Arlington Natural Connections Project

Happy Earth Day, Easter, Spring

2011-04-22T05:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Beverly Snodgrass, for this link to a short video showing beautiful and moving scenes from the place we call home: Creation Calls . Take a 6 minute video tour. Then today, Earth Day 2011, be sure to get outside if you can.

The visuals are from the BBC Planet Earth Series, the soundtrack is an original song by Brian Doerksen. The beauty of nature around us is always moving and inspiring. Happy Earth Day, Easter, and in celebration of however you connect to the living universe. In reverence, joy, awe, and gratitude.

Link to Creation Calls video is here: CREATION CALLS

Victory Garden Update - Peas are Up!

2011-04-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

Sure glad to see the peas sprouting up, after two weeks! Looking closely, I spotted one fearless adventurer poking above the soil. Over the next days, many others broke through, beginning to define the three short rows. The folded leaves were very small, but with miraculous structure, like the tiny fingers of a baby.

Tiny two-leaved lettuce seedlings also created a delicate green sparkle. The six larger "Ruby Red" transplants are also getting established nicely (not shown). First pickings of select leaves could begin in only a week or two. Weather has been excellent for seed germination (regular rain) and for growth of cool weather plants. A rain collection barrel, conveniently located alongside the house, near to my front yard Victory Garden, has provided daily water on sunny days.

Checking my seed collection from previous years for early season planting possibilities, I found some Kohlrabi seedlings from 1998. I took a chance on these, planting about 5-10 seeds in six different places. A fun and unusual vegetable to grow. Using intensive planting techniques this year, to make the most a small sunny garden plot. Similar to "Square Foot Gardening", only more free form.

The potatoes haven't yet arrived. I was hoping to get them in the ground this Patriots day, but it looks like that will have to wait until next weekend. In the back garden, the hellebore flowers have been putting on a wonderful show, despite being under snow at the beginning of April.
Email JOE@NaturalConnectionsProject.com for more information about the Victory Garden Community or for an invite to our first Victory Garden Club Spring Party (tentative date - Sunday May 1). If you enjoy these posts, you can enter your email address in the box to the right to receive notification whenever new material is posted.

Victory Garden Update

2011-04-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

The average last frost date for Arlington is about May 15. On the morning of Saturday April 9, a shimmering frost did shine from my Victory Garden in the Morningside area of Arlington. Garlic shoots though provided a shot of early spring optimism - another great reason to plant garlic in the Fall, around about Columbus Day (October).

Inspired by the sunny day, and buds on the trees, I brought home a small haul of herbs (rosemary, parsley), kale, and lettuce seedlings from Pemberton Farms garden center (Mass Ave in North Cambridge). To their credit, they only stocked seedlings likely to survive planting at this time, and also had the average last frost date posted at the cash register. Prices pretty reasonable too, this basketload only set me back about $10.

I divided a huge thyme plant and planted the herbs, lettuce and kale. I have few things to offer to other Arlington Victory Gardeners:

1) Plenty of thyme cuttings that I placed in water - many have roots already.

2) Three kale seedlings - good for soups, salads, great early season crop.

3) Thanks to online research and expert selection by my "Head Gardner", Sally Naish of Light and Shade Garden Design, I'll have some certified organic seed potatoes to share later this week. Decided to try potatoes again after mixed results in the past, before our soil had been built up by years of organic enrichment - frequent compost and chipped leaves every Fall.

Email JOE@NaturalConnectionsProject.com for more information about the Victory Garden Community or for an invite to our first Victory Garden Club party (tentative date - Sunday May 1).

This week I learned that the Menotomy Gardeners Email List will be having a garden swap soon.

Victory Garden Club 2011

2011-04-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Garlic planted last Fall in our Arlington Victory Garden emerged several weeks ago, shoots poking through the 1-3" snow cover from the April Fools Eve snowstorm. Glad I missed planting peas the previous weekend, if they had sprouted the snow would have probably done them in. But on Sunday, April 3 the soil and weather were fine for this year's first sowing: two types of snap peas and a hopeful early try for a mesclun mix. If anyone would like some of the pea seeds I have plenty to share - see below.

Pushing back the layer of chipped leaf mulch, I was delighted to find this spry wriggler in the soil layer.

While planting, I was cheered by spring squill volunteers, scattered along the gravel path surrounding our front yard Victory Garden.

This year the Arlington Natural Connections Project is hosting an informal "Victory Garden Club". We'll start out with a social gathering to share seeds, maybe seedlings, plans and hopes for our 2011 Victory Gardens. As the season progresses we can share produce, water each others gardens during vacation times, share tips, recipes and salsa, outsmart wily gophers, and devise creative ways to foist off those overgrown August zucchinis on unsuspecting Arlingtonians.

Email INFO@NATURALCONNECTIONSPROJECT.COM for more information or for an invite to our first Victory Garden Club party. This year, you can know for CERTAIN where at least some of your food comes from. Happy Home Gardening in 2011 to all!

For another interesting local gardening project see: Cooperative Learning Project at Robbins Farm Park. Especially interesting for anyone interested in gardening as part of a cooperative group or if you might not have space to garden where you live.

Arlington Natural Connections Website Now ONLINE!

2010-10-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

The Arlington Natural Connections Project is pleased to announce that our website is now available online at

NaturalConnectionsProject.com

The home page currently features our "Scenes of the Season" photo calendar, with pictures showing seasonal changes in Arlington (and nearby) in 2010.

Check in often for ideas about connecting to nature, in Arlington Massachusetts. You may also consider signing up for updates from our Arlington Natural Connections weblog.

The mission of the Arlington Natural Connections Project is to promote a sense of connection to the natural world at the local level by combining an artistic and natural science approach.

The Arlington Natural Connections Project is grateful for funding provided by the Arlington Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

First Visit to Wright-Lock Farm

2010-10-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Wright-Lock Farm is located in Arlington's backyard, just north of the Winchester line at 78 Ridge Road. Established in 1638, it is the oldest continuously farmed property inside Route 128. The town of Winchester purchased the property in 2007. The Wright-Lock Farm Conservancy was created by a vote at the Spring 2008 Winchester Town Meeting to continue limited farming operations, develop passive recreational opportunities, sponsor educational programs, and preserve the historic landscape. The farm now welcomes the public to a treasure of hillsides and paths connecting to the Whipple Hill and Locke Conservation areas. During summer a self-pick raspberry operation is becoming a favorite attraction.

RASPBERRY FIELDS at the WRIGHT-LOCK FARM

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On Sunday October 10, as part of Winchester's Week of Environmental Awareness and Action, Alan Field led a tour through the paths and farm structures. Fall color was just beginning to come to the trees, the sun was warm, the air was crisp, a perfect fall day.

GRASSY MEADOWS, SQUARE WELL and POND

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LOOKING BACK TOWARD THE BARNS FROM UP THE HILL

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YELLOW FLOWERS ON A GRASSY HILLSIDE (SNAPDRAGONS?)

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The property has many peaceful paths, with the din of city noise and vehicles almost imperceptible.

The circular horse riding area is a relatively recent but picturesque addition. The barn to the left in the photo was built in 1827 for animals, wagons and farm equipment, some of which still remains. The Squash House to the right was built in 1915 to store and protect squash from freezing, so that it could be taken to Boston in winter, using a massive sled over icy fields and roads. The farm was known for Blue Hubbard squash, which is still grown there today.

1827 BARN (LEFT) - 1915 SQUASH HOUSE (RIGHT)

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RAILS of SLED USED TO TAKE HUBBARD SQUASH to BOSTON MARKETS

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OLD FARM EQUIPMENT STILL IN 1827 BARN

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ALAN FIELD OPENING DOOR TO SQUASH HOUSE BARN

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STORAGE RACKS FOR BLUE HUBBARD SQUASH IN 1915 SQUASH HOUSE

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The town of Winchester has shown great vision and conviction by purchasing this historic property and establishing a citizen-based volunteer conservancy. A number of plans have been put forth for housing and mixed use. While these uses might provide a financial return on the investment, the benefits of emphasizing preservation of this stunning natural area and historical treasure hopefully will take precedence. In the meantime I plan to take full advantage of proximity, and visit often.

One can support The Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy at their website. They also have occasional fundraisers, like an Open House on October 17 2010 featuring tours of the barn and it's contents by John Ott, former Director of the National Heritage Museum. I first learned about the farm at the Saturday morning Winchester Farmers Market, on the Winchester Town Square until October 30.

Thank you Alan Field for your efforts at the farm, your service as a Conservancy Board Member, and a great walk and tour.

