Rachel's American Heritage Girls Explorer group has been working on earning the Pet Care Badge. To meet one of the requirements they had to take a tour of an animal shelter. What a fun visit that was! Of course, Rachel was drawn to the pets up for adoption and immediately started begging me (unsuccessfully) to take this sweet kitty home with us.
We learned about role of the Animal Services department. We also learned about different types of wildlife that could be seen in our town and how to identify various animal tracks.
We learned about the vehicles and tools that Animal Services uses when they have to capture wildlife.
Animal Services has a lot of laundry to do. Look at all of those towels and blankets to make the pets feel comfortable in their temporary home.
We got to see a real microchip that they put in animals that are adopted. It's just that little dark bar and it goes right under the animal's skin. Both of our dogs have microchips like these.
If the animal is found, it can be taken to a veterinarian or Animal Services and they will use their scanner to read the identifying information on the microchip. Most importantly they will get the owner's information so they can get the animal back to their home.
The girls were so excited to meet and pet this gentle giant. His name is Magnum and he is such a sweet dog.
We all enjoyed looking at the wall of pictures of the various animals that had found their forever homes through Animal Services.
Random facts that we learned about cats:
Cats can rotate their ears 180 degrees.
The hearing of the average cat is at least 5 times keener than that of a human adult.
Domestic cats spend about 705 of the day sleeping and 15% of the day grooming.
Through October, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will "Celebrate the Children" through an
art exhibition of beautiful, hand-crafted bronze sculptures of children, which are displayed
throughout the garden. The exhibit features more than 25 different,
hand-produced, bronze sculptures, many of which are of his own children. The
11-foot sculpture, "Celebration!" features joyous children
celebrating life and soaring around the globe. The exhibition encourages guests
to revisit childhood memories such as singing Ring-Around-The-Rosie in
"Circle of Peace" with five children or playing in the grass near one
of the four "Cartwheel" statues. The pieces range from 2 to 7.5 feet
tall with one sculpture weighing more than 1,300 lbs.
We enjoyed having the opportunity to hear the artist, Gary Lee Price, speak about how art has been therapeutic for him and how he became inspired to create these beautiful statues. You can hear a little about his story in this video below:
We had fun exploring the garden looking for all of his statues. Here are just a few of them we found.
Rachel saw this sweet statue of a mom holding her little girl up in the air. She laughed and asked me to pick her up like that. Sorry, baby girl but you are on your own. I do miss those days when my kids were little enough to hold up in the air like that. Savor the days, Mama!
Anytime we go to the Arboretum, I always make sure that we spend some time in the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. It is so much fun for kids but there is so much to learn here too!
Speaking of learning, there is a homeschool class coming up next week called Wetlands Biologist: How healthy is our habitat? In this program, students explore our Texas Native Wetlands on our outdoor island classroom. They will collect scientific data by examining live macroinvertebrates using cutting edge scientific tools. Students will then make connections between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem to determine the health of our waterway. The homeschool class is for grades K-6th (ages 5-12). It takes place on April 22 from 10:00 - 11:00 or 11:15 - 12:15. As we walked through the garden, Nicholas found this ladybug pupa. It is kind of like a teen ladybug in that it is not quite fully developed. I wouldn't have known what it was without its spots!
We spent some time in the lab. There is currently a great exhibit about the scientist and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.
He obviously understood the thoughts of homeschool moms around the world when he said this....
Besides the amazing nature items on display, there are also several digital stations with different activities like this Case of the Mysterious Egg in which a strange egg appeared in the nest of an Eastern Phoebe.
She had to review the evidence which included learning about the Eastern Phoebe as well as other types of birds and their egg size in order to determine the species of the mysterious egg.
We wandered about the Children's Garden for quite a while. We found the petrogylphs.
And we spend time learning about amazing numbers in nature and the Fibonacci spiral.
My kids always enjoy the Pendulum Art station. They pour sand into the pendulum bucket and then learn about the designs that it creates as it naturally swings back and forth.
Do you know what this cool looking contraption is?
It's a giant kaleidoscope! You can turn the different discs to change your view in thousands of ways.
I said it earlier but savor the days, mama. As they get to be teens, it might not be so easy to get them to pose for pictures with you!
This little sweetheart still loves to pose for me though!
The Dallas Arboretum is the perfect place to get some nice posed pictures of your children and family. Walk around and explore for just a few minutes and you are bound to find a great backdrop of nature for your pictures.
Rachel was actually just sitting here quietly enjoying the waterfall on her own when I snapped this candid picture. It's amazing how nature helps to calm children and get them more focused.
We had a wonderful time at our visit to the Dallas Arboretum. Take a look below at all of the wonderful events coming up over Easter weekend and throughout the spring.
Easter Weekend Activities in Main Garden:
New! Break the World Record for Largest Bunny Hop
Saturday, April 20 |Noon| Jonsson Color Garden
Join WFAA Good Morning Texas reporter and producer, Paige McCoy-Smith, and the Easter Bunny in the garden, and help them attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest bunny hop. All ages are welcome to participate, and the event is free with paid garden admission.
Easter Portraits
Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21 |10 a.m. - 4 p.m.| Jonsson Color Garden
Chris Ivey Photography will be in the garden to take family portraits with a live bunny. Portraits are available to purchase from the photographer.
Easter Brunch
Sunday, April 21| 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. | Restaurant DeGolyer and Rosine Hall
Get together with family and friends for a picturesque brunch. Enjoy an elaborate menu featuring multiple carving stations and extensive chef antipasto displays. Seating for brunch is at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. To book your reservation, please call 214-515-6511
Artscape Fine Art and Craft Show
Saturday & Sunday, April 27-28, 9 a.m. -5 p.m., Pecan Grove
Artscape, a juried fine art and fine craft show and sale, is where 100 outstanding artists from around the country showcase their art. Artscape features a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, 2-D and 3-D mixed media, photography, jewelry, glass, digital art, ceramics and more. The layout for the art fair is architect-designed for maximum visibility of artists and audience flow. Visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/artscape for more information.
Spring Cool Thursdays Concert Series
Every Thursday through June 27
7:30-9 p.m., Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
The premier concert series "Cool Thursdays," sponsored by Wells Fargo, single tickets are available for purchase now at the Dallas Arboretum and feature four new exciting tribute bands. As Dallas' only concert series overlooking the picturesque White Rock Lake on the award-winning Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn, concert subscriptions and single tickets have a history of selling out quickly. To see concert lineup and purchase tickets, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/cool-thursdays-concert-series/
Garden Tea
Daily, April 8-September 21
11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Enjoy Garden Tea which includes a three-course meal with three different tea options. Teas are available Monday through Friday with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for $49 per person, or an additional $10 to add champagne. Reservations are required. Contact 214-515-6511 or email teas@dallasarboretum.org to book a reservation.
Try three free different samples featuring a weekly vegetable, fruit or herb from the garden. Visit www.dallasarboretum.org/recipes for past, current and future recipes.
DEMONSTRATION COOKING: El Centro College Cooks
Every Monday, 11 a.m.-Noon
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
Participate in this popular demonstration cooking class, taught by Chef Alison Matis from the college's nationally recognized culinary school.
April-Honey Roasted Radishes and Creamy Dilled Green Bean Salad
DEMONSTRATION COOKING:
Presented by: Chef Carol Pock
Saturday, April 20, 11 a.m.-Noon
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
Free with paid garden admission
Join Chef Carol Pock, a Certified Integrated Health Coach, Healthy Living cooking instructor, and Wellness Consultant, demonstrate how to make three different types of deviled egg recipe
Flower Power
A Meditative Walk in the Garden
April 26 * Level 1 * 10:30am-Noon
May 17 * Level 2 * 10:30am-Noon
$45
In the last 30 years, the immediacy of the technology coupled with the "I must have this" causes havoc on the body, brain and spirit. Bodies can go into in crisis mode with digestive disorders, anxiety and panic attacks. In this two-part series, Patricia Dedman Nail, owner of 6-D Design and clinical psychotherapist, teaches a processes that can be used to combat stress. Class is held in A Tasteful Place, followed by a healing meditative walk in the garden. For more information, please visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/flower-power-spring-april-2019-2/ or call 214-515-6615.
INTERACTIVE COOKING:
Lorie Fangio- 4-Course Spring Market Menu
April 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Donald and Charlotte Test Pavilion
$70
Join Lorie Fangio, teaching chef, and owner of A Taste of Paris™, for a spring French market class. Lorie teaches a four-course meal as she shares stories of the French table. This four-course meal starts with decadent Baked Goat Cheese with Tomato Confit. Our second course will be a beautiful Pear and Endive Salad with a French vinaigrette, and learn to make the perfect risotto; French style. To register, visit https://www.dallasarboretum.org/event/lorie-fangio-french-pastries-2-17-19/
Get excited for two weekends full of egg-citing, egg-themed programs. Stop by the Plant Lab for special egg-squisite egg dying using plant-based dyes. This year, an eggs-tra egg-citing weekend is included, and the plant lab offers egg-speriments every hour on the hour. Be sure to reserve a lab seat online. Appropriate for ages 5 and older.
Creativity Corner: Easter Edition Sponsored by Neiman Marcus
Friday-Sunday, April 19-21
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Entry Plaza
Kick off the day by creating a homemade Easter craft to take home.
Rachel had a friend over to play for a while. I thought they would probably play outside some, play with dolls, make a mess with craft materials. I had been feeling a little down so I was looking forward to just enjoying some time to myself while they played. I made plans to sort through that ever-growing pile of random papers and books that have been neglected in the corner of the school room. It would be to finally have some time to just get that pile cleared out and I thought that might help to lift my spirits.
