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Home » Play Ideas » My Nature Journal

Misnomers and Mistakes

I'm that natural tour guide type who highlights points of interest or meaningless trivia everywhere I go. Turns out, I may be relaying the wrong information every time I open my mouth! If I say it with authority, though, people believe me. Apparently, my misnomers and mistakes abound. This sampling is probably just the tip of the upside-down ice cream cone.

I'm going on record right now to correct these errors and get them out of my head and into yours!

Song SparrowPhoto credit: Song Sparrow by brendan.lally....away, on Flickr

What I Thought I Knew About Birds: This is a finch.
Correction: This is NOT a finch. It's a song sparrow.  Most of the birds I thought were finches are actually sparrows. Doesn't matter. They're cute no matter what you call them.

What I Thought I Knew About Flowers: I was sure that the top photo in this post was called a Star of Jerusalem or Star of David flower.  I knew it grows on a vine and isn't very friendly to other plants.
Correction: Nope! It's called a Passion Flower. Thanks to Debi at GoExploreNature.com for that one.

What I Thought I Knew About Puff the Magic Dragon: "Ceiling wax and other fancy stuff."
Correction: Sadly, I just figured this one out. The other day, I'm thinking: "What is ceiling wax anyways?" Oh! It's sealing wax for letters! Duh!

Seal of Nathaniel WellsPhoto credit: Seal of Nathaniel Wells by The National Archives UK, on Flickr


What I Thought I Knew About Ducks:
Nothing. I never claimed to know anything about ducks.
What I Learned: When ducks do that thing where they eat stuff off the bottom of the pond and their tail feathers stick up out of the water, that's called dabbling.  Cool! A new word.

My conclusions: I know nothing. But I'm eager to learn something new every day.  So please, feel free to tell me I'm full of you-know-what and then correct me.

More My Nature Journal

  • Sharing My Mother's Mom-isms in Celebration of Mother's Day
  • Noguchi Gardens (California Scenario) in Costa Mesa
  • Practice 2 Simple Parenting Strategies and Never "Entertain" Your Young Kids Again
  • 10 Ways to Find New Places to Play

About Michele Whiteaker

Writer mom and nature guide promoting play and empowering families to prioritize outside time since 2008. Park information gathered through my personal experiences and provided as a FREE community resource to millions of Orange County families over the past 17 years via blog and social media. Subscribe to my FREE weekly email inspiring you with park tips and play ideas.

"The Park Lady"

My name is Michele Whiteaker and I'd love for you to think of me as your personal Play Concierge. When I used to search online for family-friendly activities, nothing quite fit my playful outdoor interests or tight budget.

More about me

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