This has been a month of wildflowers for our family. The quote from the Handbook of Nature Study that I put on the front page of this month’s newsletterreally sums up my feelings well.
“Thus by beginning with the child in nature-study, we take him to the laboratory of the wood or garden, the roadside or the field, and his materials are the wild flowers or the weeds, or the insects that visit the goldenrod or the bird that sings in the maple tree, or the woodchuck whistling in the pasture.”
We aimed at going out to look for wildflowers and we were rewarded with meaningful nature study. The incidental things that came into view when we slowed to observe the flowers closely brought other subjects into view as well. The insect on the flower, the birdsong as we walked, and the snake and newt that crossed our paths.
Don’t ever imagine that you can study in nature one subject without being drawn into seeing the relationships between the amazing things happening around you.
Here is the results of our color hunt from the Wildflower and Weed Study Grid (May 2016 Newsletter). I have picked my favorites for each color for you to enjoy.
Light Pink
Dark Pink
Yellow
Orange
Red
Purple
Lavender
White
I am still keeping my running lists of wildflowers that we find by hike in my little journal. It is very helpful to stop during a hike and make some notes as we go along. Also, afterwards, sitting with the images and a field guide, we try to identify any flowers we didn’t recognize during the hike. I have learned about a few new flowers this month by keeping careful track of the wildflowers seen.
Wildflower and Weed Grid Study (from the newsletter)
Use the printable study grid from the May 2016 newsletterto inspire some wildflower and weed related nature study this week. Don’t worry about completing all of the prompts but rather pick a few that interest your children or you think will be easy for your family to accomplish.
This grid can actually give you a plan for a whole month of nature study if you work on a few of the suggestions each week.
You can also use the Nature Photo Ideas from the May 2016 newsletter as part of this week’s challenge if your child enjoys taking pictures. It is my hope that you can use some of these ideas with your children to get to know some of the wildflowers and weeds in your local area.
All of the archived newsletters are available at every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. I invite you to take a look at the benefits of membership and to see the great value it can hold for your family.
My recent trip to the East Coast (last week of April) allowed time for a visit to a national park. We picked Shenandoah National Parksince it was a little more like spring in Virginia than it was in New York! At least the trees were green and the wildflowers were beginning to make an appearance. We entered the park at the Front Royal entrance and drove south along Skyline Drive.
Please note that we had a short visit, stayed in a cabin, and because of the weather only did a few hikes. There is so much to do in this national park that I can’t adequately write about in this entry. Please do some additional research on the national park website and there are quite a number of excellent YouTube videos to inspire you as well.
Of course, first stop was the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center for information and stamping my national park passport. The exhibits were pretty ordinary at this visitor center (so if you have to pick one to go to, plan on the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center at Big Meadow). We did watch the introductory video which was well done and informative. After that we tried to get some advice on hikes for our stay from the ranger. Maybe it was an off day but he didn’t seem very helpful. I told him we were interested in day hikes where we could see wildflowers and/or waterfalls. He told us we were too early for flowers…glad we didn’t listen to him. He gave us a map and sort of circled a few things but I was glad I had purchased a day hike book from Amazon before the trip (Best Day Hikes -Shenandoah), it was far more useful. We ended up seeing lots of flowers during our stay at the park.
We made our way down Skyline Drive from north to south. Interesting fact: all trails are off this road, they interconnect with other trails, and signs have landmarks and direction on the top on metal bands. This was helpful information I did learn from the ranger. Make sure to pick up a map when you enter the park so you can choose your hikes accordingly.
Spring at Shenandoah National Park means waterfalls, dogwoods, flowers, and trees getting their leaves. I had a blast looking for wildflowers and taking tons of photos. I have spent the days since I returned home with the images and my wildflower field guide adding flowers to my nature journal list.
The Appalachian Trail runs length of park and many times the park trails are part of the AT or at least cross over it. I got to see lots of the AT on this trip which makes me happy!
Skyland Resort(inside the park) was a perfect central place for our trip but if you have time to camp, I would think that this is a glorious place to camp. We stayed in the Hazeltop building right on the side of the ridge. It was a short drive from registration to the cabin. You could walk but it was difficult at night after dinner.
The room was super clean and comfortable. There was a balcony where we could see out over the valley and the lights of Luray at night. The way the sunlight changed the view with light and color was amazing, reminding me of the Grand Canyon.
The Pollock Roomwas perfect for breakfast and I had the best grits ever there. We had dinner both nights at the Tap room and both nights there was live entertainment- bluegrass and cloggers.
Stony Man at sunset was awesome! This is a must do hike on a visit to Shenandoah. The trail is not very long and it is not strenuous at all. There was plenty of parking at the trailhead but no restrooms.
Little Stony Man Trail
This hike was equally as rewarding at sunset and I would highly recommend it for all visitors as well. It is a perfect hike for families.
