Parking Ticket ):

The parking ticket I received from UNF when I was trying to complete my Agricultural Field Trip):

Field Trip: Agricultural Field Trip - UNF Butterfly Garden / VERB (Herb Garden with Vegetables) Garden, Jacksonville, FL

Even though there was not as many herbs and vegetables as I hoped there would be, I still think I got a pretty good idea as to how agriculture effects the Jacksonville area. For the most part, the area was mainly a butterfly garden, which don’t get me wrong, was really awesome, but was not so much “agricultural”. I learned different types of plants that attracted butterflies, and different plants that may deter the butterflies away. I also saw a couple of plants that were (supposed) to be growing peppers, and tomatoes. Overall, I enjoyed my agricultural experience, but I really wish it would have been more agricultural, and more of what I was expecting.

Although it is hard to see, there really are a few squash on there! 

The tomato plant barely had any tomatoes, but at least there were a couple!!

Field Trip: Freshwater Environment - UNF Nature Preserve, Jacksonville, FL

Even though there was still a good amount of smoke in the air from all of the fires in the area, I had a really fun time walking around on the trails and wading in the lake. I loved seeing the osprey in the tree; it seemed that it was posing for a picture for us. Another friend of mine besides Melissa came along too and was a little more educated on the environment, and he informed me of a lot of different things about the preserve that I would not have known, had he not come with us. I really enjoyed just walking around, breathing the fresh air, and making jokes with my friends all while experiencing what nature has to offer.

This was such a cool thing on the trail! It was like a giant sand box, that you could (hopefully) catch a glimpse of some animals prints if one happened to walk through there!

Raccoon Prints in the Tracking Box! This was super cool to see.

Field Trip: (Saltwater) Marine Environment - Jacksonville Beach, Jacksonville, FL

Besides the heavy smoke while at Jacksonville Beach, I really enjoyed experiencing the environment. I had a lot of fun watching the waves crash on the shore. I really got a chance to look at and appreciate the sand dunes, which is something that I never really take the time to look at. I was really upset that I didn’t get to see any jellyfish or turtles while I was there (because usually I see at least one of each almost every time I go), but I really think the smoke played a part in preventing me from seeing any wildlife. Overall, I really enjoyed the saltwater marine environment. 

(Above) This is an outdoor amphitheater that is owned by the city and is located right along the beach.

(Above) In this picture, you can kind of see the amount of smoke there was in the air...you can't even see the water because it is so smokey. 

(Above) This is the Jacksonville Pier; Melissa and I were unable to go onto the pier because they were doing renovations and it was temporarily closed.

Species Identification

Today, Melissa and I went on our Freshwater Field Trip Along the way, we found many different species that we have identified for the species identification portion of the course.

(Above) We found this pine cone, laying underneath a pine tree. You can also see  the pine needles located all around the cone.

(Above) Before we entered the freshwater lake, there were some minnows swimming around next to our feet.

(Above) These cat tails were located within the freshwater lake. It was really cool to see them up close!

(Above)  These were some time of small animal eggs (maybe for a certain insect?). Melissa and I could not figure out which animal they belonged to, but my best guess would be a snail or something of the sort.

(Above)  We found this snail right on the side of the freshwater lake.

(Above) This sunfish (or blue gill) was located in about 6-7 inches of water, about two feet into the lake.

(Above)  We found red lilies along one of the nature trails that was next to the lake.

(Above)  Also on the nature trail, Melissa and I stumbled upon a prickly-pear cactus.

(Above)  In the lake, we found a TON of lily pads, as well as a white lily. There were not many of the lilies in the water, just the lily pads.

(Above)  We were at the UNF Nature Preserve, and in one of the trees that was hanging over the lake, we saw an osprey. The osprey is UNF's mascot, and it was really cool to see it in it's natural environment.

(Above) There was a red-eared slider turtle swimming around in the lake. We were standing on a bridge and he actually heard us coming, and swam right up to the bridge!

(Above)  We are not really sure what type of fungus this is, but we are definitely sure it was some type of fungus or an old mushroom.

(Above)  We found poison ivy. Thank god it was a little ways off the trail, because I didn't notice it at first, and I would have hated to have rubbed up against it!

(Above)  We found sunshine mimosa right outside of the butterfly garden that Melissa and I went to.

(Above) Also outside the butterfly garden, we found coral honeysuckle. 

(Above)  We also found coontie. This is the same type of plant that was mentioned in the novel A Land Remembered.

(Above) This is just a better picture of the coontie from a different angle.

Reading #14 - Reason to Hope

Yes, I believe the children in my community have reason to hope because of my youth, energy, intellect, and indomitable spirit. (And the youth of the others in the community as well). People are constantly learning. Whether or not the learning is about positive things or negative things, learning is almost always taking place. People in today’s society are learning how to live 

sustainably and how to live healthier lifestyles (for both themselves and the environment).

The best idea that I got out of the article was that it is never too late. My interpretation of this was that no matter how bad things get, whether it is in the environment or just in society, it is never too late to change things. People can make changes and turn their lives around, (in doing this, hopefully these people will be living more sustainably)! It is never too late to live sustainably, and instill hope into the children of today. We need to give the children of today the hope for tomorrow. 

Reading #13- Rachel Carson

As soon as I read the sentence in Rachel Carson’s article that stated 500 new chemicals are introduced to the bodies of both men and animals (and are required to adapt to these chemicals) amazed me. Then when her article continued on in saying that many of these chemicals were from man’s war against nature surprised me even more.

The amount of chemical that is sprayed into our air (or the environment) is astonishing, especially knowing how serious the effects of these chemicals can be. Many people know the effects of these chemicals and still use them, regardless of the harm they may cause to themselves, others, and the environment.

I really hope that sometime in the near future, people begin to realize the severity of airborne chemicals and how much they affect us as individuals.