchlTEjmNgu9GZtu0PvDQL2qTbVlXues-O46bcUDFXdg5iLF1OH4zS/s1600/IMG_20171124_145039754.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFu-ws5pW_lemvA-U3jB5mDgtoNgqieor8jyUToRBVAJ_0ZBIYmlYj6xFdYPLGcDTFnMJZbi-SOCe9M2H8e4PR5EchlTEjmNgu9GZtu0PvDQL2qTbVlXues-O46bcUDFXdg5iLF1OH4zS/s320/IMG_20171124_145039754.jpg" width="240" /></a>juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-17110117700125064482015-12-05T20:20:00.000-06:002015-12-05T20:20:37.872-06:00Frog and Toad SurveyI have waited 15 years to become a Frog and Toad survey volunteer, and I have to say that I have loved every minute of it. I finished my third of three surveys this year. I highly recommend the training even if you don't move on to volunteerism. You can learn the frog and toad calls here at the <a href="https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/index.cfm?" target="_blank">PWRC website</a> -- taking the quiz is helpful.<br />
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I learned about the survey back when we were homeschooling and had a county conservation board class. We learned three frog calls, and I wanted to learn more. There are 17, maybe 18 total, in Iowa, and I have counted up to 7 species on my route.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-27899232407479025872015-12-05T20:19:00.004-06:002015-12-05T20:19:58.708-06:00Find #256 GC5GART<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC0FB75hUlQx_CO2ZdbkiS_imUmHu2WHKzd6EfGp26KbpieN5MPXn1citWKNdl_-Ajuv0I4SA56I9dwmgLWFGPOnncpTgWuJG2doOdusF32XSZpP4XvW8EWMaCz73WcWWn2CQQ-P09gU2/s1600/IMG_20151204_133851530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC0FB75hUlQx_CO2ZdbkiS_imUmHu2WHKzd6EfGp26KbpieN5MPXn1citWKNdl_-Ajuv0I4SA56I9dwmgLWFGPOnncpTgWuJG2doOdusF32XSZpP4XvW8EWMaCz73WcWWn2CQQ-P09gU2/s320/IMG_20151204_133851530.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
In honor of area Eagle Projects, a geocache was placed near an <a href="http://coord.info/GC5GART" target="_blank">invasive species removal project</a>. I found the cache (what was left of it), and these nice specimens. I find many fungi, slime molds, and jellies when out on nature walks. They are so diverse and I know so little about them that I have hundreds of photographs of unidentified species. My hope is to some day learn many of them.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-244927772277653132014-07-19T12:46:00.002-05:002014-07-19T12:46:57.050-05:00Tadpoles in abundanceI get a lot of pleasure in reading about different wildlife sightings. This season's Wildlife Diversity newsletter is definitely a good read because I learned new things. I particularly like the <b>tadpole identification guide</b>. I thought I would post a copy of it here, it's on page 8: <a href="http://juliecache.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Summer-2014-WDP-Newsletter.pdf" target="_blank">click for newsletter</a>juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-89621540206411080202014-04-25T22:03:00.000-05:002014-04-25T22:03:00.381-05:00A Walk in the WoodsOn one of my email lists, people report the first wildflowers of the year. This always gets me feeling antsy because I don't want to miss the spring ephemerals -- they are gone so quickly!<br />
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I was able to relax a little over the weekend when I saw that most flowers are not ready yet. Like these trout lilies. I saw only one in full bloom.<br />
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And these Dutchmen's Breeches. They are starting, but not yet full. I saw only a few in full bloom. But the leaves and buds are abundantly spread throughout the woods.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q_VKyYRwfnc5CYvEHHx89v5FtHT8Tp2QQWOX98ZmEEuL_m1TUwP91_tDrGgVlo9jqZkKhYaOEF6Xb96ad6MrI3WlejR7sMTC0oQQ9M8vwLap42oNrWhYHKot1Q5aTNVAdpncCf3LKA32/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q_VKyYRwfnc5CYvEHHx89v5FtHT8Tp2QQWOX98ZmEEuL_m1TUwP91_tDrGgVlo9jqZkKhYaOEF6Xb96ad6MrI3WlejR7sMTC0oQQ9M8vwLap42oNrWhYHKot1Q5aTNVAdpncCf3LKA32/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(20).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The May apples are preparing, too:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1pJM3sIY07JDNDpWl6GfjtTSnoO6GGGvFlagiCf9kwpanldJZlOaCckOs-bWSn_7ZbxRyvSPe5K8vRaLCxOx_rdWp3U8dmNHObeO16KQUfgMJS5bd0ZOClTcv1UevGBH5FdYd3zLmrf_/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1pJM3sIY07JDNDpWl6GfjtTSnoO6GGGvFlagiCf9kwpanldJZlOaCckOs-bWSn_7ZbxRyvSPe5K8vRaLCxOx_rdWp3U8dmNHObeO16KQUfgMJS5bd0ZOClTcv1UevGBH5FdYd3zLmrf_/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(9).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The moss was flowering.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gglf7Pg56GfKr14Fm576JX4gcwXqChJd2LMmsqcTwZo1GRGlGemMBxGgCbTV0KJWYQbxZ0epATAd6KaHaO099ZgnWhg14s5gBFAEKarqWqYqdpxcWtXD_hAvRdb-PsCAPBmy0411S7bV/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gglf7Pg56GfKr14Fm576JX4gcwXqChJd2LMmsqcTwZo1GRGlGemMBxGgCbTV0KJWYQbxZ0epATAd6KaHaO099ZgnWhg14s5gBFAEKarqWqYqdpxcWtXD_hAvRdb-PsCAPBmy0411S7bV/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(15).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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And of course, I found a geocache. Number #254 for me.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy_y6ArauCp_RF4i-6Ye0LWaVPGlfdnpOBVKz1NNdh8GJKIZSjAdbdm0SNdCLCKeFDaoyHKf1HM7jSwM-4cWpNrSiSu20Ld8_gk4BKGMT2T9R2_FIbFNUMfZB2vxrdzz3sYgkGcUrv9jd/s1600/emerald+in+the+rough+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy_y6ArauCp_RF4i-6Ye0LWaVPGlfdnpOBVKz1NNdh8GJKIZSjAdbdm0SNdCLCKeFDaoyHKf1HM7jSwM-4cWpNrSiSu20Ld8_gk4BKGMT2T9R2_FIbFNUMfZB2vxrdzz3sYgkGcUrv9jd/s1600/emerald+in+the+rough+(1).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta include a pic with the gps for proof.</td></tr>
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juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-75556260803854184932014-04-23T21:57:00.001-05:002014-04-23T21:57:26.353-05:00Revisiting Rue Anemone 100 Species Challenge #51 Rue Anemone<br />
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You might remember <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2009/05/100-species-51.html" target="_blank">a post from a few years back</a> when I couldn't tell if I had seen Rue Anemone. I had the same experience over the weekend. Have a look below.<br />
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All the (pink) flowers had a different number of petals.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZhVH4eu8X0AhmlPLBZhROeAOtVkaHM-PRuP7WshUL_Ngj31TY3HG-8lfTfoL402I8BShe8rc82oG82MNs8cfZlQZPAGQfPAMM9L93-xaPAPIMLWMmq3dhq1O0yHygfMJgiP9kBvusq3-/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZhVH4eu8X0AhmlPLBZhROeAOtVkaHM-PRuP7WshUL_Ngj31TY3HG-8lfTfoL402I8BShe8rc82oG82MNs8cfZlQZPAGQfPAMM9L93-xaPAPIMLWMmq3dhq1O0yHygfMJgiP9kBvusq3-/s1600/browns+woods+april+2014+(6).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I then found a good comparison chart at <a href="http://iowaplants.com/flora/family/Ranunculaceae/thalictrum/t_thalictroides/Thalictrum_thalictroides.html" target="_blank">Iowa Plants</a>. I need to take a closer look. I think growing in an umbel seems to be the best indicator. What do you think?juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-34261728212260994022014-03-13T16:32:00.002-05:002014-03-13T16:32:37.258-05:00Spring ThawI've always loved late winter and early spring cache finding because there is little underbrush. That means that the sounds of the forest are easier to hear. Many of the places I enjoy involve water, and today was no exception. I found ice shelves today on this creek.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCViq9ihZ4OXyb6YphWurYYVBsJGWgaA427RcK2jxIPbtyRuAZn2xK-fvS7KV0T-fwTJfTz_Hx5drxW_fs2vqN1Hx1Puy_feN5Vpvm-JwtkmVDChkOv_kLxykPAPEmHLoQwDYx-X_yaeQj/s1600/geocaching+at+southwoods+park+ice+shelves+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCViq9ihZ4OXyb6YphWurYYVBsJGWgaA427RcK2jxIPbtyRuAZn2xK-fvS7KV0T-fwTJfTz_Hx5drxW_fs2vqN1Hx1Puy_feN5Vpvm-JwtkmVDChkOv_kLxykPAPEmHLoQwDYx-X_yaeQj/s1600/geocaching+at+southwoods+park+ice+shelves+small.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can see the ice shelf hanging above the flowing water. It seems to be attached to the stream bank. A small ways downstream, I crossed another very thick ice shelf here in the foreground:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCjROEzuEriL13pV7ccrIsX6N_DD4Hr4pg6nBREJi4b5UuO-0u1Qt-XPUaxDzKtss2T5TlsRngNbWVN1WDOe6Qv-uXzXwkZrGm1D9VmioPWB1af6d-POK7-_0-KEUtyu6cIS4AMaQNQjY/s1600/geocaching+at+southwoods+park+ice+shelves+(2)+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCjROEzuEriL13pV7ccrIsX6N_DD4Hr4pg6nBREJi4b5UuO-0u1Qt-XPUaxDzKtss2T5TlsRngNbWVN1WDOe6Qv-uXzXwkZrGm1D9VmioPWB1af6d-POK7-_0-KEUtyu6cIS4AMaQNQjY/s1600/geocaching+at+southwoods+park+ice+shelves+(2)+small.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was familiar with this stream, so I knew it was shallow if the ice broke. I really enjoyed the sounds of snowmelt running down the rills and folds of the hills. There was one place where a tree had fallen to create a natural pipeline, making an echo like an amusement park waterslide.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-21210640236262045832014-02-27T14:39:00.001-06:002014-02-27T14:39:29.290-06:00Lungwort, anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Lobaria_pulmonaria_03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/Lobaria_pulmonaria_03.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I've seen <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2008/11/100-species-challenge-species-28_06.html">liverwort</a> -- it's forever in my brain. But what about lungwort?<br />
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I recently read <a href="http://juliecache.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Lobaria-pulmonaria.pdf" target="_blank">this endpaper</a>, and I'm on a new mission. I also have to wonder where the photograph for the magazine was taken.<br />
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All I can think is, "Citizen science, to the rescue."<br />
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For more about Iowa Outdoors magazine, <a href="http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/IowaOutdoorsMagazine.aspx">visit their webpage</a>.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-42167508985377407272014-02-21T19:58:00.001-06:002014-02-21T19:58:34.506-06:00On the book shelf<h2>
A book review
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY4gfyOTKZ_A5LnGGIY9puamJgF_EiiPFeKbzdjftaodLJM28QQnsEBH5y5X2WOGeT1N6v1wjrEqUfcRZsJT386ln_ecqkubgKSr2oTX2Bveelid2QeKcHVl1jE2Iu2Ip_zPzQzBAxo2w/s1600/tree+id+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="tree identification books" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY4gfyOTKZ_A5LnGGIY9puamJgF_EiiPFeKbzdjftaodLJM28QQnsEBH5y5X2WOGeT1N6v1wjrEqUfcRZsJT386ln_ecqkubgKSr2oTX2Bveelid2QeKcHVl1jE2Iu2Ip_zPzQzBAxo2w/s1600/tree+id+books.JPG" height="240" title="tree identification books" width="320" /></a></div>
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I joined our county conservation board's bookworms (book club) for February, which me think about my nature books. I frequently carry books during our nature walks, but since they are heavy, I tend to be choosy. Here is a snapshot of the tree ID books that I own.<br />
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I've reviewed Forest and Shade Trees of Iowa <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2011/10/big-trees-what-it-is-and-book-review.html">in this post</a>. I would use this book for myself, or when with a person who wants to know the exact, specific tree we find while hiking.<br />
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For those who are not in Iowa, or don't need much detail, I would take the slim <u>Trees of North America</u> (Usborne Books).You will find an illustration, name, and very brief description for each listing. Many common trees will be listed in this book. I like the checkboxes (they're actually circles) -- you can make a lifelist by checking the trees you've found and transferring your findings to the scorecard in the back. This activity somewhat "gamifies" identification. Since this book was created with the child in mind, the back of the book contains sections about growing a tree from seed, winter identification, tree rings, bark and bark rubbings, leaf pressing, and Latin names.<br />
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If you need more detail, I like <u>Trees of the Eastern and Central United States and Canada</u>, by Harlow. It has black and white photos and line drawings, with very detailed descriptions of all the parts, keyed illustrations, and a lovely section called "Remarks." Remarks separate this book from the Iowa tree book. My general standby <u>North American Wildlife</u> has descriptions and remarks for trees, but is sparser.<br />
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As a collector of nature books, I also own <u>Trees of North America</u> -- it's the small hardcover in the upper right hand corner of the photo. It's just OK for identifying trees, but interesting when using the historical perspective of illustration and education. Published in 1934, there is one color photo per tree with a brief description.<br />
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<u>Winter Tree Finder</u> is a graphical way to use a dichotomous key. The illustrations are two or one color; the description are graphic, so there isn't much detail. If you have a non-reader accompanying you, this might be a good choice. I find that it is not entirely satisfying to use because you often hit roadblocks. However, it is a small book, so you can easily retrace your steps and start over. It lists Latin names and I LOVE the ruler on the back cover. It's small enough to put in a pocket, too.<br />
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Tell me about your tree identification books.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-91047127843350321842013-10-06T21:23:00.002-05:002013-10-06T21:23:55.904-05:00100 Species Challenge: Follow up to Mullein<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3flopIiycohcpo0mct7-TbP_GoBKuFf2SoKAcJdlhTuNFiKTdgS_TYAfrEdnkWBQRYfTDHgES6ooluXaVmKJCOs5zsZ2Kxu9caFDfc3w5YIIwcrqmyCRQLxdInpO9MYvn1srCtrAsXowQ/s1600/mullein+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3flopIiycohcpo0mct7-TbP_GoBKuFf2SoKAcJdlhTuNFiKTdgS_TYAfrEdnkWBQRYfTDHgES6ooluXaVmKJCOs5zsZ2Kxu9caFDfc3w5YIIwcrqmyCRQLxdInpO9MYvn1srCtrAsXowQ/s320/mullein+crop.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
I first posted in 2009 about mullein here: <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2009/07/100-species-challenge-57.html">http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2009/07/100-species-challenge-57.html</a><br />
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I thought it would be interesting to have a view in the fall, after the flowering is over.<br />
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The leaves still look flannel-y, but they're brown. The flowers have fallen off but the height of the stalk remains.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-61939788490143601592013-07-07T20:52:00.003-05:002013-07-07T21:32:37.586-05:00A trip to Carroll, IowaI had couple days of professional development (PD) in Carroll, Iowa. As with the last class I took through the <a href="http://www.heartlandaea.org/">AEA</a>, I would greatly appreciate the ability to contact all the participants a couple weeks before the class. The best meetings are the informal ones. The best information is not from the instructor (sorry to break the news), but from your fellow participants in the trenches. So if we could talk about out-of-class arrangements like lodging and meals that would be groovy. <i>AEA, if you care about customer service, please heed this note. </i>Conferences where everyone is housed in one building naturally have informal networking occur. There has to be a solution for events that are not housing everyone under one roof. We easily could have eaten a meal or camped together had we been able to ask each other's plans.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I touched an alligator for PD. Wouldn't you?</td></tr>
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Now for a little review of <a href="http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Carroll/Park/Swan-Lake-State-Park.aspx">Swan Lake State Park</a> and Carroll, IA. Swan Lake Education Center is a nice facility. The naturalist is a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable man. The wi-fi is strong and serves the upper campground. Many hiking and biking opportunities abound at Swan Lake. You can purchase concessions, fishing licenses, and bait at the center, have programming, etc.<br />
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Carroll is a very "walker friendly" town. I found a sharrow during an evening run going north out of town. It was short, and I was happy to see it being used by walkers. The mall and eating establishments were very easy to walk. I stayed at the <a href="http://www.adamsstreetbandb.com/">Adams Street B n B</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQLICltS5N-A62ZCkGT4HWi51ykihw74PMYhvet0k3prb2r-oqBW1YC65yaSrnVf8KtbSkEv_qBBm5TAqXOg1ZIYrpsNwnrQskK4sZg83L5HVGTieJfD4MQNeDm35l-YrAPOhzMlFXCIY/s1600/adam+st+bnb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQLICltS5N-A62ZCkGT4HWi51ykihw74PMYhvet0k3prb2r-oqBW1YC65yaSrnVf8KtbSkEv_qBBm5TAqXOg1ZIYrpsNwnrQskK4sZg83L5HVGTieJfD4MQNeDm35l-YrAPOhzMlFXCIY/s320/adam+st+bnb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream and many coffee flavorings await you in the reading room.</td></tr>
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I was able to walk to dinner, shop, sightsee, geocache, and run 4 miles all before dark. Isn't summer wonderful that way?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFC2BlL3LFCNovTmuNwpSrW1cFNuIuG2lCfIu0IoiLEAqlx9TYRvuKbwt-i4JEd-K1MwFDa-JZCvgne3-AqvQbI9ud8nyIw-MPeFUQQiBTWCnsK7lf9bURLVMblLBChw6iQNjhLI9RfOe/s1600/rancho+grande+the+meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFC2BlL3LFCNovTmuNwpSrW1cFNuIuG2lCfIu0IoiLEAqlx9TYRvuKbwt-i4JEd-K1MwFDa-JZCvgne3-AqvQbI9ud8nyIw-MPeFUQQiBTWCnsK7lf9bURLVMblLBChw6iQNjhLI9RfOe/s320/rancho+grande+the+meal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy pork tacos at the Rancho Grande.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL15Q2cpaOPLArSbTVGZs9QTuC58xs4NgFy7_sov9lUpEPPQ0f9Rg7s6iSf91yKektaF-CBR8x0Xp4J4RThzvWE6R-Bh4fw5JRUE6xycm9zcvjaqDKUaGKxjsMBQ5EWSuYd8xsSFWApbRZ/s1600/carroll+time+capsule+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL15Q2cpaOPLArSbTVGZs9QTuC58xs4NgFy7_sov9lUpEPPQ0f9Rg7s6iSf91yKektaF-CBR8x0Xp4J4RThzvWE6R-Bh4fw5JRUE6xycm9zcvjaqDKUaGKxjsMBQ5EWSuYd8xsSFWApbRZ/s320/carroll+time+capsule+(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started with just one bag, and ended up carrying three back to the b n b.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4NBx5oNtPJ9iQYaLMRuRl_d7xiCm3Be6uNi5t_7MCkcVogsgVZjMGysG8p3JhS59ImKRJlkxeTlHsoe8TKMPyA6bmAHDCDB9sMx6ajMP-c06yo72iKSBA75_hrMU4xKAhIaBM7yDMRfB/s1600/pencil+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4NBx5oNtPJ9iQYaLMRuRl_d7xiCm3Be6uNi5t_7MCkcVogsgVZjMGysG8p3JhS59ImKRJlkxeTlHsoe8TKMPyA6bmAHDCDB9sMx6ajMP-c06yo72iKSBA75_hrMU4xKAhIaBM7yDMRfB/s320/pencil+crop.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big pencil tells you where to shop for office supplies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FR91Ep2F9xnmiPjhBtHsWqUIkkBo8Zkmz4meA6iDOM8mrn7jAaMcPEyHL0T1WkIFrkC-phYStxaenQwTD5Rg2yCWM61CWOXrDJEHcDNQns5V_5rwbogEVytkNoVogkGNGzshPm56Em2e/s1600/carroll+time+capsule+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FR91Ep2F9xnmiPjhBtHsWqUIkkBo8Zkmz4meA6iDOM8mrn7jAaMcPEyHL0T1WkIFrkC-phYStxaenQwTD5Rg2yCWM61CWOXrDJEHcDNQns5V_5rwbogEVytkNoVogkGNGzshPm56Em2e/s320/carroll+time+capsule+(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found it! GC1GYXX Carroll Time Capsule</td></tr>
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I would say that <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2013/06/geocaching-in-adel.html">Adel</a> is more cache-dense than Carroll. I am not sure how they compare in population and industry, but they seem quite different and unique from each other. In a good way.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-90194301101413300382013-06-18T22:42:00.000-05:002013-06-18T22:42:40.608-05:00Geocaching in AdelI'm getting close to a milestone -- 250 geocaches. I had to take a geocaching break for my skin to heal, since wild plants really aggravates it. Yes, my skin is pretty upset with me for caching the other day, so I after a few attempts in the woods, I stuck to urban caches while in Adel the other day.<br />
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What a fun town to cache in! Adel is a fairly cache-dense, and nothing is very far away from anything. Here's an overview of my morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodSRTPThoixqRgv28R3hEWfCnK9-79wjAh_aJRTu8TWSvW-BBjI8oATV4q1fF00Xeb34c_ecFyfxTVbcvAsigiWTo7HHbamp-CW2mSbMADb32meC8CA_Zw0WJd0HUcIsJTxilblxuFiUH/s1600/welcome+to+adel+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodSRTPThoixqRgv28R3hEWfCnK9-79wjAh_aJRTu8TWSvW-BBjI8oATV4q1fF00Xeb34c_ecFyfxTVbcvAsigiWTo7HHbamp-CW2mSbMADb32meC8CA_Zw0WJd0HUcIsJTxilblxuFiUH/s320/welcome+to+adel+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta have a welcome sign for a small town.</td></tr>
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I thought this was a cute cache -- <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1b2e4a5e-b46c-41f7-bea6-460ea39872c8">GC16EGB</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxzD5Kh2Jc9TqfG8aU0ZQ435YhfZugVuQrPB_hYi6T_8-5-2rbEAY-YYJK1a0gsSEbRZas13uQRWUBiQpvoX4J51lk_uRMw4_Lt_ah1cUEJD_C9_KW5-xV1Ih5loDwKFRkeCM22FHpUJK/s1600/caching+in+adel+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxzD5Kh2Jc9TqfG8aU0ZQ435YhfZugVuQrPB_hYi6T_8-5-2rbEAY-YYJK1a0gsSEbRZas13uQRWUBiQpvoX4J51lk_uRMw4_Lt_ah1cUEJD_C9_KW5-xV1Ih5loDwKFRkeCM22FHpUJK/s320/caching+in+adel+(5).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where do we go from here?</td></tr>
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OLD Gold, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=a49410d3-cf3d-4a71-bd5d-05ff2fe9fcc4">GC3PK84</a>, was a place I had chosen to visit before I knew a geocache was placed there. Being a gal who values history, I was sad that I had to visit on a day when the museum was closed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K_ZtVvOks6k7Fuc5YlFyyjptAa4fZAnZa1COujAxMgUFX-zpjqbxPAMrDdFtNUZhyVZwzvYoN8V-KmcTuszDRMlq6C5Aouvu1jOJPviYhy2e1f1Yiv5Blwvpf9xBFAIbfsfW67TW659x/s1600/old+gold+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K_ZtVvOks6k7Fuc5YlFyyjptAa4fZAnZa1COujAxMgUFX-zpjqbxPAMrDdFtNUZhyVZwzvYoN8V-KmcTuszDRMlq6C5Aouvu1jOJPviYhy2e1f1Yiv5Blwvpf9xBFAIbfsfW67TW659x/s320/old+gold+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OLD Gold</td></tr>
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And my favorite was Brickyard, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=14ae4a94-29fb-4c78-829c-ee3d2f6d8123">GC16H86</a>, because I studied brick and tile making in college. We did not visited this plant (United), but we did visit a <a href="http://www.glengerybrick.com/index.html">Glen-Gery Brick</a> plant in nearby Redfield.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNBP7gTxk6HVlhSTg92sBup5twlSkSgtGhVc_VPvTgs4pELPAH1ZQZCaAehAf_2eEMoehugmCozPGzryNhB_p2NTNG-XcwgA5mAX8EFl-Mciwi57twqh9vLRDf_iR-ul24y7lwrkz8z0j/s1600/united+brick+and+tile+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNBP7gTxk6HVlhSTg92sBup5twlSkSgtGhVc_VPvTgs4pELPAH1ZQZCaAehAf_2eEMoehugmCozPGzryNhB_p2NTNG-XcwgA5mAX8EFl-Mciwi57twqh9vLRDf_iR-ul24y7lwrkz8z0j/s320/united+brick+and+tile+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My morning ended by eating lunch at <a href="http://www.brickstreetbookscafe.com/">Brick Street Books and Cafe</a>. The special was half a sandwich, a bowl of the soup of the day, and a slice of pie for $6.50. Everything tasted good, and the pies were FANTASTIC.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-22927105178303438972013-05-22T21:32:00.003-05:002013-05-22T21:32:59.351-05:00Geocaching Rewards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/images/730_h2o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/images/730_h2o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The State of Iowa's Department of Natural Resources has a Healthy and Happy Outdoors (H2O) program for ages 10 and up. By logging outdoor activity at the H2O webpage, participants enter a giveaway. Each activity logged equals one entry. Giveaway prizes are varied and given at different times during the year. Why not try to get a prize for spending time outdoors with an activity you love?<br />
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Participation requires creating a free account with the state, then logging activities by the type of activity and amount of time spent. Here's a screen shot:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nr9bsdqc-C-T2ftc9NfLAYEt8ekpUkow103aG5_sI6gnrSiXsHCd6mNawbAn7OkxkJkJUmGXV94Ewy6axqITHkQ9iKx-ooChtZwr2rSp5G8eIiFcdguOlMVew__P5cMS6wTAhOBd9wp2/s1600/h2o+scrennshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nr9bsdqc-C-T2ftc9NfLAYEt8ekpUkow103aG5_sI6gnrSiXsHCd6mNawbAn7OkxkJkJUmGXV94Ewy6axqITHkQ9iKx-ooChtZwr2rSp5G8eIiFcdguOlMVew__P5cMS6wTAhOBd9wp2/s320/h2o+scrennshot.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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There is a box in the sidebar that incentivizes you by counting the days left until the next giveaway.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-19502425786455145822013-05-14T21:58:00.001-05:002013-05-14T21:58:39.899-05:00100 Species Challenge #83: Columbine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vDEwVCKjwVl_a9hGMgAoxhrtCg-91b3LO4N0DqyHrvPxX17jYVr5ZWQUAhq7iLsaYvI2IklxdpvB_w10rkjFb__F8p8g714Si2nPBXj46MCOrGYvDG6-afrHZwJr6q3p6SCgSI3RUkpc/s1600/IMG_9247+columbine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vDEwVCKjwVl_a9hGMgAoxhrtCg-91b3LO4N0DqyHrvPxX17jYVr5ZWQUAhq7iLsaYvI2IklxdpvB_w10rkjFb__F8p8g714Si2nPBXj46MCOrGYvDG6-afrHZwJr6q3p6SCgSI3RUkpc/s320/IMG_9247+columbine.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Wild Columbine</div>
<i style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Aquilegia canadensis</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">image by me, Browns Woods, 2010</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">This plant is not listed at <a href="http://iowaplants.com/index.html">Iowa Plants</a>, but is listed at the <a href="http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wild_columbine.htm">Illinois Wildflower</a> and the <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AQCA">USDA websites</a>. It's a self-seeding plant, so I usually see it in groups during May. My house has a somewhat shady corner where the columbine enjoys a bit of space all to itself. The foliage is toxic to mammals, so the rabbits, which make up the bane of my existence, thankfully leave this plant alone.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">In reading the <a href="http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Aquilegia+canadensis">Native American Ethnobotany</a>, I see that many native tribes used this plant for just about every ailment. I'm sure they were fascinated by the shape of its flowers and heart-shaped leaf lobes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">I've always thought it was very interesting to look at. I can think of other flowers that hang down, but none with the color combination or shape.</span>juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-48869097285227169892013-04-28T05:00:00.000-05:002013-04-28T05:00:09.651-05:00Iowa Wildflower Week 2013<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Wildflower Week is declared by the </span><a href="http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herbarium/inps/index.php" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Iowa Native Plant Society</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> this week.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ft. Des Moines Park last year</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I love this time of year. Watching the plants progress from short leaves, to taller leaves with flower stalks, to flowers, and then dying back is something that I love. It reminds me of spring walks with my grandmother,.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I wrote about <a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2013/04/expand-your-back-yard.html">expanding your backyard</a> a while ago. Since that time, more Wildflower Hikes and related events have been added. Our cold spring has delayed ephemeral bloom. We found trout lily last weekend, a short ways from a creek, but there were only two. I'm sure more have poked out of the ground since that time with the warm up we've had.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJzHC1TBdDoLH3jQ6OuOOpc_hKkrHAqEQqA72w0d6f2alSKXJRwxkP1fWRmneqtYMnOWUqfslbDnVYcs7L75u12pRQ7IGPoABrdJFHrZAhZ0fdkI_XQlXsnniy4Yjs8M3mdaZ5RcIM9V2/s1600/ft+dm+april+2012+trout+lily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJzHC1TBdDoLH3jQ6OuOOpc_hKkrHAqEQqA72w0d6f2alSKXJRwxkP1fWRmneqtYMnOWUqfslbDnVYcs7L75u12pRQ7IGPoABrdJFHrZAhZ0fdkI_XQlXsnniy4Yjs8M3mdaZ5RcIM9V2/s320/ft+dm+april+2012+trout+lily.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ft. Des Moines Park</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I thought I'd expand the events to an hour or less from the metro area. <i>A guided walk can be a great activity for people who need a 'bridge' to cross into the ephemeral, wildflower-loving world.</i></span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">April 30 - 6:30pm - Thomas Mitchell Park, Polk County, Mitchellville, Wildflower Hike, </span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-where" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">meet at McDonald's parking lot in Pleasant Hill, </span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-description" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367014298045_11705" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Central Iowa Sierra Group, contact: Jackie, 515-577-0375</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">May 1 - 6:00pm - Easter Lake Park, Polk County, Des Moines; May </span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-description" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367014298045_11741" style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Day Hike and then making a May Day basket to take home, Polk County Conservation Board, 515-323-5300</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">May 18 - 9:00am to noon - Native Iowa Plant Sale, Annett Nature Center and Park, Warren County, sponsored by Friends of Warren County; contact: </span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-description" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367014298045_11765" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Joel at 515-961-6169 ext. 204</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">May 19 – noon to 4:00pm - Native Iowa Plant Sale, Annett Nature Center and Park, Warren County, sponsored by Friends of Warren County; contact:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-description" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1367014298045_11768" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Joel at 515-961-6169 ext. 204</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">May 23 - 7:00pm - Doolittle Prairie State Preserve, Story County, near Story City, Prairie Walk; c</span><span class="yiv6988158072ecxevent-description" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">ontact: Lloyd Crim at (515) 432-5026 or </span><a href="mailto:lloydcrim@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #2862c5; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:lloydcrim@gmail.com">lloydcrim@gmail.com</a></li>
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Check the INPS website for the numerous events held outside of the Des Moines area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sea of may apples at Ft. Des Moines last year</td></tr>
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juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-88717835323032330992013-04-26T17:07:00.000-05:002013-04-26T17:07:08.457-05:00Be a local<br />
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I belong to a <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Nature-Club/">MeetUp group</a> that is outdoors-nature-education oriented. Birding, exploring a pond, that sort of thing. The following event was recently posted to the group. I post it here because I feel that geocachers value the native wildlife. We get are privileged to explore and appreciate the backwoods in a different way than most people. Maybe you can take some nature home with you. <a href="http://juliecache.com/beekeeping">My bees</a> will appreciate it if you do.</div>
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Native Plant Sale<o:p></o:p></div>
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Friday, May 17, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
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2:00 PM to 6:00 PM<o:p></o:p></div>
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Grays Lake<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA<o:p></o:p></div>
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From the meetup group website: </div>
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<br />Did you know that Iowa was once covered with 30 million
acres of native prairie? Today there is only 1/10 of 1% left! Visit Gray’s Lake
May 17 - 18 and talk to the experts on how you can bring a little bit of
prairie to your own backyard at the annual native plant sale. Available plants
will be suitable for different types of sites from rain gardens to dry areas.<br />Contact Julie Hempel for more information at
jmhempel@dmgov.org or 248-6384</blockquote>
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juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-6544109913606974042013-04-13T21:39:00.000-05:002013-04-13T21:39:12.286-05:00Die, honeysuckle, die"N" of GAIN is working on his Eagle Scout project. He chose a project which all scouts can participate in, for any amount of time -- eradicating invasive species from our beloved county park. Since kids as young as sixth grade are enrolled, I'm happy that the entire troop can be involved.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTaNlhVMTSQXO10eV1B-Hqz7Jo6EKOk5Ru6vCGQrtvWwwSMpVkpu3DSlMEcihMTSn82o-7NFQX49EIiEDAmXVNuJIMADI6G1DkCkH2TqR4Cl0Ko7VUFh-LpD-hNfDV6GdPeaBwoDv2iMp/s1600/eagle+(5)+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTaNlhVMTSQXO10eV1B-Hqz7Jo6EKOk5Ru6vCGQrtvWwwSMpVkpu3DSlMEcihMTSn82o-7NFQX49EIiEDAmXVNuJIMADI6G1DkCkH2TqR4Cl0Ko7VUFh-LpD-hNfDV6GdPeaBwoDv2iMp/s320/eagle+(5)+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training volunteers</td></tr>
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"N" is in charge of removing honeysuckle from one acre of forest. This place is in town, which is probably the source of the honeysuckle. We spent a lot of time roaming these woods during our first seven years here. If you do a search on this blog for "<a href="http://juliecache.blogspot.com/2008/08/100-species-challenge_19.html">giant puffballs</a>," you'll get an idea of the terrain we were dealing with.<br />
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Here's the culprit:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BcV5pZPIRjdtWAQzshslOSJsxKeIhUYEnkJqCVLF5ZAxLDP5UWqJVs3Sl6cdLs2b0hYRKDLeuFvzEYfM_7o4qbw7VsWGa0aLY8hf87FKZGDu8MM79tMqxAmzuv6-S6O19fPrWdLt3F2t/s1600/honeysuckle+trunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BcV5pZPIRjdtWAQzshslOSJsxKeIhUYEnkJqCVLF5ZAxLDP5UWqJVs3Sl6cdLs2b0hYRKDLeuFvzEYfM_7o4qbw7VsWGa0aLY8hf87FKZGDu8MM79tMqxAmzuv6-S6O19fPrWdLt3F2t/s320/honeysuckle+trunk.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vertical stripes, light colored bark</td></tr>
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It has 'buddy branches.' Hold your arms out and imagine: your body is the trunk and your arms are the branches. I think the science term is "opposite" but we learned <a href="http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/">Indian Creek Nature Center</a>'s<br />kid term first, and that's what stuck. Have a look at some buddy branches:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z_y5y6bUk2jdZkZg2F1Q7oncK9xQe0NTGfQLqGZAPQd0LTWajZw1UmJ-Ni3szXknJrOBRmMWmAbv9Gj1aV5Ocx0y2sV7SgJNETDi9zR9oah5kyIijL09bcQTM_yZtStgYfg7234IgUAG/s1600/buddy+branches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z_y5y6bUk2jdZkZg2F1Q7oncK9xQe0NTGfQLqGZAPQd0LTWajZw1UmJ-Ni3szXknJrOBRmMWmAbv9Gj1aV5Ocx0y2sV7SgJNETDi9zR9oah5kyIijL09bcQTM_yZtStgYfg7234IgUAG/s320/buddy+branches.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We cut down and applied herbicide to a LOT of honeysuckle -- little scrubby stuff, trees, bushy pieces, and everything in between. But there's still some left for next weekend.</div>
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I want to say that "N" had 16 people working in the morning and 8 in the afternoon. A common comment was one of education. Once people could identify it, they realized how widespread a problem it was, at this park and elsewhere. I would like to believe that everyone who volunteered today will remember this and be proactive against it for the rest of their lives.</div>
<br />juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-8751612809605624232013-04-11T10:30:00.000-05:002013-04-11T10:30:05.705-05:00Expand your back yard<br />
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Geocaching takes us to remote areas, but have you stopped to breathe in the nature during your hunt or recovery? What was that plant you just passed? Ever notice a certain tree and wonder about it? This month, many ephemerals will emerge for a very short period of time. To take advantage of this change in seasons, I'd like to let you know about a couple metro area events. Both note that terrain is moderate, which you probably know from earlier cache hunting.</div>
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 6:30pm - 8:30</div>
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<b>Margo Frankel Woods State Park Hike</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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The Central Iowa Sierra Group will lead. Follow NE 2nd Avenue (Hwy 415) about 2
miles north of I-80/35. The park is located on the east side of the road, just
south of NW 66th Avenue between Des Moines and Ankeny. We will meet in the
parking lot. (That is, the west lot closest to the road.) Contact Peggy at peggybrowndm@yahoo.com for
information. Difficulty: moderate, hilly terrain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sunday, April 28, 2013 begins Iowa Wildflower Week. One metro area event will be held at <b>Thomas Mitchell Park</b> in east Polk County. On Tuesday, April 30, a Wildflower Hike will be led by the Central Iowa Sierra Group from 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Meet at McDonald's
parking lot in Pleasant Hill. Contact Jackie at 515-577-0375 for
more information. Difficulty: moderate, hilly terrain.</div>
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Search for more events in your area at the Iowa Native Plant Society website: h<a href="http://www.public.iastate.edu/~herbarium/inps/calendar.php">ttp://www.public.iastate.edu/~herbarium/inps/calendar.php</a></div>
juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-51080441478048936632013-01-11T08:50:00.002-06:002013-01-11T08:50:57.314-06:00Stacking RocksHaving a relationship with nature means experiencing it with many senses. Stacking rocks is one way to understand texture, hardness, center of gravity, aesthetics, shape, patience -- many disciplines come together in this one activity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4M_sgfhq0SKawtjY-jI3GMsDj-u6hJqp25NSo6ljnW-lbdxfZGvJgAEX5GcnulpC4Rx7qqpRWzJFerIq4mUSbG1EgucFGGJlvIH0dkFVjT6zQkWcH7V992tQ9fvgDoHu4pTWNsbQWlNy/s1600/pacific+olympic+national+park+(37)+stack+rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4M_sgfhq0SKawtjY-jI3GMsDj-u6hJqp25NSo6ljnW-lbdxfZGvJgAEX5GcnulpC4Rx7qqpRWzJFerIq4mUSbG1EgucFGGJlvIH0dkFVjT6zQkWcH7V992tQ9fvgDoHu4pTWNsbQWlNy/s320/pacific+olympic+national+park+(37)+stack+rock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_445609726"></span><span id="goog_445609727"></span>I made these three stacks while visiting Rialto Beach in Washington state. I don't know that I've photographed any prior rock stacks, but I was very proud of these because of the wet conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyxk14TJtTsPITnyUhbnDDXAui1vH7Ts4uNfUBrk9Mosu6h440g_lY6a2nK0_NAzBhNStxwYbytyS2R7OPrti2qRyCwjuKR3aL9qXFkCXVu8kCqN1ZF_dFdhMk4Y6QtnHbgCL64Ivpr7D/s1600/pacific+olympic+national+park+(12)+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyxk14TJtTsPITnyUhbnDDXAui1vH7Ts4uNfUBrk9Mosu6h440g_lY6a2nK0_NAzBhNStxwYbytyS2R7OPrti2qRyCwjuKR3aL9qXFkCXVu8kCqN1ZF_dFdhMk4Y6QtnHbgCL64Ivpr7D/s320/pacific+olympic+national+park+(12)+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We had a trail book for Olympic National Park, which included Rialto Beach with its sea stacks and the 'islands' and HUGE logs (both in the photo above) are part of the geography. Comparing book reading to an in-person experience? No comparison.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-27478776243312309222013-01-03T20:09:00.001-06:002013-01-03T20:09:50.369-06:00Waymarking in WAWinter snow is plentiful in the state of Washington, so I was unable to find the many geocaches in WA. There was just too much snow. We got 16" our first night, and more snow every day afterward. We loved it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWAEQhlCtmpf1w5JpAuRmNa64e5tfYIJJfUUPsT6qv1YOwznXPSDDuz0vFYT7vtaq1tpV3_cT3qGXlaauKoTr7URgpoThrKMXD_1Z3GQswZxSPHyi68fHpkMCAimCXYryxU2rD8mWqSgT/s1600/picnic+table+snow+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWAEQhlCtmpf1w5JpAuRmNa64e5tfYIJJfUUPsT6qv1YOwznXPSDDuz0vFYT7vtaq1tpV3_cT3qGXlaauKoTr7URgpoThrKMXD_1Z3GQswZxSPHyi68fHpkMCAimCXYryxU2rD8mWqSgT/s320/picnic+table+snow+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was able to see a few waymarks, which -did not- require hiking through wet snow and digging. There weren't many waymarks where we stayed, but here is one cool waymark: <a href="http://www.waymarking.com/logs/details.aspx?f=1&guid=e191b0a4-937b-4ad0-b904-561e74060475">Roslyn Coal Mines</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm88XsV4da8uBI0o_b7_PJEPEhexwftf5eJR3Dls4QeT-_HjFi6uBjaygxuqdu32D3zCZV0KMMfAurTrjNvyElM6DlBdOkmIMyEflH0jX-dWzbQvaJGOFahXYMDGZNgg4fVv11Zpd4pKx/s1600/roslyn+museum+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm88XsV4da8uBI0o_b7_PJEPEhexwftf5eJR3Dls4QeT-_HjFi6uBjaygxuqdu32D3zCZV0KMMfAurTrjNvyElM6DlBdOkmIMyEflH0jX-dWzbQvaJGOFahXYMDGZNgg4fVv11Zpd4pKx/s320/roslyn+museum+(6).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The entire town of Roslyn is part of a <a href="http://www.ci.roslyn.wa.us/visit/">National Historic District</a>. The mine maps were crazy. We went into a limestone mine earlier this year, so this was interesting for us to compare.<br />
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We were actually staying outside of Roslyn, on the edge of town called Ronald. Here is the Fire Station:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELhefjsDBhzzaktjgiIgemexQL6Nv_Rkr0YmhODRsZbQs4OL3GrucWZrfqo5lmAJAVAseenv-gocwevz7klcUwFz_8M_A9mP_dOJ7Kf_VyrYUMKbSIE1TnafYvFyRQlJznlp2hDYnNKbZ/s1600/ronald+fire+station+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELhefjsDBhzzaktjgiIgemexQL6Nv_Rkr0YmhODRsZbQs4OL3GrucWZrfqo5lmAJAVAseenv-gocwevz7klcUwFz_8M_A9mP_dOJ7Kf_VyrYUMKbSIE1TnafYvFyRQlJznlp2hDYnNKbZ/s320/ronald+fire+station+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Post Office occupied the front hallway of a church. See the notices posted on the bulletin board outside?</div>
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<br />juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-74426542832120254732012-12-31T13:35:00.000-06:002012-12-31T13:35:20.543-06:00Climate studyThis month, my family left the brown plains of Iowa for the lush greenness of Washington, the Evergreen State. I combined a vacation with my search for interesting waymarks and geocaches, which lead to a deep and new understanding of climate. I hadn't expected this, but that's what happened. Reading can inform a student, but it will not make climate "real."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24kCMm0IQshoo5D-ZuaIPqLSeyVAj5Sc2BAyvuYu_VH7pwivAfkBAcpYEbM10lcNoWaZys60-UhJfimqMFBKWikIsOCUfmkmV4WoNkKxDxAmVUnTDpQhZoZ7S6EgLnci8CQyhVWkmfHSX/s1600/alex+snow+play+(2)+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24kCMm0IQshoo5D-ZuaIPqLSeyVAj5Sc2BAyvuYu_VH7pwivAfkBAcpYEbM10lcNoWaZys60-UhJfimqMFBKWikIsOCUfmkmV4WoNkKxDxAmVUnTDpQhZoZ7S6EgLnci8CQyhVWkmfHSX/s320/alex+snow+play+(2)+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We spent one week just east of the Cascade Mountains, and another week on the Hood Canal. The areas we visited were very wet (in different ways), with precipitation of some sort every day. We've never experienced these things -- being fogged in for an entire day; having new, deep, moist, fluffy snow every day; a temperate rainforest of the Olympic National Forest and Park; and most astounding to us -- <i>green winters</i> (as opposed to brown or white). "G" of GAIN said that "if it's green, it's really-really green."<br />
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One of the best experiences was climbing Mt. Walker on Christmas Eve. We were able to pass by fungi, ferns, rhododendrons -- with buds!, and evergreen trees -- cedars and hemlocks. Because of the <i>climate, </i>trees here seem to grow taller and bigger around than they do in Iowa. We also experienced 2000' of elevation in our steep two mile hike up Walker, so we were able to learn about wet, drippy snow and dry, windswept snow.<br />
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<br />juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-38878594662879837162012-10-01T11:30:00.001-05:002012-10-01T11:30:21.991-05:00100 Species Challenge #82 Bur Marigold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd87Z30zOwRWbv61_54AaZNpNP_iJ5uMHMau8tBS0iNRrzD6tlZ9u0asTuvexH_uxmtUBJeLUc_4fjaY72mr0dwTG6rTSO_juoivhnFzUu3RcPEwGf__h00oOgvavqDsbYwuZyrkV_hInw/s1600/walnutwoods+%252838%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd87Z30zOwRWbv61_54AaZNpNP_iJ5uMHMau8tBS0iNRrzD6tlZ9u0asTuvexH_uxmtUBJeLUc_4fjaY72mr0dwTG6rTSO_juoivhnFzUu3RcPEwGf__h00oOgvavqDsbYwuZyrkV_hInw/s320/walnutwoods+%252838%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">Specimen #81: Bur marigold</span><br />
<i style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">Bidens cernua L. </i><br />
<br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">Photos by me</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">Sept. 2012 in West Des Moines</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">Despite the name marigold, I don't see much resemblance to the garden variety of marigold. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.363636016845703px;">I had a request to spend some time on the sandbars of the Raccoon River, so when we finally had some time to kill this last weekend, I drove down to a state park with quick access. We found this flowering plant when not much else is in flower. It definitely likes sandy soil. I believe that many variations of this plant exist based on my field guides and internet searches. All my readings have stated that the <i>flowers nod with age</i>.</span><br />
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To study on your own, try reading these two places.<br />
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<a href="http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BICE">http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BICE</a><br /><br />
<a href="http://iowapix.org/main_page/wildflowers/wildflower_page11.htm">http://iowapix.org/main_page/wildflowers/wildflower_page11.htm</a><br />
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<br />juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-26099652642809482312012-08-09T23:01:00.000-05:002012-08-09T23:01:26.096-05:00Logging your visitsThis week's email from Geocaching.com featured a few ways to leave a great note in the log books. As a cache owner and signing someone else's log book, I agree that I almost live for the details outside of TFTC and TNLNSL. Reading what people said before me is fun! My kids like to see this type of log as well.<br />
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What things do I like to see? What do I like to write in log books?<br />
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I like to see things like<br />
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<ul>
<li>weather conditions</li>
<li>difficulty you had in finding the cache</li>
<li>if you liked this find</li>
<li>how many finds and attempts you had that day</li>
<li>what swag you left and what swag you took</li>
<li>who was with you, especially if they were new to the hobby</li>
<li>anything notable about the hike -- you saw a possum, you almost got hit by a car, etc.</li>
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What the funnest log entry you've read?</div>juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-31299049802825358052012-07-12T09:16:00.003-05:002012-07-12T09:19:37.019-05:00Geocaching trading cards, anyone?As an entrepreneur, I get excited when I read <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/">kickstarter</a> pitches. A high school classmate introduced me to it a few years ago. I considered making a pitch there for a film two years ago, but <a href="http://www.savethebarn.com/"><b>the barn happened</b></a>. So many good ideas, so little time. I will carry the film idea in my head until I see it made. Some day.<br />
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When I was approached by GeoLobo to help with his kickstarter project, I said yes. Anyone can go look at his pitch, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/geotradingcards/custom-trading-cards-geocaching-history-series?ref=live">here</a>. I asked for some additional information -- you can read it below -- because I find it helpful to have more of a relationship with those I'm conducting business with.<i> Shane is very close to his goal, and I think there are cachers out there who have been looking for something more affordable than a geocoin.</i><br />
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<span id="yui_3_2_0_6_1341867906735561">Name:<b> Shane Holmes</b> (aka <b>GeoLobo</b>)</span><span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_13415419673611563">Founder of the Blueline <span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1341867980_0" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #366388; cursor: pointer;">Geocaching</span> Association</span><span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_1341541967361123">Long Lake, NY (Central Adirondack Mountains) in </span><span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_1341541967361336">2005</span><br />
<br /><br />
<span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_1341541967361354">I began geocaching in 2005 as a means of therapy for a leg injury I received while serving in Iraq in 2004.</span><br />
<span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_1341541967361816">I like geocaching because I like the thrill of the hunt and I like to find new and interesting places I wouldn't have otherwise known existed. I am an avid fisherman and through geocaching I have found some great new fishing spots.</span><br />
<br /><br />
<span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_13415419673611708">I think the best trait of a good geocache, is its aesthetic value. For me, that would be its location. Whether it be near a beautiful cascading waterfall, or top of a magestic mountian peak, t</span><span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_15_1341542381454715">he location is the key to the treasure! I guess I am spoiled, because I live in the center of a 6 million acre park........</span>To read more of his story and see his <b>geocaching trading cards</b>, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/geotradingcards/custom-trading-cards-geocaching-history-series?ref=live">visit his kickstarter page</a> and pledge by the end of the month!<br />
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<span id="yiv422379697yui_3_2_0_18_13415419673611705"></span></div>juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3117748718713928005.post-36803885132716654952012-06-21T22:46:00.000-05:002012-06-21T22:46:10.850-05:00100 Species Challenge #81<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Specimen #81: Wild raspberry<br />
<i>Rubus occidentalis</i><br />
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Photos by me<br />
June 2012 in West Des Moines<br />
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While I was searching my usual places for a mulberry tree, I found this happy surprise! Black raspberries in the middle of town. I had no trouble getting a pint in twenty minutes -- the birds were able to eat from one side of the plant; I took the other side. My youngest picked with me on a different day, and we had the same bountiful luck.<br />
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I ate plain berries and used some for syrup -- yum. The USDA lists more interesting and very diverse uses for the plant <a href="http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Rubus+occidentalis">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/BlackRaspberry.html">Wildman Steve Brill </a>writes about this plant, and you can also read about it from the <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RUOC">USDA</a>.<br />
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Though not as fleshy as their domesticated cousins, the sweetness is definitely present in these berries. They seem to take root wherever the canes touch the ground.<br />
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If you are confused about blackberries and black raspberries, <a href="http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Clippings.folder/ForagingForBrambles.html">read this excellent article</a>.juliecachehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00051312206721332785noreply@blogger.com0