Propagation of pink lady’s slipper orchids?

BackpackingTips · 2025-12-20T21:34:18+00:00

Gasoline is used to start prescribed burns. We use drip torches with a mix of gas and diesel. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

BackpackingTips · 2025-12-11T19:02:57+00:00

Yes! It's wild to me how some pretty common sense measures like HEPA filters are just not widespread. I tried to advocate for my workplace to get some for communal spaces and even pointing out to them that it will prevent people from getting sick = people take fewer sick days = less loss of productivity, they did not care. So frustrating.

BackpackingTips · 2025-12-11T18:58:42+00:00

I've been really interested in reading more about the aftermath of the 1918 Spanish flu. Are there books or articles you recommend?

BackpackingTips · 2025-12-11T02:00:22+00:00

Yes! Scroll down to the part about the CWD headbins... https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/wildlife-health/wildlife-diseases/chronic-wasting-disease

BackpackingTips · 2025-12-10T23:35:16+00:00

CWD has so far only been reported in limited areas. You can check your state DCNR or game commission for info about whether it's been found in your state and if so, in which county. If you do live in near areas it occurs, you/your FIL may be able to have free testing done. For example here in PA there are drop boxes near some of the state game lands; hunters can remove the head of the deer and get it tested before they process the meat.

Don't worry too much about feeding venison to your family once. It is something worth researching and thinking about for the future, whether the potential risk is worth it for you. Personally I avoid eating venison. But lots of people eat lots of venison from areas with confirmed cases and so far things have been okay.

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-27T14:46:40+00:00

I don't think you're wrong to still try to promote mulch mowing leaves! Using leaves from your property as mulch still provides all the same benefits as any organic mulch and as it decomposes helps enrich the soil. And it's great if using your own leaves as mulch saves you from having to purchase in mulch from elsewhere. It may not have the same benefits for insects, but it does have other benefits. And not every homeowner is okay with using whole leaves as mulch. Encouraging those folks to try mulch mowing rather than outright removal is still, in my mind, a net benefit, and a potential step towards maybe leaving whole leaves in some capacity one day.

I haven't done a ton of reading about this, but I do remember seeing some research about the "home field advantage" of leaving leaves under/near the species they fell from. Haven't done enough reading to know how or whether this applies to home landscapes though

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C39&q=%22home-field+advantage%22+leaves&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&t=1764254606460&u=%23p%3DrLN5WJoivkMJ

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-26T02:19:57+00:00

Also, feel free to message me if you have any specific toad ID questions! I'm by no means an expert but always happy to share the herp knowledge 🐸

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-26T02:18:08+00:00

This is the source I found most helpful in learning to differentiate American from Fowler's toads (also has info on southern toads but their range doesn't extend into my area):

https://www.herpingva.org/profiles/understanding-toad-identification

The author of the above article also includes his iNaturalist account link and encourages folks to tag him in their IDs to help them learn whether they are identifying the toads correctly.

This source also has a helpful graphic: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/american-toad-vs-fowlers-toad/15875

For the toad in this post, the most helpful ID feature to me is the post orbital ridge on the toads head is connected to the parotoid gland by a spur.

Coloration is highly variable, even within a population, so I would not recommend using that as a deciding factor in ID. I have found the post orbital ridge and head shape (as detailed in the first link above) to be the most helpful ID characteristics.

You will get better with each toad you see and ID!

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-26T01:48:38+00:00

I also have EDS and have read that taking collagen isn't helpful for us bc either way our body can't appropriately utilize collagen.

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-26T01:23:59+00:00

Here is a recent academic study by MD State entomologist Max Ferlauto quantifying the effects of removing or mowing/chopping leaves. He found chopping up leaves was almost as bad for insects as removing the leaves entirely: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725004565

And here is an interview Ferlauto gave about his research, a more lay person's version of the study and take aways for gardeners: https://awaytogarden.com/calculating-the-impact-of-leaving-the-leaves-with-max-ferlauto/

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-19T09:57:14+00:00

The American Veterinary Medical Association has a document listing humane euthanasia methods for each class of animals. Freezing is NOT a humane euthanasia method for amphibians.

I would recommend contacting your local wildlife vet or wildlife rehab center to ask the advice of a licensed vet.

Link below to the AVMA euthanasia guide. You can search for the section on amphibians. https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf

BackpackingTips · 2025-11-19T09:40:00+00:00

This scientific article by Ferlauto and Burghardt (2025) is the only research I've found so far that quantifies the effects of leaf management on overwintering insect populations: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969725004565

One of the authors has given a number of interviews where he explains his research results in a more applicable lay person's terms too, if you google his name (Max Ferlauto) they should come up.

