field trip

ENV 312 Field Trip: Day 2 (Click on thumbnails for larger views.)

We began Saturday at the Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge, which Curt called “one of the most spectacular salt marsh communities.” I totally agree, and for me this was a highlight of the trip.

Curt told us how the system was formed and maintained and that it has both low and high complex marshes dominated by smooth cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) and black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus).

We explored the marsh, admiring the natural beauty while fighting a big cloud of wild mosquitoes.

We had lunch on the island's beach. I had never traveled this far in North Carolina, and I realized just how beautiful the NC coast is. The beach was just irresistible, so I took my shoes off and enjoyed the sand.

The next stop was the Croatan National Forest, located between New Bern and Emerald Isle. The forest has areas of woody wetlands on little hills of acumulated peat soils called pocosins (a Native American term meaning "swamp on the hill").

We saw both "short" and "tall" pocosins and bay forest.

We were having such a good time that the day was over before we knew.

We went back to the beach house to cook yummy spaghetti and salad, with ice cream as dessert. We talked and talked about many things from our lives, from movie stars to some politics.

Next DAY 3

ENV 312 Field Trip: Day 2 (Click on thumbnails for larger views.)
We began Saturday at the Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge, which Curt called “one of the most spectacular salt marsh communities.” I totally agree, and for me this was a highlight of the trip.
Curt told us how the system was formed and maintained and that it has both low and high complex marshes dominated by smooth cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) and black needle rush (Juncus roemerianus).
We explored the marsh, admiring the natural beauty while fighting a big cloud of wild mosquitoes.
We had lunch on the island's beach. I had never traveled this far in North Carolina, and I realized just how beautiful the NC coast is. The beach was just irresistible, so I took my shoes off and enjoyed the sand.
The next stop was the Croatan National Forest, located between New Bern and Emerald Isle. The forest has areas of woody wetlands on little hills of acumulated peat soils called pocosins (a Native American term meaning "swamp on the hill").
We saw both "short" and "tall" pocosins and bay forest.
We were having such a good time that the day was over before we knew.
We went back to the beach house to cook yummy spaghetti and salad, with ice cream as dessert. We talked and talked about many things from our lives, from movie stars to some politics.
Next DAY 3