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Month: November 2020

American Toad
Gratitude: 10 Nature-Related Things I’m Thankful For

Gratitude: 10 Nature-Related Things I’m Thankful For

2020 has been hard for everyone. From canceled activities to isolation from friends and family, to record setting hurricane and fire seasons across the country. Despite all of this year’s COVID-, environmental- and political-craziness, there are still many things I am thankful for. In addition to the Thanksgiving toad I came across on my rainy walk this morning (see cover photo above), below are just ten of the nature-related things I’m grateful for this year.  1. Abundant and beautiful local…

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Intertidal Invasion

Intertidal Invasion

These days, with globalization driving long-distance dispersal of species ranging from fungi to insects to plants, the term “invasive species” gets used a lot. To me, there is a difference between “non-native” and “invasive”. Although both terms refer to an organism that was not found here prior to colonialism, the term “invasive” is typically reserved for organisms that have not only established outside their native range, but have thrived and spread to the point of being a nuisance and can…

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Wildflower Wednesday: Marsh St. Johnswort

Wildflower Wednesday: Marsh St. Johnswort

Mid-fall brings an end to most blooming flowers, with the exception of the hardiest asters and goldenrods. But it doesn’t bring an end to identification and study of these plants. Many herbaceous wildflowers retain identifiable aerial parts, such as distinctive seed heads, that allow reliable plant ID well past the last flowers.  Marsh St. Johnswort (Hypericum virginicum) is no exception. Growing to approximately 2 feet tall, marsh St. Johnswort typically blooms in July and August. But due to persistent seed…

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