journal – a curious nature

Under Siege!

A Battle of Wits

Conflict of Interest

November 24, 2025

Were you ever so challenged by something so clever, while at the same time so frustrated with something so beautiful? No, no, wait….. that question may be more complicated than need be. Let me put it this way ……

Were you ever at your wit’s end finding a solution to a seemingly simple problem that you thought was obviously and repeatedly staring you right in the face?

My reply? Yes!

It’s All About the Genes

Meet the Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) … or more specifically, the Western red-shafted flicker (C. auratus ssp. cafer)*, a gorgeously flamboyant and noisy member of the Woodpecker family, that’s common throughout its western range.** And as woodpeckers do so well, they peck and peck and hammer and drill with the determination and force of a jackhammer*** on nearly any vertical (preferably wooden) surface. They’re single-minded, from start to finish, when it comes to creating a cozy nesting or roosting cavity, whether in a tree trunk or into your home. (More about that in a bit.)

Flicker ID – 101

How do you know a Flicker has laid claim to your place? Well, he’s a big, heavy-bodied bird, and when flying overhead, your first thought might be “Crow!” At 12-14” long, with a wingspan of 18”-21”, the size is right. But as he flashes a large showy white rump patch bookended by reddish-orange underwings, you realize he’s not black. Anything but! As his flight slows and dips you notice his brown back is marked with narrow black bars. In preparation for landing, with wings open wide, he vertically aligns his body and feet with the wall, exposing a pale gray belly with bold black spots and a chest-wide black patch. Two strong clawed-toes up, two down (zygodactyl), and a stiff wedge-shaped tail adjusted as a brace, he taps out a few test spots, drawing your attention to his long and heavy bill, on a slate gray head broken by a buff-brown crown, a bright red whisker (male), and light gray cheeks.

Male Western red-shafted flicker in flight. Note white rump patch (unsplash.com)

On a crisp cool Autumn morning, as you watch in horror ……

Before you can declare, “It’s a Male Flicker!” ……

This bigger-than-life bird has landed, tested, and pecked away at his chosen spot 170 times in 10 seconds! He’s created an entry hole about 3” wide, right through the stucco and foam sub layer. This determined Flicker knows winter is coming and he intends to drill into our home, making a cozy roosting cavity in which to hunker down until Spring!

Oh no, No, NO!

We love Flickers and have no wish to harm this beautiful bird.**** But he’s already caused enough damage (23 feet high on the wall) that needs immediate repair. So I clap my hands and holler loudly (something unintelligible), and off he flys to a nearby snag to see how serious my noise-making was.

That’s the story of Flicker hole #1

Oh Not Again, and Again, and Again!

Since early November, our resident Flicker (I call him Jack), has continued to return many times, usually between sunrise and 10am. Sometimes he’ll make a fly-by before sunset. Often his quiet arrival escapes our notice; either we’ve been running errands, we’re out hiking with Luna, or enjoying a short roadtrip. These are the times he’s been able to drill six 3”-wide holes on the initial wall, and another 3”x6” hole just around the corner which was so deep, he almost penetrated the interior of Roy’s woodshop! This gives a whole new meaning to the term “Airbnb!”

After a few weeks up and down our fully-extended extension ladder to make a 2-step/2-day repair job/hole, we were making ZERO headway. Jack, unable to resist the need to drill him a roost cavity, was always one hole ahead of us. And because he didn’t hesitate to redrill newly repaired holes, was there something we were doing wrong?

All Flicker painting are larger than life, because that’s how they seemed to me!

It’s an Education in Biology and Patience

So we learned to listen for his noisy “kerrreee” scream-like call announcing his presence from one of Jack’s many favored perches around the house. Unless we missed it, his territorial call would put us on high alert, ready for action. We also listened for his series of warm-up test pecks that usually sounded inside the house. This “alarm” would catapult one or both of us from a comfy chair and run outside yelling and clapping our hands.

Between listening, running, clapping and yelling (and wondering what the neighbors might be thinking), I discovered a few interesting things on-line…..

Woodpeckers can’t resist drilling holes in synthetic stucco. This product provides the perfect surface for woodpeckers to hammer. When they begin tap pecking, it creates a hollow sound because the synthetic stucco includes a foam layer. The woodpeckers peck through the hard outer surface into the foam where it is easier to create a larger cavity to nest.

#1 …. Our entire home happens to be covered with synthetic stucco! While this might explain Jack’s insatiable desire to drill his roosting cavity into our home and not into one of the surrounding hardwood piñon pines, we’re not going to replace the stucco.

Basil, mint, cinnamon and/or lavender are suggested as natural, non-toxic deterrents for woodpeckers, who dislike strong aromas. The scent of basil, in particular, can be overwhelming and confusing to woodpeckers. Crushing one or a mix of these herbs with adding a bit of water, creates a green slurry that can be filtered and applied with a spray bottle to the affected area(s).

#2 …. This idea was worth a try, especially since there’s still have basil and mint growing in the garden. After collecting several handfuls of each, I popped the mix into the food processor with a bit of water and flipped the on switch. Gathering the resulting slurry, I filtered it through paper towels and collected the liquid for a spray bottle. That was several weeks ago, and with every hole repair, Roy’s been thoroughly soaking first the patch job then follow-up stucco coating with the basil/mint spray. It’s hard to know if it’s actually working, but the initial drilling sites haven’t been redrilled in the past week. It could also be that Jack is gone; pushed out with one of our heavy rainstorms. Or he’s begun drilling more recent holes over the RV garage door. With each repair, Roy continues to spray the basil/mint mix.

The Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act*** provides protection for Flickers (and all woodpeckers), making it illegal to harm or kill them. But when warranted, migratory birds can be killed under a depredation permit issued by the Law Enforcement Division of the USDI-Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Authorization by the relevant state wildlife agency also may be required before lethal control methods are initiated. Sound justification must be present for the issuance of depredation permits.

#3 …. Applying for a depredation permit may be our last resort, if Jack and his cohorts threaten to turn our brand new home into Swiss cheese.

AGAIN!

That’s the story, almost. This clear Conflict of Interest; an obvious Battle of Wits, continues. Just yesterday, one of the holes Roy patched above the RV garage door was redrilled this morning!

Oh Good Grief!

It’s already been repatched and resprayed, and while writing this story in my studio with window cracked and a clear view of the patched hole, I’m sure to hear and see that gorgeously determined Flicker if he returns to jackhammer away, once again, into a side of our home!

I’d love to know if you or anyone you know has a proven solution to this natural dilemma. Meanwhile …..

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Thanksgiving!

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*Northern Flickers are divided into 2 subspecies, the Western red-shafted flicker (C. auratus ssp. cafer) and the Eastern yellow-shafted Flicker (C. auratus ssp. auratus). The red-shafted subspecies is found throughout Mexico, western and west-central U.S. (where it is common all year long), and British Columbia, Canada. The closely related yellow-shafted subspecies, which is highly migratory, is found in eastern and east-central U.S., the Canadian provinces and Territories (except B.C.), and far north into AK.

**Where the range for both subspecies overlaps (in the ‘lower 48’), a lot of hybridization occurs. It’s common to see a red-shafted flicker with more orange feather shafts and/or shades of yellow-orange on the underside of their flight feathers. The same holds true for the yellow-shafted hybrid. Otherwise, appearances differ notably between both subspecies of the Northern Flicker, primarily where the malar (mustache), nape pattern (back of the head below the crown), face color, and tail and flight feathers are concerned. See the table below for non-hybrid subspecies characteristics. For hybrids, any color and pattern variation(s) and combination(s) you can imagine have probably been found!

Northern Flicker subspecies	Red-shafted	Yellow-shafted
Face color	Gray	Buffy to warm, light brown
Malar color	Male: red Female: brown	Male: black Female: brown
Nape color & pattern	Gray, unpatterned	Male: Red crescent on gray Female: gray, unpatterned
Feather shaft/under flight feathers	Pinkish to reddish to red	Yellow

***A woodpecker can peck wood 17x/second, and from 8,000-12,000x/day! Really! And they can drill into wood at a force 10x greater than a football tackle that would cause a concussion. On the November 17, 2025 episode of the Science Friday (SciFri) podcast, biologist Nick Antonson stated that woodpeckers can peck 20-30x their body weight. Now that’s amazing for a Flicker that weighs about 6 ounces!

****Because we had no desire to harm the Flicker(s) drilling into our new home, even when we reached our point of extreme frustration, we wanted to ensure our deterrent efforts aligned with wildlife regulations; especially with the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (Act). Flickers (and all woodpeckers) are considered a migratory non-game bird species, and protected under the Act. It’s illegal, punishable by fine and/or imprisonment, to harm or kill them.

Male Western red-shafted woodpecker with his tail braced against the branch(bird pixels.com)

EggTober 2025 ….. the Full Four Submissions + Bonuses

November 15, 2025

It’s a wrap! EggTober 2025 – the Full Four Submissions- all in one place!

My 3 minute YouTube video (see link below) features all 32 annotated bird egg paintings submitted for Inktober2025, along with several bonuses you won’t want to miss!

1) a pair of never-seen-before annotated Common Nighthawk eggs painted for the cover of my 6”x9” handmade journal ………

2) an index, by common name and date of appearance, of the 32 bird eggs painted and annotated between October 1 and November 1, 2025 ………

3) an accordion book attached to the inside back cover that has all the fascinating details about each of the 8 layers of an avian eggshell

YouTube Video Link

For some reason, I’m unable to embed my YouTube video directly into this post. This is rather inconvenient, huh! So until I can troubleshoot the player issue, I’d love for you to click on the link below to view the video on my YouTube channel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keiOCtFwASo

And That’s All Folks!
Thanks so much for joining me on this fun educational adventure.

P.S. If for some reason you’re unable to view the video, please let me know.

EggTober 2025/Submission Four ….. Days 25 – 31

It’s All in a Day’s Work!

November 3, 2025

EggTober 2025 has officially ended! And Wow … I’m so eggs-cited to share Submission Four, the finale, with all-y’all! The eggs showcased for Days 25-31 +1 (yes, another random bird flew in and laid a bonus clutch on the last page) are all snug in their New Mexico nests. Also, you’ll notice a bit more text surrounding those nests.

Following Submission Three, where my narrative focused on the different layers of the eggshell membrane, I was curious about how avian eggshells are constructed. Then I wanted to know more about the entire reproductive system of birds, from ovulation to fertilization, to egg laying. And Then I couldn’t rest without knowing about the embryo, the yolk, the egg white, and all the bits and pieces you see when cracking open an egg! I didn’t know any of this, and if you don’t know, you’re head is about to explode in wonder!

