Orange Sulfur ... maybe?

Lots of butterflies out today ... while working in our garden I took a couple of pictures of an orange sulfur (maybe a clouded sulfur) and a great spangled fritillary (both on butterfly weed).  I saw dozens of great spangled fritilaries today ... it must have been mating weekend!

Cup Plants, Coneflowers, Butterfly Weed and Finals begin ...

We started finals today.  We tried a new version of the photosynthesis lab as our final in AP Biology since our AP Exam was a couple of weeks ago.  We have always used a chloroplast solution and the spectrophotometers with DPIP for our photosynthesis lab.  We are going to switch over to a leaf disk method next year.  Our guided practice went well and some groups had good inquiry followups.  Students are to present their miniposters as their final next week.

In Computer Programming, students are presenting their final projects ... mostly Visual BASIC projects but a few in Scratch and one in JAVA.  These will continue through next week.

Still planting our pollinator garden at school and I am still planting wildflowers at our farm for seed harvest later in the year ... several types of milkweed, several coneflowers, rattlesnake master and more.  Some of the flowers we planted last year are starting to bloom ... pictures from today below ...

The Cup Plants are crowding out our coneflowers in our garden ... butterfly weed starting to bloom.

Last year, we planted mostly purple coneflower ... this year we added pale purple coneflower and Tennessee conflower.

We a had a small shower early this afternoon and the cup plant refilled their cup structures where their leaves attach to the large square stems.  I am looking forward to seeing what animals are drawn to these small reserviors later in the summer.

Photosynthesis Lab ... Part II

In AP Biology we started a second photosynthesis lab, this time using leaf disks.  It is the version recommended in the new AP Bio Investigations so we will use it next year.  Previously we used a chloroplast solution with DPIP and a spectrophotometer.

Computer programming classes are finishing their final projects ... after Memorial Day, students will present their projects to the class.

Tomorrow, our frog dissection continues tomorrow.

No school on Monday ... 11 more days of school.

Coneflowers and butterfly weed are beginning to bloom.  Today's rain will move things along!

On Demand, Coneflowers and No Students today ...

Election Day today so, no students at school but a work day for teachers.

Tomorrow is an On Demand school-wide test for sophomores and juniors.  I will be with my flex/homeroom.

We are working on our amphibian dissection in Selected Topics and most students are dissecting the brain.  Computer Programming are finishing their final projects which we will start review on Monday.

AP Biology will try a new version of the photosynthesis lab in preparation for next year on Thursday.

Our coneflowers are starting to bloom and our butterfly weed have buds ... about another week.  I have been planting zinnias, rose milkweed, whorled milkweed and rattlesnake master .  Our potatoes we planted on the spring equinox have started to bloom.

Took a walk with Hannah late this evening ... wild blackberries are in full bloom ... good for honeybees!  Saw two wolf spiders and lots of frogs and toads.

Peonies, Irises and AP Biology Exam ... done!

The AP Exam was on Monday ... after a DECA trip, PROM and Mother's Day.  We got in a little review for a few students but it was not good timing.  Again, I wonder why we have the PROM during our testing window and not earlier in the spring.  The free response questions will be made public tomorrow.  Eight of the 13 investigations were directly tested ... we will have several students pass the exam but, could have more with more time to review.  Two students did not take the exam and opted for the research paper.

Still planting a lot of plants ... tonight whorled milkweed and weeded/hoed the garden after school.  Sue Neal's peonies are starting to bloom and our irises are blooming.  My favorite is our white irises.

AP Biology ... done, almost!

Posting pause while we have been reviewing for AP Biology.  Today was the last AP Bio class for the year ... prom this weekend then test on Monday.   We will have a review session on Sunday for those that are not busy with Mother's Day festivities.

Selected Topics are splitting time between computer programming (Karel) and a amphibian dissection.   Both will continue tomorrow and next week.

I have been trying to finish bush hogging but still have some to go ... it has been a slow go on a field I have not bushhogged for a couple of years ... the sumac almost took it over.  It has been tough on my bushhog, tractor and me.

Hoping for a safe PROM!