Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase Only in the Adirondacks can a person go for a walk and come across a museum. The Adirondack Mountain Club’s (ADK) Heart Lake Nature Museum seems more nature center than museum but what’s in a name. As in the Gershwin song, “You say either and I say eyether; you say neither and I say nyther.”* It’s not the name that matters but what is inside that counts. I double-check the meaning of museum and it is simply a building where objects of artistic, historical or scientific importance are kept and studied. My child’s collection of rocks, old bottles and action figures only partially meets the criteria. For all I know major scientific discoveries could be found in his room as well but would I want them on display? We are not ready to open up to the public and I’m not sure what the interest level would be anyway. On the other hand, the Heart Lake Nature Museum’s one room schoolhouse appeal gets children and adults alike to examine the natural world. The “Cranium Case” sho

When it's time for FRESH seasonal food, Make sure to find the nearest Farmers' Market in the Adirondack Park. There are Adirondack Farmer's Markets each day of the week. Check which is closest to you. Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday , Friday , Saturday , Sunday Looking to learn a bit about nature in the Adirondacks? Learn to be a Nature Detective with these activities. Looking for crafts or activities to do with children? Here are some ideas. Hiking with children and families in the Adirondacks is a natural thing to do. Here are a few ideas to start with for your Adirondack hike with kids. all content and photos © Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) 

By Diane Chase My children can spend hours scouring the countryside for grasshoppers... or are they crickets? Well, it would depend on what time of the day it is. Here are just a few quick facts to help tell the difference.

By Diane Chase Honestly, my children think the first sign of an Adirondack spring is the Michigan hotdog guy that places his cart at the intersection of Route 86/30 in Paul Smiths. That fellow is sometimes out there waiting for Paul Smith College students even in weather that Mother Nature's first sign of spring, the Robin Red Breast , finds daunting.

By Diane Chase Did you know that Gypsy Moths were introduced in the United States as a failed attempt at creating a silk industry similar to the silkworm? The Gypsy moth was brought from Europe to Massachusetts in 1869 by Leopold Trouvelot in attempt to breed the moths for silk production. A few escaped and now the moths defoliate trees from east to west coasts of the United States. Well, Mother Nature is trying to trip my apple growing by first giving that cute fawn apple leaves to nibble upon and now a bout with tent caterpillars. So what is the difference between the Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Forest Tent Caterpillar and the Gypsy Moth?  Eastern Ten Caterpillar "tent" The Eastern Tent Caterpillar • black heads, light brown body with hairs with a white stripe. • Light stripe down its back bordered with brown and black wavy stripes on either side  There are a series of blue and black dots along the length of the body • Length - about 2 to 2 1/2 inches • The

Sundews are a carnivorous plant from in the Adirondacks Nature Detective?   Yes, please!  At least with Adirondack carnivorous plants, you don't have to worry about it eating your pets or smallest child. This isn't A Little Shop of Horrors,  but Mother Nature's pest control.  Pitcher Plants at Ferd's Bog There are carnivorous plants that are native to the Adirondack Park, but they are much smaller than the mythical Venus Flytraps. The sundew, pitcher plant, and bladderwort are beautiful as they are resilient.    These   plants use various natural disguises to lure in its prey. No carnivorous plant completely relies on insects as a food source. Photosynthesis is still at play.   The sundews' sticky leaves glisten in the sun, tricky insects onto the leaves. There they are trapped and "eaten" by means of the plant's digestive enzymes.   The pitcher plant uses its brightly colored "trumpet " and nectar to lure insects into the

By Diane Chase One of the Adirondack Fun Facts covered in my guidebook  Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities)   is that Jewelweed (Impatiens capentis) has been used as a treatment for poison ivy for centuries. Jewelweed is commonly known as "Touch-me-Not" or "Silverleaf." Touch Me Not because the tiny seed pods will explode when touched "like fireworks." Children will love to watch the seed pop open and you can know that the plant has other benefits as well. Another common name is Silverleaf. Put the leaf under water and its tiny "hairs" will repeal water, taking on a silver appearance. Take it out and the leaf is dry. Children will love to see this miracle while on the trail. How to identify

