Exploring The Swiss Plateau

Today, I made a circuit across the Swiss Plateau using the country's fine develop network; shine as well as efficient, the trains render an fantabulous way to explore the landscape.  The Plateau region, nestled betwixt the Alps as well as the Jura mountains, is characterized primarily yesteryear rolling farmlands (dairy cattle as well as sheep predominate), dotted alongside lakes as well as scenic towns.

As a birder, I was pleased to run across a large disclose of dark kites as well as cherry-red kites on my journey, joined yesteryear a one-half dozen white storks.  Though I passed through Lausanne as well as Bern, my principal halt was at Neuchatel, at the base of operations of the Jura Mountains as well as on the due north shore of Lac de Neuchatel.  H5N1 catch to the splendid lakeside commons turned upward several to a greater extent than European birds (red-crested pochards, chaffinches as well as dark redstarts, to advert a few) as well as offered a spectacular sentiment of the Alps to the south.

On my in conclusion leg of the journey, I constitute that vineyards are abundant along the base of operations of the Jura Mountains, sure enough a reflection of the regional climate as well as the limestone geology.  I'll produce my best to back upward their products during my rest inwards Switzerland! 

Tarkiln Bayou Save Pose Down Park

On our agency out of Pensacola, Florida, this morning, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park, southwest of the city.  The Preserve's 4200 acres stretch due east of Perdido Bay, occupying (and expanding) the old site of the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie.  Known for its orchids in addition to carnivorous plants, the refuge is accessed via a network of earthen trails in addition to boardwalks.

Short on fourth dimension in addition to de-energized past times the heat, nosotros settled on the Tarkiln Bayou Trail (1.5 miles roundtrip), which leads southwest from the parking lot on State Route 293.  This paved walkway kickoff crosses a woodland of slash pino in addition to saw palmetto in addition to and thence snakes atop boardwalks where pitcher plants (primarily of the white-topped species) abound inwards the shallow wetlands.  The trail ends on the due east shore of scenic Tarkiln Bayou, which is surrounded past times tidal marsh in addition to empties into Perdido Bay.

This State Park is named for tar kilns, locally used inwards the 1800s to procedure pino tar that was collected from southern yellowish pines (commonly known equally slash pines); the tar was used primarily past times the transportation manufacture but besides inwards the production of soap.  While the refuge is abode to an first-class diverseness of wildlife, nosotros encountered exclusively ospreys, red-headed woodpeckers in addition to eastern towhees on this hot August morning.

Milkweed Bugs

Walking through South Platte Park the other day, I looked ahead in addition to saw vivid cherry-red masses on the side of the trail.  Initially idea to live on approximately type of fungus or slime mold, I establish that they were large clusters of pocket-sized bugs.....milkweed põrnikas nymphs to live on exact.

Found throughout North America, from southern Canada to Mexico, these truthful bugs feed alone on milkweed plants.  Eggs are repeatedly position on the plants past times the adult female; during her calendar month of adulthood, she volition lay thousands of eggs.  Upon hatching, the nymphs molt 5 times earlier reaching the adult stage; each nymph stage is virtually vi days inwards length.  While the elongated adults convey a hitting dark in addition to orangish designing on their dorsal surface, the younger nymphs are vivid orange-red.  Both adults in addition to nymphs may cluster where milkweed seed pods are abundant in addition to their vivid coloration warns potential predators that they are toxic (due to compounds ingested from milkweed sap).

Unlike most insects, milkweed bugs overwinter every bit adults; those that mature inwards northern latitudes must migrate to southern climes or honor a protected site inwards which to hold off our the season.  Considering the date, most of the nymphs that I encountered volition probable non attain the adult stage earlier mutual frigidness tumble weather condition envelops the Front Range. 

Milkweed Bugs

Walking through South Platte Park the other day, I looked ahead in addition to saw vivid cherry-red masses on the side of the trail.  Initially idea to live on approximately type of fungus or slime mold, I establish that they were large clusters of pocket-sized bugs.....milkweed põrnikas nymphs to live on exact.

Found throughout North America, from southern Canada to Mexico, these truthful bugs feed alone on milkweed plants.  Eggs are repeatedly position on the plants past times the adult female; during her calendar month of adulthood, she volition lay thousands of eggs.  Upon hatching, the nymphs molt 5 times earlier reaching the adult stage; each nymph stage is virtually vi days inwards length.  While the elongated adults convey a hitting dark in addition to orangish designing on their dorsal surface, the younger nymphs are vivid orange-red.  Both adults in addition to nymphs may cluster where milkweed seed pods are abundant in addition to their vivid coloration warns potential predators that they are toxic (due to compounds ingested from milkweed sap).

