BOG BLOGGING
I went to a real bog, they are pretty neat. I think this is a first for me. It is a perserve that biologist from around the state of Michigan come and study. They built boardwalks that ride on floatation devices so one like me can enjoy the critters and plants in the bog.
In the bog were wild blueberries...it took a stretch and the support of Adam but I got some.
The bogsters.
Freedom.
I was on the beach to celebrate independence day by watching the fireworks. But before it got dark God had his own statement to make. He set the sun over Lake Michigan painting a picture like an artist. And then His inaudible voice declared: "Micheal, if I can do this... I can do anthing." As good as the firework celebration was, it just can't compete with God's celebration of His power and ability to give freedom.
posted by holamickey | 11:23 AM
9 Comments:
So the blogger has become a bogger?? Sounds like fun. I remember going with Staci to a bog/marsh land in Kalamazoo. It was awesome with pitcher plants, sundew plants, Venus Fly traps, and a host of bugs, dragonflies, frogs, and other critters.
oh, btw, love that tie you wore for the fourth! Quite patriotic! And it looks, um, distinctly Michaelish! It has always been a family tradition for us to wear red, white, and blue that day, but I can't say I ever had such a fine specimen like that tie to wear!
Nice Autumn - somebody asked me the difference between a swamp and a bog... I don't know (I'll let the science teacher answer that one) but a bog sure sounds cooler. And for the tie... "Michaelish?" :)That's funny!
There are two main differences between swamps and bogs. The first is their source of water and second is the type of soil found there. A swamp typically has either a stream running into it or a stream that flows out of it to drain it. Annually, they are flushed out by high waters. The soil found in swamps is also very high in mineral content.
A bog on the other hand typically has no outlet for water to flow out and is filled from either snow or rain rather than being spring or stream fed. Due to this lack of water flow through the bog, the water is very low in oxygen. Since bacteria and fungi cannot thrive in this oxygen deprived area, it is difficult for dead plants to decompose. This makes the soil very acidic and nutrient deprived. Plants that like acidic soil (specifically mosses and berry plants) grow there. Also, many carnivorous plants grow there because they can supplement their nutrient deficient soil diet by consuming some tasty, nutritious bugs.
Ok, now for your homework assignment: Determine the difference between these and a marsh. Your project is due July 16.
Dear science teacher to the rescue:
I brought you an apple today, since my homework is due but I didn't see you so I kept it.
Here is the report:
A marsh is much more shallow than a swamp and is characterized more often by a tree-filled landscape and produce a variety of grasses. Often marshes are associated with coastal land and thus have sandy bottoms. Wikipedia didn't compare a bog at all to the swamp, so I didn't feel it necessary to go there.
Thanks for sharing your brillant mind.
My dear student,
You get an A+ for timeliness! Every teacher would love to have a student like you who gets their assignments in even when the teacher is absent! (I do apologize for not being in class today. A matter of business called me out of town. But I trust the substitute teacher treated you well.) I very much appreciate you bringing me an apple today. I will in town in two weeks if you want to give it to me then. But if it looks too appetizing, then please do enjoy eating it on my account!
In reading your report, my heart began to swell with pride at what a wonderful research paper you had written! You mentioned that a marsh was more shallow than a swamp, that it produces a variety of grasses, and that it is sometimes associated with coastal lands. But then one piece of information made my heart plummet to the floor! You mentioned that a marsh is characterized by a tree-filled landscape! Oh, dear, it seems that you may have been a victim of www.bogusanswers.com! (Don’t feel terrible though. Many other students have been victimized as well!) So I brought in Encyclopedia Britannica to the rescue and it states: “The difference between the two types of wetland [swamps and marshes] is that swamp plant life consists largely of trees, while marsh plant life is dominated by grasses.” You see swamps are known for their woody plants (trees, shrubs, bushes, etc.) whereas marshes are known for their herbaceous plants (soft-stemmed, water loving plants such as rushes, reeds, sedges, or wild rice).
In spite of this oversight, I give your research paper an A. (I think the apple brought it up from an A-.) Instead, I could have had you do extra credit and determine the difference between all these and a fen, but I will just let the apple satisfy the lack!
Thanks again for being such a great student! Keep up the good work and you may just get an A for your end-of-semester grade!
Reading this dialogue exchange is extremely amusing! I needed a good laugh! You both are having way too much fun. Michael, I'm afraid the resolution of this one must come from you. Best wishes! - Staci
A fen? Is that a word? :) Well as far as the trees go, you are right wikipedia is wrong. Fens by the way are often confused with bogs. How come I never learned these in elementary school?
Well tha apple is back in the fruit basket in the kitchen.
And about that substitute...
Wikipedia, huh? Has it ever made you curious why Wikipedia has an "edit" link at the end of each entry? I have always wondered at its credibility if people can go along and change and edit the definitions. hmmm...
Well I hope that at the conclusion of this whole dialog, you feel all the smarter! Now you can impress everyone with your knowledge about bogs, swamps, marshes, and yes, even fens!
Great having you as a student! I think I will retire now. :)
Well said.
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