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Author: Elise

Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)

Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia)

Sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) is a small shrub with leathery, evergreen, narrowly-oval, whorled, light-green leaves. The leaves often turn reddish-green in the winter. A low growing shrub, sheep laurel rarely grows more than 2 or 3 feet high. Sometimes called Lambskill or Sheepskill, this shrub is poisonous to livestock, due to a glycoside it contains. All parts of the plant are also highly toxic to humans. Small, saucer-like, magenta flowers are arranged in clusters and bloom in early June. The…

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American mink
American Mink (Neovison vison)

American Mink (Neovison vison)

When you take a walk along the Cape Cod Canal in February, there are certain things you expect to see: ring-billed gulls, hundreds (if not thousands) of common eiders, and common marine intertidal organisms, such as knotted wrack, common periwinkles, and barncles. But there’s another Canal resident that you may not be aware of: the American mink. Mink never live far from water, and although they are typically found along freshwater rivers, streams, and lakes, American mink (Neovison vison) will…

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False Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)

False Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)

The false indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa) is known by many common names, including desert false indigo, dull-leaf indigobush, leadplant, and river locust. There are also other local plants with similar sounding common names, such as wild indigo (Baptisia tictoria). This is a prime example of the importance of scientific names in accurately differentiating between species. The leaves of false indigo bush, when present, are alternate and compound, with blunt oval-shaped leaflets 1 to 1.5 inches long. In May and June,…

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Scrub Oak Gall

Scrub Oak Gall

I hope you had an opportunity to get out and enjoy the mild temperatures we had this weekend. During my typical winter walks, I tend to walk rather quickly in an effort to build up some heat and keep warm. But this weekend’s weather afforded me the opportunity to slow down (without fear of freezing) and explore the tiny winter world of lichens, mosses and galls. One abandoned fence post I came across seemed to have an entire miniature world…

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Nature Study Goals 2019/2020

Nature Study Goals 2019/2020

For many, New Years is a time for making resolutions. For me, it’s a great time for reflecting on what I’ve accomplished in the past year and setting intentions and goals for the new year to come in terms of nature study.  Below is a run down of how I did on my 2019 goals and what I hope to accomplish in 2020. My goals for 2019 included: 1. Post to Seashore to Forest Floor regularly. — I managed to post…

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Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata)

Despite its diminutive size, pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) can be found in the Peterson Field Guide for Trees and Shrubs. This subshrub, which grows only 4 to 10 inches high, is described as a “creeping evergreen” (it spreads through underground runners), and as “hardly woody”. Pipsissewa can be identified by its whorls of leathery, shiny, coarsely toothed leaves. The dried 5-capsuled fruits produced by its stalked flowers often remain on the plant throughout much of the winter as well, providing additional…

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10 ways to enjoy nature in winter

10 ways to enjoy nature in winter

This week marked our 3rd snowfall of the season, and winter technically doesn’t even start for another week (December 21st). The cold weather, snowy trails, and depressingly early sunsets have most people going from home to work (or school) and back again with little to no time spent outside in nature. But with a little planning and a slightly different approach spending time outside, even on cold winter days, it can still be enjoyable. Below I’ve compiled a list of…

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Animal Tracks: Eastern Gray Squirrel

Animal Tracks: Eastern Gray Squirrel

When conditions are right, spotting animal tracks becomes much easier. Wet sand or mud and fresh fallen snow are two of the best surfaces for capturing imprints. While some parts of New England received a foot or more of snow over the last day or two, here in Bourne we only received about 2 or 3 inches. With snow, less is often more when it comes to studying animal tracks. This morning, when I left the house for work, the…

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Thanksgiving Turkey Facts

Thanksgiving Turkey Facts

One of the most common symbols of Thanksgiving is the Wild Turkey. Here are some fun and interesting Wild Turkey facts you can share around the dinner table and impress your family and friends: Wild turkeys and domestic turkeys are the same species: Meleagris gallopavo. A group of turkeys is called a “rafter”. Adult males are called “toms”, while a juvenile male is called a “jake”; adult females are called “hens”, while a young female is called a “jenny”; and…

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Knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum)

Knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum)

Many people think of seaweeds as simply plants that live in the sea. While many types of seaweed do have structures resembling the roots, stems and leaves of plants, and seaweeds do photosynthesize, technically seaweeds fall into an entirely different kingdom: Protista. Often referred to more scientifically as marine algae, seaweeds lack the specialized tissues found in plants responsible for transporting food and water.  In most field guides, seaweeds are divided into three main groups: green, brown and red. These…

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