I have finally finished the peacock spider pattern from THIS post. enjoy.     

Maud.

I am revisiting the infamous Garlic Mustard, from my past, in honor of my former AmeriCorps pals and forever soul sisters, who I got to spend time with over the last weekend. As an AmeriCorps NCCC team, Maple 5, laboriously handpicked millions of tons of garlic mustard from the forest floor, trail sides, and ravines of Wisconsin, all in order to save the surrounding natural ecosystems from the invading Garlic Mustarrrrrrd. That’s right; garlic mustard is an INVASIVE, non-native, harmful plant to the North American environment. It was brought over as a flavoring herb in the 1860s from Europe and has since spread like wildfire (except worse, because wildfires can be beneficial to the environment!) In Europe there are 69 insects and 7 species of fungi who utilize this plant as a food source, whereas in the U.S. there are a big fat 0 and are actually toxic to some insect species! There is one mammal that can benefit from North American Garlic Mustard, and that’s you! If it’s in your area, go out there and pick till your heart’s content, get some excursive, save the environment, and then go home and make some delicious garlic mustard pesto! YUM

 Walking around downtown one day, when I first moved to Savannah, I spotted this monstrously large prehistoric looking Aloe Vera plant.  I was a bit curious so, I googled it…and then forgot all about it. Well a few days ago, as I was walking down Drayton St., she decided it was time for me to be reminded of her majesty. Sprouting out from the center of all her glory was a humongous stalk waving me down!    

To get one thing straight, she’s not an Aloe Vera plant, she’s an Agave! Americana Agave, or more commonly known as the Century Plant. They live from 10 to 30 years growing and basking in the southern heat waiting and storing nutrients and waiting for the conditions to be perfect. Perfect to die. Or, if you’re a cup-half-full kind of person, she’s waiting for the perfect time to bloom! When the conditions are right and she has been pollinated she shoots up her long stalk of billowy yellow blooms and begins her descent, leaving the suckas behind. She also leaves behind her suckers, her successors, her mini-clones, her babies to continue on the cycle of life.

Visit the corner of 37^th and Drayton in Savannah, GA over the next few days to watch the magic… die.

Tonight I bring to you Army Ants (Driver Ants), in light of this Memorial Day Holiday. These ladies do it right by relying on one another to conquer and sustain. Army ants aren’t susceptible to the ego or the “I,” they aren’t selfish; but instead, they work in masses, a few million to be more accurate, in order to get the job done to sustain their colony. They are nomadic, only having temporary nests for the queen to give birth to her million babies a month, literally. The worker ants (who are all female) lead the paths, build the bridges and avenues, collect the food, ready the nests, tote the larvae and guard the queen every day of their lives. The queen is the two inch long jewel of the colony, the largest ant in the world. Once she is secured inside the nest by the woven and interlocking basket of worker ants that surrounds her, she secretes a tantalizing scent for all the winged boys to come to her yard and give her a lil sumpn’ sumpn’, and they can’t resist. They catch a drift and flock to her, impregnate her, and die. Once the area of forest is depleted of food, she zips up her pants, and they move forward.

On their journey, army ants devour every prey they come across, except for those smart enough to stand completely still. Army ants are completely blind and rely on the movements of their food to detect it, and they communicate with each other through scent. They sweep through the forest floor, and sometimes trees, devouring all food in sight, but never staying in one place too long. Their existence is an integral part of the forest ecosystem, a sort of population control. Once they are gone, the area is able to flourish anew. A balance reinstated. 

 (Not to be compared to human armies, except for what’s in the name, of course. Peace not War, obviously)

If this video is too long, try this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVkdw5s3joI

The first time I saw “The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park” and its painted walls, I realized that vibrant colors were not invented by man. It may sound silly to you, but it was a real revelation for me. Something similar happened to me when I learned about the Peacock Spider and saw the glory that is his butt patterns. They use their flashy butts and slick dance moves to attract the ladies. After the show is over the lady decides whether she wants dinner or a date.

These brilliant butt patterns are different than other animal patterns to me. They’re more “tribal” looking, more geometric…more manmade-esque. This feeling, similar to the one I received from the GC of YNP, makes me realize that humans are not the center of all things. As a wise lady recently reminded me, “Everything is Everything.” -Katherine Sandoz

Thank you and good night.