Summer and Queen Anne’s Lace just seem to go hand in hand. Although to most of us this is a common roadside wildflower, it has such charm and beauty that I look forward to its appearance each year. I haven’t spotted any on my property yet, but you know I have my eye out for it so we can enjoy it here in Oregon just as much as we did in California.
During this summer challenge, as linked in the archive post above, you’ll be using your senses of sight, smell, and touch to learn more about Queen Anne’s Lace (or wild carrot). Since this plant is not a true native plant to most of us, your family can decide whether you consider it a weed or a wildflower. Some states list it as a noxious weed.
Advanced Study: You can read an interesting article here about the topic of wildflower versus noxious weed: Problem Plants.
Here’s a free printable notebook page for you to use after your summer study!
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
Are you having fun using all your senses with the Outdoor Hour Challenge? Use the ideas in this week’s challenge to engage your child’s senses as much as possible.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy learning about these two interesting mammals that are active at night. We’ll probably be focusing on raccoons this time around since we have some that live in our neighborhood.
Make sure to read the lessons in the Handbook of Nature Study as a way of preparing for a future raccoon or skunk sighting.
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
It’s time to mark your calendars for your summer nature study observations! Whether you are starting a fresh year-long nature study project or continuing with one from this spring, here is a list of ideas here on the Handbook of Nature Study to inspire you. Later this summer I will be sharing a brand new year-long nature study featuring willows so look for that in an upcoming week.
Summer Seasonal Observations
I know summer is a time for casual nature study but pick something to look for and then revisit that topic every season for a year and you will be surprised what you learn. This kind of nature study is valuable because it helps us slow down and note the changes that occur from season to season. It will also help you learn how to anticipate the turn of the season as you recognize the changes in the natural world around you.
Pick one and get started by clicking the link to the archived entry that will give you lots of ideas for completing your own year-long nature study.
This is the perfect early summer nature study challenge! The crickets are already singing in most areas and it won’t be hard to take some time in the evening to use your sense of hearing to observe these interesting insects.
With gardens come grasshoppers and/or katydids. Such funny insects to observe! Can you catch a few to observe for awhile?
Use the information in the archived challenge to use your senses this week with your children.
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
We’ve been watching birds in our yard since we moved here a year ago. We’ve now seen the complete cycle of birds in each season. I’m thrilled every time a new kind of bird shows up at a feeder or within sight of our windows. Now, the nesting boxes are being occupied by a couple of bird families. The tree swallows are the most fascinating to watch as they bring the materials into the box for their nest. How do they fly with those long grasses in their mouth? How do they manage to get them through the little hole and into the box? Truly a miracle of life!
In our garden, we are building…..
Construction has begun on our new yard landscape. We picked the pavers for the walkways and patio so now all we need to do is make a plan for getting them laid. My husband is working part time at a landscaping and floral nursery down the road from us and this is how we’ll finance the bigger purchases of rock, sand, and the majority of the trees and shrubs. It’s been awesome to have an expert help us at least get started with this huge project. Now that we’re underway, I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
I’ve had to do quite a bit of research about native plants in anticipating the filling of our garden beds. I don’t want to spend a lot of money purchasing things that will not survive our harsh, long winters. Or as I’ve discovered from experience, plants that the deer will eat in one night. Instead, it makes sense to take the time to find out the best way to spend our money and energy and still end up with a yard that is beautiful and will stand the test of time.
I am dreaming about…..
The promise of another summer season here in Oregon is just about to be realized. I can feel the days getting longer and the landscape is filling up with green things and flowering things and life in general. The river is calling us to come and float on its cool clear water. The sun is warm on my face and shoulders when I’m out in the garden. I can’t wait to be in the middle of July when all my family is going to be around me for a big anniversary picnic!
One last image…..
This is just the start of something pretty outside my bedroom window for the birds, bees, and butterflies. It just makes me happy to think of the seasons to come where I will be able to look out my window and see a little nature looking back at me.
Follow me here:Instagram – outdoorhourchallenge.If you would like me to take a look at one of your images on Instagram, use the hashtag #outdoorhourchallenge.
Want to join in the Outdoor Mom post?
Answer all or just one of the prompts in a blog entry on your own blog or right here on my blog in a comment. If you answer on your blog, make sure to leave me a link in a comment so that I can pop over and read your responses.
During our outdoor time this month we went…
The most inspiring thing we experienced was…
Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)…
In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting…
This week’s challenge is one that we originally had a hard time completing. But, because we prepared ahead of time and were patient, when the opportunity arose to see evening primrose during a hike, we could identify it and enjoy seeing it in person. It really is a very pretty flower!
Do some research and see if you have evening primrose in your area. If not, use the information in the archived challenge to learn about another night blooming flower like moonflower or Four-O-Clocks.
I wrote an entry about planting seeds in my garden to have some of my very own night blooming flowers: Night Blooming Flowers.
