The result of more than 24 hours of snow then rain then more snow was a disappointing 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground yesterday morning (I had been hoping for a little more snow, and a lot less rain). It did make for a lovely walk wintery though. Although I more often walk in the forest, yesterday I visited the south portion of Crane Wildlife Management Area, which is dominated by open fields. I always find the…
Looking like less-colorful miniature versions of Dr. Seuss’ truffula trees, tawny cotton grass (Eriophorum virginicum) is an obligate wetland plant found in bogs, fens and wet meadows throughout New England. The fluffy “cotton” puff-ball tops of this plant are actually the modified sepals and petals of minute flowers. The tawny-colored silky hairs that give cotton grass its distinctive look continue to elongate as the seeds mature, aiding in wind dispersal of the seeds (similar to the parachute-like seeds of a…
2020 has been hard for everyone. From canceled activities to isolation from friends and family, to record setting hurricane and fire seasons across the country. Despite all of this year’s COVID-, environmental- and political-craziness, there are still many things I am thankful for. In addition to the Thanksgiving toad I came across on my rainy walk this morning (see cover photo above), below are just ten of the nature-related things I’m grateful for this year. 1. Abundant and beautiful local…
These days, with globalization driving long-distance dispersal of species ranging from fungi to insects to plants, the term “invasive species” gets used a lot. To me, there is a difference between “non-native” and “invasive”. Although both terms refer to an organism that was not found here prior to colonialism, the term “invasive” is typically reserved for organisms that have not only established outside their native range, but have thrived and spread to the point of being a nuisance and can…
Mid-fall brings an end to most blooming flowers, with the exception of the hardiest asters and goldenrods. But it doesn’t bring an end to identification and study of these plants. Many herbaceous wildflowers retain identifiable aerial parts, such as distinctive seed heads, that allow reliable plant ID well past the last flowers. Marsh St. Johnswort (Hypericum virginicum) is no exception. Growing to approximately 2 feet tall, marsh St. Johnswort typically blooms in July and August. But due to persistent seed…
Fall comes with the expectation, and often hopeful anticipation, that the leaves on deciduous trees, such as sassafras, white oak, and American beech, will transition to a beautiful array of yellows, oranges and reds before being shed for the season. But pine trees, including our local pitch pines (Pinus rigida) and white pines (Pinus strobus), retain their needles throughout the year. This quality led to the use of the term “evergreen” to describe these trees. But if pine trees are…
The term “seaweed” refers to a group of marine organisms called macroalgae. Many people think of them as plants, but while they do share some similarities (e.g., photosynthesis), seaweeds actually belong to an entirely different kingdom: Protista. The larger group of macroalgae called seaweeds are further classified into red, green and brown alga. One of the easiest brown seaweeds to identify is the sea potato (Leathesia difformis): a yellowish-brown, lumpy sac-like seaweed, often with various dips, divots and furrows when…
On a recent walk through the woods I stepped over what I thought was a lost gray shoelace or strap amidst the leaves in the center of the trail. I took another step or two before I decided that that interpretation wasn’t quite right, and I turned around to have a better look at this strange item in the trail. I’m glad I did, as it turned out to be a ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) partially obscured by the fallen…
When most people think of salt marshes, they probably picture large expanses of nothing but grass. For those with a little more familiarity with marshes, you may go so far as to picture the common species of salt marsh plants, including smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), salt marsh hay (Spartina patens) or common glasswort (Salicornia maritima). But if you look closely, you may also find other interesting plants mixed in. This is what happened to me on a recent walk out…
Given the horribly itchy rash that poison ivy can cause, it’s no wonder that this plant is loathed by many. I, too, have experienced the severe discomfort an encounter with poison ivy can bring, but I certainly don’t hate it. It would be more accurate to say that I respect poison ivy. Although poison ivy often gets a bad rap, and I may not be able to convince you to actually like it, here are seven reasons not to hate…