#dogwood 2018

[jonnysinsectcatalogue]

Dogwood Spittlebug - Clastoptera proteus

As far as this little Bug goes, this is the only picture I have of it. I had hoped for more pictures, but since they're so tiny, finding another specimen has proven difficult. A Hopper like this one can also be very skittish...yet another reason why this is the only picture at time of writing. Although tiny, this insect's most common form (pictured here) is very distinct and easily identifiable with its compact body and yellow forewing marking along the body. There are many variations in color: some individuals have more black and others more yellow, and in some cases the yellow wing patch may be completely darkened! In order to conclusively identify this Spittlebug, look to the head and discover a series of yellow/black bandings. Similar species within Clastoptera lack this banding. Without this, a common form C. proteus can easily be confused for the similar-looking Heath Spittlebug (C. saintcyri), while melanistic forms are reminiscent of C. testacea (the males specifically). Identification could be tricky, but these brightly colored specimens are simple to identify compared to other North American "Clastopterans" that have a brown, mottled appearance. Picture the patch on the rear wing of this individual, but coloring the whole body! A dissection microscope would be an essential tool for distinguishing between species!

This picture was taken on July 7, 2018 with a Samsung Galaxy S4. I hope to find another example of this insect in the coming years. At least one more, perhaps on its host plant: dogwood. At the very least, other insects might be found since that tree is a popular host with insects beyond this one such as the Dogwood Sawfly and Dogwood Calligrapha Beetle.

[teddy-bear-naps-and-random-snaps]

[glittergroovy]

Post Directory: Nicole Dollanganger

album: Natural Born Losers (2015)

Poacher's Pride / Mean / White Trashing / Swan / In The Land / Alligator Blood / Executioner / American Tradition / Angels Of Porn (II) / A Marvelous Persona / You're So Cool

album: Heart Shaped Bed (2018)

Uncle / Tammy Faye / Lemonade / My Baby / Heart Shaped Bed / Snake / Beautiful & Bad / Chapel / Only Angels Have Wings / Lacrymaria Olor

album: Married In Mount Airy (2023)

Married In Mount Airy / Gold Satin Dreamer / Dogwood / Runnin' Free / Bad Man / My Darling True / Moonlite / Sometime After Midnight / Nymphs Finding The Head Of Orpheus / Summit Song / Whispering Glades / I'll Wait For You To Call

Other:

Dog Teeth

[lois-bryan]

"Night Blooming Dogwood" ... a fun title, there really is no such thing ... but I loved the dark background that I used, so the title just seemed to fit. Hand-painted, digitally, in #CorelPainter, back in 2018, using one of my own photos as a starting place. Not an Ai generated image.

It's at my website, here: https://lois-bryan.pixels.com/featured/night-blooming-dogwood-lois-bryan.html

[poem-today]

A poem by Ursula K. Le Guin

Quatrains

AUTUMN gold of amber red of ember brown of umber all September MCCOY CREEK Over the bright shallows now no flights of swallows. Leaves of the sheltering willow dangle thin and yellow.

OCTOBER At four in the morning the west wind moved in the leaves of the beech tree with a long rush and patter of water, first wave of the dark tide coming in. SOLSTICE On the longest night of all the year in the forests up the hill, the little owl spoke soft and clear to bid the night be longer still.

THE WINDS OF MAY are soft and restless in their leafy garments that rustle and sway making every moment movement.

HAIL The dogwood cowered under the thunder and the lilacs burned like light itself against the storm-black sky until the hail whitened the grass with petals.

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018)

Author Photograph: William Anthony

More poems by Ursula K. Le Guin are available through her website.  

