August Walks
This one is long, so get cozy and prepare to learn some things about nature with me.
Virtual Walking Challenges
I am part of two virtual walking challenges right now.
I finally signed up for a Conqueror Virtual Challenge after seeing those ads for 10 years; the marketing finally worked on me. A friend of mine did one and said it wasn't too bad, so I signed up for the Appalachian Trail to complete 88 miles in 84 days (though you can do the full 2,077 miles). A fairly reasonable goal and I'm only a little behind, so that's nice. As you go, you unlock fun facts about forests, landmarks, and parks along the trail. I probably won't do another challenge with them, I am not super motivated by it.
I was invited to by a friend using an app called MistyWay. MistyWay is an RPG-style quest where you and friends (or strangers) walk "together" on a path towards adventure. There are mini challenges and badges and a map where you can actually see your pace vs your buddies. It seems to support more long-term goals... instead of a quick project that's meant to last a few months to a year, the whole path is 932 miles and there's no expiration for when you can finish. It supports longer-term habit building in a way I haven't seen any virtual challenge do.
So naturally I'm walking a lot more often now!
iNaturalist
I've been interested in the flowers and trees and plants for a while, but never took much effort beyond taking photos or making art. Recently I signed up for iNaturalist so I can start identifying and learning about the things I see.
I spent a few days on TikTok before deleting the app again (this is how I do social media in moderation, it works for me to stay connected with people without using it all the time). The algorithm brought me to a local birder who recently discovered some of my favorite places to meander and enjoy the colorful world.
It inspired me to get out and look for wildlife and insects to watch. I live in an area with a rich parks system and there are lots of trails to explore and discover, though I've been sticking to my favorites after getting jealous someone else was spending time there and seeing all the cool things I've not seen in [insert # days].
In the video: Just a little guy! (Great Egret)
(Sorry for the wobbly videos - I have a hand tremor. I recently got a tripod, just need to remember to bring it.)
Green Spring Gardens has placecards identifying things but I always forget to stop and look. Now that I've got iNaturalist to tell me what everything is, I'm excited to share.
It's been fun taking walks, photographing things, watching bugs, then coming home and uploading them to identify and learn. It feels like I'm coming up on a Field Notes moment of life, but I'm not quite there yet... I don't carry a purse and my pockets aren't deep enough for that.
Trigger warning: bugs. Bumblebee and (probably) Spicebush Swallowtail and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Flowers
Here are some things I saw and identified in the gardens. I've created a page on my blog that shows the most recent 10 observations I've made, if you're into that. (I know, I need to get better about taking closeups or cropping for that site.)
The last time I went to Green Spring Gardens was before June, before iNaturalist entered my life, and also before most of the flowers had bloomed. It was lovely to revisit and see how everything is progressing.
Other Photos I Took at the Gardens
The End.
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