Photo from MrEclipse.com What to do with kids in the Adirondacks, Lake Placid, Lake George, Saranac Lake, High Peaks Tuesday, December 21, 2010 EST  Total Eclipse of the Moon time frame partial eclipse = 1: 33 a.m. total eclipse begins = 2:41 a.m. mid eclipse = 3:17 a.m. total eclipse ends = 3:53 a.m. partial eclipse ends = 5:01 a.m. Be a Nature Detective: What is a Lunar Eclipse? • An eclipse of the moon can only take place when the moon is full and if it passes through part of the earth's shadow. • A lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye while special filters are required to view a solar eclipse.

What is the difference between a frog and toad? Well, one tastes a lot like chicken while the other has a bitter taste that wards off predators. Neither will give you warts and even if you kiss one it still won't turn into a prince. Though you don't have to take my word on that last one. Go ahead... give it a try!

Hummingbird Moth on Milkweed Is it a bird or is it a butterfly? A hummingbird moth can be found around your Adirondack garden throughout the summer months. Some shared characteristics between the two similarly named creatures make people mistakenly identify this moth for the more popular hummingbird. Differences 1) Stating the obvious here, but one is a moth and one is a bird. 2) A hummingbird moth's tail is shaped like a fan 3)  The moth has a long tongue that rolls up under its chin called a proboscis 4) A hummingbird moth is classified as a  Lepidoptera 5) Hummingbird moths have antennae Similarities between hummingbird and hummingbird moth 1) Both can remain suspended in the air as well as flying sideways and backwards 2) Both feed off of nectar   3) Both emit a similar humming sound   Hummingbird moth 1) In the United Kingdom, hummingbird moths are referred to as Bee Hawk moth 2) Part of the Sphingidae family, one of the fastest flying insects in the w

Eastern Hemlock Scientific Name:  Tsuga canadensis Family Name  (Scientific and Common): Pinaceae Continent of Origin:  North America Did you know?  The Eastern hemlock is Pennsylvania's state tree! The needles and bark have been used for medicinal purposes in folk and Native American medicines. The needles have low doses of Vitamin C and the tannins in the bark*  *please do not self diagnose. Please go to a medical professional for advice in treating any of the conditions listed below.  Medicinal Purposes* Needles used as a tea or tincture: Kidney ailments, rheumatism, colds, and coughs, Bark has been used in a tea to treat colds, fevers, diarrhea, coughs, and even scurvy. It has astringent properties for skin conditions and a poultice has been used to treat wounds in wilderness first aid. • T he Eastern Hemlock is a woody tree that can live for over 800 years and be over 75' tall and 25' spread at maturity • The bark contains tannins tha

Dragonfly Nymph     Large, bulbous eyes Thick, round or oval bodies that may end in three pointed extensions Six long, segmented legs Unique, scoop-like lower jaw Gills are internal and not visible Ecological Role Dragonfly nymphs are prominent predators of other aquatic macroinvertebrates.  They are also known to prey on small fish and amphibians.

By Diane Chase What is the difference between an alpaca and llama? Well, there are quite few. Though alpaca and llama are related (they're kissing cousins) the llama can weigh up to 3 times that of an alpaca. Alpaca and llama come from  Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Since they are a hardy breed many people in the Adirondacks breed them for a variety of purposes.  Alpaca are more timid while the llama are brave Llama are used more extensively as pack animals You may see alpaca and llama in the same field because the l lama will protect the alpaca . Llama serve as herd guards. Llama's have a course fleece while alpaca's fleece is soft, fine and seen as hypoallergenic . Alpaca have been domesticated and breed for their fleece for thousands of years. Llama has ears that are shaped like bananas while the alpaca's ears are smaller and The two breeds can be interbreed but there is no purpose as the offspring would not be as strong as the llama or have as lux

Did you know? • Bald-faced hornets ( Dolichovespula maculata)   will sting if you get in their way, but will not attack if left alone.  They are also beneficial insects. Hornets will aggressively attack  and sting any intruder disturbing the nest. • Bald-faced hornets are considered social wasp s as they live in groups. Paper wasps and yellow jackets are also social wasps. • The queen becomes active in spring. She will select a place for the nest. • The workers, queen and larvae are referred to as a colony . • Hornets' nests can be found in trees, the eaves of homes, attics, or exterior porches. It does not build its nest inside the nooks of buildings as do yellow jackets . • The bald-faced hornets' nest looks like a gray paper/clay ball . It can sometimes reach the size of a basketball. The inside is lined with individual cells, like a honey comb, where the queen will lay her eggs.  The nests are made by chewing up wood mixed with their saliva.

