Monthly Archives: October 2017

Ramble Report October 26 2017

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Today’s Ramble was led by Dale Hoyt.

The photos in this post, except where
noted, came from Don’s Facebook album (here’s the link).

Today’s post was written by Dale Hoyt
with assistance from Don Hunter.

24 Ramblers met today.

Announcements:

Wednesday, Nov. 1, 9AM: Sandy Creek Nature Center’s “First
Wednesday Walk” next week will be another “by consensus” tree
identification walk, as well as a bit of seeking what we find.

Friday, Nov. 3, 7:30PM: SCNC, Tales
on the Porch. Jackie Elsner will tell stories down by the Cabin. The
stories are suitable for older children and adults (PG-13). Cost is $3.00.

Today’s
reading:

Don read a haiku, “Clear Sky
Sunrise” he composed after viewing the sunrise on Wednesday morning:

Orange-hued clear
sky sunrise

Beneath deepest
blue.

Filled with joyous
reverie.

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Ramble Report October 19 2017

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Today’s Ramble was led by Don Hunter.

The photos in this post, except where
noted, came from Don’s Facebook album (here’s the link).

Today’s post was written by Don Hunter
[additions in square brackets are by Dale Hoyt – DH].

30 Ramblers met today.

Today’s readings:

Bob
Ambrose recited the latest poem in his “Evolution” series, titled “The
Transition”

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Request From Sandra Hoffberg

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Dear Ramblers,

Hello from New York!  I have started my postdoc and I am embarking
on a comprehensive study
of the Amaranthus genus, which
contains (healthy grain) crops, (herbicide resistant) weeds, and other
relatives. 

I want to understand how all species
are related to each other.  I will
be able to use this information to answer questions like

·        
Which species did the
crop species evolve from?

·        
Between which species
and geographic regions do we expect traits, such as herbicide resistance, to
spread?

I need seeds from all different Amaranthus (common name: amaranth,
pigweed and/or waterhemp) species from many different locations.  I am asking for you to be a citizen scientist.

Participation in this project
involves:

1.    Collecting
seeds from an amaranth plant and putting them in an envelope

2.    Labeling
the seeds with the GPS point (or address) where you collected them

3.    Mailing me
the seeds – I’ll pay for postage

If you are interested in participating, please contact me at collect.amaranth@gmail.com or 914-719-6180.  Project updates will be
posted on www.orphancap.com.

Thank
you for your important contributions to my research!

Best
wishes,

Sandra
Hoffberg

Ramble Report October 5 2017

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Today’s Ramble was led by Dale Hoyt.

The photos in this post, except where
noted, came from Don’s Facebook album (here’s the link).

Today’s post was written by Dale Hoyt
who hastily compiled notes taken by Don Hunter.

24 Ramblers met today.

Announcements:

Today’s reading:

Because this
year’s Harvest Moon occurs on October 5 Dale read two passages about it. The
first is an excerpt from Joe Rao’s Skylog column in the October 2017 issue of
Natural History magazine:

At 2:40PM EDT the moon
officially turns full. This month’s full Moon occurs closest to the autumnal
equinox; thus, it is referred to as the harvest moon.

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Ramble Report September 28 2017

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Today’s Ramble was led by Linda Chafin.

The photos in this post, except where
noted, came from Don’s Facebook album (here’s the link).

Today’s post was written by Dale Hoyt.

33 Ramblers met today.

Today’s Route:   The International and Heritage Gardens with
short excursions into the woods along the Orange Trail Spur and the deer fence
trail to the Day Chapel.  The curator of
the Heritage Garden, Gareth Crosby, showed us how the Indigo plant was
processed to produce the famous blue (indigo) dye.

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