See what’s happening on the grounds of the Ames Free Library or nearby areas with “A Glimpse of Nature.” Offered by Lorraine Rubinacci, the library's resident naturalist, this weekly photo blog is a gentle reminder to enjoy the wonders that surround us.
Sunday’s walk was splendid, a fresh green feast of loveliness savored in perfect weather. My eyes hopped from wild geraniums to jack-in-the-pulpits, from tender ferns to mature skunk cabbages, landing eventually on show-stopping lady’s slippers.
There is so much activity in spring! Here are two sounds you may hear if you venture beyond your neighborhood. You know the ropes: email lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org with your answers and check back next week.
Now blooming in selected woodlands near you!
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Submit your identification to lrubinacci@amesfreelibrary and check back next week for info on this topic.
Your photos of spring wildflowers are welcome, too.
Remember the swimming garter snake that headlined our March 30th post? Since that time, readers have shared sightings of two more snake species.
Did you guess correctly? Frogs were the focus of last week’s “What Is It!” game.
These gelatinous eggs contain wood frog embryos. While wood frogs may not be as well known as bullfrogs or green frogs, they are a delight to observe in the late-winter/early-spring woods. Listen for their duck-like quacks during March, when the frogs congregate at woodland pools to lay and fertilize eggs. They are especially noticeable on mild, rainy nights.
I regret to say that no one correctly identified last week’s “What Is It!”. Guesses included a slug and a fossilized caterpillar. Nice try, but . . . . Let’s take a second look.
The subject of this closeup photo is a one-inch object. Here it is in the context of our reader’s backyard.
Somehow, I forgot to offer a “What Is It!” post for March. To make up for that oversight, April will be “What Is It!” month. Here’s one to get us started. A reader submitted this image from her yard in late March. Email your identification and any comments to Irubinacci@amesfreelibrary.org and check back next week for the answer.
As children, we learn the archetypal signs of spring: robins and tulips; nests and eggs; April showers, May flowers, and even Easter bunnies. It’s a good starting point, but there is so much more. The seasonal transition happens in a thousand steps. This week I challenge you to notice some of the less obvious changes.
Our first week of spring brought mild temperatures, bird and frog songs, and some early blossoms. At this time of year, watch for tree and shrub flowers like those of the pussy willow. This might require adjusting your perspective because some of these flowers are quite small or located on upper branches. They may not resemble our mental image of “flowers.” But, you can be sure that nectaring insects are paying attention! To learn more about this phenomenon, catch “Ea