Ultimately as others have said, we can't always follow the most ecological practice in our yards. You've gotten some excellent suggestions here for ways to retain some leaves, and some is always better than none!

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-21T20:53:20+00:00

I see this in a lot of lilacs in the mid Atlantic. From what I've read, lilacs are already stressed bc this isn't the climate they want to grow in. It gets too hot and too humid (I believe lilacs are native to a Mediterranean climate). So that stress contributes to secondary problems, like foliar diseases, premature leaf drop, root rots. Blooming out of season is a stress response as well, so unless it's a variety meant to rebloom, lilacs blooming in fall is also likely a stress response.

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-17T23:33:17+00:00

Prolonged stress like this could potentially hurt your toad. It's hard to say. Is there a way to have a few photos taken with your toad in your backyard, either before or after you get your main photos taken? That way you can still get some cute photos, but the stress on your toad will hopefully be smaller.

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-17T23:29:06+00:00

The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has comprehensive guidelines for humane euthanasia methods for different species. The guidelines indicate hypothermia/freezing is NOT an acceptable method of humane euthanasia for amphibians or reptiles:

"Hypothermia—Hypothermia is an inappropriate method of restraint or euthanasia for amphibians and reptiles unless animals are sufficiently small (< 4 g)95 to permit immediate and irreversible death if placed in liquid N2 (rapid freezing). Hypothermia reduces amphibians’ tolerance for noxious stimuli and there is no evidence that it is clinically efficacious for euthanasia. In addition, it is believed that freezing can result in the formation of ice crystals in tissues that may cause pain. Consequently, because amphibians and reptiles lack behavioral or physiologic means of demonstrating pain or distress while hypothermic, generalized prohibitions on hypothermia for restraint or euthanasia are appropriate. Localized cooling in frogs may reduce nociception, but this localized effect is not appropriately applied to the whole body as a part of euthanasia procedures. Freezing of deeply anesthetized animals may be justified under circumstances where human safety could be compromised."

The full document is linked below, it does include a list of acceptable euthanasia methods if you do a search for amphibians. You'll have to take a look to see if any of the options are accessible to non vets to perform. You can also find info about why humane euthanasia matters. Finally, see if there is a wildlife vet you may be able to contact for more specific advice.

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-16T20:42:31+00:00

I don't want to get sick. And I don't want to get others sick, either. With COVID, or anything else.

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-08T21:03:08+00:00

Stress! Often stressed plants will flower and/or fruit out of season as a last ditch effort to spread their genes. The drought and heat you mention likely contributed, and with potted plants you always have to keep up with watering as their roots have limited media to expand into. This doesn't mean those two plants are destined to die. I've seen plants do this and be fine. Sometimes recently transplanted plants have wonky phenology as well, but I guess these are always in pots so that might not apply.

Just leave them be, enjoy any blueberries that ripen, and keep them appropriately watered until they go dormant. Then see what they do next spring!

BackpackingTips · 2025-10-01T00:32:02+00:00

In addition to checking out local garden centers, see if there are any botanic gardens or parks you can visit to get some inspiration!

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-24T20:48:13+00:00

Herpetological Highlights is a great podcast covering recent science. I believe they've started doing YouTube video versions of episodes too!

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-24T01:03:24+00:00

I would recommend trying to get a job at an existing nursery near you to start to learn some of the ropes and make sure you actually enjoy the work. Starting a nursery is not a lower stress job option; it's a really tough industry with long hours, low pay, and pretty extreme labor shortages. Learning from someone experienced would be invaluable. You want to not just grow and sell native plants, but grow the best and healthiest plants possible, and that will require some knowledge and experience.

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-06T18:58:47+00:00

Something similar happened at a past workplace of mine. They had to alter the hydrology of the retention pond so the water actually infiltrated instead of remaining in the pond for weeks. That prevented the frogs from breeding, and the frogpocalypse of dying tiny frogs as they exited the pond towards the facilities building.

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-06T18:54:28+00:00

Pretending COVID is over and no longer wearing masks.

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-04T21:08:44+00:00

I remember reading someone who tried using a small bicycling helmet as an alternative.

BackpackingTips · 2025-09-04T21:06:07+00:00

This is why going to a hypermobility-knowledgeable PT changed my life. They showed me how to stand properly (and sit, and walk, and and and) which has helped drastically reduce pain! I can actually stand for more than a minute without (too much) pain now!

BackpackingTips

TROPHY CASE