[brookston]

Holidays 4.12

Holidays

Anniversary of the Big Wind

Big Wind Day

Children’s Day (Bolivia, Haiti)

Cosmonaut Day (a.k.a. Cosmonautics Day; Russia)

Day of Science (Kazakhstan)

Day of Silence

Day of Space and Rocket Industry Workers (Ukraine)

D.E.A.R. Day (a.k.a. Drop Everything And Read Day)

Eat All Your Snacks Before the Movie Even Starts Day

Education and Sharing Day [11 Nissan]

Festival to Preserve Corn (Cochumatan Indians; Guatemala)

412 Day

Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse

Halifax Day (North Carolina)

Hell is a Democracy Day

Horse Chestnut Day (French Republic)

Human Spaceflight Day

International Day for Street Children

International Day of Human Space Flight

Jersey Day (Canada)

Kamakura Matsuri (Japan)

Lakritsdagen (Sweden)

Lucid Dreaming Day

National Boob Touch Day

National Colorado Day

National Deskfast

National Dolores Day

National Donate Life Blue & Green Day

National Elbow Day

National For Twelves Day

National Gavin Day

National Hanging Out Day

National Health Day (Kiribati)

National Julia Day

National Mac Day

National Maya Day

National Only Child Day

National Radiologic & Imaging Nurses Day

National Redemption Day (Liberia)

National Shagging Day

National Silvia Day

Nicki Day

Pan Day (Japan)

Portable Typewriter Day 

Reach As High As You Can Day

Russian Cosmonaut Day

Selena Day (Texas)

Single Mother Appreciation Day

Songkran begins (Thailand) [Extra day added in 2018]

Teak Awareness Day

Walk On Your Wild Side Day

Wear a Star Day

World Hamster Day

Yuri's Night (International)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Colorado Pint Day

National Buy a Loaf of Bread Day

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

National Licorice Day

2nd Friday in April

Audubon Day [2nd Friday]

Fast and Prayer Day (Liberia) [2nd Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

National Dive Bar Day [2nd Friday] (Also 7.7)

Teal Day [2nd Friday]

Independence & Related Days

Halifax Independence Day (North Carolina)

Nye (a.k.a. Republic of Nye, f.k.a. Nye County; Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Tuposian Empire (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

Sinhala New Year’s Day (Sri Lanka)

Festivals Beginning April 12, 2024

Atlanta Dogwood Festival (Atlanta, Georgia) [thru 4.14]

Atlantic City Beer & Music Fest (Atlantic City, New Jersey) [thru 4.13]

Bone Sucking’ Sauce Peak City Pig Fest (Apex, North Carolina) [thru 4.13]

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Indio, California) [thru 4.14]

Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [thru 4.13]

Moo, Brew & ‘Que Music Fest (Charlotte, North Carolina) [thru 4.14]

Orange Bowl Food and Wine Celebration (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Paris Book Festival (Paris, France) [thru 4.14]

Pear Blossom Festival (Medford, Oregon) [thru 4.13]

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival (Ponchatoula, Louisiana) [thru 4.14]

Potent Strawberry Festival (Potent, Texas) [thru 4.14]

Rhododendron Festival (Hiawassee, Georgia) [thru 5.12]

St. Elias Food & Cultural Festival (Birmingham, Alabama) [thru 4.13]

San Joaquin Asparagus festival (Stockton, California) [thru 4.14]

South Carolina Strawberry Festival (Fort Mill, South Carolina) [thru 5.4]

World grits Festival (St. George, South Carolina) [thru 4.13]

Feast Days

Adoniram Judson (Episcopal Church)

Alferius (Christian; Saint)

A. Ligator (Muppetism)

Angelo Carletti di Chivasso (Christian; Saint)

Beverly Cleary (Writerism)

Cerealia (Old Roman Goddess of Grain, Ceres)

Chu-Si-Niu (Birth Goddess; Taiwan; Everyday Wicca)

Ekādaśī Tithi (Hunduism)

Eratosthenes (Positivist; Saint)

Erkembode (Christian; Saint)

Hygeia Asteroid Day

International Day of Human Space Flight (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jord’s Day (Pagan)

Julius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Naughty Noodle Day (Pastafarian)

Print Olive Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Robert Delaunay (Artology)

Saba (a.k.a. Sabas the Goth; Christian; Saint)

Teresa of the Andes (Christian; Saint)

Tom Clancy (Writerism)

Transmigration of the Soul (Celtic Book of Days)

Victor of Braga (Christian; Martyr)

William Pellicone (Artology)

Zeno of Verona (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Moveable Calendar Holidays

Eid al-Fitr celebrations continue (Islam)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because it’s Zombie Jesus Day.)