You can just drive skyline drive and stop and look at views if you have a really short time here at this park but you would miss much of the real Shenandoah experience. We settled on Dark Hollow Falls and Rose River Falls(done in a loop). We had the trail to ourselves in the early morning that was filled with birdsong, the sound of trees swaying and water cascading. The early spring wild flowers made this such a fun experience as we hiked down into the hollow and then back up the fire road.
My son had a great time climbing around on the rocks….see if you can spot him in the photo above.
This was a great hike and we wish we could return in the summer to see the forest with leaves…or the fall with color!
After this hike we ate at the Big Meadows Wayside which is one of three little cafes along Skyline Drive. It was raining here so we didn’t get to see much. We also went to the Harry F. Byrd visitor center which was far superior to the one at Dickey Ridge. The natural and cultural history are well represented. The view out onto the meadow was pretty in the rain. It was a misty day and we decided to head way back down to lower elevations for a hike and it paid off.
My best tip: If you can stay overnight, you truly would see how this is a magical place. The million dollar sunset, the early morning colors out over the valley, the birdsong, the trees and flowers…all of this is enjoyed much more at a slower pace.
Additional Tips:
$20 entrance fee. There are four park entrances- see park page for maps and directions. It is approximately 70 miles from Washington, D.C. to the north entrance.
Make sure to check operating hours for the visitor centers, the restaurants, lodges, and campgrounds before heading to Virginia.
You can read more of my national park entries by following these links:
This week we are going to start a dandelion study. This should be something that almost everyone can complete without too much trouble since dandelions are found just about everywhere! I have seen them in the desert, in the woodlands, in parks, in lawns…keep your eyes out!
This is one of my favorite flower studies. Make sure to read the lesson in the Handbook of Nature Study before you go out on your dandelion hunt. There are lots of wonderful and simple ideas to study dandelions in this lesson and I encourage you to try a few to learn more about this interesting plant.
Additional Resources:
April 2014 Newsletter– You will find a dandelion related nature journal topper to use in your nature journal. All archived newsletters are available to all levels of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study.
You can glimpse into one of our dandelion studies here: Dandelion Morning.
This challenge is found in the Spring Nature Study ebook that members will have in their Ultimate Naturalist Library! Download a copy and use the custom notebooking page for your nature journal. More information on this ebook is found here: Spring Nature Study Ebook (including a sample).
This entry includes my Amazon.com affiliate link. I purchased this book with my own money and am providing my personal opinions about this book.
Somehow I missed writing a review for this book in April but I am making up for it this month!The Practical Naturalist published by DK and Audubonis a strikingly visual book. Its image rich content is appealing to all ages and the text is written in a way that concentrates lots of information in short easy to read snippets. (ISBN: 978-0756658991) This entry includes my Amazon.com affiliate link. I purchased this book with my own money and am providing my personal opinions about this book.
The subtitle really explains the foundation of this book: Explore the wonders of the natural world.
It tackles many of the fascinating aspects of the natural world around us, organized by habitat. This book is not like the Handbook of Nature Study which organizes its lessons by specific topics but rather it creates a close up picture of a sampling of the plants and animals that you may encounter in a particular habitat.
Habitats Covered:
Close to Home
Forest
Farm and Field
Scrub land and Heath
Grassland
Mountain and Hillside
Lake, River, and Stream
Coast
Tundra and Ice
Desert
Quick Thoughts on The Practical Naturalist
I tend to like to study things by habitat so I enjoyed the way the material was organized.
The images are large and colorful. There are even some “sideways” two page spreads which are a nice way to present the material.
The vocabulary is rich and creates a basic understanding of more complex biology-themed ideas.
I would consider this a living book because it intersperses text, images, and activities in such a way that the topics come alive for the reader. It would make a great foundation for a natural science or nature study course for children perhaps 10 years old and up. I could see how this book would have been a wonderful read aloud with my younger children as well.
One possible negative about the book is that it will require additional research to thoroughly cover each topic. This is not meant to be a nature encyclopedia.
I think this book is a great addition to a nature study reference library that you will use over the years as the opportunity arises. Nature loving kids would like to have a copy of their own to read and flip through at their leisure. Perhaps in the future I will use this book as a supplement to the Handbook of Nature Study plans!
This book is part of my Nature Book Project for 2016.
Note some of the links below are Amazon.com affiliate links.
We took the most amazing hike last weekend! It actually started off as a fairly rainy day but about noon the clouds started to thin out and we decided to take a chance and head out on a hike.
It is one of our favorite local hikes and we haven’t been down to the river at this spot since last summer. We were rewarded with an amazing display of colorful flowers which just happened to go along with last week’s Outdoor Hour Challenge – Pick a Color.
How about all these purple flowers? Top left is Purple Chinese Houses. Top right is lupine. Bottom left is larkspur. Bottom right is heartleaf millkweed.
