Night Visitors

October 31, 2008 at 7:25 pm10 (Uncategorized)

Antler rubs on a young Birch sapling

Antler rubs on a young Birch sapling

We have had an increasing number of visitors to the meadows edge between the times of dusk and dawn.  We can tell by the trails they left in the grass and by little piles of droppings they left behind. One of them left their mark near the base of a young Gray Birch tree sapling, scraping away the bark and damaging several young branches.  At the base of the old stump from which the saplings had sprounted were some small plants.  These have been nipped down to about six inches off the ground, leaving torn and jagged tips, but no branches and no leaves, just stems.
 
These are all signs of the White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus).
 
* This is the time of year that deer mate and the male deer rubs its velvety antlers on small trees and shrubs.  The antler rubs are usually low on a sapling as shown in the photo.
 
* The browse has been torn rather than cut – literally nipped by the jaws of the deer and ripped off rather than cut.  If the stems of the low plants had been cut at a 45 degree angle, I might have suspected a rabbit, but there are no teeth marks on either the plant stems or the sapling.
 
Deer graze on grasses, herbaceous (soft-stemmed) plants, and the new leaves of woody plants when available.  At this time of year, they are changing over to their winter diet, which includes acorns, beechnuts, and evergreen twigs.  They will continue to browse on buds and twigs of trees throughout the winter.  Apple twigs are a favorite browse for deer.
 
This post was fact-checked using the book Mammal Tracks and Sign of the Northeast by Diane K. Gibbons. (2003). Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England. p.101.

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Building Stone Walls

October 30, 2008 at 7:22 pm10 (Uncategorized)

A stone wall requires art and science.

A stone wall requires art and science.

I am in the process of repairing a section of a retaining stone wall at the end of our driveway. I say “in the process” because you always find something that doesn’t quite fit or look just right.  Sometimes you don’t even see it when you are looking straight at it. You see it only when you study a photograph of it.  Then you go back up and tear it all down and start over again.  Stone wall building takes time and lots of practice.  There’s an art to it and a science of it.
 
The art part is in selecting the right texture, color, and fit to the stones so that they come together in a way that is pleasing to the eye.  In the photo above you cam see some places that work well and others that should be redone. Stone wall construction may appear to be crude, heavy work but it demands that you be very particular – even fussy. 
 
The science part involves acknowledging some simple rules so that the finished wall will last longer than your own lifetime. 
 
* Placing one rock on top of two rocks so that you don’t allow rain water to run straight down through the wall is one rule. 
* Placing “through-stones” or long stones that run from front to back, overlapping and locking in place the side-by-side stones is another.
* Filling in the spaces between stones in the middle of the wall with rock chips and rubble to add mass and stability is a third principle. 
* Building the wall on a deep-dug footing of small stones and gravel improves drainage and resists heaving. 
* For a retaining wall, filling the area between the wall and the bank to be held back with a zone of rock rubble improves stability.
 
Of course, a front end loader pushing snow against a stone wall can undo a lot of art and science in a hurry, but that is another story.

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A Time of Hoarding

October 29, 2008 at 7:53 pm10 (Uncategorized)

October is a time of hoarding.  Squirrels are busy hiding caches of acorns.  Chipmunks are storing seeds and grasses in their subterranean chambers.  Field mice (Voles) and White-Footed Deer Mice gather fibers from grasses and cat-tails to line their nests. Recently, I watched a Chickadee flying back and forth from a White Pine  tree where it took tiny seeds from a cone to store safely under tree bark.  There is an abundance of pulpy fruits, nuts, seeds, and berries for both the animals that ”gather” as well as the ones that “forage” from day to day throughout the winter.
 
Trees
Shagbark Hickory – nuts
Red Oak – acorns
Basswood – small round green nutlets
Wild Black Cherry – purplish-black juicy fruit
Crabapple – round fruit with seeds
Sassafras – lustrous blue fruit on a red stalk
Beech – pale brown triangular nuts
Red Cedar – slate blue berry-like cone
 
Shrubs
Privet – dark blue berry
Honeysuckle – red berry
Winterberry – red berry
Gray Gogwood – white berry
Maple-Leaved Viburnum -  blue berry
Multiflora Rose – hard red fruit with seeds
Burning Bush – red, smooth four-lobed capsule with seeds
Staghorn Sumac – maroon cone-like clusters that contain round fruit with a small hard seed
Barberry – firm scarlet berries
Beaked Hazelnut – small oval nut
Yew – green seed inside a pulpy red cone
Juniper – dark blue berry-like cone
Bayberry – gray waxy berries
High Bush Cranberry – bright red fruit in conspicuous clusters.
 
