EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- log signature picture are required to post a find for this cache.
NANNEN ARBORETUM
1. MESSAGE ... Explore the arboretum on your way to the Stone Garden. Answer the questions.
a. Crabapple Collection ... My scientific name is Malus sp. Who Am I? Three words as listed.
b. Conifer Collection ... My scientific name is Pinus strobus. Who Am I? Three words as listed.
c. Oak Collection ... Which oak tree is nearest the sign? My scientific name is Quercus coccinea. Two words as listed.
d. Chapman Nature Sanctuary ... Look at the memorial benches. Who is Blou? Three words as listed.
e. Lake Nipponica ... Explore around the lake to view another sign in order to discover the answer. Name the birds. Two words as listed.
STONE GARDEN
2. MESSAGE / FOSSIL ... a. In which rock (see Stone Garden) is there a large embedded fossil? / b. Based on the reading and your observations, what type is it? / c. Are there other fossils in any of the rocks? If so, give number and type.
3. MESSAGE / SCULPTURE ... Look at all the rocks. a. What colors do you see? / b. Explain how each color became part of the rocks.
4. MESSAGE / PAINTBRUSH ... Look at all the rocks. a. What colors do you see? / b. Explain how each color became part of the rocks.
LOG SIGNATURE
LOG ... Take a picture of you or your signature item at your favorite place within the arboretum. Explain why you chose this place.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
"P.S. Personal trivia--My younger daughter and I have been to Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden in Kyoto." ... Reviewer
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU Nannen Arboretum Staff for your help -and- permission to share this learning adventure.
Geology Meets Series
Art ... Culture ... Education ... History
Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden
The original Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden was built in Kyoto, Japan over 800 years ago by Zen priests. The first replica in this country was built at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. John Ploetz was in charge of planting trees behind it. The Nannen Arboretum’s replica was constructed in 1980 and is meant to be a meditation and contemplation garden. Granite grit is used as a ground cover because it is heavier than sand and the ripple raking resembles water. The large stones represent islands and were mined in Akron, New York. Shales are abundant in NY with their distribution illustrated in the uploaded graphic.
The rocks in the stone garden are named. Starting at the right are the three rocks of the Trinity. In the center is the Rock of Ages. In the group at the left are Faith, Hope, and Love. In front is the rock of Unity. In the corner is the rock of Serenity. Overall, it is called the Sea of Tranquility. In the beginning years there was a great deal of plant material around this garden. Wet soils proved too much for them to endure to the present.
EARTH MOTHER'S SCULPTURE ... (within the rocks)
The rocks in the Zen garden are all locally sourced shale, a type of sedimentary rock.
SHALE (Compacted mud)
What Does It Look Like? Shale may be black, gray, red, brown, dark green, or blue. It is fine grained, so particles usually can not be seen. When moistened, shale usually smells like wet mud.
BLACK - lots of organics / GRAY - low organics / RED - fully oxidized iron / GREEN - partially reduced iron / MCCREADY - salt and gypsum
What Minerals Make Up the Rock? Clay minerals; Sometimes with some quartz sand, pyrite, gypsum
How Was It Formed? Clay sediments settle in quiet lakes, lagoons, bays, or off-shore areas. When buried and compacted the clays become shale. Iron oxides often help to cement the particles together.
FOSSILS
Fossils are found in sedimentary rock because the compaction and cementation does not destroy them. This is opposed to destruction by fire (igneous) or pressure (metamorphic). If tools are required to extract fossils, the matrix is considered hard. Thus, the matrix of these shale rocks is considered to be hard.
There are FOUR main types of fossils.
TRUE FORM - actual animal or animal part.
MOLD - impression
CAST - formed when a mold is filled in
TRACE - evidence left by the organism like burrows, footprints, etc.
INCLUSIONS
These are minerals added to the rock as it was being formed. Several common ones are hematite giving a reddish color and quartz or calcite giving a whitish color. They vary in hue and formation.
EARTH MOTHER'S PAINTBRUSH ... (upon the rocks)
WEATHERING ... Weathering is the breaking down of rock into smaller fragments. All rock weathers over time. Grains of sediment fall out. Cracks develop on the surface and deep inside. Weathering causes rocks to fracture, buckle, and crumble into soil and sediment. There are two types of weathering - mechanical and chemical.
BIOLOGICAL WEATHERING (Mechanical/Chemical) - Living organisms contribute to mechanical weathering through the growth of roots or the burrowing of animals. Tree roots grow into cracks and joints, increasing the surface area for continual weathering by plants, wind, and water. Plants give off organic acids as part of their life and decay processes. These acids help to break down rocks chemically. Decaying remains of dead animals in soil may form organic acids which, when dissolved in water, cause chemical weathering.
VASCULAR PLANTS (larger and grow out from the rocks) - Plant roots and seedlings sprouting in a crevice exert physical pressure as well as providing a pathway for water and chemical infiltration. The evidence that some soil is present is found in the plants which appear to be growing "out" of the rock. In reality, these plants have roots that are growing in soil that is located in the cracks of the rock.
NONVASCULAR PLANTS (smaller and cover surface of rocks) - Lichens and mosses grow on essentially bare rock surfaces and create a more humid chemical microenvironment. The attachment of these organisms to the rock surface enhances physical as well as chemical breakdown of the surface microlayer of the rock.
ANIMALS - Burrowing animals and insects disturb the soil layer adjacent to the bedrock surface thus further increasing water and acid infiltration and exposure to oxidation processes.
NANNEN ARBORETUM
The Nannen Arboretum is an eight-acre arboretum and botanical garden located in Ellicottville, New York. The Kingston Nature Trail at the Nannen Arboretum is a quarter mile asphalt path starting at the entrance. This 8-acre area is dedicated to providing an experience to assist you in designing your home landscape. If you follow the path, it will bring you back to the entrance where you began. Several kiosks appear along the path providing a self-guided tour.
RESOURCES
Nannen Arboretum ... visit with staff, website. / Shale in Akron NY
rainbowtree earthcaches ... Internal Sculpture - Earthcache Trail Detective Series / Embedded Oddities
rainbowtree earthcaches ... External Paintbrush - Remember Series