Explore Outdoors ~ hairy leaves!

 

My garden is full of wild flowers this spring: dandelions, violets, deadnettle, speedwell, and these rosettes of fuzzy leaves that will grow into mullein plants as tall as me.

The fuzz on the leaves is soft, like velvet.  Some folks describe it as feeling like wool, but it's so soft...

The hairs help the plant conserve water by blocking the sun's rays and keeping wind off the leaf surface.

This is what they look like close up:

I wondered what other plants might have hairy leaves. 

Dandelions? Nope.

Violet? No hair there.

No for clover and speedwell as well. But the deadnettle leaves looked a bit silvery.

So I took a close look at their leaves... why yes, those are hairs. But whereas the mullein hairs stick out at wild angles, the deadnettle hairs look neatly combed.

Take a close look at leaves this week. 

See any hairs?

Sloth & Moth are Better Together

 
Sloth & Moth: A Better-Together Friendship 
by Helen Taylor; illus. by Gavin Scott 
32 pages; ages 5-8
Sleeping Bear Press, 2026

themes: sloths, friendship, moths, nature, symbiosis
 

Everywhere Sloth went, Moth followed.

From branch to branch, playing tag – and even down the tree for Sloth’s weekly “business” trips. As Sloth grew older, he outgrew the close friendship. Sloth wanted to be left alone. And for a while, being alone was good. But then he realized that Sloth and Moth are better together.

What I like about this book: This is such a fun book to read and read aloud. Sloth and Moth are great reflections on the kiddos for whom this book is aimed. Who among us has not wished an older or younger sibling would just leave us alone?! And sometimes, even best friends need a break. I particularly love the dialog balloons… when Sloth climbs down the tree very slo-o-owly, Moth repeatedly asks, “Are we there yet?” The illustrations are adorable. 

But you know what I really like? Yep, you guessed it: the Back Matter! There’s a great section on sloth-moth symbiotic relationships, a photo glossary, and a branch full of fun facts. Did you know that a single sloth can host more than 100 moths in its fur? I did not know that!

Beyond the Books:

Find out more about sloths and how they live.

Make this sloth-handprint craft out of paper. Here's how. Add your own moth.

There is mutualism happening right outside your door: pollinators and flowering plants! Learn more about a pollinator-plant relationship in your area and draw a picture or write a short story.

Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.

Explore Outdoors ~ portrait of a dandelion

 I just love the curly hair on top of this one! OK, in reality I know those are sticky stigmas sticking up - awaiting pollen carried by bees, flies, wasps - all three of which I saw in the garden on dandelions.

This week catch a close-up of a flower in your neighborhood.