The Avian Oviduct and Egg Formation

It takes about one day to build an egg. But to prepare for the journey, about 7 to 9 days before the egg will be laid, the Yolk must be formed. Here’s the story of …..

The Yolk …..

….. formed in one of the many Follicles of the Ovary, the vitellus or Yolk begins as an immature Ovum that is stimulated to enlarge over several days by receiving deposits of yolk material. Once growth is initiated, over the next 7 to 9 days the Yolk’s formation intensifies as 99% of its nutrient-rich layers are deposited until it’s fully formed. Now mature, the Follicle ruptures and the Yolk is released in a process called Ovulation.

And this is where the Journey through the Oviduct begins! Over the next 24 hours, the developing embryo acquires the many layers it needs for nourishment, respiration, and protection until it’s formed into a perfect egg ready for laying. The entire journey takes place in the Oviduct …..

….. which can be divided into several regions: the Infundibulum, Magnum, Isthmus, Uterus, and Vagina. What happens in each of these regions is nothing short of fascinating!

Infundibulum – After Ovulation, the Yolk immediately enters the funnel of the Infundibulum (the Ostium) where the Ovum is fertilized and the Chalazae is formed. With the help of ciliary action, it takes 30 minutes for the Ovum to move through this region of the Oviduct to the next, the Magnum.

Magnum – It’s this region where the Yolk, together with the now developing embryo and the Chalazae, gets a protective coating of protein-rich Albumen, a process that takes about 3 hours to complete, before moving along to the Isthmus.

Isthmus – The Inner and Outer Shell Membrane Layers and the Nucleation Sites are formed in this region of the Oviduct. This takes about an hour before the package is delivered to the Uterus.

Uterus – This is where five of the six layers of the outer Eggshell are formed. They are the Mammillary Layer and Mammillary Bodies, Organic Matrix Layer, Crystalline Palisade Layer, Vertical Crystal Layer, and Shell Pigment Layer. Also, as much as one-third of the protein in an egg is added while in the Uterus.

It takes about 20 hours for the egg to move through the Uterus while these layers are deposited. And as the egg moves, it twists and turns. When it’s time to add pigment, the rate of rotation adjusts to ‘paint’ the species-specific patterns we see on the eggshell, leaving a visual record of the egg’s movement in the Uterus. For example, if streaks or elongated tracks on the shell are required, movement is more rapid than when creating round spots, blotches, speckles, or bands. After pigment is added to the outer shell structure, the layers of background color and any markings are enclosed in calcite crystals.

Vagina – The last region of the Oviduct where the Cuticle (the Bloom) is added to the shell just before the egg is laid.

The egg is now complete. The entire process, beginning with the release of the mature Yolk and Ovum from its Follicle until the egg’s final touches, takes 24 hours! And the timing ensures the egg is always laid sometime during the day.

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Glossary and Other Interesting Things

Albumen – refers to the “white” of the egg. The Albumen is an effective barrier against microbes that might cross over and cause disease in the developing embryo. Albumen contains over a hundred antimicrobial proteins.

Chalazae – two spiral bands of white, stringy tissue that suspend and hold the Yolk in the center of the Albumen.

Crystalline Palisade Layer – A tough, mineralized structure of calcium carbonate crystals that grow into dense columnar units above the Mammillary Bodies (the mineralized base of the crystalline eggshell). The amount of shell deposited is determined by the time spent in the Uterus.

Eggshell – Depending on species, the eggshell represents from 9-15% of the total weight of the egg.

Eggshell Formation – The Crystalline Palisade Layer is essential to the process of eggshell formation which takes place in the Uterus.

Nucleation: The process begins at the Nucleation Sites, located on the External Shell Membrane, which are the specific places where the mineralization of calcium carbonate begins.
Initial growth: As calcium salts are deposited and crystallize, inorganic calcium carbonate crystals grow around and outward from the Nucleation Sites, forming the cone-shaped Mammillary Bodies; the first, innermost calcified layer of the eggshell, anchored to the External Shell Membrane. This base of mineralized shell provides mechanical strength, and serves as the main source of calcium for the developing embryo’s skeleton.
Maturation – The calcium carbonate crystals continue to grow into the dense columnar units that form the Crystalline Palisade Layer, creating a tough, mineralized structure that protects the embryo. The amount of shell deposited is determined by the time spent in the Uterus.

Follicle – an enclosed cavity in the Ovary

Labile Medullary Bone – a temporary, highly porous, and woven bone tissue that forms, driven by hormonal changes in female birds, in her medullary (marrow) cavities in the period leading up to and during egg-laying. As a highly porous, woven bone, medullary bone has no significant mechanical function or structural strength. Its role is strictly metabolic.

The word labile means the bone is unstable and readily undergoes rapid and frequent change. Once the egg-laying period is complete, hormones change and medullary bone is reabsorbed.

Labile Medullary Bone Formation and Calcium Requirements – It’s interesting to note that an egg-laying hen requires 10% of her the total body calcium reserves during each 24-hour period she is producing eggs. To meet this calcium requirement, primarily for eggshell formation, it’s necessary that her plasma (blood) calcium levels triple during egg formation. This calcium is mainly obtained from increased intestinal absorption and a highly labile reservoir found in the medullary bone. In other words, to meet the calcium requirement, the hen’s body naturally produces it as medullary bone.

Mammillary Bodies – The first, innermost calcified layer of the eggshell, anchored to the External Shell Membrane. These cone-shaped Mammillary Bodies form the base of mineralized calcium carbonate which provides mechanical strength to the shell, and serves as the main source of calcium for the developing embryo’s skeleton.

