Thursday, June 13, 2019

What is it Wednesday: June 12, 2019




Can you identify what's in this photo?


Each Wednesday morning 
on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page
 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 


Readers have all morning and afternoon 
to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.


Each week's What is it Wednesday post 
will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 
 after it is posted on Facebook,
sometimes with additional bonus information. 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 
on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 
we will be reposting old editions,
creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on. 
 June 12, 2019. 


And the answer is....



Sometimes we post a What is it Wednesday picture of something that also made us say “What is it?!” This is one of those instances. 

This strange creature, about an inch and a half long, was found swimming in the garden pond at Terra Dei. With a little poking around in field guides and online we were able to determine that it is the larva of a diving beetle.


While we don’t see the larva often, diving beetles are very common in ponds and other slow-moving water. Diving beetles act like scuba-divers – at the surface of the water they attach a bubble of air to the underside of their abdomens, then breathe from that bubble of air while swimming underwater. There are many species, of various sizes and color patterns. 

Diving beetles live in the water as both larvae and adults, but because they can also fly, they can migrate from one body of water to another.

At LEEP we love continuing to learn! For more about how LEEP can help you continue to learn about the world of nature around us, through summer camp, school field trips, Saturday safaris, and more, check out www.lutherlyn.com/ee



Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!

Thursday, June 6, 2019

What is it Wednesday: June 5, 2019




Can you identify what's in this photo?


Each Wednesday morning 
on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page
 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 


Readers have all morning and afternoon 
to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.


Each week's What is it Wednesday post 
will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 
 after it is posted on Facebook,
sometimes with additional bonus information. 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 
on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 
we will be reposting old editions,
creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on
June 5, 2019. 



And the answer is....


The large leaves in the center of this photo are common plantain, also called broad-leaved plantain.

 This plantain is different than the banana-like plantains found in the grocery store – it is a common plant found in yards and other open areas. It is one of the many plants we feature on “Edible Hikes,” which is one of the most popular nature activities of summer camp! 

Plantain leaves are edible (they have a pleasant nutty flavor) and also medicinal – the leaves have anti-biotic properties and are soothing when rubbed on scrapes, scratches, and itchy insect bites. Lurking is the background of this photo is another edible “yard salad” plant – dandelion leaves! 

Remember to only eat wild plants when you know for certain what they are, what part to eat, and when they can be eaten! As with any plant whose leaves you will eat, the young fresh-looking leaves of plantain are the best to eat. The ones in this picture look delicious!


To find out how you can join an edible hike through summer camp, LEEP field trips, and other events, check out www.lutherlyn.com