Written in Stone - New England Geology

2010-01-24T20:19:00.000-08:00

After Ed Myskowski piqued my interest in the geology of New England, I borrowed "Written in Stone" by Chet and Maureen Raymo from the Arlington Robbins Library. A great introduction to the geology of New England. Plate tectonics is central to the discussion. It has changed my whole conception of time, and how mountains, lakes, rivers and valleys formed.

I had heard about "Pangea" the super-continent, but hadn't heard about how the continents were arranged before they coalesced to form Pangea. As impressive as our mountains are now, this book describes how before Pangea a mountain range rivaling the Himalayans stood along what is now the East Coast of North America. At the time though, this land was located near the equator.

The continents have joined and separated, plant and animal species have come and gone, rocks have formed, compressed and changed, mountains have been thrust up and have eroded to plains. In geologically recent times, the land has been shaped and tilled by glaciers. In the last few moments of geologic time, a creature with an unusually large brain has walked the earth. The longevity of this species is to be determined, over the next few 100 millions of years.

For a great animation of the tectonic movements of the earth's land masses, leading to our current continents, see this Animation from UC Berkeley . Note that you can step through the sequence slowly with the left/right arrow keys. Watch Florida float into place at about 430-270 (million years ago) and India zoom up and slam into Asia starting about 120 million years ago.

Added on 6 Mar 2010: A video dramatization and Plate Tectonics primer:

Geology Hike at Middlesex Fells

2009-12-06T16:52:00.000-08:00

"Because it helps you build up a relationship to the earth in a mysterious kind of way ..."

On Saturday morning December 5, ~30 people gathered at Bellevue Pond in the Middlesex Fells for a Geology Hike sponsored by the Friends of the Fells and led by Ed Myskowski of the Peabody Essex Museum. Ed is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to share his considerable insight into the geology of New England. Before setting out he covered the basics of plate tectonics and the effects of glaciers on the New England landscape. He even delved into recent theories proposing that periodic variation in the earth's tilt (varying between 21-24 degrees, with a period of 40,000 yrs) is responsible for the historical cycles of glaciation observed (~100,000 yr period), and discussed possible implications for climate change in the future. Ed is pictured below with a gabbro boulder that seems to have been conveniently placed alongside the pond for demonstration purposes. This type of rock is ~600 million years old, sometimes called "country rock", meaning, a component of the local bedrock. It formed at a time when the continents were still connected in a big land mass (called Pangea). New England was butted up into what is now north-western Africa.

Igneous rocks (from molten magma far below the surface) make up some of the more interesting formations in the Fells. While the varying compositions and formation mechanisms are complicated enough to be the lifetime work of many geologists, their beauty is easy to grasp. Ed told a great story about talking to a group of young school children about igneous rocks. It seemed to Ed their attention was drifting, so he asked "but why should we care about igneous rocks?". A reply came back: "because it helps you build up a relationship with the earth in a mysterious kind of way". I bet Ed felt great about his work with kids on THAT day.

The word "Fells" is an English word for "rocky windblown hills". Formations as shown below give character to the terrain, making for enjoyable hiking. The numerous paths are also favored by runners.

Our hike took us to Wright's Tower on the south-eastern tip of the West side of the Fells. Great views of the Boston Skyline, and the site of the ancient Boston Caldera. (That's another story, that Ed will talk about on February 9 2010, watch the Friends of Fells site for details).

I like the combination of the natural Lynn rhyolite rock feature and the man-made stairs and tower.

I can almost still see the swirling magma flows in this rock, and the glacial scratches.

And wow, does it confuse a compass - the white line painted on the rock in the photo below runs North/South. As you can see, the compass points almost due west!

One of the most clear examples of a dike, where magma has intruded into cracks in the bedrock. Some grass has grown where the two rock types meet, providing an even better marking of the division.

Click on any of the photos for more detail.

Winter Moths

2009-11-29T20:51:00.000-08:00

The Winter Moth have definitely arrived in Arlington MA. These photos were taken the evening of November 25 2009. The male moths shown are attracted to light and to the wingless females. After mating, eggs are laid in tree bark crevices, under lichen and elsewhere. In the spring the eggs hatch and release tiny and destructive caterpillars (larvae). They eat tree leaves, dropping their droppings below, and swing down and sideways onto other trees by filaments. They are destructive to oaks, apple trees, roses, other perennials, and are the bane of blueberry growers in coastal areas, inflicting considerable economic damage. You may have seen swarms of these when driving at night or raking leaves.