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
What an exciting month of nature study we all have ahead of us! This is the perfect time to be outdoors and to share these experiences with our children. The ideas are mostly suggested for evening nature study times but you can easily adapt them to fit your schedule.
When I lived in California, it was hot during the middle part of the day. In fact, many days were just too hot to even attempt to get the kids outdoors. But, we found the perfect time was in the evening after dinner, when it was still light out but cooling off. Many insects and animals feel the same way and will only be found out at sundown.
I invite you to use this month’s planning sheet to remind you to give these nature study ideas a try.
Please note there are additional nature study ideas listed on the planning page for you to use if you have access to the newsletter library. (Right now use the discount code OHC10 for $5 off any membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.)
In addition, I’ve created a few new printables for members to use this month as well.
Shore Birds Notebook Pages: This set of notebook pages features 7 birds for you to learn about and look for during your summer travels.
Tide Pool Habitat Notebook Page: Are you visiting a tide pool this month? Use this page to record your observations
5 Senses at Sunset Notebook Page: This is such a great page for everyone to use after your evening nature outings. There are places for writing, drawing, and for recording your observations using your senses.
Print a complete list of printables available in the Ultimate and Journey level memberships by clicking the button above.
To become a member, click on the Join Us linkat the top of the website.
Keeping a nature journal helps to remind me to slow down and create a record of some of the amazing things we see and experience as each week goes by. It’s easy to let the days slip away without taking note of the beautiful spring changes. But the sense of satisfaction as I flip back through my nature journal pages encourages me to keep at it even when I have a busy week.
I’m even trying to draw and paint more in my journal which is far out of my comfort zone.
I hope you are inspired to stop for a few creative moments this week to make a page in your journal and make the opportunity for your children to do the same.
Here are my entries for May!
We had a weekend trip over to the Willamette Valley for a few days of camping. We did a little hiking along the river and I so enjoyed the wildflowers! Not only the wildflowers, but the birds made this weekend special by providing the birdsong that followed us everywhere.
One day the sun was shining and the temperatures were warm so we decided to take my husband’s new fishing boat out on the lake. He rowed around fishing until his pole fell into the water! I sat on the shore watching the clouds, the birds, and the water…my happy place. We ended the day with a hike around the lake which yielded a fantastic bald eagle sighting. We were able to get close up and see him sitting on the top of a tree. Great memories!
One morning we were eating breakfast and looking out the window just like we normally do each day. My husband noticed an unusual bird hanging onto our suet feeder. He had unusual coloring and I grabbed my binoculars to get a closer look. He stuck around long enough that we got to make some notes of distinctive features and that enabled us to find him in our field guide. He was a Lewis’ woodpecker. This is a rather large woodpecker and he flew away with flapping wings. I’ve since seen another one alongside the road when I was out with a friend. I love being able to name a bird…makes it so special.
We have seen such changes in our landscape this month. I created a nature journal record of the many special moments we’ve had just out our back door. We spotted river otters in the river. We have marveled at swallows and chickadees building nests in our nesting boxes. I was delighted to see our Canada goose family with seven babies swimming in the water. We’ve also seen the return of the wildflowers as well as the tall grasses.
Have you taken a look at my updated nature journal page? Here’s a link to see some ideas to inspire you in your journaling efforts.
Don’t forget that I’m sharing a nature journal page each week on my Instagram account if you want to see the pages as they unfold. Follow me here:Instagram – outdoorhourchallenge.And, if you want to create a page and share it on your Instagram for me to see, use the hashtag #OHCnaturejournal.
This is an exciting nature study challenge! Use the suggestions in the archived post above to get started with your own moth study.
This is a nature study idea that’s as easy as turning on an outside light in the evening! The moths will come to you!
Moths are so much like butterflies in their variety and beauty. Don’t miss this special opportunity to be prepared for your next moth experience that will happen over the next season.
Use the free downloadable notebook pages for insects found in this entry: Ant Nature Study.
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
This is a classic nature study that most children really enjoy. It will involve finding a local place to look for tadpoles, frogs, and/or toads. This can be a pond, stream, or lake; so take a few minutes and brainstorm where you could visit to observe these interesting creatures up close.
Use the link in the archive post above to read all about how to raise tadpoles.
We’re looking forward to some evenings outside listening for frogs and toads. It’s a relaxing time of day to be outdoors. Make sure to look up at the sky too!
Use the links in the archive post above to listen to the sounds of different frogs so your children will know what to listen for!
Join us for this exciting series of nature study topics as we work through the Summer Nature Study – Using Your Senses ebook. Don’t worry that it isn’t summer yet; the ebook title says summer but the nature study ideas inside can be used whenever you have an occasion to.
This ebook is found in the Ultimate level membership for you to download and use with your family. If you would like to gain access to this ebook, you can purchase a membership now and have instant access.
Use the discount code BIRDLOVER5 for $5 off an Ultimate Naturalist Membership.
