Butterflies, Mushrooms and Fungi - A Full Day

Joe left us to care for Lady Massasuaga and our group continued to explore Jennings Prairie.



As the day progressed and the sun beat down from directly above, we decided to take one of the trails through the woods. The mushrooms and fungi were amazing! I was surprised to see the wide variey we found on the edge of the path. I know nothing about mycology so I'm not able to identify the different spieces. Oh! There is SO much to learn! Anyway, I still want to share a few of the photos.

There were fungi on trees...




mushrooms and fungi of a variety of shapes and colors...











and, there was even a fungus growing on another fungus.


My favorite mushroom was pale orange and pink. It looked like it should be drawn in a children's book as the home of a woodland fairy.

I obviously need to buy a field guide to mushrooms and fungi. Any suggestions?

The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake at Jennings Prairie

As we continued to explore the prairie plants and move along the trails, our group ran into one of the volunteers at Jennings. Joe visits the prairie on weekends to catch and tag Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.


Yep. You know what Joe is holding in the bag, but you don't know it is pregnant! A very pregnant and VERY angry Massasauga Rattlesnake!


I sure wish I could have taken a photograph of her outside of the bag!

She let it be known that she was not happy! She is a healthy snake and her rattles are loud! Joe told us that she was tagged with a chip three years ago, but that she had not been captured since. He was taking her to the center where her weight and measurments would be recorded. He would later release her where she was found.

I can not emphazsize how wonderful it is that this snake is pregnant. The massasauga is very endangered and only breeds once every two or three years. They breed in August and September and the young are born live the next summer. It is nice to think that her babies might already be living on the protected prairie at Jennings.

Jennings Prairie

Prairie breeze
Grasses sway
Butterflies sail


There is an ancient prairie in Pennsylvania.


The prairie, a rarity in our forested and pastoral state, was once part of the ecosystem which stretched into the Midwest. This remaining 20 acres of native grasses and flowers, surrounded by woodland, is named for Otto Emery Jennings and is part of The Jennings Environmental Education Center near the town of Butler.

I was one of a group of learners, all students of native plants and the prairie ecosystem, who visited Jennings last Saturday as part of a class sponsored by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The class, enjoyed by all, was taught by Thelma Redick and Linda Kramer.

The focus of our study was to learn how to create and care for a prairie, how to incorporate a prairie into our landscape designs or, on a smaller scale, how to use native plants in our gardens. The beauty of Jennings Prairie inspired us!

The prairie is in glorious bloom. While the main colors of the moment are vibrant yellows, the most stunning color is purple - the purple of the Prairie Blazingstar Liatrus pycnostachya.

It is because of this plant that Jennings exists and thrives. This prairie became the first reserve created in Pennsylvania to protect an endangered plant, you guessed it, the Blazingstar. Jennings is now known for an abundance of this beauty.

Our class was eager to learn about the Blazingstar and all of the other inhabitants of this ecosystem.


Ox Eye False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides


Green Headed Coneflower Redbeckia laciniata


Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca


Bergamot Monarda fistulosa

To be continued...next post: More from Jennings, including Joe and the Massasuga Rattlesnake.

Wordless Wednesday

Caught in the Act

Deer in the backyard are not usually a welcome site. I chase them, put nets or fences around certain plants and trees, and I've spent entirely too much money trying different sprays that are supposed to stop them from devouring the garden. I still couldn't bring myself to chase these twins, even though they ate every flower in the "deer buffet!"


My dad always said, "All babies are cute." Dad was right. They are. I let these babies stay.

Elephant Babies at the Pittsburgh Zoo

The world has been blessed. Two African Elephants were born in July at The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Both babies are girls!!!

Angelina was born July 9 and Zuri, which means beautiful in Swahili, was born July 25. I made a pilgrimage to see the babies Friday, August 1. I took a lot of photos and only realized there was a problem with my camera, completely my fault, of course, after I downloaded the shots. Bummer. However, the babies are too cute for words and their births are so very important for the elephant world, I would rather share poor photos than none at all.

Angelina liked to run

while Zuri was still a bit wobbly.

Zuri did enjoy playing in the water.

Angelina tried to follow her mother, Savannah, up a small embankment. She soon realized it was not going to be easy.


"Oh no. I'm slipping. I'm falling."

"Whew. That was close. Here I come ma."

"This is hard."

"Ma, wait! I'm trying, ma. I'm allll..mmmmm..ooost there."

"Thanks, buddy."

The keepers and the adult elephants look after the little ones.

Zuri: "What is this thing on my face?"
Angelina: "I have no idea. But, it gets in the way when I try to eat lunch!"

The sisters, Jackson is the father of both girls, are a HUGH attraction at the zoo. I overheard a woman in the crowd say, "This is a once in a lifetime thing, to see a one week old elephant. And, it is right here in Pittsburgh! Wow!"

I will second the "WOW!" I am so very proud of The Pittsburgh Zoo and, especially the elephant keepers! Thank you!!!!

For more information visit: http://www.pittsburghzoo.org

To the Top -- of a Volcano!

Yes. I hiked up a slag pile. Bartolome Island in the Galapagos is an extinct volcano. But, from a distance, to anyone from southwestern Pennsylvania coal county, it looks like mine waste.

Even up close, when starting to hike on the volcanic sand and lava, I thought of slag and the old red dog roads of my childhood. Hum? Am I about to walk on hazarous waste?

Seriously though, I was VERY excited about the idea of hiking up a volcano and I already had an appreciation for the unique beauty of this barren environment. The burnt oranges and reds of the sand and hardened lava were stunning. The landscape was often breathtaking. Pinnacle Rock, the arrowhead-shaped point, is the most photographed spot of the Galapagos.

While I was excited about this very cool adventure, I had a concern: 358 wood steps to make the 374 foot STEEP climb. This was going to be another kind of breathtaking! I was going to suck wind on this one!

Off we go on a journey to follow the platform trail....

The overlook stop on the way up provided a place catch your breath and a great view that included our ship, The Xpedition.

Imagine the explosion that erupted to create this now still, quite and otherworldly crater.

At the edge of the crater, Carlos, our guide, wanted to empahsize the light weight of some of the rocks. A group of hikers have nearly reached the summit in the background.

Well, we still have a hike ahead... more steps! Up we go!

Huff, huff, huff! Oh my gosh! You can do it! HUFF!!!

The view from above.

The walk down was much more relaxing. What a challenge it must have been to build all of the steps!


Journey's end...