For more information, see the excellent U Mass Extension Fact Sheet

by Robert Childs and Deborah Swanson.

Middlesex Fells - Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2009, Arlington MA - a morning with fog so dense and white that trees just a block away faded into mist. Damp but fragrant air, temperatures in the mid 40's. A great day for a walk in the Middlesex Fells, a natural treasure just around the corner in Medford.

The light on this cloudy day illuminated mossy logs and lichen-covered rocks in a magical way. The photos show a "nurse log", supporting vibrant green moss, a pine seedling, and a small community of healthy fungi. A tiny wintergreen (pipsissewa) grows alongside - it will provide a welcome green all through the winter.

We traversed many small hills and ravines. A pervasive quiet, and sounds of birds left the din of civilization fading into the background. At one point we paused, hearing the sound of something dropping from trees. Might it be just water droplets? Looking skyward, we saw birds feeding on catkins in a tall birch tree. We were hearing the sounds of bits falling from these crumbling catkins as they hit the brown crinkly leaves covering the ground. I had never experienced this before. Nature will always surprise and delight.

You may click on the photos above for a larger image.

The Route: Start at the smaller Parking area just south of the Long Pond Parking area on South Border Road, on the west border of the Fells. Proceed south along the Skyline Trail, about 1/4 mile to where it joins the Reservoir trail. Take the Reservoir trial north for about a mile, to north of Nanepashemet Hill, where it crosses the Skyline trail. Take the Skyline trail left, turning south for the return trip. While the trails are very well marked with white and orange blazes (small squares on the trees and painted on rocks), having the excellent map and guide published by the Friends of the Fells is essential for not getting lost in the Fells (not that getting lost is all that bad).

Seasonal Scenes: Jan-Feb-March 2009

2009-04-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

The winter of 2008-2009 brought us our share of snow and cold in Arlington MA, but many days were also sunny. Getting out into nature was always restorative and much needed. The video below shows typical nature scenes in Arlington and vicinity at this time of year. Relax and enjoy the scenes and music. Most importantly though, there is no substitute for getting out and experiencing nature first-hand. The video shows several places in or very near to Arlington that are wonderful places to explore.

The Arlington Natural Connections Project would appreciate receiving contributions of photos that document nature in the current season. Select photos may be displayed in on-line galleries, photo collage videos or other works created as activities of the Arlington Natural Connections Project. The contributing photographer will be credited, unless anonymity is requested. Please include: place, date, time (optional) the photo was taken, and the photographer to credit. Submission of photos is taken as permission to use in these venues.

Please submit digital photo files to:

joe@naturalconnectionsproject.com

The mission of the Arlington Natural Connections Project is to promote a sense of connection to the natural world by combining an artistic and natural science approach.

Tracking Hike at Arlington Great Meadows

2009-02-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

On Sunday February 1, temperatures soared into the balmy range near 40F. What a great day for a Tracking Hike in Arlington's Great Meadows. The event was organized by Don Miller and David White of the Friends of Arlington's Great Meadows . We split into two groups, one led by Lydia Rogers and one by Fran Ludwig. Although we didn't have the dusty covering of new snow that would make conditions optimal for spotting tracks, we did see some. We learned about the X pattern that all dogs make when they leave a track. We saw squirrel tracks, identifiable by the larger tracks in front (made by the back feet) with smaller tracks in back (from the front feet). I was embarrassed to realize that I didn't really know how squirrels ambulate around, despite having a bird feeder in my yard that is a major squirrel attraction every day. A nice picture of squirrel tracks and a drawing of how they move is here. As usual, you may click on photos to see them enlarged.

The snow was textured by cycles of warm/cold and the rocks, branches and other objects lying underneath.

The Friends of Arlington's Great Meadows group have made many improvements that enhance enjoyment and accessibility.

We saw these beautiful ball-shaped oak galls, and also another type more elongated and integrated into the branches of a bear oak. Although these make interesting additions to my "natural collections", I am always conservative about collecting these galls because they provide such visual interest and are part of a fascinating natural system.

Thanks Lydia, Fran, Don and David for organizing this!

