Fall Nature Study - Mary Jo Peckham 2014

This was the last time we made it out to Mary Jo Peckham this year.  This walk began and progressed like all the others. The kids  running as fast as they could from thing to thing while the other moms and I tried to keep up.  We did have to start to run once they kids had formed a group around something and the twins started yelling "Look momma, a dead bird!" Having no idea what state of decomposure it was in or if it was fully dead even I started running and screaming "don't touch it!"   Luckily it was  a good find (no maggots yet). The kids were all fascinated and we used a stick to turn it over.  I could not tell why it died.  His fellow vulture buddies did not seem interested in eating him.

Hydrangea. Looks like they are going to pinkish.  The soil acidity determines what color they are going to present (My momma taught me that).

The trees do change color here in Houston!

More rock domination by the twins.

Cooper tracing a leaf.

Dead vulture. Not very pretty birds while living but they do serve a vital purpose in nature.  Aesthetics aren't everything when it comes to nature study. Myself, I am always drawn toward the "prettier" things like flowers and such but I have had to train my eyes to see the beauty in rocks and pine needles. I am learning to love the color brown after a lifetime of avoiding it.

Graham still looks for nests in the rocks every time.

Always watching

wee little froggy