Vines
Grapes – dark blue fruit with seeds
Bittersweet – red-orange fruit pod with seeds
Woodbine – small blue berries with seeds
Poison Ivy – dry white fruit
Greenbriar – blue-black berries
 
Grasses and Wildflowers (too many to list but here is a sampling)
Milkweed – seed pods
Bunchberry – seedy red berries
Cat-tail – fibers used to line nests
 
Everywhere I walked this week I have seen evidence of seasonal hoarding.  Birds fly out of bushes at my approach.  Shrubs shake with the weight of migrating flocks. In the middle of a field there are a small clusters of wild grapes dropped by some creature carrying them somewhere else.
 
White berries on red stems of the Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

White berries on red stems of the Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

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The Stinkhorn Mushroom

October 28, 2008 at 8:40 pm10 (Uncategorized)

The fall months are good times to look for all kinds of fungi – including mushrooms  – in the woods and fields around our property.  Sometimes, you find them without looking. I was carrying some branches pruned from a Quince bush to toss on a brush pile when I spotted this Stinkhorn fungus (Phallus ravenelli) growing out of the damp, leaf-littered ground.  This fungus has a distinctive appearance. The odor of decaying flesh is another identifying feature of the Stinkhorn mushroom.  It was swarmed by a number of tiny flying insects while I focused my camera.  The insects are attracted by the odor, crawl over the slimy pore mass on the cap and become covered with spores before they fly away.  The spores are carried to a new place where some of them will grow to form a new plant.  Mushroom references state that the Stinkhorn is not poisonous, but who would want to eat it anyway?  This is the time of year to look for Stinkhorns, especially after wet weather.  It is indeed an odd fungus, with a life cycle that reveals a unique relationship between plant and animal life at the meadow’s edge.
 
A Stinkhorn Mushroom

A Stinkhorn Mushroom

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Invasion of Lady Bugs

October 27, 2008 at 7:56 pm10 (Uncategorized)

Conditions were just right this past weekend for a swarming of Asian Lady Bugs.  The Asian Lady Bug flights into homes and garages are heaviest on  sunny days following a period of cooler weather.  When temperatures rise above 60 degrees F, the beetles swarm into buildings looking for sites in which to spend the winter.
 
Most native Lady Bugs are regarded as beneficial  because they live outsiude and eat plant pests like aphids and scale insects.  One species of Ladybug (Harmonia axyridis) was introduced to this country from Japan, and it aggressively crawls around on windows, walls, and attic rafters.  Inside your home it can emit a noxious odor and stain surfaces with yellow spots.
 
Asian Lady Bug facts
* Native to China, Russia, Korea, Japan
* Eats aphids and scale insects
* Oval shaped, 1/4 inch long
* Red, mustard, or orange colored
* A small dark W or M marking on a whitish area behind the head
* Some can bite, but are not poisonous
 

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Plant Groups of the Meadow’s Edge

October 27, 2008 at 5:26 am10 (Uncategorized)

This Lichen looks like a map and is a simple plant.

This Lichen looks like a map and is a simple plant.

The casual visitor to the meadow’s edge may notice a lot of green or golden brown on the ground and blue in the sky – and certainly acknowledge the trees if they are in fall color – but may not take in the subtle differences between other types of plants that make up the meadows edge.  There’s more to meet the eye when it comes to plant life.
 
Grasses and Herbs
There are many different kinds of grasses and herbaceous plants that grow in and around the meadow’s edge.  Grasses are thin-bladed plants that spread from underground root systems as well as seeds.  Grasses have names,too: Timothy, Broomsedge, Tall Fescue, Crabgrass.   Herbaceous plants  are soft-stemmed plants that die back to the ground each fall.  Milkweed, Jewelweed, Clovers, and Dandelions are examples of the soft-stemmed herbaceous plants found in the meadows. Some herbaceous plants are designated as “wildflowers” – the Campion, Hawkweed, Black-Eyed Susan.  Most people think of herbs as being medicinal, like Bloodroot, or culinary, like Wild Garlic, but being soft-stemmed is the key to classifying a plant as herbaceous.
 
