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John McAndrew's avatar

"Our parks and other public lands aren’t a COST. They are an INVESTMENT that pays for itself many times over in many ways."

It's one of the distinctions that routinely is lost in political disputes: there is such a profound difference. It's ALL the difference. Money allocated to healthcare is an investment. Money allocated to education is an investment. Money allocated to wildlife conservation is an investment. These things pay dividends – just not this fiscal quarter.

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Pete's avatar

Hi Bob. The orange stalks on the green moss are the reproductive structures - the sporophyte (diploid) generation. These only appear when conditions are warm enough and wet enough to produces spores. Amazingly the green moss we see most of the time is the gametophyte (haploid - half the number of chromosomes) generation. This is the equivalent to the haploid sperm and egg cells of vertebrates.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

Thanks. I think you have told me this before!

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Larry Stone's avatar

Wish I could have attended. IAN is a great group of enthusiastic, dedicated, knowledgeable naturalists. Thanks for sharing you love of Cedar Creek with them.

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Pam White's avatar

Bob, are the snow trillium blooming at Cedar Bluffs?

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Robert Leonard's avatar

Yes, they are blooming! Will have photos tomorrow morning.

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Pam White's avatar

Cool!

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Robert Leonard's avatar

I haven't seen them yet, and the naturalists I walked with last Friday didn't. But I bet they are there. They are often first abundant on the NE slope below the overlook, and I haven't been there for awhile. I'll check over the weekend. Thanks!

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Pam White's avatar

Please let me know if you see them. I would love to join you for a walk to see them, but I would not get up at some crazy early hour.

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Robert Leonard's avatar

We can go anytime!

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David Faust's avatar

I’m late this but it think the Butterfly might be a comma.

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