Nucleation Sites (aka Organic Cores) – form in the Isthmus region of the Oviduct, and are found on the External Shell Membrane. Composed primarily of organic material (proteins, proteoglycans, collagens), they are the specific locations where the mineralization of the calcium carbonate shell begins. In other words, the Nucleation Sites provide the initial template or “seed” for calcium carbonate crystals to start forming.

Oviduct – the tube that transports the developing egg with embryo from the Ovary to the Vagina.

Oviduct … Only One? – Yup! Most bird species have only one Ovary and adjoining Oviduct, the other having degenerated when the hen was, herself, a developing embryo. This evolutionary modification probably resulted because egg production from two ovaries would deplete the female’s body of calcium to excess. As has been demonstrated in chickens that are on a calcium deficient diet, egg production ceases.

Ovulation – The process in which the mature Yolk and Ovum is released from its Follicle in the Ovary and is received into the Oviduct through the Infundibulum.

Ovulation Rate – Within 1 hour after a hen has laid an egg, the next mature Follicle in the Ovary ruptures (aka ovulates), releasing the mature Yolk and Ovum.

Ovum – an unfertilized egg

Pigment or Not? – Whether an eggshell is white, or decorated with a background color and/or markings, it’s appearance is influenced first by the species of bird, then by lifestyle and nest location. The specific color of an egg is an adaptation to its environment. This is where camouflage and/or thermal regulation may be required.

Thermal regulation is still being studied, but where camouflage is beneficial, egg color depends strongly on nest locations:
- White eggs – prevalent among birds like pigeons, doves, swans, many seabirds, etc. These birds often build concealed nests where camouflage isn’t necessary, or inconspicuous locations are chosen for nesting where white coloring helps camouflage the eggs, reducing the risk of drawing attention.
- Blue or green eggs – Bluebirds, robins, sparrows, parrots and other birds that lay pale to bright blue, blue-green or green eggs blend in with the sky or the foliage of nesting sites, providing natural camouflage.
- Brown or speckled eggs – Brown or highly marked eggs with speckles, spots, blotches, or scribbles provide excellent camouflage for ground-nesting birds like quail, avocets and killdeer. The mottled appearance of these eggs blend well against rock, sand, soil, foliage and branches. The eggs’ colorations are camouflaged well in nests woven from a variety of materials to nests that may be nothing more than a scrape or depression in the ground.

Shell Pigment Layer – Pigment granules are deposited on the outer shell structure, forming color layers which are then enclosed in calcite crystals.

Sperm Storage – a female bird need mate only once for the sequential formation of her eggs to be fertilized. In other words, each newly ovulated egg that arrives at the Infundibulum, which occurs every 24 hours (more-or-less), becomes fertilized from a single mating. That’s because female birds can actually store sperm in Sperm Storage Tubules (SSTs). SSTS are tubular “invaginations” in the Infundibulum where sperm can be kept alive for 2 to 15 weeks (depending on the species), and can be released after Ovulation.

Uterus – the Shell Gland

Yolk – The nutrient-bearing portion of the egg containing most of its fat, minerals, and many of its proteins and blood vessels.

Yolk Behavior – The Yolk always rotates so the developing embryo floats to the top, regardless of the egg’s position

Zygote – the fertilized Ovum

Wow, gosh! I’m egg’s-hausted ….. how about you!?! But wasn’t that a fascinating journey through a bird’s oviduct? A literal look behind the scenes!

And that concludes my Inktober/EggTober 2025. Researching so much information not only took me down some fascinating rabbit trails, but everything I learned in the month of October blew my mind! And everything I uncovered had to be shared with you all. The bounty was voluminous, resulting in each Submission eggs-panding to accommodate nearly everything. Yes, you read that right ….. I nearly got everything shared, and there’s still so much more to learn about past, present and future bird eggs and all eggs in general. Maybe once my notes are gather and organized, and I pursue answers to countless questions on the when’s, why’s and what-for’s, it will be time for EggTober 2026!

Did you participate in this year’s Inktober? Maybe my four submissions gave you ideas for Inktober 2026? Share your thoughts and ideas. Meanwhile ….. That’s all for now, yolks!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

P.S. in case you missed any of my previous EggTober 2025 Submissions, you can catch up with the following links: Submission One, Submission Two, and/or Submission Three! Enjoy!

Switched the Midge!

A Fourwing Saltbush Gall Mystery Solved

September 30, 2025

If you’re a fan of weird twists in nature (like me), and enjoyed my November 25, 2024 post, “A Quirk of Nature: Fourwing Saltbush,” you may have lost many hours of sleep wondering how I could’ve missed such an obvious mistake! You know the one. The labeling error made when naming those cottonball-like insect galls hugging the Fourwing stems.

In my confusion (or wishing to cover all options?), I seemed to believe two different midge species were somehow responsible for the same gall.

Are they Rosette Bud Gall Midge galls or Fourwing Saltbush Wooly Gall Midge galls?

Decisions, decisions.

My Quandry quite clear, it was time to consult the experts.

A short 10 months later, confirmation arrived from the iNaturalist experts in all things “Fourwing.” All the puffy galls are none other than those made by Fourwing Saltbush Wooly Gall Midges!

And the answer to my question is well timed, as the stems of the female Fourwing shrubs are once again ‘heavy’ with Wooly Gall Midge galls. Now I know! Now you also know!

