December 2015

Welcome to my photoblog on: 

Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

My name is James and I am a Biology Major at Campbell University
in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

I love the outdoors and I am hoping to go on to pursue a career in environmental science.  I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life as a college student.  So far, I really enjoy college.  Thank you to Howell Woods and to everybody who helped me get this far!!

Link to the facebook fanpage:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photoblog-By-James-Howell-Woods/233829593470397 
"Have a great day, spend it outdoors!"

James________________ 

To learn more about Howell Woods, please see my previous posts for info, photos, and videos. If you've never been to Howell Woods I hope this blog will peak your interest enough that you will visit. It is a treasure located in Johnston County and one of my favorite places.

 

To visit the Howell Woods website, click on the link below of contact Director, Jordan Astoske.

http://www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/

Jordan Astoske
Director of Howell Woods
jtastoske@johnstoncc.edu 
(919) 938-0115 ext. 221  

______________________ 

December 2015 

For December 2015, I am posting my second year in review.  I would like to say 'thank you' to everyone who has helped me along the way for the past two years and has given me many amazing opportunities that would not have been possible without that help.

I am truly blessed to be able to continue this photoblog and to volunteer my time at a place as wonderful as Howell Woods.  Thank you to all of you who check out my blog and who go out to enjoy Howell Woods.  I hope each of you finds Howell Woods to be as exciting as I do.  This place is a valuable gem to North Carolina, to education, and to me.

Thank you for another great year!!!!!

January - Owls at Howell Woods

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/Owl_Barred_WhoCooks.mp3

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/Owl_Barred_Monkey.mp3

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/sounds/Owl_GreatHorned_Duet.mp3

February - Prescribed Burns

March - Ecosystems and Red Shouldered Hawk

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/Song/h3390so.mp3

Forest Ecosystem Food Web

April - Woodstock 2015

May - Pollinators

June - Our Waterways

July - Our Waterways Continued

August - What's New at the Learning Center

September - Autumn and Nature: Migration and Hibernation

October - Relieving Stress Outdoors

November - Ecological Succession

November 2015

Welcome to my photoblog on: 

Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

My name is James and I am a Biology Major at Campbell University
in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

I love the outdoors and I am hoping to go on to pursue a career in environmental science.  I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life as a college student.  So far, I really enjoy college.  Thank you to Howell Woods and to everybody who helped me get this far!!

Link to the facebook fanpage:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photoblog-By-James-Howell-Woods/233829593470397 
"Have a great day, spend it outdoors!"

James________________ 

To learn more about Howell Woods, please see my previous posts for info, photos, and videos. If you've never been to Howell Woods I hope this blog will peak your interest enough that you will visit. It is a treasure located in Johnston County and one of my favorite places.

 

To visit the Howell Woods website, click on the link below of contact Director, Jordan Astoske.

http://www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/

Jordan Astoske
Director of Howell Woods
jtastoske@johnstoncc.edu 
(919) 938-0115 ext. 221  

______________________ 

November 2015

For the month of November's post, I have decided to go over what is called ecological succession.  Succession may be initiated either by formation of new, unoccupied habitat or by some form of disturbance of an existing community.  The former case is often referred to as primary succession, the latter as secondary succession.

The trajectory of ecological change can be influenced by site conditions, by the interactions of the species present, and by more stochastic factors such as availability of colonists or seeds, or weather conditions at the time of disturbance.

“The earth has music for those who listen.” 

― George Santayana

In general, communities in early succession will be dominated by fast-growing, well-dispersed species.  As succession proceeds, these species will tend to be replaced by more competitive species.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/ecological_succession.htm

Below are photographs that will show you ecological succession of a landscape over time.
You will notice the increase in plant life through each stage.
More plants means more carrying capacity for animals.
Each stage will support more life and have a higher level of biodiversity.

The above photo is an example of a climax community.
A climax community is an ecosystem that has fully grown to support the maximum possible amount of life and diversity.

As one of my former teachers once said, "Nature fills all vacuums."
With vacuum meaning emptiness, this statement means that nature will fill in the blanks if nothing is happening.  There is never a void that will not be filled somehow.

No matter what happens, life can and will find a way.

October 2015

Welcome to my photoblog on: 

Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center

My name is James and I am a Biology Major at Campbell University
in Buies Creek, North Carolina.

I love the outdoors and I am hoping to go on to pursue a career in environmental science.  I am looking forward to this next chapter in my life as a college student.  So far, I really enjoy college.  Thank you to Howell Woods and to everybody who helped me get this far!!

Link to the facebook fanpage:
 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photoblog-By-James-Howell-Woods/233829593470397 
"Have a great day, spend it outdoors!"

James________________ 

To learn more about Howell Woods, please see my previous posts for info, photos, and videos. If you've never been to Howell Woods I hope this blog will peak your interest enough that you will visit. It is a treasure located in Johnston County and one of my favorite places.

 

To visit the Howell Woods website, click on the link below of contact Director, Jordan Astoske.

http://www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/

Jordan Astoske
Director of Howell Woods
jtastoske@johnstoncc.edu 
(919) 938-0115 ext. 221  

______________________ 


October 2015

For the month of October I have decided to make a post about how enjoying nature relieves stress. Unplug the many devices that have become a big part of our lives, turn off your cell phone, clear your mind and just be with nature. You'll feel refreshed. Hiking or just being outdoors helps me to reset and refocus. The combination of exercise and fresh air for even 30 minutes to me is a big "ahhhhh", that's just what I needed. I guess I am not alone because research studies support the many health benefits both physical and mental, of being outdoors.

It’s physical activity in disguise.

Outdoor environments beg to be explored and discovered. If you hate going to the gym, explore a valley, bush track or a mountain range. Grab a surfboard or kayak and hit the wet stuff. Nature has a great way of ‘disguising’ fitness and making physical activity fun.

It removes us from stressful technology.

Disconnect from the ever-present technological distractions of email, RSS feeds, internet, text messages and constant news updates and get out of the concrete jungle – revive your body and soul by heading back to the bush.

It works fast.

Just five minutes of exercise in a green space, such as a park or a rural area, can boost your mental health, according to a study by the University of Essex in the UK. The greatest effect was seen when the green area contained water, such as a lake, river or the ocean.

http://www.news.com.au/news/why-nature-reduces-stress/story-fn6c7l60-1226036036422

"Nature itself is the best physician" -Hippocrates

"Lie down and listen to the crabgrass grow."  -Marya Mannes

"Nature never hurries.  Atom by atom, little by little she achieves her work."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon the verdant green
 hills is the most perfect refreshment."  -Jane Austin