Some Things Never Change, Even in 2020

Some Things Never Change, Even in 2020
Shared by Heather Gallagher
Naturalist
heather.gallagher@nashville.gov
Photos courtesy Heather Gallagher

During typical times, when we hike freely throughout the Parks, enjoy the Museum and porches without masks, and host school children from all over middle Tennessee, I learn new things every day. Perhaps it’s a new insect on the tomatoes in the garden, or a wildflower on the trail that I’ve never seen before.

I discovered cicadas mating on a tomato plant. 

Slender Ladies' Tresses orchid is blooming right now in Warner Park. 

2020, though, has brought a whole new learning curve. Who would’ve thought 6 months ago that we would be offering hummingbird programs via Zoom webinar? Who would’ve guessed that all of our fall programs would be offered virtually?

And yet, even with these changes, some things remain the same:

The goldenrod still blooms this year in the fields.

Goldenrod is blooming in the Meadow next to the Nature Center. Although many folks believe it causes allergies, goldenrod is actually pollinated by insects not wind. 

The Monarch butterflies are still munching on milkweed and migrating.

Monarch butterflies lay eggs on milkweed plants like these in the Organic Garden. The caterpillar will eat leaves of the host plant, then spin a chrysalis, changing from egg to butterfly in a matter of weeks. 

The organic garden is overflowing with Kentucky Wonder beans and Kellogg’s tomatoes.

2020 has been a great garden year: the yellow Kellogg's tomatoes and Kentucky Wonder (as well as our Chinese Long and Rattlesnake) beans have been quite productive. 

And the Black Gum leaves are starting to turn a brilliant red, just like they do every autumn.

Black Gum leaves are among the first to change in early September. 

What signs of fall have you noticed so far this year? May I suggest documenting them—you don’t have to use a journal; a calendar will do just fine. When do the maple leaves start to turn? When do the black walnuts first begin to fall? When do the cicadas sing their last song of 2020?

Compare your calendars year after year, and you’ll begin to notice patterns in seasonal changes. From this, I hope that you gain a sense of stability, that even when the world around us is full of change, nature is resilient.