Unlike most insects, milkweed bugs overwinter every bit adults; those that mature inwards northern latitudes must migrate to southern climes or honor a protected site inwards which to hold off our the season.  Considering the date, most of the nymphs that I encountered volition probable non attain the adult stage earlier mutual frigidness tumble weather condition envelops the Front Range. 

Leaf Armies

Here on our Littleton, Colorado, farm, I create non bother raking the leaves.  While nosotros bring a large seat out of deciduous trees in addition to shrubs, I'm inclined to allow nature handgrip their autumn debris.  Besides, it tin forcefulness out endure entertaining, watching the leafage armies race across our driveway in addition to "lawns."

In this semiarid climate, the leaves rarely buy the farm bogged downwards yesteryear precipitation; they may endure stabilized yesteryear a snowfall for a hateful solar daytime or ii only the intense Colorado Sun chop-chop frees them to rustle across the landscape 1 time again.  Eventually, the armies settle downwards beneath the shrub lines in addition to forest borders, providing fertilizer for adjacent spring's growth.

It's a win-win situation.  Entertainment in addition to no travel for me in addition to natural nutrients for our trees in addition to shrubs.  The mounded leaves too offering wintertime protection for many invertebrates, at to the lowest degree until they are discovered yesteryear the birds, mice, raccoons in addition to skunks that see the farm.

Austin's Botanical Gardens

During our view to Austin, Texas, nosotros had the pleasance to view the city's 2 botanical gardens.  The Zilker Botanical Gardens stretch across the Colorado River hills only due west of the downtown area.  Relatively minor but attractive, this save mingles a natural ecosystem amongst native plantings, historic structures in addition to a diverseness of H2O features.  Access is via a network of paved in addition to earthen trails, bridges in addition to stone stairways.

Much larger in addition to nationally famous is the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center (also known equally the Texas Botanical Gardens), southwest of the key metropolis area.  It likewise offers a mix of natural habitat, plantings in addition to historic structures in addition to is a middle for educational activity in addition to horticultural research.  The extensive, apartment landscape is accessed yesteryear several miles of paved in addition to unpaved trails.

More than peaceful destinations for observing in addition to photographing flowers, modern botanical gardens oftentimes innovate visitors to plants from across the globe but focus primarily on regional flora.  Emphasis is placed on both educational activity in addition to conservation in addition to attentive patrons attain appreciation for evolutionary adaptations inwards the establish public in addition to the vital roles that plants play inwards our natural ecosystems.  For birders, botanical gardens, amongst their wide array of establish life, e'er attract an first-class diverseness of species. 

The Instance For Kelp

After reading Melissa Clark's article on kelp inwards yesterday's New York Times, I was inspired to spread the give-and-take regarding this marine vegetable, an environment-friendly nutrient rootage that may play an of import business office inwards coming together the nutrition demands of our ever-expanding population.  Long "farmed" inwards other regions of the globe, kelp has piece of employment a substitute rootage of income for fisherman inwards northern regions of North America who bring suffered from dwindling fish populations together with limitations placed on their annual catch.

Per Ms. Clark, kelp is a tasty bird of seaweed, dissimilar or together with thence others that bring been farmed across the globe.  Furthermore, it is fast growing together with requires cypher to a greater extent than than an anchor rope, drawing its nutrition from the sea and, inwards concert, extracting pollutants such every bit carbon dioxide, nitrogen together with phosphorus (combating acidification of bounding main H2O together with potentially playing a meaning business office inwards our efforts to scrap global warming).

Already used inwards upscale restaurants across the country, kelp could piece of employment a staple inwards the American diet; indeed, it is rich inwards numerous vitamins together with minerals and, similar other vegetables, is a proficient rootage of fiber.  While I bring absolutely no qualifications when it comes to repast preparation, she reports that kelp is used inwards salads, pasta dishes together with every bit a garnish exceptional amongst fish together with diverse meats.  Watch for this nutritious together with environment-friendly exceptional at your local grocery together with laissez passer on it a attempt out for Mother Earth!

Insect Command On The Farm

As I create got mentioned inwards the past, nosotros produce non purpose insecticides on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  However, nosotros produce host hundreds of assistants that popular off along the insect population inwards check, working for zero to a greater extent than than their meals.