After about 10 minutes I was getting settled into my project when the girls came bounding up to me begging for me to walk with them down the street to the playground. I groaned quietly in my head. I didn't really want to leave the house. I didn't feel like being social with other moms at the park. I was so looking forward to just getting some things done around here. Walking the whole two blocks to the playground in the heat of the day just sounded like too much for me at that moment. But these girls had such sweet pleading eyes and I felt guilty for not being more excited about my mantra that kids should spend more time playing and exploring outside. Of course, I eventually gave in. I knew they would have more fun at the playground than at the house plus they would get some exercise climbing around the play equipment. Besides we could all benefit from some fresh air and sunshine.
So I filled a backpack with bottles of water and snacks and we headed to the playground. I found a bench in the shade and settled down to watch the girls play and just let my mind rest, hoping that maybe just sitting and relaxing outside might cheer me up. But alas, that wasn't meant to be either. We didn't stay long at the playground. Almost immediately upon arriving, Rachel told her friend about the dry creek bed in the woods next to the playground and sure enough they chose to go exploring in nature instead of playing at the playground. Again, I really didn't want to go. I had resigned that I would just sit on the bench and not have to do anything.
But I do love the woods and exploring a creek... In the end, the call of nature was too strong and I chose to follow its call. I'm so glad I did.
The girls quickly got to the bridge and went down to the creek bed to explore.
Before they got too involved in exploring I stopped them to have my usual safety in nature talk. Part of this includes reviewing how to recognize poison ivy. The most common identifier is leaves of three. Often the outer two leaves look like they are mittens with a thumb sticking out. There is often red on the stem. Poison ivy can be found as a vine, on the ground, or as a bush so you have just keep your eye out for it where ever you go. It is abundant in the parks in our area.
I showed them Virginia Creeper and explained that many people mistake it for poison ivy but it has five leaves and it is perfectly safe to touch.
They soon found some little bugs swimming around in the creek.
We found these furry little balls hanging from a tree. I'm not positive but I think these could be young osage oranges. I will have to go back and look for thorns on the branches to be sure of that though.
We watched some bees scurrying around on a rock. I wonder if someone had spilled a soft drink there and the bees were enjoying a new kind of "nectar".
Here is a picture of part of the creek bed. Rocks, shade, beautiful trees, and birds singing overhead. I was feeling happy just being out here. Nature has a way of doing that and there are scientific studies to prove it. Just being in nature can reduce stress and improve mood for many people. It is certainly a "happy place" for me.
We found several little damselflies. I think this one might be a familiar bluet damselfly. It's hard to say for sure without being able to inspect his markings and wings more closely. He didn't seem interested in that and he quickly flew away when I tried to get closer.
The girls were constantly finding a new area of the creek to check out. They found frogs here.
I found some insect galls on this cedar elm tree. Cedar elm is interesting. The top of the leaves are rough like a fine sandpaper and the undersides of the leaves are smooth.
This tree caught our attention. It has these bright seed pods hanging down close to the branches. I sent a picture of it to a nature group that I'm in and learned that the tree is a green ash. The girls looked closely at the seed pods and realized that their concave shape would help it float better in the wind which would help spread the seeds farther.
Those sneaky girls were trying to hurry up and hide from me under the bridge. We were all giggling and being silly.
By the time I crossed the bridge they were already on the other side, feet submerged in the creek and big grins on their faces. I was so happy that they were having fun. And to be honest, I was having a lot of fun too!
A little more inspection of the water.
They found a damselfly larva swimming around in there!
Then they found this other one who is a little younger. It was swimming around too but the girls put it on a leaf just to contain it while they kept searching for more.
I noticed this piece of possible fossil sticking out from a chipped piece of a rock. Oh if only I had brought my rock hammer with us....
I found this black flying insect munching away on a cedar elm leaf. I haven't figured out what kind of bug he is but he seems to have a long stinger on him.
The girls found this interesting thing which looks like seeds. It looks spiky but it was actually very soft and pliable, not spiky at all. I don't have a clue as to what type of plant it came from.
My favorite part of the day was when Rachel cried out, "Lobster! We found a lobster!" I smiled and without even seeing it I told her it probably more likely a crawfish. Yep, they found two crawfish. They thought they wanted to try to catch them but I had to remind them that crawfish had pinchers and we probably didn't want to try to catch them with our bare hands. They were ok with that and decided to just watch them walk around under water for a while.
We were only out in the woods for an hour or two but we had a great time! The girls got exercise, built some confidence through exploring, and learned some new things about trees, plants, and critters. When we got home, I was surprised to realize just how much that fog had lifted from me and I felt happy again, almost excited about what we had found. Being out in nature is an amazing experience. No matter what I might be worrying about or feeling down about, being out among the trees always helps me see things in a better light. I'm so glad we didn't just stay at the house or play at the playground. I'm so glad we chose nature to explore nature instead. Imagine if we all just stepped away from our cell phones and video games and spent even just an hour out in nature once a week. Do you think we as a society might be a little less stressed, a little more focused, and a lot more happy? This post is a part of the Homeschool Review Crew's Homeschool Link Up. Want to learn more? Click on the image below:
