When checking the snake coverboards we find this garter snake that is entangled in the mesh netting that was a part of the carpet padding. Obviously there needs to be a design change to these cover boards.

Shadow, the dog of camp’s outdoor education assistant staff, found these 4 box turtles near the meadow. Three of them were together with 2 males fighting over a female. This is the most eastern box turtles that I’ve ever seen in the wild in one place.

The top bushy gall is caused by the goldenrod gall gnat which stops further stem growth.

Other galls are the spherical bulges lower on the stem of the plant called goldenrod ball galls.  Created by the gall fly larva, these homes are invaded by birds in the winter like chickadees and downy woodpeckers.  It’s even possible to identify which type of bird ate which larva by the hole that is left on the gall.  These larva are also invaded by ice fisherman who use the larva as bait.

The goldenrod gall moth also produces a gall that is elliptical in shape.  Here’s a how it avoids freezing to death in the winter.

Goldenrod seems to have a difficult life.

If you’re interested in more information I’d suggest “The book of Field and Roadside” by John Eastman.  It’s an excellent resource concerning plants and there common insect associates.

For more on goldenrod galls

I find this praying mantis in the meadow just east of the red oak preserve.

I see this spider with its egg sack as I’m hiking on Lakeside trail.

Insects seem to love goldren at this time of the year.

This Monday morning after a record rainfall for SW Michigan of almost 11inches in a 48 hour period it’s appropriate to have this rainbow.

The sky is so intense and beautiful this morning.  I’m glad I got up early.

While I’m doing some team building activities with a group of 5th graders from Prairie View Elementary from Goshen Indiana, one student finds this baby eastern box turtle. These creatures can live to be over a 100 years old. I’ve never seen one this small.

As I’m getting ready for a group of school children to arrive at camp, I get to see the lake in this morning mist. This is one of my favorite sites at camp.