I was at the Bogor Daily Photo blog earlier today and saw a picture of a 'Strange Tree' that one of the site's contributors, Alaya, posted with the words " found the tree with strange fruit on the road near botanical garden. anyone know what kind of tree is it? ". I waited the whole day but no answer was forthcoming . I thought it looks like a fruit-bearing parasitic plant that i might have seen somewhere before.The photo piqued my curiosity so I thought I will ask the Mefites. I am sure Alaya will be ever so thankful too. :)
posted by kryptos on Dec 28, 2008 - 8 answers

How do I escape NYC for a few days and commune with nature upstate, in winter, with my dog? Oh, and I don't know how to drive. [more inside]
posted by cardamom on Dec 8, 2008 - 6 answers

I have a bunch of limbs and vines that I need to get rid of - probably a whole dump truck full. What's the most environmentally friendly way to get rid of them? [more inside]
posted by adverb on Oct 10, 2008 - 11 answers

Midnight activities for a 4-year-old that he wouldn't get a chance to do during the day? My son is having an EEG tomorrow during the day. They want him sleep-deprived so he'll sleep without sedation. I'm supposed to get him up for the day at 3:30 am. He's not a morning person at all, so to keep him awake I'm looking for exciting things to do/observe/etc. that wouldn't be possible during his normal waking hours. We're in the east end of Toronto near the Don Valley, so both big-city and nature/wildlife type activities may be possibilities.
posted by winston on Sep 21, 2008 - 20 answers

I need spider control options, please! [more inside]
posted by pdb on Aug 8, 2008 - 7 answers

My boyfriend, our two small dogs, and I would like to take a weekend trip in the Boston area soon... We want cost-effective, swimming opportunities, quaintness, dog-friendly, nature... Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by lalalana on Jul 30, 2008 - 13 answers

Two questions about Argentina. First, does anyone know any good hot springs [termas] that are not exceedingly far from Buenos Aires. Second, does anyone know any music stores in Buenos Aires where I could acquire a melodica or other instruments for not too many pesos. [more inside]
posted by cloeburner on Jun 29, 2008 - 1 answer

What's a good place to take my Mom hiking in the Olympia, WA area? She's got endurance for a decently long, steep walk, but she's afraid of heights and won't walk on loose or slippery surfaces. [more inside]
posted by scose on Jun 15, 2008 - 4 answers

What does the hive mind know about these bees? [more inside]
posted by donnagirl on Jun 10, 2008 - 20 answers

Why are some birds less scared than other birds? [more inside]
posted by djstig on Jun 3, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm looking for quotations or video clips which deal with what it means to be human. [more inside]
posted by Pater Aletheias on May 30, 2008 - 23 answers

Help me find little-known destinations in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area, please! [more inside]
posted by TrinaSelwyn on May 16, 2008 - 8 answers

This weekend I will be driving a roadster from Las Angeles to Detroit with a buddy. Help me find winding, hilly or mountainy roads with great views of nature to see on my way. Twisty mountain roads are always preferred over long straightaways. (Bonus if they aren't too much out of my way, thought I don't mind changing my route somewhat.) So far I am thinking of passing through Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Rocky Mountain National Park. (Google map)
posted by parma on May 6, 2008 - 9 answers

If I feed my cat more often will he stop bringing home his own snacks from the wild? [more inside]
posted by Kioki-Silver on Apr 18, 2008 - 31 answers

What are some ways to tell the direction [North, East, South, West] you are headed? And more generally, what are some cool nature tricks you've learned through the years? [more inside]
posted by cloeburner on Apr 16, 2008 - 35 answers

AustinNatureFilter: What are the best places in and around Austin, Texas to explore the Natural History of the area? [more inside]
posted by gavia on Apr 4, 2008 - 10 answers

Manchester, NH Novice hiking trails nearby a couple of miles or more long, now that the weather is getting better? [more inside]
posted by prodevel on Apr 4, 2008 - 4 answers

Women loners, recluses, survivalists, they lived alone and liked it that way. Which books details their lives? [more inside]
posted by watercarrier on Mar 16, 2008 - 27 answers

What are some beautiful places in or within an hour of Westchester where a group of 20-30 could rent inexpensive cabin(s) for the night? Big plus if it is beautiful AT night, too. Thanks.
posted by Malad on Feb 23, 2008 - 2 answers

JG Ballard said something about our pornography-addicted culture being due to a disconnect with nature, but I don't have an exact quote. So with hat in hand, I appeal to the hive mind. [more inside]
posted by survivorman on Jan 18, 2008 - 2 answers

Why is my snow covered yard crawling with caterpillars? [more inside]
posted by donmateo on Jan 14, 2008 - 5 answers

What sort of setup do I need for decent nature photography? [more inside]
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg on Dec 18, 2007 - 13 answers

where can I find dramatic stills of lion taking down buffalo? [more inside]
posted by starr226 on Dec 15, 2007 - 8 answers

Trying to remember a web site from some time back. Guy had pictures of some of the most beautiful places on the Planet. The pics included himself, back to camera, and bare-assed. Little help?
posted by JABof72 on Oct 13, 2007 - 6 answers

I'm taking a road trip through the southwest, and I'd like to see places with an interesting backstory or that show you "behind the scenes." I'm interested in places with political, economic, environmental, or industrial significance. Can you recommend some? [more inside]
posted by salvia on Sep 30, 2007 - 9 answers