Enjoy this official correction, at long last, and wishing you sweet dreams.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

PS: My journal page was created by first sketching in graphite the two Fourwing stems, followed by outlining with loose ink lines from a Micron 005, adding a background of both soft and medium charcoal – blending with a stump, then using a Tombow Mono Zero eraser to clean up the ‘cottonballs,’ before adding watercolor pencil, color splatters, and eraser lines randomly placed through the charcoal background. A bit experimental, and lots of fun.

Floss is Flying 🪂 !

It Must be Fall …….

September 22, 2025

Like soft, fluffy snow! Glistening orbs of silky gossamer are floating about the neighborhood, drifting hither and yon in the gentle breeze. Suspended beneath each orb is a single reddish-brown winged seed that appears to coax its wind-propelled puff in a safe descent to the ground. But the white floss (the Coma) wants to fly, and it becomes a tug of war. As the weight of the seed overwhelms the ability (and the desire) of the floss to carry it, their brief relationship is severed. But both get their wish …. the floss flies free as the seed drops to the ground, hopefully landing in an ideal spot to overwinter and sprout next spring.

Welcome Fall!

When the air is full of Horsetail Milkweed parachutes and their ‘riders,’ I walk along the neighborhood roadways and collect a bounty of their new-crop seeds + floss to set free around our property. If they find the right soil, moisture, and light conditions for spring germination, the seeds will not only form the beginnings of a stand of these beautifully blooming, creamy-white milkweed flowers, but the plants might just play host to Monarch and Queen butterflies!

Now wouldn’t that be dandy!

(Of course, mature seeds from new plants will undoubtedly entice a hungry crop of well-dressed Milkweed Bugs next Fall. That’s OK! They have to eat too!)

My Journal Pages ……

For something different, instead of using ink and watercolor, all sketches on these pages were created in graphite. The pods, seeds and the milkweed bug were sketched from my collected samples using a mechanical pencil loaded with a fine point HB lead. The touches of color were added with water soluble graphite.

Thanks for stopping by ….. And Have a Fabulous Fall!

NATIONAL DIATOMACEOUS EARTH DAY

Part 1 – Diatomaceous Earth

August 31, 2025

On August 31, National Diatomaceous Earth Day recognizes the diatom and the remarkable mineral it creates!

Have you ever heard of Diatomaceous Earth (DE)? If you answer “yes” then perhaps you brew your own beer, have a swimming pool in need of water filtration, or a vegetable garden that’s been invaded by a herd of hungry slugs. But did you know DE is a mineral¹ composed of the fossilized remains of single-celled, microscopic algae called Diatoms? (More about diatoms in an upcoming post.) DE is truly a remarkable mineral, found around the world in ancient marine and lacustrine (freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers) sedimentary deposits.

Early Discoveries and Uses of DE

The year was 1836; the place, Northern Germany …… One day, a peasant named Peter Kasten was sinking a well when he encountered a mysterious-to-him layer of rock. Curious what this soft powdery rock might be, Pete took a sample to a friend who was a friend of a friend learned in the science of geology. This geologist carefully examined the rock then exclaimed (in German, of course), “Why this is the much prized and never-before-seen-in-Northern-Germany mineral known as Diatomaceous Earth! It has remarkably unique abilities to absorb, filtrate, polish, and stabilize! These qualities make Diatomaceous Earth (aka Diatomite) valuable and much sought after by numerous industries!”

Well, word spread and immediate exploration of the area commenced. It wasn’t long before numerous substantial deposits of lacustrine DE were discovered; some up to 92 feet thick! Extraction began in 1863. Until WWI, these sites comprised the world-wide production of Diatomite. Mining these deposits ended in 1994, when all of the DE deposits had been extracted.

But long before Pete’s discovery, Ancient Greeks used DE as an abrasive as well as a building material in lightweight bricks. Even in pre-historic times, DE was used in the ice-age cave paintings in France.

DE Deposits and Extraction – Worldwide

When diatoms die and fall to the bottom of marine and lacustrine waterbodies, they form large deposits. Over time, the organic portions of the diatoms weather away, leaving behind their hard silica shells. These remaining shells, called Frustules, with their opaline-like quality are what forms DE. Some of the largest deposits in the U.S. formed in ancient lakes that existed in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. They also formed in oceans and occur along the coasts of North and South America.

Since WWI, exploration for and discovery of numerous DE deposits have occurred worldwide-wide, and are still on-going. Large mining companies have unearthed and continue to extract this mineral in substantial quantities, which is processed for use by industries that manufacture products for home and business (more on that below). DE deposits are (or have been) mined in many countries around the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Chile, Peru, France, Spain, Denmark, China, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Turkey, Libya, Russia, Mozambique, Ireland, and France. Today, the world’s largest DE mine, Colado Mine, is located just outside of Lovelock, NV, and has been in operation since 1959.

DE’s Modern Uses and Values

Today, DE is one of the most useful and durable substances known. The white to off-white powdery rock that makes up the more than 1 million year old DE deposits, is used in many common products likely encountered every day. One nearly universal use is in the filtration of liquids like the beer, wine and water. DE is also used to filter water in swimming pools, and to clean grease and oil. DE is used as an absorbent for hazmat spill control and in some kitty litters. As a filler in paint, it removes the sheen making flat paint flat; in plastics, it prevents blocking in plastic film. DE is used as an aggregate in construction, particularly in Portland Cement. And the list of specialty items that use DE for a variety of purposes is very long ….. including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, art supplies, in the medical industry for DNA extraction, as a non-toxic insecticide, soil amendments, in bath mats for quick drying, in toothpaste as an abrasive, and as food additives to control moisture and extend shelf life. There are hundreds of other applications for DE with many more yet to be discovered!

