Explore Outdoors ~ What's left of the flowers?

Once the blooms have faded, petals dried and fallen, we forget about the flowers. As fall turned to winter, I watched birds land on the bare monarda and other flower heads. With a pick and a peck, they snagged a seed and flew off.

Later, the empty heads filled with snow. As sun warmed and melted the snow, the flowerheads trapped droplets, which froze overnight. Suddenly all the flowers were decked out in winter hats...

What's left of the flowers where you live?

This year I'm encouraging everyone to spend 1,000 hours outdoors. So on Wednesday I'll be posting ideas for nature breaks, field trips, and outdoor play. The goal: to have fun!

Teachers and homeschoolers who want to use nature breaks as field trips can grab a sketchbook or journal, something to draw and write with, and some watercolors, colored pencils, crayons, or markers. Think cross-curricular: art, language, science, math, engineering, movement, exercise! And come back Friday for some STEM book-talk.