Habitat, Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont MA

2009-01-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

Took a walk on Saturday afternoon, January 24, 2008 around the Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, a Mass Audubon Society property, at 10 Juniper Road, Belmont MA. The temperature was in the 30s, with some wind. The wind was audible, whistling through the pine trees high overhead. Also heard rustling of some oak leaves that have hung on all winter, some lyrical birds, and the occasional tree branch clunking against another as it moved in the wind. The sky was visible through the bare treetops, more so than in summer when the canopy is dense with leaves. The birch grove shined brightly, vividly white. The dense trees shielded walkers from the wind. Especially in the sun, I was quite comfortable when walking around. As usual, you may click on photos to see them larger.

A great place to ward off the effects of nature deficit. Very close to Arlington. Plenty of parking, visitor center has rest rooms.

MicroCosmos Movie

2009-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

As 2009 begins, the weather in Arlington, MA is typical for January - cold and snowy. Put on some warm clothes and get out in it - it's beautiful and exhilirating. Here's a photo of Spy Pond, taken in the afternoon, January 2.

If you are looking for a video to watch, one evening, warm inside, try "MicroCosmos". Wonderful scenes of a meadow in summer, featuring some spectacular close up photography of ants and insects. There are many samples available on YouTube, here is one that shows the beginning scenes:

Link to Microcosmos Part 1 on YouTube

This video gives you a taste of the beauty and genius of nature captured in the film "MicroCosmos". It is available as a DVD rental for only $1 at the Arlington Robbins Library. I find it impossible to watch without being very moved.

Shared and Transitory

2009-01-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

In the Produce Aisle
- by Kirsten Dierking

In the vivid red
of the fresh berries,
in the pebbled skin
of an emerald lime,
in the bright colors
of things made
to be transitory,

you see the same
loveliness
you find in your own
delicate flesh,
the lines fanned
around your eyes
charming like
the burnish
of plums,

your life like
all the other
fragile organics,
your soft hand
hovering over
the succulent apple,
you reach for it,
already transforming.

"In the Produce Aisle" by Kirsten Dierking,
from Northern Oracle. © Spout Press, 2007.

I thank Garrison Keillor and the staff at "The Writer's Almanac" for including this wonderful poem in their serial for New Years Day, 2009. The poem speaks of beauty and connection, and of the temporary and transitory reality that we humans share with all natural things. These subjects are central to the interests and aspirations of the Arlington Natural Connections Project.

Happy New Year 2009 from the Arlington Natural Connections Project!

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*****

Two Places in Alberta Canada

2008-12-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

In August 2008 I visited Wateron Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. Waterton Lakes and Glacier National Park in the US join to form an International Peace Park which is also an UNESCO World Heritage Park and Biosphere Reserve. These parks have fantastic scenery and biodiversity, truly inspiring to visit.

View looking South along Waterton lake.

Photo taken at end of "Peace Park" hike, a ranger led hike that starts in Canada and ends in the US.

Further north in Alberta, operations are underway to extract oil from Oil Sands. There is a huge deposit of oil in these sands. Extraction of the oil is inherently inefficient, requiring an input of ~50% of the energy available in the extracted oil and huge amounts of water, yet extraction from these deposits accounts for almost 50% of the total Canadian oil production. Pop Quiz: What country is the top importer of crude oil to the US? (Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada?). Here is what the operation looks like:

Photo Credit: Jeff McIntosh/AP

Here is what some Canadians think about this great boom to the economy:

For another viewpoint, with essentially the same facts, see the Alberta Government's page on Oil Sands . One of the more sobering facts offered by the government on this site is the following:

"Mineable bitumen deposits are located near the surface and can be recovered by open-pit mining techniques. For example, the Syncrude and Suncor oil sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, use the world's largest trucks and shovels to recover bitumen.
About two tonnes of oil sands must be dug up, moved and processed to produce one barrel of oil."

I wondered, what do we get for our willingness to scrape up two tonnes of the earth. One barrel of crude oil is 42 gallons, which yields approximately 19.5 gallons of gasoline. This would fuel a Prius approximately twice, at 45 miles per gallon would allow a trip of approximately 875 miles, equivalent to a round trip between Boston and Baltimore. Driving an SUV or a vehicle averaging around 20-25 miles per gallon, you would only have enough for a one way trip. To get home, a second two ton scoop would be required.

Top importer of oil to United States: CANADA, by a wide margin.

CANADA - 1,910
SAUDI ARABIA - 1,519
MEXICO - 1,180
VENEZUELA - 1,037
NIGERIA - 941
IRAQ - 652

1000's of barrels/day, source: EIA Figures through Oct 2008 (Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the US Government)

Please conserve and support alternatives to Oil!