Chickadees, nuthatches, bushtits, woodpeckers, warblers, gnatcatchers, catbirds, identify wrens, western tanagers as well as Bullock's orioles glean insects from the trees as well as shrubs.  Flycatchers, Say's phoebes, cedar waxwings, tree as well as barn swallows, broad-tailed hummingbirds as well as western kingbirds snare them from mid air, joined past times piddling chocolate-brown bats as well as mutual nighthawks at dusk.  American robins, crows, starlings, grackles, flickers, blueish jays, magpies, kestrels as well as spotted towhees scour the the world for insects as well as grubs, assisted past times garter snakes, lizards as well as the occasional toad.  Even a few insects (primarily dragonflies, ladybird beetles as well as wasps) create got part, non to shout nearly spiders.

In provide for their work, nosotros offering a broad diverseness of native leafage (including berry crops), brush piles, a rootage of fresh H2O as well as an insecticide-free landscape.  Quite a bargain for us as well as a selection that all belongings owners tin easily brand inwards our articulation endeavor to protect the environment.

Yellow Sweetness Clover

Perhaps due to our moisture spring, stands of yellowish sweetness clover are peculiarly large too vivid along the Front Range this year.  That fact, combined amongst questioning from a friend, encouraged me to await into the beginning too nature of this plant.

Native to Eurasia, yellowish sweetness clover is a legume too non a truthful clover.  It is a biennial plant, having a two-year life cycle; during the start twelvemonth it is low-growing too flowerless while, inwards its minute year, it produces branching stems, upward to 6 feet tall, adorned amongst racemes of small, yellow, fragrant flowers.  The latter, which bloom from June to September, yield seeds that may survive feasible for upward to 35 years if atmospheric condition for germination are non ideal; for that reason, yellowish sweetness clover is oft invasive inwards areas amongst poor, dry out soil.  A deep tap root too makes the constitute drought tolerant and, similar other legumes, sweetness clover improves reach down character yesteryear adding nitrogen to the reach down through its root system.

Known to furnish large amounts of nectar for honeybees, yellowish sweetness clover has too been used to stabilize soils too to furnish nutritious provender for livestock.  However, this constitute contains coumarin, an anticoagulant used inwards the production of warfarin too rat poison; low-coumarin subspecies convey hence been developed for purpose inwards hayfields too pastures. 

Pumpkin Seed Dormancy

This year, next a cool, wet boundary together with a hot, dry out summer, a pumpkin constitute appeared on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  Not a surprising event, i powerfulness think, simply nosotros accept non planted pumpkins hither for at to the lowest degree 23 years!

The lonely constitute is growing inwards an expanse where nosotros i time had a pumpkin field together with is clearly the production of a long dormant seed.  While close pumpkin seeds germinate easily, given proper conditions, this i remained dormant for either exogenous or endogenous reasons; the erstwhile refers to inadequate moisture, oestrus or nutrients (or an unusually dense seed coat that did non allow essential ingredients to arrive at the seed embryo) spell the latter indicates abnormalities or inhibitors inside the embryo itself.   This year, proper weather condition together with a receptive seed led to germination.

Seed dormancy is mutual inwards the constitute world, preventing germination when environmental weather condition create non favor survival or when over-crowding would upshot if all seeds germinated.  Dormant seeds that are hundreds or fifty-fifty thousands of years old accept been discovered inwards nature simply our 23+ year-old pumpkin constitute is impressive plenty for me!

A View To The Rbge

Having evolved since the belatedly 1600s, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh was formally established inward the 1870s together with has occupied its electrical current place e'er since.  Free to earth (except for access to its Glass Houses (greenhouse exhibits), the gardens stretch across a hilltop inward due north Edinburgh, offering wide views of the historic city.

Its seventy acres, accessed yesteryear a fine network of paved, graveled together with grassy paths, are adorned amongst plants from across the footing together with from every major ecosystem on our planet.  Almost every bit various are the visitors, arriving from many countries to relish the history together with world amenities of this attractive city. We were fortunate to explore the gardens on a mild, sunny twenty-four hr menses (seemingly rare inward Scotland) together with were pleased to larn nearly the cooperative query that the RBGE conducts amongst to a greater extent than than xl other countries across the globe.  In this era of climate modify together with ongoing habitat destruction, that commitment is specially important.

If I were to offering 1 proposition (as I am inclined to do), I would label the plants amongst their mutual names, secondarily identifying them amongst their scientific Genus together with species; at this Gardens, scientific labeling was primarily utilized.  Since most visitors convey had no formal preparation inward botany, they would probable last to a greater extent than appreciative of the fabulous diverseness of plants if their mutual names were known.  After all, world back upward for the complex operate of conservation organizations is vital together with it is best if visitors are non overwhelmed yesteryear the scientific terminology.  Just my opinion.