Journal archives for July 2019

July 21, 2019

Hot dog, it's the July Update of the Illinois Botanists Big Year

Stats

It's July 20th, it's been hot, it's been humid, and the ILBBY's racked up:


1,779 observers (+294 since last month's update)
25,881 research grade observations of plants (+5,314)
1,324 species (+184)
855 identifiers (+128)

Now things are getting exciting, with @dziomber (Derek) jumping into first place in front of @wildlandblogger (Jared). Derek has 655 species while Jared is at 650.

The top 10 leaderboard, botanizers with the most research grade species of plants in Illinois in 2019 are:

  1. @dziomber — 655
  2. @wildlandblogger — 650
  3. @sanguinaria33 — 537
  4. @kkucera — 445
  5. @johnhboldt — 432
  6. @skrentnyjeff — 422
  7. @bouteloua — 397
  8. @elfaulkner — 388
  9. @sedge — 376
  10. @missgreen — 321

In the map below, everyone's observations are in grey, while dziomber is teal and wildlandblogger is orange. It's a bit rectangular in the Chicago area due to the way obscured geoprivacy works on iNaturalist. More info about that here.

Since last month's update, another seven botanizers have made research grade observations of over 100 species of plants in Illinois this year: @d_coulter @naturalist_glenn @outdoorsie the mysterious @prairiehobbit @psweet @stocksdale and @woodridgejeff Whoo! Just shy of 100 are @matt167 @eriko @wildernessbarbie @carolt-80 and @eattaway92.

New to following the ILBBY project are @illinois_joy, @jingyilu, and @michelle894. Welcome!

New to observing plants in Illinois on iNaturalist are @anthony438 @audreychung @dsbarry @gloriao147 @jenniferannifer @kcramp @marissaannis @maryh74 @nichole47 @profspinifera @samib3108 and @teriknaff, among many others. If you want to stay apprised of Illinois Botanists Big Year updates, you can join the project here.

Plant Pic Picks

Don't forget to favorite observations to highlight good photos or cool finds!

Lovely portrait of a Verbena hastata (blue vervain) by @psweet in Lake County:
Beckmannia syzigachne (American slough grass) by @johnhboldt in Cook County:
Fuzzy Aphyllon ludovicianum (Louisiana bloomgreat) by @elfaulkner in Lee County:
Calopogon tuberosus (grasspink orchids) by @randyshonkwiler in Cook County:
Angelica atropurpurea (great angelica) waving hello by @redadmiral98 in Lee County:
Carex leptalea by @sedge in McHenry County:

Help Identify

As always, please help your fellow botanists, when yr able, to identify/confirm their observations. Try sorting by "new users" or "random" to mix it up!

Species New to Illinois on iNat

And keep an eye on these links below for any new documentations in 2019. I commented on a few new ones that folks like @andrewhipp @dziomber @johnhboldt @skrentnyjeff and @woodridgejeff have found since our last update. Great work!
Posted on July 21, 2019 03:25 AM by bouteloua bouteloua | 10 comments | Leave a comment

July 30, 2019

Slag Party & Orchid Hunt at Big Marsh (August 31st, 2019)

Hey planty nerds who've made a lotta obs within 10 km of Big Marsh (and a few others thrown in for good measure):
@partspermillion @jackassgardener @jmb62 @elfaulkner @marshmaiden @missgreen, @chloe53 @guessingatgreen @illbflower @sanguinaria33 @lesliejeanie @skrentnyjeff @ewarden @johnhboldt @smoreno2 @oldboy1990 @palmera01 @hikebikerun13 @andrewstpaul @rubzzz @matt167 @cardnoclare @yes123 @brendanrattin @psweet @ashleywold @aseeger @prairiehobbit @sjoyce @rheinrichs @taco2000 @kkucera @eriko @kennedy9094 @rgraveolens @paulroots @spaz4 @susankirt @staceyrecht @gloriao147 @ryangraduate @ekrimmel @evan8 @garyowendick

The Northeast Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society, with Lauren Umek from the Chicago Park District Natural Areas, are hosting a

Slag Party & Orchid Hunt

at Big Marsh Park (11559 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL)
on Saturday, August 31st at 11 AM

Slag is an industrial byproduct that is common throughout Chicago’s southeast side, where the steel industry once thrived. While high in heavy metals, slag also has some remarkable similarities to dolomite prairies in terms of physical structure, organic matter, water permeability, and pH. As a result, some of these sites have become home to unique and relatively rare species including the sedges Carex viridula and Carex aurea, an orchid Spiranthes cernua, and Agalinis tenuifolia mixed in with a matrix of invasives and bare ground.

Learn about this unique landscape and help document the biodiversity that call slag fields home. Come for the slag botanizing, stay for the (veg-friendly) snacks and discussion.

RSVP at http://bit.ly/slagparty

Posted on July 30, 2019 05:20 PM by bouteloua bouteloua | 3 comments | Leave a comment