the pond studies....and #42 is History!!!

I began the morning out at Dawes Arboretum in the learning garden with my wonderful ADD artists!  We gathered around the pond with big green nets...and four plastic flat containers...to scoop...collect...identify...touch... living creatures from the pond near the Zand Education Building.  There were giggles...and squeals... and a bit of apprehension as each artist made their exploratory scoop of net into the pond waters.  It was a beautiful day...clear blue skies... a gentle breeze and Katie was our fearless leader encouraging everyone to capture and study small aquatic creatures found in a healthy pond system.  Even though we did not see the large turtle this morning...I know there are two large turtles that a old and very frisky this time of year.  When went in..we drew in our journals ...and listed the each species in the order we had found them.  Then the fun began when we started to illustrate these tiny creatures.  Danny Gregory...the author of the Illustrated Life would have been proud to see how astute these artists were in capturing the motions...colors...and even textures of these tiny creatures.

The new father ...Peter is still counting the days until little Ella Casey is born...he is the man leaning back in his office chair ..in a meeting with his interns.

Today we are going to explore "Pond Studies" under the guide of our sweet Katie....

As Katie explains what we might just find... a couple of the participants stepped back...you could read their faces  asking..."you want us to do what?"

this leader modeled for us all what we could capture in our specimen nets today....

Jason was very brave...  he found and held the first specimen...a fresh water snail.....

Ruth's grandson Gabriel found an even larger fresh water pond snail..... Gabriel is in the 8 TH grade.....

Clinton is still not too sure he wants to drop his green net into mysterious murky waters...............

slowly our specimen containers became  living laboratories to observe...and identify... and count....

 David is literally supporting me with a pat on my back while I hold a very active cray fish....they are fascinating and I informed the artists that in the South...well we have cray fish parties ....think of them as small lobsters...........

Jason goes back in to find and reveal his collection of pond creatures..............Jason has the very best attitude and is a pleasure to work with....

Now the fear is lessening...and they come close to study the creatures on top...and swimming in the collected waters........

now our youngest volunteer Brice is eager to capture his own specimens.....hopefully without falling into the pond.....

after about 45 minutes...we put the collections in a row...to review and identify our bounty.....just then we heard a rush overhead...and the flock of Canadian geese were flying in for a water landing....

curiosity guides evens the youngest to seek and find the gifts living in the Dawes pond..............

 Whew this is exciting science work!!!

 Katie explains that now we will carry our nets up to the table area to allow them to dry thoroughly...

 this geese water landing thrilled the artists....we must remember to bring bread scraps to feed them next time....

 where's the bread???

I do not know what this bloom is...but isn't it stunning??? Last Friday I fell in love with the leaves  and their markings...

 moist dew drops collecting on the surface of the red/green leaves...

 another orange bloom....I am so drawn to orange at this moment....we are planning an orange /gold room in the new little house.............

 we had a gentle rain last night...I had to take  pass on the Perseid showers....but look how healthy these begonias are this morning...........

My dear Mary is working on her journal...and continues to add to our September grocery list for our big picnic coming up...I told her I could take her home and she could help me at the grocery....
she is fun to work with!!!

 Jason is focused on his illustrations in this day's journal entry....this young man has a courageous heart...and works to make every visit count when he comes back for his weekly adventures here at Dawes Arboretum's Learning Garden.

Gabriel, Katie and Dani will start their Fall school year next week...and they look disappointed that their time helping here has come to an end.  These three students have grown in their understanding and compassion in working with us all.  I will miss them dearly!!!

I delivered a special  package of "Three Kids and a Kitchen" homemade caramels to the Licking County Visitors and Convention Bureau to Dan Moder.  I am hoping her delicious caramels will be just the right sweet treat to add to the gift shop here.  I recommended Vicki Noble's candles ...for a future option...candles have been great sellers here.  Dan is a sensitive man who has just returned from vacation...he looks radiant from his vacation.  I really enjoyed my 5 years when I worked on this board of community members who live and love Licking county.

Here is the beautiful Amista ...who works here at the gift center...she is a wonderful photographer and her photos are in a premium entrance into the headquarters!

The Great Circle Mounds ...here in Licking county...is waiting to hear about the Global Heritage  recognition... people come from all over the globe to visit our Hopewell and Adena Indians who lived here on this land thousands of years ago....

I love this particular tree....so graceful and welcoming as you walk up to the museum here....

 it is a small...unassuming space here..but the children love having field trips to study the world history that is right in our backyard............

Number 42 is in the past now..Ken is a champion... and he is on the golf course at this present time...one day at a time.   The people here are generous ...compassionate...loving doctors and total staff.  I have met some very courageous survivors with each visit.  I hope you have had a great day...create a life of pure JOY!!!  Imagine and Live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart