International Rock Flipping Day

International Rock Flipping Day, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Some rocks are harder to flip than others. I actually did not move this one too much. OK, I didn't move it at all but some of the rocks at the base of this one were flipped.

Eastern Black Nightshade

Eastern Black Nightshade, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Since the microscope is out and hooked up, I thought I should look at a few more flowers. This one is Solanum ptychanthum and will have black berries. That's why the "black" nightshade got its name in spite of the white and yellow flowers. The actual size of the flower is less than 1 cm ( 4 in).

Ragweed

Ragweed, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Many people are allergic to the pollen from Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia ). Since it blooms the same time as the showier Goldenrod, the Goldenrod often gets the blame. Goldenrod pollen is fairly heavy and sticky and does not go far. According to once source that I read, Ragweed pollen can travel up to 400 miles (640 km). It is also abundant as each plant can produce up to a billion pollen grains. [Information from John Eastman's The Book of Field and Roadside.]

Swing Time

Swing Time, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Kids, and maybe some adults, have used this rope for swinging out and into the Groundhog River in Fauquier, Ontario under the railway bridge.

Sunrise at the Bridge

Sunrise at the Bridge, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I spent a couple of hours at the two bridges in Fauquier taking varioius photos of the railway and highway bridges on August 19.