“It’s not the heat that will get you, it’s the humidity!” is a phrase that almost every Missourian has said at some point to someone complaining about how unbearable it is to be outside. However, there are so many amazing outdoor opportunities Missouri has to offer in the summer season. I’m not just talking about going to the pool or having a picnic in the park, I’m talking about going out and exploring what Missouri’s different ecosystems have to offer in this wonderful season.
Growing up, I always looked forward to the summertime. Part of that excitement could have come from having no school, but I always looked forward to being able to spend whole days outside. One of my favorite pastimes was riding my bike to our local park and following the creek from one end of the park to the other. I remember being so intrigued by all the different plants, bugs, and amphibians we would find along the creek bottoms. What I didn’t realize growing up was that not everyone got to experience this growing up. Many people had the stigma that all nature was good for in the summertime was humid days and tick bites. I have made it a big part of my life now to get the “indoor people” to come outside and enjoy nature and get excited about all the cool natural things Missouri has to offer.
This summer, my blog will focus on the different native aspects of the Missouri outdoors. This will include some educational posts on the different plants and animals one may see in their outdoor encounters, differences between some native and invasive species, and highlighting some of the cool and rare native species in this great state! I invite you to follow along with me this summer as we explore together just how much the flyover state has to offer in the great outdoors!