A Glimpse of Nature- Painted Turtle
When was the last time you saw a turtle? Where was it and what was it doing?
Perhaps it was swimming in a local pond or perched on a muddy bank ready to slip into the water in response to a perceived threat.
When was the last time you saw a turtle? Where was it and what was it doing?
Perhaps it was swimming in a local pond or perched on a muddy bank ready to slip into the water in response to a perceived threat.
Most visitors to the Ames Free Library know and love Queset Garden’s reflecting pool which is a lovely spot to visit in all seasons.
On June 17, 2021 President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act which made June 19 a federally observed holiday. However, what is Juneteenth and what are its origins? The legacy of Juneteenth began in Galveston Bay, Texas in 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made which freed slaves from bondage following the Civil War. Despite the decree being given by the president, many states, especially those in the confederate areas, did not want to follow suit with the new law. Texas was one of the states which resisted.
Neighbors don’t always get along, especially when they live in close proximity without sharing the same goals. Recently this has become apparent in the library’s neighborhood where noisy conflicts occur almost every day. Last Saturday the din could be heard inside the library building. Just listen:
The Magic of Summer
Who doesn’t love spring? Milder weather, longer days, and the return of greenery combine to lift our spirits. Between April 29 and May 5, I made not one, but two, road trips to see spring flowers. One excursion, a trip to the Wicked Tulips farm in Connecticut, offered a pleasant afternoon with little effort or planning. Reservations are required and tickets sell out quickly, but the ride is scenic and the sight of 600,000 showy flowers en masse is pretty impressive . . .
Which flowers have you seen lately? Read about Lorraine’s botanical adventures in next week’s A Glimpse of Nature.
“The Great Seed Experiment” is off to a vigorous start! Hundreds of patrons have picked up seeds for their home gardens, as well as helpful factsheets and seed journals to record their observations. This week, the library received its first photos and “Sprouting Reports” from gardeners. Spring peas are already germinating.
This week, the Ames Free Library is launching a home gardening project for all its patrons. We are giving away vegetable and flower seeds obtained through the University of Rhode Island and encouraging patrons to share their results with the library.