Sarina's Nature Book Club Blog

Last Friday, I spent the afternoon hiking in Tandy Hills Natural Area. Wildflowers filled the fields in almost every hue imaginable. iNaturalist allowed me to identify a few of the wildflower species as engelmann daisy, stiff greenthread, dakota mock vervain, and antelopehorn milkweed. I noticed butterflies, dragonflies, bees, birds, and ants along the trail. I even saw a bumblebee on an antelopehorn milkweed plant, and I was able to get the attached picture of the scene. It was sunny but not too hot because the clouds offered intermittent shade. A lovely breeze made the walk enjoyable when the sun peeked through the clouds. The sky was inspiring with scattered fluffy white clouds. I felt in touch with nature because I only used my phone to take pictures and fully engaged with the environment around me. Hearing the crunch of the trail beneath my shoes, birds chirping in nearby trees, and wind whistling through plants led me to focus on ordinary sounds that I hear every day. Touching an...

I chose this as my best photo because I love how the wispy clouds frame the sun. Although no pinks are displayed in the sky, the varied yellow and blue hues are magnificent. Additionally, the distant cityscape highlights nature's magnitude when compared to a common city. The outdoors tend to be overlooked in cities, yet they create a sense of peace within me when experiencing them and reflecting on photos like this one. Sunsets remind me of the cyclicity of nature because one day is done and another will soon dawn, awakening many and continuing the cycle. This photo captures how independent and connected people are to nature. Nature creates sunsets and wildflower fields independently from human interaction, but we are constantly surrounded by it, which is emphasized by the buildings. My Best Photo

Why DO I need the wild? This question led me to reflect deeply on each of my nature excursions. I thought of multiple reasons why I need the wild but narrowed it down to five. First, I feel better during and after spending time outside, specifically with improved mental and physical health. I’m more productive due to increased focus and improved sleep. My second reason relates to the first since I’ve actively explored the environment in most of my nature excursions. Rather than staring at my laptop or sitting in a lecture hall all day, I went outside and moved. Third, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about various plant and animal species. By using apps to identify specific types, I have broadened my knowledge and understanding of flora and fauna found in nature. It’s incredibly interesting how biodiverse a simple park can be. As for my fourth reason, my nature outings became bonding experiences with friends and family. I reached out to them when I decided it was time for a blog entr...

This past weekend, I went for a walk with friends through neighborhoods near my house and admired the rain from my porch. It was a gloomy evening with ominous clouds which threatened a downpour. It was incredibly humid, around 70 degrees, and slightly windy. The walk conditions were ideal because it wasn’t too sunny or hot, breezy, and overall pleasant. We walked a shorter route than usual due to the dark clouds insinuating dense rainfall. The sidewalks were caked in mud from previous rain showers earlier in the day, leading to some creative jumps to avoid the messiness. The vibrant green tree hues contrasted against the dull, gray, and overcast sky. As far as fauna, I observed at least five squirrels climbing trees or roaming through front lawns, two neighborhood cats wandering around, and various birds perched in trees. Our walk concluded without a drop of rain; however, it began drizzling and then pouring shortly after we got home. Once it began raining, I decided to stand on my por...

On Tuesday, we successfully cleared privet for a few hours at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Prior to this experience, I'd heard of privet but definitely wouldn't have been able to recognize it; now I feel like an expert on identifying these plants! The privet—an invasive species like last week's bamboo — was obstructing the view of the bison herd. Our goal was to clear as much privet as possible so that park rangers could do a controlled burn in order for visitors to see the bison from the road . It was a great experience! I enjoyed lopping the privet, and I found it easier to cut than the bamboo because the bases were more accessible. It felt a little warmer than last week due to less shade, but there was a slight breeze and adjacent shaded areas that helped with the heat. I noticed myself fully invested in lopping as much privet as I could; my pants were covered in leaves, dust, and dirt each time I stood from my knelt lopping position. The satisfaction of view...

Earlier this week, we had our first volunteer experience at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge. Due to the nearby neighborhoods, there was an overgrowth of a bamboo invasive species. We spent two hours lopping and piling the bamboo in a forested part of the nature center. It was warm, but there was a decent amount of shade in our working area which was perfect. As we worked, I figured out little techniques to cut the bamboo easily, find the stem source effectively, and pile the stalks efficiently. It was enjoyable to be enveloped by nature and quite satisfying to see the towering piles of our labor. I spotted much more bamboo in the forested area as we drove out of the refuge; this was disheartening but made me reflect on how every little bit helps. We cleared out a fairly large section of bamboo in only a few hours, and we will continue with flora upkeep in the coming weeks.   I also went for a little stroll through campus after my classes yesterday. I focused on admiring the...