How to Figure Out What is Growing or Living in Your Yard

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A ci Naturalist logo of a bird and photo of red berries on a thorny vine
Three dewberries growing on a thorny vine in a photo in the observation section of the iNaturalist app.
A close up of a reptile, a coast line and a plant with the title Local Routes 50th anniversary of Earth day)
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This story originally aired back in 2019. That April, WFSU Public Media hosted a special American Spring Live/EcoCitizen Day. Activities focused on how to participate in Citizen Science. We partnered with many local organizations to make this event happen, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Coastal Plains Institute. Locations were all over Tallahassee, including Rail Road Square, Lake Elberta, San Luis Mission Park and Appalachicola National Forrest.

One element that was used at all of the sites was the iNaturalist app. It helps identify and document plants and creatures for personal use as well as for scientists around the world. Now that the Coronavirus has so many of us staying home, this app can help you discover interesting signs of spring your backyard. This video shows you how to use the app if your in the great outdoors or in your own backyard.

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Suzanne Smith is Executive Producer for Television at WFSU Public Media. She oversees the production of local programs at WFSU, is host of WFSU Local Routes, and a regular content contributor.

Suzanne’s love for PBS began early with programs like Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and continues to this day. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri with minors in political science and history. She also received a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Florida.

Suzanne spent many years working in commercial news as Producer and Executive Producer in cities throughout the country before coming to WFSU in 2003. She is a past chair of the National Educational Telecommunications Association’s Content Peer Learning Community and a member of Public Media Women in Leadership organization.

In her free time, Suzanne enjoys spending time with family, reading, watching television, and exploring our community.