Then there are the white and yellow flowers.
Last but not least, the red and pink flowers. Top left is checkermallow. Top right is Twining Brodiaea. The bottom left pink flower is new to us! Purple monkeyflower! Bottom right is a variety of Indian Paintbrush.
What an awesome wildflower day!
In addition we saw:
Chinese Lanterns
Pretty Faces
Mustang Clover
Indian Pinks
Miniature lupine
Yarrow
Goldfields
Wild Cucumber
Buckbrush
Elegant Clarkia
Vetch
It ended up raining on us right when we got down to the river so we had to head back up right away. It was still a terrific hike and we were rewarded for our efforts with a showy display of color.
The printable Wildflower Color Hunt is available during the month of May 2016 in the free newsletter. If you don’t already subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study, you can do so during the month of May and receive the newsletter download link in your subscription thank you email. All newsletters are available as part of every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. See the Join Us pagefor more information on how you can gain access to the Ultimate Naturalist Library of ebooks, newsletters, and exclusive printables.
Note these are affiliate links to products I love!
Printable Activity: Wildflower Photo Hunt Use the printable list for your photo hunt…plus use the ideas on the page to create a nature journal with the photos when you are finished. If at all possible, let your child take the images!
This week we are going to go on a wildflower color hunt! Use the printable from the May newsletter as a check list as you go on your nature outing with your family. Cross off each color of flower as you find it and take a photo of your favorites for your nature journal.
Print your copy from the May 2016 Newsletter or from the member’s archives.
The printable Wildflower Color Hunt is available during the month of May 2016 in the free newsletter. If you don’t already subscribe to the Handbook of Nature Study, you can do so during the month of May and receive the newsletter download link in your subscription thank you email. All newsletters are available as part of every level of membership here on the Handbook of Nature Study. See the Join Us pagefor more information on how you can gain access to the Ultimate Naturalist Library of ebooks, newsletters, and exclusive printables.
Note these are affiliate links to products I love!
Take a look at the two new printables available in the Member’s Library for both the Ultimate and Journey level memberships. There is a simple Northern mockingbird notebook page and also a set of notebook and coloring pages for the buttercup and the poppy (4 pages in all). For a complete list of member’s printables, click the button below for a printable list.
Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section. You can download a complete list of printables available to members here: Printables Current List May 2016.
Please read the following explanation outlining how to get this month’s newsletter.
The newsletter link is not in this email but will come separately. There may be a delay in your receiving the email so please don’t email me until the second day of the month if you haven’t received the link on the first. For some reason, some email providers take longer to receive the newsletter email.
If you don’t receive the separate email with the download link, you probably aren’t subscribed to the blog yet. This will take less than a minute to do if you follow the steps below.
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If you need to subscribe:
You will need to go to the Handbook of Nature Study, look to the top right corner for the box to type in your preferred email address, and then confirm the email that comes to your email inbox.
Once you subscribe, you will receive a thank you email from me with the download link.
This month’s newsletter link will be available only during the month of May so be sure to download it before 5/31/16.
Note: If you are following the Ambleside Online’s nature study rotation, this month’s newsletter is perfect for the theme: Garden Flowers and Weeds.
Contents of this edition of the newsletter include:
This month the newsletter focuses on a study of wildflowers. I have written an article sharing how to get started with an early spring wildflower study project.
Contributions from Outdoor Hour Challenge participants- Heather Woodie from Blog She Wrote. Heather is a wealth of information about so many aspects of nature study and I know you will enjoy her submission on wildflower study.
May Nature Study Planning Page with field trip ideas, nature photo ideas, and a special 15 minute challenge for parents.
As a bonus this month, I have included a fresh Wildflower and Weed Study Grid and a Wildflower Color Hunt printable for you to use with your family.
Wildflower Study printable notebook page which can be used as a nature journal topper as well.
Resources for your Nature Library: I have started to build a nature library store on Amazon that will feature by category my favorite nature study books and resources. Take a look and see if there is anything you would like to put on your wish list for your family’s nature study library: Handbook of Nature Study Nature Library Suggestions on Amazon.com. Note this is my affiliate store to items I personally recommend and have read or seen in person.
Please note that Ultimate Naturalist and Journey level members have access to members only printables each month in addition to the newsletter printables. You will need to log into your account and then go to the “Other Releases” section.
Need help getting started with your nature study using the Handbook of Nature Study? Check out the fresh “Getting Started” page here on the website!
You may also wish to purchase a set of wildflower, weed, and garden flower notebooking pages from NotebookingPages.com. This set includes every flower in the Handbook of Nature Study and will be a set you can use for many years to come. Please note I am an affiliate for NotebookingPages.com and have used this product with my family and highly recommend them to you!
Use code discount5 to save $5 on any purchase $10 or more from the NotebookingPages.com Shop. (This does not include membership purchases.)