Premieres

Bend it Like Beckham (Film; 2002)

The Birds, by Tarjei Vesaas (Novel; 1957)

Bullwinkle Buys a Fence or Pickets Charge (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 361; 1965)

The Coup, by John Updike (Novel; 1979)

Desperately Seeking Susan (Film; 1985)

Detective Conan: The Fist of the Blue Sapphire (Anime Film; 2019)

The Emancipation of Mimi, by Mariah Carey (Album; 2005)

42 (Film; 2013)

Fritz the Cat (Animated Film; 1972)

Garth Brooks, by Garth Brooks (Album; 1989)

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Film; 2024)

Grace Under Pressure, by Rush (Album; 1984)

Grand Hotel (Film; 1932)

The Hamlet, by William Faulkner (Novel; 1940)

The Hay Ride (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1937)

Hound Hunters (MGM Cartoon; 1947)

Impromptu (Film; 1991)

It’s All in the Stars (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

It Would Be So nice, by Pink Floyd (Song; 1968)

I Want It That Way, by The Backstreet Boys (Song; 1999)

James and the Giant Peach (Animated Film; 1996)

Justice League vs. Teen Titans (WB Animated Film; 2016)

Lake Wobegon Days, by Garrison Keillor (Novel; 1985)

Little Toot, by Hardie Gramatky (Children’s Book; 1939)

Live Through This, by Hole (Album; 1994)

Mad Max (Film; 1979)

Missing Link (Animated Film; 2019)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Film; 1936)

Mr. Tambourine Man, by The Byrds (Song; 1965)

Murmur, by R.E.M. (Album; 1983)

Oberon, by Carl Maria von Weber (Opera; 1826)

The Pebble and the Penguin (Animated Film; 1995)

Penguin Highway (Anime Film; 2019)

The Pink Pro (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1976)

Pluto’s Kid Brother (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

Rebecca (Film; 1940)

Rock Around the Clock, recorded by Bill Haley (Song; 1954)

A Rock for Rock or To Each His Stone (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 362; 1965)

Save Rock and Roll, by Fall Out Boy (Album; 2013)

Shake, Rattle and Roll, by Big Joe Turner (Song; 1954)

The Shadow of a Gunman, by Sean O’Casey (Play; 1923)

Sink Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1965)

Smitten Kitten (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Strange Lady in Town (Film; 1955)

String Along in Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

The Sweetest Thing (Film; 2002)

Tender Is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Novel; 1934)

The Terminal Man, by Michael Crichton (Novel; 1972)

21 Jump Street (TV Series; 1987)

Wasting Light, by the Foo Fighters (Album; 2011)

Whoa, Be Gone! (WB MM Cartoon; 1958)

Woodchopper’s Baby, recorded by Woody Herman (Song; 1939)

Yertle the Turtle, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1958)

The Zen of Seeing, by Frederick Franck (Philosophy Book; 1973)

Today’s Name Days

Herta, Julius, Zeno (Austria)

Davorka, Julije, Sofija, Viktor (Croatia)

Julius (Czech Republic)

Julius (Denmark)

Julius, Udo, Ullo, Ulrik, Uudo (Estonia)

Janna, Janni, Julia, Juliaana, Julius, Juuli (Finland)

Jules (France)

Herta, Julius, Zeno (Germany)

Akakios, Anthe, Anthi (Greece)

Gyula (Hungary)

Giulio, Zenone (Italy)

Ainis, Jūlijs (Latvia)

Damijonas, Galkantas, Julijus, Jūratė (Lithuania)

Julie, Julius (Norway)

Andrzej, Iwan, Juliusz, Siemiodrog, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Sava (Romania)

Estera (Slovakia)

Constantino, Julio (Spain)

Julius, Liv (Sweden)

Destin, Destinee, Destiny, Dulce, Walker (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 103 of 2024; 263 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 15 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 4 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 3 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 13 Cyan; Sixday [13 of 30]

Julian: 30 March 2024

Moon: 18%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 19 Archimedes (4th Month) [Ptolemy]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 25 of 92)

