Naturalist training is over.

Twelve-spot Skimmer (Libellula pulchella), originally uploaded by donnallong.

My core training as a naturalist is over. I am relieved and sad at the same time. I glad because I finally feel as if I am on summer vacation. Saddened because I met some great people and won't see them until next spring.

I loved the camaraderie of a group of like minded people. And of learning from each other.  Learning about the environmental history and natural history of Philadelphia was invaluable. I really wish one of the universities would teach adult education or continuing education classes on the topics.

I will be using what I learned for a long time to come. I plan in the coming weeks to put up photos essays and and journal posts about what I learned.  

Another Funky Photo - Enraged Frog

Green frog (Rana Clamitans) A Philly resident

Shady Morning Walk

Tacony Creek tributary

The weather finally broke yesterday morning. It had been hot and humid for the past several days. The temperature stayed in the 90s. Yesterday, we had a respite. It only reached 83 degrees.

So, I took a walk, along a busy road I usually travel. Cars zoomed by, going 50 on a 40 mile per hour stretch of road. I speed by on this road several times a week. But I miss walking it.

When I walk it, I notice the shade and the gently rolling hills. I stop to peer into the forest that edges the shallow creek that winds over rocks and dives beneath the road to emerge on the other side.

I watch the birds as they stand in the small pools of the creek and dip their heads as they sip.  The squirrels jump from rock to rock as they drink from the winding water. Cool, clear.

This small swallow creek, feeds into the Schuylkill River, into the Delaware River and finally into the sea. The water I gaze into will spill out into Delaware Bay and mingle with the salty drops of the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time being and becoming the sea.

I miss all this as I speed by in my car. But by walking, I hear the sounds, smell the smells and feel the breezes as they brush against my face.

Walking, soothes the soul.