Celebrating International Biodiversity Day in the field

Happy International Biodiversity Day, everyone!

Here's a sampling of some of the biodiversity we've been enjoying in PANP over the past few weeks.  

Photo by Jerod A. Merkle

04 May (JAM/BGM)

• Lakes still frozen (LSF)
• Lots of sandhill cranes!

05 May (JAM/BGM)
*Throughout field notes, meadows will be indicated in parentheses, at the end of each observation.  For example, two red tail hawks (Long mdw).

Snapshot: Sturgeon Crossing Station

It's been a little while since we posted, with good reason. We've been criss-crossing the country (photos coming eventually), and getting ready for a cross-country road trip. I'm working for Jerod on his bison study this summer, which is based in Saskatchewan.

We spent the past three days on the road, en route from Quebec City to SK.  Yesterday evening, we arrived at the cabin in Prince Albert National Park where we'll spend the next three months. The wildlife of the park gave us a fine welcome.

My first plant(s)

What was your first plant or plant memory?

I don't actually remember my first plant, or my second.  I am sure though, as a small girl, that I claimed some plants in our garden, sprouted potatoes and avocado pits in school, and so on.  Recently, this writing prompt from urban gardening guru Gayla Trail, provoked some thoughtful reminiscing. 

What I do remember about the "early" plants is divided  into two categories - indoor plants and outdoor plants.  I didn't know much about either for the first two decades of my life.