Week: 2nd Week of April

Zodiac: Aries (Day 23 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 4.12

Holidays

Anniversary of the Big Wind

Big Wind Day

Children’s Day (Bolivia, Haiti)

Cosmonaut Day (a.k.a. Cosmonautics Day; Russia)

Day of Science (Kazakhstan)

Day of Silence

Day of Space and Rocket Industry Workers (Ukraine)

D.E.A.R. Day (a.k.a. Drop Everything And Read Day)

Eat All Your Snacks Before the Movie Even Starts Day

Education and Sharing Day [11 Nissan]

Festival to Preserve Corn (Cochumatan Indians; Guatemala)

412 Day

Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse

Halifax Day (North Carolina)

Hell is a Democracy Day

Horse Chestnut Day (French Republic)

Human Spaceflight Day

International Day for Street Children

International Day of Human Space Flight

Jersey Day (Canada)

Kamakura Matsuri (Japan)

Lakritsdagen (Sweden)

Lucid Dreaming Day

National Boob Touch Day

National Colorado Day

National Deskfast

National Dolores Day

National Donate Life Blue & Green Day

National Elbow Day

National For Twelves Day

National Gavin Day

National Hanging Out Day

National Health Day (Kiribati)

National Julia Day

National Mac Day

National Maya Day

National Only Child Day

National Radiologic & Imaging Nurses Day

National Redemption Day (Liberia)

National Shagging Day

National Silvia Day

Nicki Day

Pan Day (Japan)

Portable Typewriter Day 

Reach As High As You Can Day

Russian Cosmonaut Day

Selena Day (Texas)

Single Mother Appreciation Day

Songkran begins (Thailand) [Extra day added in 2018]

Teak Awareness Day

Walk On Your Wild Side Day

Wear a Star Day

World Hamster Day

Yuri's Night (International)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Colorado Pint Day

National Buy a Loaf of Bread Day

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

National Licorice Day

2nd Friday in April

Audubon Day [2nd Friday]

Fast and Prayer Day (Liberia) [2nd Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

National Dive Bar Day [2nd Friday] (Also 7.7)

Teal Day [2nd Friday]

Independence & Related Days

Halifax Independence Day (North Carolina)

Nye (a.k.a. Republic of Nye, f.k.a. Nye County; Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Tuposian Empire (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

Sinhala New Year’s Day (Sri Lanka)

Festivals Beginning April 12, 2024

Atlanta Dogwood Festival (Atlanta, Georgia) [thru 4.14]

Atlantic City Beer & Music Fest (Atlantic City, New Jersey) [thru 4.13]

Bone Sucking’ Sauce Peak City Pig Fest (Apex, North Carolina) [thru 4.13]

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Indio, California) [thru 4.14]

Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) [thru 4.13]

Moo, Brew & ‘Que Music Fest (Charlotte, North Carolina) [thru 4.14]

Orange Bowl Food and Wine Celebration (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Paris Book Festival (Paris, France) [thru 4.14]

Pear Blossom Festival (Medford, Oregon) [thru 4.13]

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival (Ponchatoula, Louisiana) [thru 4.14]

Potent Strawberry Festival (Potent, Texas) [thru 4.14]

Rhododendron Festival (Hiawassee, Georgia) [thru 5.12]

St. Elias Food & Cultural Festival (Birmingham, Alabama) [thru 4.13]

San Joaquin Asparagus festival (Stockton, California) [thru 4.14]

South Carolina Strawberry Festival (Fort Mill, South Carolina) [thru 5.4]

World grits Festival (St. George, South Carolina) [thru 4.13]

Feast Days

Adoniram Judson (Episcopal Church)

Alferius (Christian; Saint)

A. Ligator (Muppetism)

Angelo Carletti di Chivasso (Christian; Saint)

Beverly Cleary (Writerism)

Cerealia (Old Roman Goddess of Grain, Ceres)

Chu-Si-Niu (Birth Goddess; Taiwan; Everyday Wicca)

Ekādaśī Tithi (Hunduism)

Eratosthenes (Positivist; Saint)

Erkembode (Christian; Saint)

Hygeia Asteroid Day

International Day of Human Space Flight (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jord’s Day (Pagan)

Julius I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Naughty Noodle Day (Pastafarian)

Print Olive Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Robert Delaunay (Artology)

Saba (a.k.a. Sabas the Goth; Christian; Saint)

Teresa of the Andes (Christian; Saint)

Tom Clancy (Writerism)

Transmigration of the Soul (Celtic Book of Days)

Victor of Braga (Christian; Martyr)

William Pellicone (Artology)

Zeno of Verona (Christian; Saint)

Islamic Moveable Calendar Holidays

Eid al-Fitr celebrations continue (Islam)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Shakku (赤口 Japan) [Bad luck all day, except at noon.]

