Cleaned out a patch of ivy on the North edge of Fairmount Park. And Holly. And Blackberries.

I looked up 'Botany in a day' and found a great youtube video that introduces the plant families  and some fun games.

I also looked up some of the trail cam pictures from Seattle University.

Found those pods on the walkway North of Walt Hundley playfield and don't know this tree yet.

Description: Seed pods are about 2 inch long and have a cheetah pattern. There was a tree close by with opposite leaves.
Identification: Black Locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Source: Blog

More charts on tree identification

Did a hive check at the Bee Garden with Krista about 2 years ago and we did a mite check. You scoop up about half a cup of bees, add 2 tablespoons of powered sugar in a shaker. You shake the sugar onto a plate and then add water to make the mites visible. Will need to do this next week before the Green River College comes out for Mite Control treatment next weekend.

Video on sugar shaker check

Not sure who planted it but I plan to protect it. I put a couple of sticks around it so no one will step on it. It is kind of close to the path between the Very-Berry-Patch-Edge and the latrine.
Learnt that Garry Oaks are drought resistant which would explain why this is doing well after a long dry summer and all the other little trees we planted in late Spring didn't do so well.

I am so excited for acorns. I hope this little tree will grow and be strong, especially if all the Holly trees West of it will be removed, it will have a really great spot.

Description: about 4 cm with a triangle on back and a strip pattern on side shell/wings.
Identification: Lygus bug

​Source: pnwhandbook

As I was sorting through my pictures randomly I came across this one I don't remember taking, while I was watching a documentary about Crows. So I took it on to learn some more about Crows.

- They are partners for life. 
- Fletchlings stay up 5 years with their parents.
- Before they can fly they jump out of the nest, because it's safer on the ground.
- Crows can recognize faces.
- Crows have 2 different voices and 2 different dialect each. One for their murder and one for their family.
- They live as a family and older siblings take sometimes take care of their younger siblings.
- They build and use tools. Complex tools, like using 2 sticks, removing branches, bending.

I like knowing what's around me - and especially what is edible. :-)
Just got this book from the library and like it a lot.

Love this video showing how much fun we all can have in nature.

When I stepped outside there was so much going on with my bird friends in the trees. I could not spot them but listened in for a while. I didn't even notice when Kevin arrived. When we met at Schmitz Park we talked about a Nature Club for Fairmount Park. Since then I was excited to show Kevin the Park and get him excited, too. 
We walked along the path and started our tour on the South end. I showed him the spot where the bee swarm was hanging out last Spring. We went up the hill and I showed him all the dense growth where I haven't figured out the trees. We had to cut our way through the blackberries on the path under the power line. 
It was obviously quite a long time ago since I went on a walk through the entire 1.3 acre green belt. We visited the Mother of the Forest, went in the little hide out, looked at the signs left on the cherry log and then tried to find out more about some of the mysteries.
Bitter cherry for the log. Unsure about the dense growth.

We also talked about opportunities, learning and ideas.

Working on the knot in my soul.
Feels like life is wilting away.
Unsatisfying. Doubtful.
A feeling of being here for a larger purpose.
​Preparing. Ramping up to it. But to what?
Blocked. Confused.
Need to be in nature. Need to clean thoughts. Need to clean up.
Doubt. Self doubt. Greater doubt. Belonging.
Journaling to sort thoughts. To document progress.
In private. Quiet. Vulnerable. Peaceful.

 Our family participated in the Climate Reality Project Training in June together with some of our Plant for the Planet and Seattle350 friends.

Climate Reality Leadership Corps just released a video on youtube and Sarah and I made it (0:23). We also spotted our friends Jill, Sue, Rachel and Rusty in the video.

I have fond memories of my time in this circle. Lots of playfulness. Riddles. Stories. Mysteries.

Rainy day, light breeze
Saw 2 groups of Tiny Tree preschoolers
Lots of scratch marks on a cedar (possibly Racoons)
Talked about passions and projects, school and parenting
went to the Library to pick up a Natural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains (Daniel Mathews) and learned about the Olympics

​Calm. Unity. Within. Happy. Curious. Excited. Overstimulated. Aware. Appreciative.

Some of the words I associate with my nature exercise of sitting in my sit spot taking in all sights, sounds, smells and thoughts. It is hard to describe, if you haven't tried it, but many many people all around the world have this practice. It builds Nature Connection and promotes mental health.

Tracking books, Pojar, sit spot, bunnies