Green Frog

Green Frog 2, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Most times, when I approach a frog, the frog jumps quickly and disappears. This one did not jump until I was only a few centimetres away with my camera.

Night Photo

Not Quite, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

Trying my camera at night photography.

Slug Colours

Slug Colours, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

I have not spent too much time on blogs lately. Yes, I am sure you noticed. So much to do in the yard and so little time. (Did I mention energy?) Anyway, my plan is to put up some of my Flickr photos and a brief note for those of you that read blogs and don't go to Flickr. There just is not enough time in the day to do everything, is there?

Geo Blitz Thoughts

As much as I enjoyed the Bio Blitz fieldwork, the paperwork at the end is getting me down a bit. I have over 800 plants on my database that I have identified over the years but only at the genus/species level. All the other information (family, order, class, division) I have to look up. And then there are the birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, spiders that I only know by their common names that need lots of research for even the genius and species information. Oh well, even if I don't get the information sent in, I still had a good time out in the field and now I am learning more about plants. Today, while I was at the herbarium at the Royal Botanical Garden, I found out that there are over 700 lichens in Ontario. (I don't know any of them.) There are over 540 mosses. (I keyed out one last year, but I don't remember the name.) There are over 130 liverworts. (Again I cannot identify any of them.) There are only 4 hornworts. (But I would not recognize one if I tripped over it.) There are 15 native conifers. (I think I can sort these out fairly quickly.) There are just over 170 trees and 340 shrubs. (I know more trees than shrubs.) There are 1900 herbs. (OK, my 800 is not looking too good here either.) Notice that I did not even mention the 270+ grasses and 360+ sedges and rushes. I guess what the Bio Blitz has shown me, is how much there is yet to learn. Back to the books . . .

Snake Story

Snake Story, originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer.

At the Royal Botanical Gardens today there were hundreds of school children being introduced to a variety of nature experiences including an illustrated talk on endangered species. I attempted to take some photos while the lecture was going on of some of the endangered animals they were showing. It was not very light in the auditorium so most of my photos were somewhat blurry, as I did not use the flash on my camera out of respect for the animals. What impressed me the most about the presentation and audience was a very young girl who passed me on the way out and asked how my photos were. I told her they were not too good due to the light. She replied that I was the only one who cared enough about the animals to not use the flash and the animals were less frightened because of me. I was impressed that she noticed and knew why I had not used the flash. There is hope for at least some of our youth!