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@ by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
The Dogwood tree also produces both flowers and berries, but neither is exactly what it seems to be. The berries are edible only to birds and small creatures, and are not actually berries at all, but drupes, a fruit more similar to an apricot or cherry. The majority of each blossom is actually a modified leaf, or bracht, which forms the outer perimeter of the true flowers, the small green and yellow blossoms in the inmost interior of each "blossom." Dogwoods have long been considered to have medicinal properties. A tea made from the bark and leaves of the tree can reduce fever and chills, and the tree’s branches can also be used as makeshift toothbrushes. Native Americans would chew on dogwood twigs to clean and whiten their teeth, and you can do the same if you’re in need of some dental care in the wild. The wood is very sturdy and hard. It is useful because it resists abrasions well, and can be used to construct both structures and implements such as weaving shuttles and even golf clubs. Dogwood trees can reach up to 30 feet in height and are considered ornamental trees with their tiered growing patterns.0 comments
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& by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
TREE PROTECTORS
Ever wonder why the sapling tree protectors are blue? Do you know the colors of a rainbow? The order of the colors of a rainbow is the same as in the color spectrum. That is because rainbows are white light from the sun that has been bent by water in clouds to cast a “color spectrum” or rainbow. The exact order of the color spectrum is easy to remember if you can remember one name: Roy G Biv
R- red
O- Orange
Y – Yellow
G -reen
B – Blue
I – Indigo
V - Violet
Trees and plants produce their own food through photosynthesis. The colors used from white light in this process are G BIV or (green, blue, indigo and violet) with blue and green light being the best colors for this process. The color choice of blue to green for the tree protectors, not only protects the tree deer, but also helps it grow faster than it would if it was exposed to normal, all colors in the spectrum, sunlight.0 comments
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+ by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
WHITE PINE
Did you guess the 5 letter color of your pine tree? W-H-I-T-E. Coniferous trees, those that make pine cones, keep their leaves or needles on all year round. They are also always green, that is why we sometimes call them “ever greens”. Conifers' leaves do not turn colors, nor do they drop them all at once in the fall like deciduous trees. Instead they drop a few at a time, growing new ones constantly, kind of like human hair. No one loses all their hair at one time. Instead, we lose a few here and there and in our combs and hairbrushes daily. Conifers drop their cones full of seeds at certain times of the year. Pinecones come in all different shapes (fat, long, etc.) and sizes.0 comments
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? by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
SNAG
Dead trees, still standing upright in the forest, are called snags and are the perfect habitat for birds and bugs. Some birds, like black capped chickadees locate their nests in holes, or cavities, in snags. This offers protection against winter weather. Carpenter ants, beetles and beetle larvae called “grubs” also use snags for shelter. Woodpeckers, insectivores all year round, use upright snags and fallen dead logs as ‘restaurants’, were they find it easy to fill up on bugs and grubs. Woodpeckers have feet shaped like an X with two back toes so they can walk up and down the trunk of a tree listening for a bug to move. Then they drill into the tree with their beak, stick their long, skinny an and sticky tongue (kind of like an anteater’s) into the hole to catch the grub.0 comments
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$ by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
RED OAK
The northern red oak is one of the most important trees for timber production in North America. The wood from this tree is commonly used as flooring, cabinets, furniture, and mine timbers. This tree is very good shade tree and is used widely in city and urban conditions because of its tolerance to that environment. The acorns are an important food source for deer, squirrels and birds.SONG
Know, know , know your oak.
This is how they grow,
Red Oak (tall)
White Oak (wide)
Pin Oak (dead branches)
Bur Oak (knots)
So this is how they grow.0 comments
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# by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan summer kick off by Schrader Environmental Education Center
BIRD FEEDER
Ever wonder why some birds fly away for the winter and others are here year round? The birds that fly away for the winter, Robins etc, do not have the beaks to change their diet from bugs, or nectar (humming birds), to berries, nuts and seeds. Because their food of insects or flowers disappear in the winter, they fly to warmer climates where bugs and flowers can still be found. They do not have wide, nut cracking beaks. Those birds that do wide, nut cracking beaks, like a parrot, are able to find food in the forest all year round and do not need to travel south for the winter. The exception to this rule for eating bugs all year round is the woodpeckers. They have a beak that allows them to tap into dead trees where bugs overwinter. But you can still find a woodpecker at a bird feeder if you put out suet cakes made of animal fat. And all birds over wintering this far north love to find seeds easily in a bird feeder, especially when the ground is covered with snow. The next time you spot a cardinal, see if you can see how fat and wide his nut cracking beak is.0 comments
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eyes by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
eyes
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Invasives Species by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Hardwood Ridge: Wheeling, WV by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Are there any H. wooly adelgids
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food by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Buying food locally saves on resources (shipping), helps your community and is often healthier!
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bottle by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
plastic bottles can be reused and recycled.
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cleaning by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Many cleaning products can be replaced with environmentally friendly alternatives. This reduces pollution, protects our health and can save money!
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laundry bag by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Waiting until you have a full load before washing clothes and dishes uses less water and energy.
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light bulb by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Replacing incandescent bulbs with CFL's will reduce energy consumption by 75%.
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ceiling fan? by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Ceiling fans can save on energy bills by circulating air thereby making heating and cooling more efficient.
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trash by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Try to recycle everything possible before throwing away.
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refrigerator by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Opening refrigerator doors release cold air and uses energy.
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apple by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Organic waste such as food scraps and fruit and vegetable peels can be composted instead of thrown away.
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can by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Many containers such as cans and boxes can be re-used before being recycled.
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batteries by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Using rechargable batteries saves resources.
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radio by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Appliances that are not turned on but still plugged in use electricity. This is called "phantom" or "vampire" energy.
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Thermostat by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Programmable heating and cooling systems save energy by decreasing power usage during hours when demand decreases.
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Beams by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
STeel frame buildings can be built from recycled materials and recycled when torn down or replaced.
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light by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Turning off lights in areas not being used saves electricity.
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water fountain by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Uses energy. Fresh water is a limited resource.
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window by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Insulated windows save on energy consumption.
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window by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Glass can be recycled.
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door frame by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Frames from doors and windows can be recycled if made from steel or aluminum.
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windows by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Windows save energy by using natural light.
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boxes by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Boxes are recycleable.
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paper by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Madison Multipurpose Room by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Recycle paper instead of throwing it away.
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Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Long Run by Schrader Environmental Education Center
research
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Norway Spruce (Picea alba) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Long Run by Schrader Environmental Education Center
research
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American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Long Run by Schrader Environmental Education Center
research
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Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Long Run by Schrader Environmental Education Center
identify
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Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Long Run by Schrader Environmental Education Center
research
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Fringed Sedge (Carex cf. crinata) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Cranesville Swamp by Schrader Environmental Education Center
tentative identification
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Sedge Species (Carex sp.) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Cranesville Swamp by Schrader Environmental Education Center
Maybe someone can help identify this one
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Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Cranesville Swamp by Schrader Environmental Education Center
This large fern can be distinguished by the cinnamon colored swellings at the base of the leaflets
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Powerline Cut by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Cranesville Swamp by Schrader Environmental Education Center
This cut passes across the middle of the bog
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Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) by Schrader Environmental Education Center from the GigaPan Cranesville Swamp by Schrader Environmental Education Center
all over the bog
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