Uncyclopedia Bad to Be Born Today (because it’s Zombie Jesus Day.)

Premieres

Bend it Like Beckham (Film; 2002)

The Birds, by Tarjei Vesaas (Novel; 1957)

Bullwinkle Buys a Fence or Pickets Charge (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 361; 1965)

The Coup, by John Updike (Novel; 1979)

Desperately Seeking Susan (Film; 1985)

Detective Conan: The Fist of the Blue Sapphire (Anime Film; 2019)

The Emancipation of Mimi, by Mariah Carey (Album; 2005)

42 (Film; 2013)

Fritz the Cat (Animated Film; 1972)

Garth Brooks, by Garth Brooks (Album; 1989)

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Film; 2024)

Grace Under Pressure, by Rush (Album; 1984)

Grand Hotel (Film; 1932)

The Hamlet, by William Faulkner (Novel; 1940)

The Hay Ride (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1937)

Hound Hunters (MGM Cartoon; 1947)

Impromptu (Film; 1991)

It’s All in the Stars (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

It Would Be So nice, by Pink Floyd (Song; 1968)

I Want It That Way, by The Backstreet Boys (Song; 1999)

James and the Giant Peach (Animated Film; 1996)

Justice League vs. Teen Titans (WB Animated Film; 2016)

Lake Wobegon Days, by Garrison Keillor (Novel; 1985)

Little Toot, by Hardie Gramatky (Children’s Book; 1939)

Live Through This, by Hole (Album; 1994)

Mad Max (Film; 1979)

Missing Link (Animated Film; 2019)

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Film; 1936)

Mr. Tambourine Man, by The Byrds (Song; 1965)

Murmur, by R.E.M. (Album; 1983)

Oberon, by Carl Maria von Weber (Opera; 1826)

The Pebble and the Penguin (Animated Film; 1995)

Penguin Highway (Anime Film; 2019)

The Pink Pro (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1976)

Pluto’s Kid Brother (Disney Cartoon; 1946)

Rebecca (Film; 1940)

Rock Around the Clock, recorded by Bill Haley (Song; 1954)

A Rock for Rock or To Each His Stone (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S6, Ep. 362; 1965)

Save Rock and Roll, by Fall Out Boy (Album; 2013)

Shake, Rattle and Roll, by Big Joe Turner (Song; 1954)

The Shadow of a Gunman, by Sean O’Casey (Play; 1923)

Sink Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1965)

Smitten Kitten (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Strange Lady in Town (Film; 1955)

String Along in Pink (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1979)

The Sweetest Thing (Film; 2002)

Tender Is the Night, by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Novel; 1934)

The Terminal Man, by Michael Crichton (Novel; 1972)

21 Jump Street (TV Series; 1987)

Wasting Light, by the Foo Fighters (Album; 2011)

Whoa, Be Gone! (WB MM Cartoon; 1958)

Woodchopper’s Baby, recorded by Woody Herman (Song; 1939)

Yertle the Turtle, by Dr. Seuss (Children’s Book; 1958)

The Zen of Seeing, by Frederick Franck (Philosophy Book; 1973)

Today’s Name Days

Herta, Julius, Zeno (Austria)

Davorka, Julije, Sofija, Viktor (Croatia)

Julius (Czech Republic)

Julius (Denmark)

Julius, Udo, Ullo, Ulrik, Uudo (Estonia)

Janna, Janni, Julia, Juliaana, Julius, Juuli (Finland)

Jules (France)

Herta, Julius, Zeno (Germany)

Akakios, Anthe, Anthi (Greece)

