At the beginning of the 2019 pandemic, I took a walk in the woods and spotted a "pink lady slipper" orchid. It looked so out of place, this elegant flower in a green/brown woods. I became curious and wanted to know what other plants and trees surrounded me. It's been several years since my first observation and I can't get enough of learning about the natural world, specifically native plants, conservation efforts, and much more. I want to know how to better identify species of plants and fungi.

I am a business / computer science teacher and outdoor enthusiast. My current favorite plants are the striped wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) and the Crane-fly orchid (Tipularia discolor).