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I grew up right off the Chesapeake Bay. I can remember spending lazy summer days swimming in the tributaries of the bay and catching our dinner of blue crabs off the docks. I learned how to tie up a chicken neck like a champ before I learned how to drive. And I used to be able to pick one of these crustaceans clean in a flat minute. Blue crabs are easily spotted because of their bright blue … [Read more...]
Daisies {InstaScience}
Around this time of year we start to see Pumpkin Spiced Lattes and fall colored floral arrangements. Most of these flower bunches include a few daisies thanks to their variety of fall-ish colors. These flowers can be red, pink, purple, yellow, or orange. But their most iconic look is white with a yellow center. With daisies, what we see as one flower is actually a composite flower. Each daisy … [Read more...]
Milkweed Tussock Caterpillar {InstaScience}
As I sat with my cup of coffee in hand looking out at nature the other morning, I spotted a hairy little caterpillar making its way up a milkweed stalk. The furry orange and black creature was a milkweed tussock caterpillar, which are pretty common around this time of year. The milkweed plant is the most common host plant for this type of tussock caterpillar. The female tussock moth lays eggs … [Read more...]
Queen Anne’s Lace {InstaScience}
One of my favorite late summer field flowers is the Queen Anne’s Lace. There is a myth that says this flower has been named after Queen Anne of England who was an expert in making lace. Based on the legends, Queen Anne pricked her finger with a needle and a single drop of blood fell onto the lace, leaving the dark purple floret found in the flower's center. However the color got there, these … [Read more...]
Purple Coneflower {InstaScience}
I am in love with purple and with fresh flowers, so you know that when we came across these amazing looking purple coneflowers on one of our walks, we had to stop to take a picture! The purple coneflower is a wildflower that looks like a daisy. It is an erect, perennial herb that grows 1-3 feet stems in height and has medium-green lanced-shaped leaves. The flowers are typically purple, but the … [Read more...]
Travertine {InstaScience}
We went for a hike on a trail that boasted some of the largest travertine deposits in the area. I was super excited to see these deposits in person, but when we got there - my excitement temporarily fell. It looked like a bunch of mud piled up everywhere - not so pretty - until we got up close and could really see the beauty in this sedimentary rock. Travertine is a type of limestone. It … [Read more...]