Gyula (Hungary)

Giulio, Zenone (Italy)

Ainis, Jūlijs (Latvia)

Damijonas, Galkantas, Julijus, Jūratė (Lithuania)

Julie, Julius (Norway)

Andrzej, Iwan, Juliusz, Siemiodrog, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz, Zenon, Zenona (Poland)

Sava (Romania)

Estera (Slovakia)

Constantino, Julio (Spain)

Julius, Liv (Sweden)

Destin, Destinee, Destiny, Dulce, Walker (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 103 of 2024; 263 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 15 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Wu-Chen), Day 4 (Bing-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 4 Nisan 5784

Islamic: 3 Shawwal 1445

J Cal: 13 Cyan; Sixday [13 of 30]

Julian: 30 March 2024

Moon: 18%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 19 Archimedes (4th Month) [Ptolemy]

Runic Half Month: Man (Human Being) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 25 of 92)

Week: 2nd Week of April

Zodiac: Aries (Day 23 of 31)

[fmenvs3000w24]

Blog 2 - My ideal role as an environmental interpreter

When I think about what would be my ideal role as an environmental interpreter, I think of a position in which I am able to engage visitors in interpretive walks, teach plant and animal identification, and perhaps even construct my own workshops for teaching children about nature. I found love for this type of work after attending several interpretive walks and workshops while in university.

It has always been my goal to work in the Toronto area, not only because it is where I was born and raised, but because I do believe that despite the limited biodiversity in Toronto compared to other cities outside the GTA, there is still a lot the city has to offer in this field. It is important to run such programs within the city borders as the residents may be more unfamiliar with nature walks, identification, and nature interpretation than others living outside the GTA due to limited exposure. My people living in Toronto cannot leave the city to visit nature centres and arboretums due to a variety of reasons including financial issues, accessibility issues, lack of transportation outside of the city, lack of connections, etc. and I believe it's very important for all people to spend time in nature, think, reflect, and learn about their natural surroundings. One of the experiences which really sparked my interest in nature was a series of field trips I took with my classes in second and third grade to nature centres and outdoor education centres in Toronto. I was able to experience nature in a whole new way and think deeper about my interactions with the natural world. I learned to identify certain plants such as dogwood and milkweed, which is something which has stuck with me to this day. It would be a privilege to be able to take school children on walks and possibly inspire them or have an impact on the way in which they see and perceive nature. 

As an environmental interpreter, it is important to cater to the various needs of audience members and to equip yourself with a few teaching strategies which are able to captivate and resonate with a diverse group of learners (Hookyaas, 2024). Body language as well as verbal and written feedback from audience members is a great way for someone to take constructive criticism and adjust their program to be more inclusive of different types of learners. Learners can be placed in three broad domains by their different learning styles including the cognitive domain (learning through facts, mathematics, charts, etc.), the affective domain (learning through emotion, interpretation, expression of one's feelings, etc.), and the kinesthetic domain (learning through participation, physical movement, motor skills, etc.) (Beck et al., 2018). By incorporating multiple disciples within a program such as music and painting for the affective domain, charts and talks for the cognitive domain, and hikes and gardening for the kinesthetic domain, you can optimise the number of different types of learners who are able to understand and resonate with your work (Beck et al., 2018).

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2018). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. SAGAMORE Publishing.

Hooykaas, A. (2024). Unit 2: Teaching Learners. ENVS*3000. University of Guelph.

[audiofuzz]

HEAR: Leon III - “Mannequins”

