Never Too Old

Never Too Old Earl Plato

How old is old? In nature there are always exceptions. Some animals seem to live actively much longer than their specie’s normal average life span. This so-called anomaly occurs in humans too. The late Fort Erie naturalist, Bert Miller, died at 91. When he was 86 He went with me and my Grade Eight class to Point Abino. Back then we had permission to enter the Baird property. We walked the west coast to the Abino lighthouse. Along the way this remarkably alert senior would stop to share with us something from the natural surroundings. An amazing man! On Wednesday, October 27th I took a 87 year old Buffalo naturalist, John Lessle, to Short Hills Provincial Park. John was a life-long friend of the late Dr. George Marcy and walked Marcy Woods for over more than 60 decades! That is where I first met John deep in Marcy Woods in 1984. John is an excellent nature photographer. I have learned from him. Both men, Bert and John, were and are excellent walkers and at 86 and 87 years of age respectively they could put many of us to shame on a hike. I know for I have experienced their hiking prowess. Regular walking, good weather and bad, seemed to be one of their secrets to longevity. How old is old? Get walking this week on a regular basis. You’re never too old!
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Spiders anyone? Daughter Diane called me in mid-November from her Wainfleet home. “Dad, you have to see our front fields.” Her description of the large front fields were of a blanket of spider webs glistening in the morning light. Its fall and spider time. What Order of Aranceae? We think that they are in the Orb family and specifically Grass spiders. If there are we would see two dark bands on the thorax and lighter bans on the edges. They are found in grassy areas throughout North America. Grass spiders are funnel-web weavers. There is a characteristic funnel extending off from the centre to one edge. The spider hides within. Note the web is not sticky but threads hand down over the opening. Flying insects hit one of the threads and fall down. He is an insect eater. This quick running spider depends on speed to capture its prey. The Grass spider is just one of many species of Orb spiders. Yes, Diane bought me an Audubon Field Guide to Spiders for my birthday. It’s a whole new world to explore.