Middlesex Fells Ice Beauty - December 14 2008

2008-12-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken on Sunday December 14 2008 in the Middlesex Fells Reservation, along the Reservoir trail, west of the lower pond. Some recent weather had created conditions favorable for some truly wonderful ice patterns. On Thursday-Friday of this week there was a lot of rain, which caused flooding in places. By Friday evening to Saturday temperatures were quite cold, going down into the 20s at night. On Sunday, relatively warmer, temps pushing 40 by the afternoon.

Saw many patches of these long needle-like ice crystals in disturbed areas on the ground. These were about 3/4 inch long, but even longer ones were evident. Please click on the photo above to see how extraordinary these long needles are, the small photo doesn't reveal the detail.

This low lying area was likly flooded to a greater depth in previous days. As the water receded, the ice layer gently bent, melting and refreezing, and sometimes cracking. In some places very thin sheets, about a millimeter or two near their edges were suspended horizontally.

The formation below was razor thin, angled at about 45 degrees against a submerged branch. Extraordinarily crafted and ephemeral.

From Arlington Natural Connections Project

The Arlington Natural Connections project seeks to promote a connection with nature. These images are an example of the richness that awaits, right here in our own backyard. You can click on photos above to view larger and see finer detail.

Update 21 April 2010: Some of these photos are on display in "Images of Arlington: Mystery and Magic" showing at the Tufts Gallery at the Arlington Center for the Arts through June 11, 2010. Reception and awards Sunday May 16, 2-4 PM. I also chanced upon a video by the Boston Pops featuring Ice Photos from the Sudbury River and an accompanying musical composition by the principal horn player Richard Sebring.

Fall 2008 Arlington Community Collection

2008-10-20T05:11:00.000-07:00

The plant and natural materials in this collection were found in Arlington, contributed by many. The collection was assembled on a piece of a downed tree contributed by Becky Edmondson at the February 2008 exhibit at Robbins library.

You may click on photo to enlarge and see extraordinary detail. Notice small, bright orange ball in center. This dogwood fruit was found under a dogwood tree in the Winfield Robbins Memorial Garden between the library and town hall. To the left is part of a insect nest found in the public parking lot behind Arlington Center. Photography by Larry Osgood. (Note: Additional identifications and locations to be added - J Snodgrass, ANC)

Goals of the Natural Connections Project

2008-09-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

1. Develop and sponsor artistic and natural science projects to promote a greater sense of our connection to the natural world.

2. Promote greater awareness of the beauty and genius of nature and the connections between all living things and the earth.

3. Promote awareness of the effects of our human creations and actions on the world.

4. Foster access to the restorative and healing aspects of connection with the nature.

5. Maintain a website, newsletter and other means of communication to realize the above goals.

The Arlington Natural Connections projects is also seeking collaborators with skills in the following areas, and/or an interest in the project. Please email Joe at jtshome AT gmail.com if interested.

Web Site Design and Implementation (urgent need)

Photography, Video Production (amatuer or advanced)

Public Relations, communications, special projects

Natural science: Plant and tree identification, botany, knowledge of fungus/lichens.

Geology

More Natural Collections

2008-03-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Below are additional examples of recent collections. Click on photos to view larger.

Basket from "10,000 Villages" coop in Central Square, Cambridge MA. Note Oak Gall in center, collected at Noanet Woodlands.

Items collected near Harwichport, Cape Cod, MA March 2007. Learned from an Arlington neighbor that long white item in center is an egg case from a whelk.

More items collected from the Cape, winter 2007. Long brown curled leaves are from a rhododendron. Basket below is a sweetgrass basket, from North Carolina USA.

Small branch ends, found in the Killian quad, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), February 2008. Buds had formed, but for some reason branch ends had fallen off - found on the sidewalk. Bowl is pressed bamboo, made in Vietnam, bought at "10,000 Villages" artists coop, Central Square, Cambridge MA.

Examples of Natural Collections

2008-01-13T15:32:00.000-08:00

You may click on pictures to view larger.

From October 2006 - Pine needles, flowering parts from a volunteer plant (some might call it a weed) in my yard, pine needles, acorns. The white pieces are leftover from garlic planting (basal root plates)

From November 2006 - Oak leaves, Beautyberry, Pine Branch, fungi.

December 2006 - last rose of summer, moss, birch bark, holly, other volunteer plants.