On June 29 I installed the trail cam behind Queset Garden and hoped for the best. My first set of photos included this image which encouraged me to continue. Can you identify this animal? Send your ideas to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Next time, we’ll see a video clip of this creature and “The Rest of the Crew.”
No doubt about it! White-tailed deer dominate the library’s nightlife. They are the largest mammalian visitors to the library campus and, based on my trail cam’s videos, the most frequent. Indeed, deer appeared in 92% of all nighttime animal videos captured by my camera.
Last week, several readers correctly pinpointed California as the home of my giant pinecone. “Terrific!,” I thought, “These folks traveled to the northern Sierras where they saw the same wonderful trees I did: sugar pines.” But, no. At least two readers who visited southern California remembered king-sized cones. Their emails introduced me to the Coulter pine. That’s right. Two different California pines create impressive cones. Let’s compare them.
The Sugar Pine
Where do pine cones grow this large? Identify the species and its location by sending an email to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Hint: It’s not Easton!
This week’s mystery creature seems to ask, “Who are you looking at?” If you think you know, email your identification to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org. Next Friday, we’ll reveal its name and behavior.
So, who saw a monocot this week? I guarantee you all did, whether or not you were paying attention or taking my assignment seriously. I chose the orange daylily, Hemerocallis fulva, to introduce the subject because it has large flowers, is familiar to most readers, and is conspicuous at the Ames Free Library’s entrance.
The Missouri Botanical Garden describes the daylily as “A tough plant that is tolerant of poor soil, summer heat and humidity.” Our recent high temperatures and frequent showers may be challenging to humans, but the daylilies at the Ames Free Library have bloomed with exuberance. Each July, they greet visitors entering the property.
Halloween decorations? Wrong season. Sea anemones? Wrong habitat. What are these orange blobs? Email your identification to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org and check in next week for their story. Your nature photos are always welcome.
Attention readers: Bonnie Tate created this week’s post. Our guest author describes herself as a scientist, birder, and nature photographer. You may recall her amazing image of an Eastern Screech Owl which won the grand prize of our “Picturing Winter” contest.
June is “Turtles-Crossing-the-Road” month. Let’s celebrate by driving cautiously on roads near wetlands while being alert to female turtles heading to their upland nesting sites. Notice which roads seem suitable before you encounter an “object” on the road. Slow down. If you see a turtle in the line of traffic, assist the animal to cross (in her chosen direction) only if it is safe and necessary. Invite some friends to join you in vigilance.
