When I was in college, I took a plant identification class called California Floristics. I was interning at a Botanical Conservatory at the time and the supervisor thought I would love the class.
He was correct. My world was transformed! Suddenly, the vegetation around me felt so much more complex. I noticed the leaf patterns, stamen numbers, and shape of the stems of the plants that, beforehand, just seemed like… grass and some flowers.
At the time, I felt that my life had been completely transformed forever. I vowed to continue my journey in naturalist exploration. I planned to move from California to Massachusetts for my master’s program and was excited to explore the local biodiversity. Yes, a naturalist! This is who I had become!
Well…not quite.
The truth is, I kept procrastinating on “learning the local flora”. I got busy with school and work and never got around to it. The generic “maples” remained maples. I hiked through the White Mountains – mostly seeing what looked like granite, sometimes saw some vaguely metamorphic rock… but never confirmed.
This year, I’d like to turn a new leaf and get to know the world around me.
Want to join? Here’s how you do it:
- Go to the library and grab a nature guide (flora, fauna, geology, etc.) for your area.*
- Go on a nature walk.
- Try to identify (and photograph) a few species or natural features. Notice where you found them, what is nearby, and any other relevant description.
- Gather these photographs, descriptions, and species names in a google doc, blog, or notebook. A digital platform is ideal in the event that you’d like to share this with others.
Happy Identifying!
*You could also use an ID app on your phone.
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