But the biggest use of DE is in filtration. In 2023, the beverage industry paid $720/metric ton for processed food-grade DE (amount used to filter a keg of beer??). Compare that cost to $10/metric ton charged in 2023 for lightweight aggregates used in construction (wonder if or how tariffs impacted the 2025 cost?), or the $1000/metric ton charged for some specialty items.

Ideas on How to Observe Diatomaceous Earth Day

Discover more about DE, and learn about its common uses around your home or work.

Read product labels to learn what you use on a daily basis that contains DE.

Consult the fda.gov website to learn more about labeling.

Visit a Diatomite mining operation.

Learn about unmined deposits near where you live.

Use a magnifying glass or microscope to inspect the contents of bag of insecticidal DE.

Stay tuned for NATIONAL DIATOMACEOUS EARTH DAY – Part 2 – Diatoms! They are ultra-fascinating!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

¹ Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and internal structure, and are the main components of rocks. DE (Diatomite) is a naturally occurring inorganic mineral that forms from the fossilized siliceous (silica-based) skeletons of diatoms, which are single-celled aquatic organisms. While the organisms themselves are organic, the hard, porous mineralized skeletons they produce are considered inorganic.

Being an inorganic mineral, DE falls into the same category as minerals we’re all familiar with, such as Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Pyrite, Hematite, Galena, Sulfur, Gold, and Copper. The chemical formula of DE is primarily SiO₂ (silicon dioxide), with traces of other minerals.

One of the Most Aloof Sunflowers Ever! The Cowpen Daisy

Part 3 ….. An Allelopath Declares Chemical Warfare

August 15, 2025

The more I learn about Cowpen Daisy (Verbesina encelioides), the more the words Intrepid (fearless and bold), Interloping (meddlesome and smothering), and Impertinent (pushy and rude) come to mind.

Cowpen Daisy is literally a plant at war …..

Its adversaries are neighboring plants …..

Its weapons of choice are chemicals ….. 15¹different Allelochemicals² to be exact.

Cowpen Daisy shows no mercy to its most susceptible victims, and given the right conditions in the right locations, Cowpen Daisy can cripple ecosystems, and unravel biodiversity.

Oh No! What Have I Done! Have I unleashed a formidable enemy to run amok, bullying its way through our mostly intact biodiverse high desert ecosystem?

Maybe not! (Spoiler alert…… Allelopathy³can be bad, but I still love this happy Daisy)

On August 6th, I received an excellent question from one of my blog followers, based on my first Cowpen Daisy post :

“Do you have any concerns about this becoming an invasive plant? Best wishes, Nancy”

In reply, I expressed my concern about the number of “seedlings coming up late spring,” and how “I was definitely alarmed and wondered about the need for early control.” Fortunately, “as the season advanced, it became clear the density of plants seemed self-controlling.” Based on my limited experience with Cowpen Daisy, I explained how during the summer of 2023 “the plant completely covered an extremely large field near our home,” causing me concern about its invasive tendencies. But upon “[R]eturning the following year (2024) and again this past spring (2025) to see if the same field was blanketed again in these plants, “I couldn’t find a single Cowpen Daisy anywhere! So no, this annual [doesn’t appear to be] “invasive, at least not in central New Mexico.”

But Nancy’s question prompted me to dig deeper into on-line research. I wondered: Is Cowpen Daisy invasive outside of its native range, particularly where conditions are ideal for its aggressive growth? Yes, it is! And its invasiveness is further enhanced where neighboring plants are susceptible to the impacts of the allelochemicals released by Cowpen Daisy’s leaves, roots and decaying leaf matter in the soil.

One example where Cowpen Daisy is an introduced species and has become invasive is in India. Fields of mung bean, corn, chickpeas, and sweet melon are being outcompeted by invasive stands of Cowpen Daisies. These food crops are severely impacted by two allelochemicals released by the both roots and leaves of the Daisy; steroids and phenols. Studies of these four crops demonstrated not only “the suppression of germination and growth in these plants” but “also revealed an antagonistic effect on [their] chlorophylls, carotenoids and protein levels.” In other words, Cowpen Daisy is winning the war against India’s mung bean, corn, chickpea and melon crops, and farmers are currently engaged in a battle to develop a strategy of control and run this biological enemy out of their country.

Cowpen Daisy is only considered a native species to the Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico. However, it has been introduced (either intentionally or by accident) and is considered naturalized in parts of Eastern North America, the Middle East, Spain, Argentina, Australia and the Pacific islands. As such, Cowpen Daisy’s nature to drop allelochemicals everywhere it grows allows it to behave like an invasive plant in countries where it is naturalized. Without diligent management (via herbicide application or mechanical control), it can thrive to the detriment of their desirable plant species’ survival.

Have I defeated my goal of reestablishing a diverse native plant community in disturbed areas surrounding our new home? “Not likely,” says I, optimistically! In addition to Cowpen Daisy, the variety of native plant species I intentionally seeded last fall and early this past spring, have germinated, grown, flowered and seeded or are in the process of flowering and seeding, most of which are adjacent to a Daisy. Of course time will tell. Meanwhile, I’ve declared this to be a happy ending to this post and my stand of happy Cowpen Daisies! However ……. next spring, if germination rates from my reseeders are low or zero, but Cowpen Daisy returns with renewed vigor, then I have a control job waiting for me. And the best advice I’ve read is to “pull out old plants and roots and selectively remove new seedlings.” That’s acceptable! That I can do!

