Wednesday, October 20, 2010

MAC Tour

This morning drove to the Montezuma Audubon Center (MAC) to meet up with Naturalist Dave Spier. Tour was scheduled for 10:30AM. Two Americorp women, Rebecca and Julie, joined us on the walk around the MAC grounds.

Once in the field Dave identified two flowers:



New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae


White Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides

Dave also noted the Picris that was scattered along the path. He pointed out the rough leaf with its bristles.

We came upon several Evening Primrose stems. Dave mentioned how these stiff stems broadcast the seeds when the wind blows.



There were still several Queen Anne's lace plants gracing the fields. Dave mentioned that this plant is often referred to as wild carrot.


Queen Anne's lace
Daucus carota

Along the path into the woods Dave drew our attention to two different types of galls.

Goldenrod Bunch Gall

Goldenrod Ball Gall

Also along the path Dave showed us ground cherry, which I call Chinese lantern, rose hips, wild basil and burdock.

Wild Basil

According to Dave wild basil is a member of the mint family. He had us feel the square stems and touch the asymmetrical leaves.

Burdock

Dave had us flip our binoculars and examine the burdock. There in the lens one could see the tiny hooks covering the surface of the burr. Dave then related the story of how Swiss engineer, George de Mestral, used the this information to develop Velcro.

Once in the woods Dave noted a Hackberry tree with its distinctive corky ridges and small wart-like bumps.




Then we came up to one of my favorite trees - the Wolf Tree.




Due to time restraints we did not continue down the trail.

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