From The Prehistoric To The Current

I was studying some fossils yesterday.  Apparently I need to do more studying/learning because I found out that spiders and scorpions existed during the Cretaceous period.  I suppose if I think about it, it makes sense...other arthropods existed then...I just never thought about spiders doing so, and definitely not scorpions.  I also came across a beautiful trilobite.  (By "came across" I mean bumped into white visiting a museum). Here are the fossils of said creatures...

Today I was walking through Ormeau Park in Belfast.  I found a patch of mushrooms.  By no means am I an avid mushroom identifier, but after some research, I believe these to be panaeolus sphinctrinus.  Any awesome and capable mushroom identifiers out there?  Am I right in my assumption?  Or perhaps I found a new species? Eh eh?

Giant's Ring

Northern Ireland has its own henge...you know, like Stonehenge.  Our's isn't as big nor as popular, but it is still pretty sweet.  It supposedly has been around since 2700 BCE and has been used for burials and tombs...as well as horse racing in the 18th century.  The megalithic tomb in the center of the henge seems to be the main event...

The henge itself isn't too visible in the pictures, but the rounded feeling that the grassy area seems to create in the second photo is indeed from the circular henge.

Ridley Creek State Park

Today was my wife's birthday.  She requested a fun day somewhere.  I found a place not too far away that seemed to have the historic stuff that she likes as well as the outdoorsy nature stuff that I like.  It was Ridley Creek State Park and it was awesome.

Mansion at Ridley Creek State Park

This mansion is currently the state park office.  The grounds directly surrounding the mansion have tons of little paths.  One of which will lead you to...

Door to a Greenhouse

There is a pretty old, rather run-down greenhouse quite close to the mansion.  A gate led us to this door.  This door led us to...

Dilapidated Greenhouse

 Branches from plants that were not supposed to be in this greenhouse have broken through the glass and are winding their way across the ceiling.  The plants seem to be doing better than the building is.