There are no natural rock outcroppings near this part of the Chicago area, so I figured I'd to have to flip something man-made to participate in RFD'08! I found my "rock" - in the form of a pile of concrete rubble - dumped in a cemetary near the eastern terminus of the Illinois Prairie Path:
With so many to choose from so I flipped one near to the edge:
At first glance there didn't look like much, but closer inspection revealed a nice little representation of the local tree species. The pile of rubble had trapped these dried leaves and petioles underneath. There wasn't a whole lot of decayed material so I'm guessing this concrete has been here for only a year or so:
The scene below (looking clockwise from the upper left) shows a leaf from a red oak, a hawthorn leaf, seeds from an ash, what's left of a boxelder seed, as skeletonized linden leaf, and part of a basswood seed structure:
I also stirred up a tiny spider, and some standard-issue black ants. Atop or near (but not under) the rock pile were mulberry leaves and an dead sumac stem with some dried leaves on it. A spider had built a modest web between the chunks of concrete, and tiny cottonwood saplings were sprouting from cracks in the asphalt. Considering how un-natural this setting was - concrete over asphalt, after all - it was amazing what clues could be learned about the local landscape. I have little doubt that I would have found many more creatures lurking within had I kept "flipping!"
See all the 2008 Rock Flippers at Via Negativa!
12 comments:
I found this intriguing when you posted about it before - sounds like a good things to do with my grandsons...
Good work on the flipping Dave. :)
Fascinating cataloging of things that I would have just lumped together as duff.
birdlady - I think you'd score big points with the kids!
bpg - Oh, it was easy! :)
deborah - Thanks for the visit. It was kind of fun to sift for clues!
Ah, good job reminding me that any find is a find. I most likely neglected quite a few interesting finds because my mind was focused on looking for fauna. Thanks for opening my mind and sharing your finds!
jen - I was hoping to find more fauna myself. Had I kept rooting through that pile I may have! ;)
Hi Dave,
The place we flipped had lots of artificial stonework, too, but it was older and water had washed mud in between the asphalt and the rip rap. I'd love to know if your site has more creepy crawlies in just a year or two. Keep us posted on IRFD 2009!
Drat, I missed it. I was painting all day. I'll have to catch up w/y'all next year! I used to love doing that when I was a kid. Half the problem here is there aren't many rocks. I guess that's why it's marshy/swampy.
I love the fact that you identified the leaves, I would have never thought of that! Good idea! Thanks for informing me about rock flipping day!
I'm intrigued by the cottonwood sprout. When my hubby and I lived in the Hyde Park area of Chicago many's the year ago, we had a huge cottonwood tree outside the back stoop of our apartment. I don't think we have cottonwoods here in Kentucky so I found it very exotic. But also a bit of a comfort because I was definitely a country mouse in a city space.
Each blog I visit I learn something new, it's actually a lot like bird watching. I hadn't thought of it that way until I read your post. I'm going to practice between now and next year, learning names for flora and fauna. Love what you found.
pinenut - Yeah, I guess I could revisit next year. Nice idea!
lana - Not many outcroppings here unless you go further west or south...
chris - All the cool kids are doing it, lol!
sherry - One can find the toughest plants growing in asphalt I guess!
pj - Thanks for the visit. Yes, I guess each rock is unique in it's own way!
Post a Comment