Just three shots of what Explore the Wild looks like two days after the unusually early snowfall of December 25-26, which is already beginning to melt. Enjoy the snow while it lasts.Read more
Posts filed in: Winter
Winter’s Here!
The calendar says that winter has arrived. What’s been going on in Explore the Wild? Raccoons make nightly sorties around the Wetlands in search of food, which can be anything from persimmons to tadpoles, or a raid on the trash receptacles along the paths of the Museum (the trash bins are emptied each day before closing so the pickings are slim there). Raccoons are not the only animals roaming Explore the Wild. The tracks below were left in the snow aRead more
Which Pine is it, anyway?
Nearly everyone you talk to in North Carolina knows, or has heard of, Loblolly Pine, if for no other reason than that it’s a rather interesting and fun to say name (we’ll get to the name later). When you walk around the trails of the outdoor exhibits here at the Museum you can’t help but to see these tall straight pines everywhere you look. They’re quite common in the Piedmont of North Carolina. There’s another pine here at the Museum,Read more
Tadpoles?!
It’s cold outside! The water of the Wetlands is frozen clear across the pond. The Hooded Mergansers have taken flight for larger bodies of water. I’ve seen the Belted Kingfisher fly in each day to inspect the pond for open water only to leave frustrated, its loud, raucous rattle filling the frigid air. The Great Blue Heron has stuck it out, staying on the fringes of the pond where it might find a small patch of open water. Is there any openRead more
More Galls
In early November I wrote about gall wasps on the Museum’s oak trees. And, as promised, here’s another gall-filled adventure. Winter’s less than two weeks away and it’s a good time to talk about galls. Insect activity has slowed down, many plants have shut down for the winter, and although there is always something going on out-of-doors, the pace is certainly slower. And, oh yes, the galls are much easier to find when the leaves are no longer on theRead more
Buds and Birds
Some pre-spring happenings at the Museum… Get outdoors and have a look around for yourself, and let me know what you see!Read more
The Big White Tree with the Peeling Bark
I was recently asked whether or not I knew why the bark on American Sycamore drops off the tree in large thin flakes. Coincidentally, while walking around the Outdoor Exhibits this winter with camera in hand, I’ve been taking photos of various trees to use on this blog in a series of informal, mini-field guides. My intention was to start with some of the more readily identifiable winter trees, trees without leaves. Although winter’s nearly over, this is a goodRead more