Sue and I went for a hike at Aman Park today. It is one of our favorite hikes during the spring. The park is home to a diverse array of wildflowers, and at this time of year, Trillium, Dutchman’s Breeches, Phlox, Virginia Bluebells, among others, are plentiful. I use a fantastic app called iNaturalist on my phone, which identifies any plant or animal from a photo. While Google and Apple offer similar features in their photo apps, I prefer iNaturalist because it’s a community-driven species identification system. By contributing my sightings, I feel like I’m aiding a larger cause.
The app provides the name, description, and preferred habitat of each species, which is far more convenient than carrying a field guidebook. Its ease of use has me photographing nearly every flora and fauna I encounter in the forest.
Now, when I hike, I’m no longer among strangers. I recognize the plants and animals by name, as if they were old friends. Being acquainted with my surroundings enriches the whole experience.