July 28 - Feathered Friends

Feathered Friends - A bird's plumage serves several functions. Feathers are light and strong, keeping a bird warm and insulated from cold air and water.

Feathers also streamline their body to reduce friction when flying or swimming.

July 22 - Painted Pile

Painted Turtle - (Chrysemys picta) This freshwater pond turtle enjoys piling onto a single log to bask in the sun. These fast movers can dart away quickly at any sign of danger.

July 14 - Edelweiss

Edelweiss - (Leontopodium alpinum) A well-known European flower found in rocky, limestone areas of the Alpine region of many countries. It's name is derived from the German words Edel (meaning "Noble") and Weiss (meaning "white"), or noble purity. It's blooming season begins in July, and continues through September each year. The bloom of the Edelweiss is used on the Austrian euro coin, and it's also a symbol for many tourism organizations. Edelweiss is the unofficial national flower of Switzerland.

The Rogers & Hammerstein song "Edelweiss" made the flower famous the world over after it appeared in the 1959 musical "The Sound of Music".

EDELWEISS

"Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever."