Unraveling the Mysteries of Nature
Even before I met Kenton and was swept away into the world of climbing trees and catching turtles, I was constantly amazed at the marvels of Mother Nature. How could every agate be so beautiful and different, and how did they end up in the middle of a pile of ‘plain brown rocks’ on the side of the road? Why did garter snakes always have to stink you when you caught them (and was there a way around this)? Why did marshmallows taste better over a campfire than the kitchen stove? Why did thunder come so far behind lightning (most of the time, at least) and what caused thunder during snowstorms? Why did mosquito bites bother some people so much and others so little? How did geese know where to go when they headed south in the autumn?
These questions were just the beginning of a dawning realization that the world around us is filled with far more mystery than we are aware of. And the realization that everywhere we look we are surrounded by nature– take a peek sometime at the dust on your desk under the powerful lens of a microscope, or stroll through your downtown sidewalks and keep track of the bugs, birds, plants, and other creatures that you see along the way. Examine your cauliflower before you chop it up for dinner or study the spirals of a shell from the beach– you’ll discover the inexplicably beautiful pattern of the Fibonacci series.
Sometimes I can feel less knowledgeable about these mysteries than I should– after all, I don’t know the answers to how salmon find their way back to their spawning ground each year, nor can I predict which dead elms will have morels in the spring. With each new riddle that presents itself, however, I have learned one thing for certain: all one needs in order to unravel the mysteries of nature is an open and curious heart, and a willingness to explore.
Is there a nature mystery that intrigues or captivates you? Have you uncovered the meaning of one of Mother Nature’s curious enigmas? Please feel free to share your insights with us in the comments– the joys of nature are often best when shared!
Visit our Adventure Journal to find out about this week’s adventure!
Book Review: “The Forager’s Harvest”
Kenton and I love wild edible plants. Mostly we rely on Kenton’s training from his survival school days, as well as the mess of edible plant guides that we have in our personal library. But these guides always seem to be lackingsomething — whether it’s good photos for identification, sufficient descriptions about gathering and preparation, or guidance as to what plants can be found in what geographic location.
Well, we’ve finally found our dream guide to edible wild plants. Samuel Thayerhas put together a guide that has added considerably to our wild edible harvest.
Samuel has obviously actually tried all of the edibles he writes about. He writes about each one intimately, sharing stories of different encounters with each plant. He explains exactly how to harvest the plants, and has great photos of the plants’ different edible stages. For instance, in the chapter on milkweed (in which he debunks the great ‘bitter milkweed myth’), you’ll see photos of the young shoots (and detailed instructions on how to differentiate them from the toxic dogbane shoots), the flower buds, and learn all about ‘milkweed white’, which we’re very eager to try this summer.
Mr. Thayer has chosen to include fewer plants and give more detail, and he’s chosen plants that are local to his location (since he’s from Wisconsin, the plants are also local to us 
, but a quick browse through his book should tell you if the plants are relevant to your ecosystem. Luckily, he’s chosen many common plants that grow throughout the United States and Southern Canada, and you’ll likely be surprised at the delicious edible treats offered by some of your favorite and most familiar plant species.
, but a quick browse through his book should tell you if the plants are relevant to your ecosystem. Luckily, he’s chosen many common plants that grow throughout the United States and Southern Canada, and you’ll likely be surprised at the delicious edible treats offered by some of your favorite and most familiar plant species.
One of the best features is the wild edible calendar he includes in the book. It serves as an easy-to-use guide that lets you know what’s available out in the woods and fields. It’s based on a 45 degree latitude and 1000 ft. elevation in the U.S., and is going to be most accurate in ecosystems similar to Wisconsin’s. The book also includes tons of info for beginning foragers, including tools, harvest methods, and identification tips.
We’ve experimented with many new edibles this spring and early summer, thanks to Samuel’s book. It’s a must-have in any naturalist’s library, and will add a whole new dimension to your hikes and wanders, whether you’re currently familar with wild edibles or not. You can purchase your own copy here. Enjoy!
22 Degree Halo
The other day we were visiting someone’s home when we looked up in the sky and said ‘Sundog!’. There was a huge, vibrant circle around the sun, and we found ourselves rushing about admiring it from different vantages — using the peak of the roof, the leaves of a tree, or Rebecca’s head to block the sun so that we could get a full view of the phenomenon. The effect was of a clear rainbow circling the sun.
It was only later that we learned that this wasn’t a sundog at all, but rather a phenomenon called a 22 degree halo. Sundogs are bright points that form on halos. In fact, there are a whole mess of cool sun- (and sometimes moon-) associated rings, bright spots, and other visual amazements formed by ice crystals in the sky. Here is a link to some great photos at Wikipedia.
This was an excellent reminder to us that it’s always good to stop throughout the day and look around ourselves. There’s sure to be something interesting on the ground, over the horizon, or right up above us in the sky!
Quite Possibly the World’s Cutest Snake
Rebecca captured this little fellow yesterday. He was hardly bigger than an earthworm.
We were recently giving a snake presentation for National Trail Day and were talking about these tiny serpents. This is Storeria occipitomaculata, but if that name seems a tad difficult to pronounce, you can call him the Northern Redbelly. They might look innocent, but if you’re a small slug or a juicy larva, the Redbelly is one ferocious predator.
Having given hundreds of adults and children their first experiences meeting snakes, we’ve found it interesting that often people are more intimidated by small, quick snakes, rather than a six-foot boa. The Redbelly is one snake that most definitely cannot harm you in any way — this little guy’s most potent defense was to squiggle a lot. Luckily he held still long enough for a photo op.
Delicious Flowers
It’s that wonderful time of year when the black locust tree is blooming. These flowers are one of the most delightful of wild edibles, with a strong floral scent and a sweet, crispy taste. Really there is no flavor quite like them, and they are divine in the mouth.
Be sure to identify the tree with a reliable guide book, and remember that the flowers are the only edible portion. Then seek out the perfect blooms — pure white and rubbery to the touch. Each tree offers a slightly different flavor, and each stage of bloom does as well. You’ll be happiest with freshly-opened flowers that show no discoloring. In the picture below, the flowers on the left are edible and decent-tasting, but the ones on the right made us melt.
Of course, don’t forget to take a good look at what you’re eating, because these flowers delight all the senses. They’re truly a natural treasure!
Mystery Skull #3
We felt very lucky to find this skull. Although it might look like it, it is not a dragon skull. When people discover its owner, however, they are usually quite surprised.
Let us know your guesses, and if you’d like to learn the answer, you can find out here.
The Gold Bug
In Poe’s ‘The Gold Bug’, it is a strange gold beetle that lies at the heart of the tale. This story haunted me from youth, always suggesting that there was something hidden and secret — some great treasure — and that a still-undiscovered mystery of nature might hold the key to uncovering it.
The other day, while seeking morels in the nearby forests, my mother pointed out just such a beetle — a swift-moving creature that defied my attempts to capture it long enough to get a photo. Only after a few minutes of both of us scurrying about did the beetle hesitate long enough for Rebecca to capture a still image.
Every time I venture out into nature, there are discoveries like this. I’m not an expert on birds, and it’s easy for me to spot a bird I can’t identify. I’m not an expert on plants, and many of the woodland leaves and prairie flowers are still undiscovered, unnamed in my world. Mushrooms pose similar mysteries, and the world of insects is perhaps the most enigmatic of all, for it only takes a few moments of walking about the yard or poking under old logs before I unearth something completely new.
Each of these is a treasure, and in a way, each points to the next. This strange, gold-spotted beetle who rested for a brief moment in my hands might as well be tied to a string, leading me on to ever-more curious explorations of swamps, tree-tops, ponds, and hillsides. In nature, there are treasures everywhere, and what can be more grand than sharing such explorations with those we love, and with the friends we’ve made in life?
May your own Gold Bugs lead you to yet-unimagined treasures.
Posted on May 29th, 2009 by Kenton Whitman
Filed under: Bugs and Crawlies!, Nature Inspiration | 13 Comments »
Filed under: Bugs and Crawlies!, Nature Inspiration | 13 Comments »
Wild About Nature Featured on Nature For Kids!
Imagine our pleasant surprise when we visited one of our favorite blogs and discovered that they had just featured our Wild About Nature blog on their site!Nature For Kids is devoted to inspiring families and children to get out into nature and have great adventures. Although we don’t have children ourselves yet, we have crafted our own nature writings to be child and family accessible, so we were truly honored to get the ‘stamp of approval’ from Nature For Kids. Best of all, we weren’t the only blog featured– there are three other fantastic blogs that are concerned with getting kids out into the woods, fields, deserts, and rivers. A hearty ‘Thanks’ to Nature for Kids!
Odd Migrations
Be sure to check out our Adventure Journal this week — we had the dubious honor of rescuing a baby cow from Certain Death by Train.
Yesterday we saw a strange sight. We were driving home in a northernly direction, when we saw a long formation of Canada Geese flying alongside us.
Soon they were flying directly overhead, quite close to the ground, and we clocked them at an even 45 mph. After about a mile, the majority of the geese banked hard to the north-west, while three geese banked hard to the north-east. We didn’t get the impression that they were planning on re-grouping.
The oddest thing was that this is well past the time when we tend to see geese flying northward. They are very familiar in early spring, flying by in great noisy V-formations. But what was this odd migration we were witnessing?
A bit of research suggests that we might have seen a ‘moult migration’. This is performed by geese who won’t be breeding, and they travel far north of normal goose territory in order to find wide-open waters where they can relax for about five weeks while they replace their worn-out flight feathers. Judging by the ragged-looking feathers some of them were sporting, this theory makes sense. Please weigh in if you know whether our hunch is correct!
I and the Bird #100
We are proud to have our article Flying Crows featured at I and the Bird #100. This carnival was hosted at The Nature Blog Network, and features tons of great bird posts. Be sure to pay a visit!
Posted on May 25th, 2009 by Kenton and Rebecca
Filed under: Birds, Networking for Nature | No Comments »
Filed under: Birds, Networking for Nature | No Comments »
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