Until then!

Do you struggle with weedy, invasive plant species in your garden or yard? Have you seen fields of blooming weeds and wondered …… “what weed is that?” Do you know the names of those pesty plants and do they seem to keep your favorite variety of cucumbers from growing? It might be interesting to learn if your local invasives are one of the many Allelopaths happily growing in our world! Let me know!

As always, thanks for dropping by!

¹Cowpen Daisy is known to release up to 15 different allelochemicals² from its leaves and roots, such as guanidine, phytosterols, phenolic acids, tripertenes, flavonoids, dicarboxylic acids, phytophenols, steroids, phenols, and others. Fresh and decaying leaf litter leach 14 of those allelochemicals into the soil.

^2,3Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have beneficial (positive allelopathy) or detrimental (negative allelopathy) effects on the target organisms and the community. Allelopathy is often used narrowly to describe chemically-mediated competition between plants. Allelopathic interactions are an important factor in determining species distribution and abundance within plant communities, and are also thought to be important in the success of many invasive plants. (source: Wikipedia)

One of the Most Edible Sunflowers Ever! The Cowpen Daisy

Part 2 ….. Ethnobotany, Etymology and Epicureans

August 11, 2025

While compiling last week’s post about the happy Cowpen Daisy party taking place outside our back door, it was no surprise to find way more interesting info about this sunflower than could ever fit on my journal page. Decisions …… decisions! To keep the August 5th illustrated page relatively uncluttered, I decided to include just the botanical basics (mostly), focusing on Cowpen Daisy flowers, leaves and seeds.

Then the past week I found my nature journal wide open to a blank page, ‘begging me’ for another Cowpen Daisy entry ….. “What about all those interesting info bits?” she asked. Replying* to my journal with a hearty, “OK,” I proceeded to locate and gather my rabbit-trailing notes. This scavenger hunt reminded me just how many pages there were; so many fascinating things about the Cowpen Daisy I wanted to remember and share. Decisions …… decisions! How to keep this next post to one page? By limiting the topics to only three, was it possible?

Barely! (after some clever editing, not a single word dropped off the page)

A little bit closer view for those without a microscope!

P.S. By the way, you may have noticed I’ve indicated this post is Part 2 of what’s now become my Cowpen Daisy series. Unless I start journaling on larger than 8” x 11” paper, there’s likely to be more Parts in store. And this multi-part series resulted in a minor edit to last week’s post, not titled “One of the Happiest Sunflowers Ever! The Cowpen Daisy; Part 1 ….. Can There Be Too Many Sunflowers?” In case you missed it, please check it out here.

*Yes, you read that right; I talk with my nature journals. Don’t you? After all, we do spend quite a bit of time together!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Hooked on Trichomes … The Curious Nature of ‘Mentzelia’

July 29, 2025

You must awake when the first rooster crows to enjoy the floral beauty of a fully flaired Blazingstar blossom. Appropriately named, these gorgeous flowers display a radiant combination of spoon-shaped petals, petal-like stamens, and hundreds of thread-like stamens, all colored in bold sulfur yellows, distinctive pale orange-yellows, brilliant star whites, or fluorescent blues, based on species. These superbly showy flowers unfurl overnight atop tall white, branching stems that resemble candelabras with narrow lobed green leaves. These large, 2” diameter flowers belong to the Mentzelia genus, plants that are all native to the Americas, and represented by 60-80 species, most found in the desert southwest.

In 1753, Carl Linneaus gave this plant its genus name, Mentzelia, after German botanist and sinologist Christian Mentzel. (Did you know a Sinologist is a specialist in the study of Chinese language, literature, and civilization? Huh!) But perhaps more fascinating and what’s always ‘captured’ my complete attention (and blue jeans) is that the Mentzelia genus fits perfectly in the Loasaceae family ….. commonly referred to as the Stickleafs.

About those leaves ……

Being primarily a day-time hiker, my first encounter with a Blazingstar occurred simultaneously with a misstep into the plant. Noticing some resistance in making my escape, I looked down at the ground and discovered my jeans had a collection of stuck leaves from my boots on up. And the leaves were really stuck tight along their entire length! Removing those leaves was like peeling a banana, only tougher. Wait! Forget the banana peel. Removing those sticky leaves sounded like and felt like tugging on and separating Velcro! I was reminded of the familiar ‘ripping’ noise made when Velcro hooks are forcibly released from their loops!

Eureka!!

Nature is full of surprises. Were the Stickleafs the source of accidental inspiration for today’s handy hook-n-loop fastener, called Velcro? Almost, but not quite! As it turns out, the tiny hooks on Cocklebur seedpods inspired a Swiss engineer to develop Velcro in 1941. But not to change subjects too much …….The reasons Stickleafs could’ve been the inspiration for Velcro, is similar to the Cocklebur story, but, I think, even better. Here’s why ……

The seedpods of both plants have tiny hooks that readily adhere to clothing and fur. And it was the hooks’ tenacity for stick-to-it-tiv-ness that grew the original Velcro idea. But Stickleafs go even further in ‘reinforcing’ the fastener concept. Not only does the seed pod (capsule) of Stickleafs have a covering of tiny hooks, but both leaf surfaces and even the stems of plants in this family can have multiple types of minuscule grappling-hooks and barbed needles, called Trichomes, visible only with an electron microscope. I summarize that if the Swiss engineer was visiting America in 1941, and had the good fortune to walk into a Mentzelia plant, he undoubtedly would’ve been super inspired to develop Velcro. After all, it’s the leaves that stick fast to clothing, resemble a strip of Velcro, and hold tight, mimicking an ideal hook-n-loop fastener.

