September Greetings
September greetings,
I’m experimenting with a monthly newsletter and would love your feedback! I plan to include a short written piece, perhaps something contemplative or active to do outdoors, and a link to my upcoming walks.
I love insects and every year delight in discovering a few new ones. In my small natural history library, I rediscovered a little paperback titled, “An Introduction to Massachusetts Insects" by Christopher W. Leahy.
The introduction alone is a delight to read and here are a few excerpts:
1. "Nobody of lore is more plethoric with “Gee whiz!” facts than that pertaining to insect life.”
2. "But it is probably a mistake to try to define such a riot of evolutionary diversity…”
3. “…the total number of known insect species is still more than double the number of species of all other animals and all of the plants combined.”
I challenge you to find an unusual or intriguing insect you’ve never seen before and note all its details. An insect has three distinct body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), three pairs of legs, and usually has wings.
For a few years, we’ve witnessed a wasp, carrying a long bit of grass or straw, go into a tiny hole in our outdoor chairs and then slowly pull in the bit grass behind it. Eventually, it came out to repeat this exercise. It seemed impossible that this largish wasp could fit into the hole. At first, I sprayed oil of peppermint mixed with water hoping to deter it, but we now just enjoy watching it fly around our chairs and entering the tiny holes.
I’m excited to begin this fall season of walks and hope to see you on one of my walks!
Dates of September walks:
9/17 9:30 am
9/ 22 10:30 am
9/29 10:00 am
For details of my walks click here.
“When all thoughts
Are exhausted
I slip into the woods
And Gather
A pile of shepherd’s purse
Like a little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent.”
With love and hope for our magnificent Earth,