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Category: Plants

Oriental bittersweet: Eradicate, Don’t Decorate

Oriental bittersweet: Eradicate, Don’t Decorate

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a climbing deciduous woody vine that thrives in disturbed habitats (e.g., roadsides, forest edges, riverbanks, etc.). This plant can grow rapidly, shading out and/or strangling native plants, including mature trees. In the fall and winter, after the leaves have fallen away from the bittersweet vines and the surrounding vegetation, the bright three-sectioned red-orange fruits and their yellow outer “husks” can draw your attention from quite a distance. As the capsules dry, they hinge open, revealing…

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Nature Notes from the North Woods – Part 3

Nature Notes from the North Woods – Part 3

Friday concluded our trip north, so this post will be the last in the Nature Notes from the North Woods series. It had been far too long since I’d been up in the White Mountains, and I already can’t wait to go back. I hope you enjoy the final installment of photos and notes from Maine.

Nature Notes from the North Woods – Part 2

Nature Notes from the North Woods – Part 2

After a few days in the Pittsburg, NH area (see the previous blog post for Pittsburg area photos: Part 1) we moved onto Bethel, ME. Since arriving on Friday evening, we’ve done a ton of hiking, including trails in Grafton Notch State Park and Evans Notch in the White Mountain National Forest. Some brief photo highlights from the last few days are below.

Coastal Plain Pondshore Community

Coastal Plain Pondshore Community

Much of Massachusetts was in some level of drought earlier this year. All other regions have since had enough rain to bounce back, but as of today, the Cape Cod Region is still classified as having “mild drought” conditions. Although there are numerous adverse impacts that result from a prolonged drought, one positive response is a big bloom year for the coastal plain pondshore plant communities, which thrive in the drawdown areas around pond perimeters in low water years. This…

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Wildflower Wednesday: Foxglove Beardtongue

Wildflower Wednesday: Foxglove Beardtongue

Last summer my fiancé brought a plant home from a native plant nursery that I’d never seen or heard of before. It was foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis). After my walk at the southern portion of Crane Wildlife Management Area in Falmouth this weekend, I’m not sure how it’s possible for me to have missed this amazingly beautiful and abundant native perennial wildflower. In some places, this foxglove beardtongue dominated the meadow with its panicles of white flowers.  These panicles are…

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Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

Spring ephemerals always bring a smile to my face. These hardy little herbaceous perennials poke their heads up from the soil in early-spring before the leaves have emerged from the canopy trees above them. On Cape Cod, we have Canada mayflower and starflower. Elsewhere in the state where the soil is richer, bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is just starting to flower right now. Found in every county in Massachusetts except for Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, bloodroot is so named for…

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Six More Weeks of Winter?

Six More Weeks of Winter?

That’s what Punxsutawney Phil said anyway. I say 6 weeks and 4 days, since the official first day of spring (the vernal equinox) is March 20th. In early March after we’ve had a few pleasant days and folks start remarking that “spring is here” I’m always the first one to chime in and remind them that winter (i.e., cold, snow, nor’easters, etc.) is not over yet. In fact, sometimes it refuses to go away even after the official first day…

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“Fetterbush”: why common names are not enough

“Fetterbush”: why common names are not enough

For an embarrassingly long time, I was unable to identify this shrub despite its unique winter characteristics. So for years I simply referred to it as the “purple bud bush”. On a walk with the local botany club a few years ago, the leader provided me with a name: “fetterbush”. I was happy to have something more specific to call it, and until today, I’d left it at that.  In attempting to look up some interesting information about fetterbush to…

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Nature Study Goals 2020/2021

Nature Study Goals 2020/2021

For many people the New Year 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 2020 goals, as well as what I hope to accomplish in 2021. My goals for 2020 included: 1. Post to Seashore to Forest Floor regularly. — I…

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Winter Wildflowers: Wild Bergamot

Winter Wildflowers: Wild Bergamot

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…

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