Hooked on Trichomes

And now for the curious nature of the Mentzelia genus. When coming across the Adonis Blazingstar (Mentzelia multiflora) over the past 8 years, it’s been fun to inspect the leaves, remove one and intentionally stick it to Roy’s jeans or mine. I’ve then wondered how this plant ‘sticks’ so well, and why. The time for answers arrived this month, and what I learned was fascinating. It’s all about Trichomes.

Trichome is a botanical term used to describe the small hair-like structures that occur somewhere on a plant; typically on plant leaves. Trichomes can be found throughout the plant kingdom (like on Cannabis sativa); they aren’t unique to the Stickleaf family, and are found on all species of the the Mentzelia genus. Some Mentzelia species have one type or shape of trichome; some have several types. Adonis Blazingstar has two types of trichomes – one is shaped like a grappling hook; one is shaped like a barbed needle. It’s the trichomes that grab on and hold tight. But what possible function do they serve the plant? Surely a leaf sticking to the fur of a passing animal or a person’s pant leg, while decorative, is otherwise pointless?

What Good are Mentzelia Trichomes?

Like plant hairs, trichomes aid a plant in water conservation in times of drought by reducing transpiration, and in situations of other environmental stressors, such as excessive UV light and extreme temperatures. The trichomes serve as a protective barrier between the leaf, stem, or other part of the plant, and the environment.

Trichomes can function as water collection, retention and funneling structures during a rainstorm.

The grab-and-hold nature of trichomes when they attach to fur or clothing can cause enough vibration of mature seed capsules to shake loose seeds ready for dispersal.

Trichomes are the plant’s primary defense against herbivory; not from livestock or rodents intent on munching leaves, but from insects that attempt crawling amongst the grappling hooks and barbed needles intent on causing damage. As can be seen in electron microscope images, insects have been photographed speared and hooked and killed because they were unable to escape their entrapment by trichomes.

But not all insects succumb to the fate of trichomes. Aphids are able to navigate the dense forest of hooks and needles without capture, allowing them to wreak havoc on vulnerable and tasty leaves, stems and seed capsules.

And that’s why the Mentzelia genus of the Stickleaf family is one of the natural curiosities of the plant kingdom. Maybe now, you too, are Hooked on Trichomes?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, and do thank you for stopping by!

And if you’re curious about how Trichomes contribute to the enjoyment and/or medicinal benefits of marijuana (Cannabis sativa), here’s what I found:

Trichomes are the primary site for cannabinoid production (i.e. compounds like THC & CBD responsible for the plant’s psychoactive/therapeutic effects.

Trichomes are the site of terpene production which gives different Cannabis strains their unique aromas/flavors.

Trichomes are the site of flavonoids known for antioxidant and medicinal properties.

Sketchbook Revival 2025 ….. Binge Fest Extravaganza!

June 16, 2025

What a whirlwind celebration! Sketchbook Revival (SR) 2025 Binge Fest was so much fun. And Wow! Two jam packed weeks of creativity was over in the blink of an eye!

Karen Abend, SR creator, host extraordinaire, and wonderful artist, came up with a brilliant idea for the SR 2025 session. I would swear the creative gears inside her head were spinning with delight as she declared, “Yureka! I’ve got it!”

Beginning on May 27th thru June 9th, Karen generously opened up the SR historic vault and set free all of the workshops conducted the first 5 years of SR (2018-2022)! That unbelievable offering came to more than 130 one-hour-long workshops of inspiring, hands-on, and creative play time all instructed by well-known experts in artistic fields associated with Sketchbook Journaling.

Challenge presented ……. Challenge accepted.

Since I’ve been participating in SR each year since 2018, and attended most of these workshops in the past, my goals and strategies to tackle the challenge were these:

Complete a minimum of 4 workshops daily;
Two workshops should involve a project outside of my comfort zone, such as portrait drawing, fantasy, word play, collage, and properly stitching my own SR sketchbook so it wouldn’t fall apart during the 2-week challenge, etc.;
Two workshops should involve projects within my comfort zone, such nature subjects, urban sketching, whimsey, and lettering, and those using watercolor pencils, graphite, and ink;
Develop fresh, interesting, and imaginative sketches during the workshops;
Allow Flambé to play along;
Slow down, breathe, and enjoy the 2-week marathon without becoming overwhelmed;
Recognize and gather take-away tips and techniques to bring into my Nature Journaling practice and Zentangle storytelling.
Keep sketching and sharing.

After two weeks of play, I was able to fill up my handmade and successfully stitched SR 2025 sketchbook! With a total of 46 pages completed (doubling up workshop projects on a handful of pages), including several pockets with inserts, I was pretty happy (and a bit exhausted).

If you’ve participated in SR in the past, or maybe took on the 2025 challenge as your first time, you know how intense (in an exhilarating way) it can become. If not, and would like to learn more, check out this link

This link will take you to Karen Abend’s website where you can ask for more information about Sketchbook Revival. https://karenabend.com