Saturday, April 30, 2016

Friday, April 29, 2016

Friday at the Feeder

This was taken a while back, I think down at one of the Milford beaches.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Orchids

Of course I didn't take the time to snap a shot of the identity markers by the orchids so I can't identify any of the orchids that you'll see over the next couple of days.  Just enjoy the show!



Tuesday, April 26, 2016

New York Botanical Garden

Why yes you did just see photos from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  Now we're off to the annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.  Over the next few days I'll post photos of orchids and some other plants.  Below is the Enid Haupt Conversatory where the major shows happen.  

Monday, April 25, 2016

Brooklyn Museum of Art

This is a view of the Brooklyn Museum of Art from inside the botanic garden.  We did not get there since time was limited but that's on the 'to do' list.  I was there years ago and would like to go back.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

More from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Even though the cherry trees weren't ready to bloom just yet, the garden did not disappoint.  There were tons of grape Hyacinth and tulips.




Saturday, April 23, 2016

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Last weekend I visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden founded in 1910.  I specifically went for the cherry blossoms and a few were out but not yet on the Cherry Esplanade.  Too bad!

This is the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden which is so peaceful.  Just underneath the curved bridge is an orange patch of goldfish.  They were clustering there in the sun.  Some of the cherries around the pond were in bloom and some were just getting ready to pop.


Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Cows on Morning Walk

While walking yesterday morning past Zeoli's farm I noticed the cows our grazing.  One of them just stood there and watched as I passed by.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Mounting Specimens at the Yale Herbarium

First you take a piece of archival paper, tape, weights, glue, brush, and scissors.  You take a specimen that has been dried and then place it artfully on the paper.  Some specimens are over ten years old or more.  Also it's rather difficult to find the best 'pose', you need to have a front and a back leaf exposed.  The information tag gets glued on the bottom right and pocket gets glued on the bottom left.  The pocket is for anything that has broken off through the years and is left in the newspaper.
You need to cut the tape into very thin strips.  In a four hour time slot that I work I can usually mount 6-7 specimens.  
The upper two were from Madagascar collected in 2001.  Originally they were part of the huge herbarium at the Missouri Botanical Garden Herbarium.
From Tolland County CT.

Monday, April 18, 2016

The Yale Herbarium

On the first Friday of the month I volunteer at the Yale Herbarium through the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.  Today I'll show you the inside of the herbarium and the room where I work and tomorrow I'll show you some specimens that I mounted.


In the front left is the corner of the work table where the specimens are mounted.  Behind are all of the supplies from archival paper and tape to glue, boards, etc.  In the box on the upper right are manilla folders with the dried specimens.
View of the lab from where I sit at the work table.