What is the cause for all those beautiful, fiery colors that make people drive the Adirondack highways and seek out the fall leaves? Those Adirondack Leaf Peepers may not care but if your family is anything like mine, they question everything. So if you are taking kids for a walk or hike why not share a few tidbits about the process.

The American sycamore! This massive tree is often mistaken for a maple because of its leaves.  It is unique amongst all trees because of its bark pattern. Are there other names for the sycamore tree? It is also called an American planetree, buttonwood or the buttonball tree. Where does it grow? This hardy tree likes wet soil. It can be found growing in every state east of the Great Plains, except Minnesota. How big will it get? It can grow up to 90' tall. t is also North America's largest native broadleaf plant.

When you are hiking in the Adirondack High Peaks you may come across a plant with wide leaves resembling a maple leaf.  The Thimbleberry or Flowering raspberry is native to eastern North American.  Other common names are White flowering raspberry or Salmonberry.

Did you know the Blanding turtle is named for a  19th century naturalist William Blanding of Pennsylvania?  Di you know the  Blanding Turtle can live up to 80 years!  Blanding's Turtle is medium in size!  It has an  average shell length of about  7 - 9"  usually not reaching any larger than 10"   Distinguishing feature?   A bright yellow chin and throat.  What is the upper shell called?   The carapace, which is domed but slightly flat along the midline but looks oblong when viewed from above. The upper shell (Carapace) is flecked with   numerous yellow  specks  What is the lower shell called ?  The  plastron  is yellow with dark blotches symmetrically arranged.  The head and legs are dark, and usually speckled or mottled with yellow.  I s it a box turtle?   No, Blanding's turtle is called a semi-box" turtle because the plastral lobes do not shut tightly like a box turtle, but the plastron are hinged.

The pale green lichen in the  Usnea "ooze-ne-a"  f amily ,  also known as Old Man’s Beard, can easily be spied hanging in tree branches around the Adirondacks. I Its green lacy tuffs remind me of the Lorax and the Truffula trees and as Dr. Seuss says, "Truffula trees are what everyone needs."   Did you know? • lichens are not really plants but a blending of two separate organisms: fungus and algae. • It is commonly known as a tree moss or beard moss.  • It is sometimes confused with Spanish moss, which is not found in the Adirondacks. • Usnea was used a  respiratory antibiotic since 1600 B.C    • Important in ancient Greek and Chinese medicine • Has anti-microbial properties so can be directly applied to an open wound to stave off infection.  • Make a tea or tincture out of it to treat lung infections.  • Has been used to combat tuberculosis in studies. Identify •A white, stretchy, thin cord can be found when you pull the Old Man's Be

By Diane Chase There is always a lot of conversation about invasive species in the Adirondack Park. These prolific plants, animals and insect crowd out native plants. Purple Loosestrife is a hardy perennial that was brought to North American by settlers as early as the 1800s as a  medicinal plant to treat such ailments as ulcers, diarrhea, and dysentery.   Without a natural predator the plant chokes out native wetland plants (especially cattails) How does it affect other plants?  1) Its rootball grows in a tangled mass that chokes out other native plants. 2) A single plant can produce as many as 3 million tiny seeds. 3) It is aggressive and grows by root and seed making it nearly impossible to eradicate. What eats Purple Loosetrife?  The golden loosestrife beetle (Galerucella pusilla) is being introduced into the Adirondack Park in hopes to help control this wetland invasive. Thankfully extensive research shows that the beetle will not become a different issue to deal wit