We ventured out on a recent wintry afternoon in search of rocks in our own backyard. We didn’t find any right away. We did see a few, red clay covered lumps or stones.
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We had peeked at the nature study grid by the back door before we headed out. So we had several things in mind. But what we did find was even more fun. Ice. Ice in the wheelbarrow. Ice on the ground. The girls braved the cold and showed me just how sparkly the ice was in the sunlight.
Another day we had the pleasure of accompanying Nana to our state capitol. And it was there we found the most rocks of all!
Displays and displays of arrowheads, Georgia marble and more.
I remember finding arrowheads in the backyard as a child!
We saw large columns of Georgia marble and read the story about the different types. Can you see the pink marble?
All these rocks at the capitol reminded us of the really large rock that is quite famous here in our home state. Stone Mountain. We went there to celebrate Lil’ Buddy’s birthday a little over a year ago. It was a perfect birthday trip for a train loving boy – to ride the train around the base of the mountain. The giant rock is a “a quartz monzonite dome monadnock.” But to us it is known as a wonderful place of history. That carving in the side. And tales of Civil War times. (You can see an up close view and read more about it on this Confederate Memorial carving page. Wonderful photos of just how HUGE this stone carving is).
So, just stepping out in our backyard and looking to see what we could find led us in several adventures. A capitol field trip and a trip down memory lane on a train. Who knew that rocks could take us so many places!
Won’t you join us in noticing nature too? So many resources to get you started down the path at Handbook of Nature Study.
Who would’ve thought to go to the capitol to study rocks! Thanks for the encouragement to study nature!
It was such a nice surprise! And we hope to find a nice, smooth rock soon – to paint (that’s one of the prompts on the nature study grid. Fun!)
I love this post! What a wonderful way to study rocks in the winter.
It really was! So many right there to learn about. Thank you Phyllis.
It sure looks like a beautiful and informative display of your local rocks. Love the pink marble!
So different from our area which is nothing but rocks and tales of rocks from the Gold Rush days. We live about 15 miles from where gold was discovered here in CA and quarries and rocks are everywhere. In fact, my sister and her granddaughter were just here at our house and Alex was enjoying our rock displayed on our nature table and in our front yard. She is four and everything is so new to her…fun! I had to explain what fossils were and then she ran out to my front yard and found the big rock with fossils in it. I miss those days of discovery with little ones.
Enjoy your continued rock study as you go about your days this spring…give us an update when you do!
So very different!! We had a different sort of gold rush here in the GA mountains…I so enjoyed your story of your sister’s granddaughter and her enthusiasm! Yes, you’ve helped us to notice rocks and we’ll hope to share a spring update.
We will be in Stone Mnt this weekend, it is our 2nd visit. Only we will be there for an Irsh Dance Competition. It is such a beautiful place. I have said a few time what a great family vacation it would be to be able to spend a few days enjoying the park rather than the inside of the hotel. Maybe if we arrive early enough Friday we can get a few of the wonderful sites in.
Thanks for sharing even more reasons to want to actually have a dance free vacation there.
Blessings,
Kimmie