Texas-based psychedelic songweavers Leon III (pronounced Leon the Third) are thrilled to announce their third full-length studio album along with the release of the album’s opening, two-song suite; “Mannequins” and “Dogwood Blooms.” The new album, Something Is Trying To Change My Mind is due out everywhere on October 13 via Monosonic Records / Soundly Music. “After Antlers in Velvet, I really wanted to try and write shorter songs,” says Andy Stepanian.  “My tendency is to write slow burners that don’t pay off until the end. “Mannequins” tries to be the opposite of that - more like a T. Rex vignette. It leads off the album to set a different tone. The electronic vibe is immediately present and the sparseness blooms into the most pop moment in Leon III history. Then the whole thing falls to pieces and merges like a dream into ‘Dogwood Blooms.’ I like to write ghost stories and “Dogwood Blooms” is another one.  I read something about the notion of a bhoot in Hinduism. It’s a type of restless spirit which can shapeshift into various forms from animal to human. Often the real humans they encounter can’t discern that it’s a ghost - until it’s too late. This song imagines an encounter between some kind of bhoot and a young man, maybe a soldier who has deserted, in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia. I won’t fill in on all the details but that’s the concept anyway. The song is meant to be a bit like a fever dream. A passing encounter with beauty that may or may not be real. Sri Lankan sitarist Mahesh Pathmakumara adds quite a bit to this one. I literally found him by Googling Sitar player and reaching out via email. Hope to meet him one day.” The band’s core duo of Andy Stepanian and Mason Brent have been friends since grade school, playing together in the acclaimed country-rock group Wrinkle Neck Mules since 1999. With Leon III’s self-titled 2018 debut, they retained their twangy roots, before 2021’s sophomore effort Antlers In Velvet drifted into a panoramic sound inspired by Pink Floyd and the Dead. Once again co-produced by Mark Nevers (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lambchop, Silver Jews), the band’s third LP introduces a newfound sense of brevity, packing compact songs with sly pop hooks, while maintaining their boundless experimentation. Listen Here   Read the full article

[chrisryanspeaks]

HEAR: Leon III - “Mannequins”

Texas-based psychedelic songweavers Leon III (pronounced Leon the Third) are thrilled to announce their third full-length studio album along with the release of the album’s opening, two-song suite; “Mannequins” and “Dogwood Blooms.” The new album, Something Is Trying To Change My Mind is due out everywhere on October 13 via Monosonic Records / Soundly Music. “After Antlers in Velvet, I really wanted to try and write shorter songs,” says Andy Stepanian.  “My tendency is to write slow burners that don’t pay off until the end. “Mannequins” tries to be the opposite of that - more like a T. Rex vignette. It leads off the album to set a different tone. The electronic vibe is immediately present and the sparseness blooms into the most pop moment in Leon III history. Then the whole thing falls to pieces and merges like a dream into ‘Dogwood Blooms.’ I like to write ghost stories and “Dogwood Blooms” is another one.  I read something about the notion of a bhoot in Hinduism. It’s a type of restless spirit which can shapeshift into various forms from animal to human. Often the real humans they encounter can’t discern that it’s a ghost - until it’s too late. This song imagines an encounter between some kind of bhoot and a young man, maybe a soldier who has deserted, in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia. I won’t fill in on all the details but that’s the concept anyway. The song is meant to be a bit like a fever dream. A passing encounter with beauty that may or may not be real. Sri Lankan sitarist Mahesh Pathmakumara adds quite a bit to this one. I literally found him by Googling Sitar player and reaching out via email. Hope to meet him one day.” The band’s core duo of Andy Stepanian and Mason Brent have been friends since grade school, playing together in the acclaimed country-rock group Wrinkle Neck Mules since 1999. With Leon III’s self-titled 2018 debut, they retained their twangy roots, before 2021’s sophomore effort Antlers In Velvet drifted into a panoramic sound inspired by Pink Floyd and the Dead. Once again co-produced by Mark Nevers (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lambchop, Silver Jews), the band’s third LP introduces a newfound sense of brevity, packing compact songs with sly pop hooks, while maintaining their boundless experimentation. Listen Here   Read the full article

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Dogwood 2018

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[robozinhoveado]

ALL SOFT AND SMALL

YOU’LL HEAR HER CALL,

"YOU BROUGHT ME HERE, NOW...now take me home."

[eopederson]

Pink Dogwood Flower (cornus spp.) on a Sick Tree in my Garden, Fairfax, 30 April 2018.

A late arrival in a very odd but mostly cold spring, this dogwood bloom is one of the few on the tree. Like many dogwoods in the Middle Atlantic region, the tree has been infected with anthracnose and is sickly. This year’s bloom will be the last, as I have reluctantly decided to have the dogwood trees removed once the (rather pathetic) bloom is over.

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