Mitch's Btown Blog
Bikes, Hikes, Music, Mushrooms
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Retired boomer, out to walk my dogs, ride my bike, and hike the forest paths around Monroe County Indiana. Recently found ADHD runs in my family, and apparently gallops in me…
Category: Nature
Mostly fungi, flowers, trees, birds, & mammals
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Last year I planted my first Tangerine tomatoes, which have been shown to have cis-lycopene its most bio-available form, in much higher proportions than in red tomatoes. (Our bodies transform the more common trans-lycopene into cic-lycopene before it is used.) This means our bodies can use more of the anti-oxident effect, and thus be more…
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May 18 – The mulberries are starting to ripen, bumble bees are out, and tiger swallowtails are everywhere. A great blue heron flew 6 feet over us while landing in the shallows by the bass dock at Monroe Lake, while we found a polyphemus moth at Park Ridge East Park.
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I began the relaxing hobby of bee petting couple of years ago, after reading about the idea in one of Tom Brown, Jr.’s books. (This is not for you who allergic to bees, you know who you are.) It helps to have love in your heart for the bees, they are very cute, and important…
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Waterfalls are special places, maybe it’s the ions, the water vapor, the sound, the whole experience is magical, waterfalls have a spirit, and each one is unique. This waterfall runs most of the year, and is visible from Mt. Gilead Rd. The small branch that falls into Stephan’s Creek runs for about a half mile…
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An easy ride to the southwest side of town, the Leonard Springs Nature Park is a great getaway, and Jojo and I biked out there last weekend. The water was flowing really well, the waterfall below the springs was loud and proud. I think this is the best waterfall in the county, anyone know of…
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On Saturday, Jojo and I went for a bike ride east of Bloomington, and while hiking in the Yellowwood forest found the motherload of bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Two weeks before we had ridden to Woodall Road where we had found them last year, but no luck, and a lot of hill climbing resulted. But this…
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Wahoo! Another year of ice riding on Lake Monroe (and Griffy), you know, I sometimes worry the ice will not form (like in 2007). But this year the ice has been over 4 inches thick for over three weeks, and had many different faces. And yes, I wear my sandals (and 2-3 pairs of socks)…
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On the way out of Pine Grove, I watched a great blue heron take off from shore and cross the lake, I am sure he was hungry as all of Lake Monroe was frozen. I heard a few woodpeckers calling as I rode over the ice towards Elkinsville, and I found some tracks in the…
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This Friday I had taken a vacation day from work so I could concentrate on the Lotus World Music Festival. Thurs nite I was out late (for me, after midnight) stage managing the show at the Bus-Chum Theater. But as 2 of the groups were playing on Friday, there was only one soundcheck, and that…
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Jojo was out of town, and the day was hot, so I rode straight to my favorite (secret) spot on Lake Monroe to go swimming. The ride is an easy 10 miles on pavement and about a mile down a gravel road. I found some rocks on the shore, right where the channel is at…
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