Category Archives: Botany

Goat’s Foot Morning Glory

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Jeremy Sell

Goat’s foot morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae, Convolvulaceae) can be found on tropical ocean shores around the globe. Also known as goat’s foot vine, railroad vine, bayhops, and beach morning glory, this evergreen perennial is one of the most widely-distributed salt-tolerant … Continue reading →

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Stretching for dinner

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Jeremy Sell

Last week I was out at Chiricahua National Monument in southeast Arizona.  One thing that caught my eye was this Arizona white-tailed deer (Artiodactyla: Cervidae: Odocoileus virginianus couesi).  After spotting me at some distance it seemed bashful and hid for a minute. Once … Continue reading →

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Things I always want to know before taking a trip:

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Jeremy Sell

1) Sunrise/sunset times I like to get up before dawn to hike because some of my best wildlife encounters have been just before or just after the sun comes up.  Sunset provides similar opportunities. 2) Moonrise/moonset times When I’m in … Continue reading →

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Seeking Solitude at Great Basin National Park

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Great Basin National Park is located in east-central Nevada and is one of our country’s least-known and least-visited parks. Back in 2013 my wife, her friend and I drove a few hours north of Las Vegas to get a taste of what this remote … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Manzanita

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Found throughout large areas of the North American west, manzanitas (Arctostaphylos spp., Ericaceae) are common inhabitants of chaparral and other arid shrublands and woodlands. Made up of dozens of species, these woody plants grow as bushes or small trees and can be … Continue reading →

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Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Of all the caves administered by the National Park Service, a visit to Timpanogos Cave National Monument requires a bit more effort than most. Located in American Fork Canyon southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah, this particular cave happens to be … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Mule-ears

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Mule-ears (Wyethia amplexicaulis, Asteraceae) are relatively conspicuous herbaceous plants found throughout much of the western United States. These sunflower relatives feature long, broad leaves that resemble mule ears as well as numerous large yellow flower heads. They inhabit the intermountain west and are most … Continue reading →

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The Great Salt Lake, Utah

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Beyond the Great Lakes that surround my native Michigan, the next largest lake in the United States is the Great Salt Lake in northern Utah. Although the lakes of both states share similarly impressive surface areas they are incredibly different in … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Cutleaf Toothwort

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Appearing in eastern woodlands in April and May, cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata, Brassicaceae) exhibits the four-petaled flower arrangement typical of members of the mustard family.  Its large flowers and relative abundance early in the season make it a favorite of insect pollinators. … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Bloodroot

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Papaveraceae) is one of many plants known as a spring ephemeral. Spurred into action by increasing day length in early spring, these plants complete their life cycles in just a few weeks. By the time deciduous trees have leafed out in May, these plants … Continue reading →

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Random Plant: Yellow Trout-Lily

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Found in moist woodlands of eastern North America, yellow trout-lilies (Erythronium americanum, Liliaceae) are one of many plants known as spring ephemerals. These plants germinate, grow, flower and reproduce in just a few weeks in early spring. Increasing day length and sun … Continue reading →

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Plant-Insect Interaction: Bees on a Squawroot

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Squawroot (Conopholis americana, Orobanchaceae) is a fascinating plant because it is a parasite of other plants. Found in eastern North America it feeds predominantly on nutrients produced by oaks and beeches (family Fagaceae). Since it does not perform photosynthesis and lacks the green … Continue reading →

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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

While many woodpecker species hammer their beaks against trees to get at the insects inside, some are after a different food source. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (Piciformes: Picidae: Sphyrapicus varius), like other sapsuckers, feed predominantly on the sugary juices of the trees themselves. Although known to … Continue reading →

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Stopping by Ponds on a Sunny Evening

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

The other day on my way home from work I stopped at a nearby pond to find a number of Ring-necked Ducks (Anseriformes: Anatidae: Aythya collaris), Canada Geese (Anseriformes: Anatidae: Branta canadensis), and Red-winged Blackbirds (Passeriformes: Icteridae: Agelaius phoeniceus) hanging out around the water. The … Continue reading →

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Random Insect: Half-Wing Moth

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Winter has been gradually giving way to spring, and the other day I was greeted by this Half-Wing moth (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Phigalia titea) resting on my front door. These insects are found mostly near wooded areas of the eastern US, and adults … Continue reading →

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Late Winter Wetland Walk

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Back in January I took a stroll through the USFWS Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area near my home in southeast Michigan. Even in the midst of this relatively mild winter there was little to see aside from some persistent plants from last … Continue reading →

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Redwood National Park Revisited

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Back in 2013 a friend and I made a quick trip through Redwood National Park in northwest California. Our visit here was too short, so last summer when my wife and I were in the area we made a point to spend … Continue reading →

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Three Days in the Pyrenees of Spain: Part 4

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

Earlier on day three our trip up to Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido was kind of a bust, but we did see some cool things along the way. With half a day left we set out to find some more cool … Continue reading →

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Three Days in the Pyrenees of Spain: Part 2

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

After a long first day getting to our destination in the Pyrenees Mountains of northern Spain, my wife and I were ready spend the second day relaxing. Thirteen hours of flying and then four hours of driving, while exciting at … Continue reading →

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Stuff I’m Reading: “A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir” by Donald Worster

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Jeremy Sell

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”  — The Yosemite by John Muir (1912) Widely regarded as one of the first … Continue reading →

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