How can it be that there exists not a single example of a working wheel in nature, which after all gave us (among other things) the eyeball?
posted by It ain't over yet on Sep 23, 2007 - 41 answers

I'm looking for people's past experiences visiting Julian, California. [more inside]
posted by AsRuinsAreToRome on Sep 20, 2007 - 14 answers

How do you explain God, death, and infinity to a 5-year old? Please recommend a book or online resource for explaining philosophy, existentialism, and other abstract concepts to a young child not yet capable of abstract cognitions. [more inside]
posted by jujube on Sep 13, 2007 - 45 answers

OMFGFilter: I was cleaning my living room / bedroom / office and underneath my side-laying cable modem I found HORDES of ants swarming around pale little crumbs. Did I just find a nest? [more inside]
posted by emptyinside on Aug 8, 2007 - 13 answers

What is that white foamy stuff I saw dripping off all the leaves in a forest in Northern California and then again on some of the plants around Whistler, Canada? My first thought was bird droppings, but it seems a little too insubstantial for that. A few people thought maybe it was sap or pollen. Does anybody know for sure?
posted by willnot on Jul 12, 2007 - 9 answers

I am looking for the name of a graphic artist who was featured in DWELL early this year. From the 50's (more or less), very modern and minimal drawings of insects and nature. It is a man, and I am pretty sure he was American. Anyone know this?
posted by tarantula on Jul 1, 2007 - 6 answers

Buying a used dSLR lens via craigslist: What to look for? How much to offer? [more inside]
posted by docgonzo on Jun 12, 2007 - 8 answers

How can a Indian software engineer join documentary/photography crew of National Geographic, Discovery, BBC, PBS or other similar production houses? What kind of jobs are available in these organizations? Are there similar jobs (outside of the documentary business) that can take me to such places and pay for it? Low salary not an issue. [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Jun 7, 2007 - 8 answers

Just how "real" is the nature footage seen on the show "Planet Earth"? [more inside]
posted by Brian James on May 16, 2007 - 29 answers

Should I purchase some "beneficial insects" for my yard? [more inside]
posted by ObscureReferenceMan on May 3, 2007 - 26 answers

TravelinginFranceFilter: I know there have been loads of questions about France. We're looking for beautiful places in the countryside, great cheap food and reasonable accommodations. I'd love to have the perfect trip that matches my favorite things: [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on May 2, 2007 - 14 answers

How do I learn the names of plants and animals, particularly trees and birds? [more inside]
posted by monsterhero on May 1, 2007 - 14 answers

Secluded Rustic cabin Honeymoon getaway [more inside]
posted by slowtree on Mar 24, 2007 - 5 answers

If we can't use all of our brain's potential, why does that potential exist? [more inside]
posted by theholotrope on Mar 10, 2007 - 22 answers

Where are the most awe-inspiring, hauntingly beautiful natural landscapes in France, especially in winter (or that amaze regardless of season)?
posted by shivohum on Jan 18, 2007 - 12 answers

I would like to find out about good providers of photography tours and/or travel-based photography workshops abroad. Preferably, the workshops should be pitched at the level of an intermediate photographer. [more inside]
posted by matildaben on Dec 27, 2006 - 6 answers

I met a cat in the street tonight and didn't have any ears. I was walking down a quiet street and saw a white cat sitting in the middle of the street, it didn't move as I approached. I got to abaout 10 ft and stopped, and called to it. It came over and was clearly not afraid. It did not have any ears, it had holes where ears would be and the holes were clean, no flaps or raggedy bits. We bonded easy enough, I was able to lift the creature onto my lap, it was purring. It was skinny and I think under fed, certainly my own cats which are lean, are much fuller in body. Why might a cat have no ears ? Is it an act of malice or surgery ? Disese or cruelty ? Birth defect ? It made me very sad.
posted by matholio on Dec 22, 2006 - 18 answers

I want to find some art (for my wall) which has a humanist nature. It should capture that feeling you get when you realize some deep truth in physics or math, or when you're contemplating the universe. Know anything that fits the bill? [more inside]
posted by clord on Dec 19, 2006 - 23 answers

CatPsychFilter: Should we get our cat a kitten? How soon? We recently (just this week) lost our five month old kitten... [more inside]
posted by verytres on Nov 29, 2006 - 6 answers

Cephalopod filter: Do squid and cuttlefish have a sense of direction? It's more perplexing than it might first sound... [more inside]
posted by 8k on Nov 26, 2006 - 8 answers

Help me create a playlist contemporary songs that mention / are about plants or animals (and aren't too sappy). [more inside]
posted by gavia on Oct 1, 2006 - 53 answers

Why are there no canine equivalents to lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers (etc.)? [more inside]
posted by Sinner on Aug 29, 2006 - 19 answers

Recommendations for tent camping in Northern California? [more inside]
posted by LooseFilter on Jul 22, 2006 - 10 answers

Am I crazy to spend only 1 day (2 nights) in the Yosemite Park area? We've got a limited budget, and Yosemite is just one stop in our road trip down the PCH. [more inside]
posted by blastrid on Jul 14, 2006 - 22 answers

I want my life to be more "sensor-y" exciting. I could get a bunch of great art works (paintings and sculptures, say) but seeing them day in and day out my brain would filter them out. In a sense, I'm trying to make my apartment as much like being outdoors as possible, using technology. [more inside]
posted by Furious Fitness on Jun 2, 2006 - 12 answers