Trees, Shrubs and Vines
Trees and shrubs can easily be confused.  Trees are tall woody plants growing from a single stem or trunk.  Their first set of branches develop several feet off the ground.  Red Oaks, Poplars, Wild Black Cherry, White Pine, Maples, and Hickory are abundant at the edges of our meadow.  Shrubs are lower growing woody plants with several stems growing in clumps from the ground and having many branches.  The High Bush Blueberry, Gray Dogwood,  Winterberry and Honeysuckle are examples of shrubs that dot our fields or occupy the edges.  If the meadows were not mowed, the shrubs and saplings of trees would eventually  overtake the grasses and herbaceous plants.  Vines are spreading, twisting, clinging plants that may have soft or woody stems. They can easily “climb” and smother trees. Poison Ivy, Woodbine, Bittersweet, and Grapes are vines that can overtake and disfigure trees and shrubs.
 
Mosses, Ferns, Clubmosses, and Lichens
These are four categories of less familiar green plants found in the woods and woodland borders of the meadow’s edge.  They are more primitive plants, with less developed water-transport systems, but play important roles in soil development and the balance of life in the meadow ecosystem. We will focus more on this group in future postings.  The Pin-Cushion and Squirrel-Cap mosses are common under the Oaks.  Over eleven different species of ferns can be found in the woods and fields in our neighborhood.  Several species of clubmoss can be found in a pine forest not far from the meadow’s edge. These plants rarely grow taller than 8 inches.  Lichens are unique forms of crusty, leafy or spikey plant life that are made up of an algae and a fungus living co-dependently in what biologists call a symbiotic relationship.   The fungus provides moisture and an anchor to soil, rock, or tree bark; the algae carries out photosynthesis and generates nutrients for the fingus.  The Map Lichen growing on the rock in the photo is an example of a lichen.
 
Mushrooms, Molds and other Fungi
Many people are leary of eating mushrooms, and few would ask to go on a mold and decomposer walk, but that is exactly what non-green plants contribute to the meadow ecosystem.  Without decomposers, the available nutients in dead trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses would not get recycled.  One of the most valuable other fungi is the microscopic yeast, which acts on sugars in wild fruits in a process called fermentation.
 
Algae
Among the simplest of green plants, yet capable of photosynthesis, algae may be found in the bark of trees in shady, moist woods, in vernal pools, runoff streams, and boggy areas.  Algae are especially noticed when they “bloom.”  You’d need a microscope to see them when the algae population in pond water is normal, but when the feeding is good, mats and clumps of algae strands can form on rocks or float on the surface of a pool of water.  Algae in drinking water can create a nasty taste or health issue.  Algae may be low on the rung of the food chain ladder, but are highly important in the web of life.

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An Apple a Day

October 25, 2008 at 5:53 pm10 (Uncategorized)

 

 

 

 

Beyond the meadows and out into the woods are remnants of former apple orchards, the most recent trees planted after World War II and into the early 1950’s.  Some still have bits of hardware cloth (1/2 ” galvanized wire mesh) clinging to their bases, which protected the staked young trees from mice. Most of the apple trees are now dying and being toppled over by strong winds.  They are also  being crowded out by dense brushy shrubs like Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose, Privet, and Gray Dogwood. Who planted these trees and who looked after them has yet to be determined.
 
The photo above shows some Macoun apples clinging to the uppermost branches of a neglected and spindly old tree.  The Macoun is a firm and juicy apple, but the tree tends to grow upright and requires aggressive pruning to keep it productive.  Otherwise, it produces lots of little apples instead of fewer, bigger ones.
 
Here are some Macoun facts.
 
* Macouns ripen in late September
* The small to medium sized apple makes an excellent snack apple for eating out of hand
* It tends to drop quite a few of its apples before they are fully grown. Some orchardists blame this on its short stem.
* The Macoun was developed at the New York State Horticultural Center in Geneva in the 1920’s and first introduced in 1932.
* The apple is named after an Canadian fruit breeder named John Macoun.
* Macoun is pronounced “Macoon” in some areas and “McCowan” in others.
* The Macoun is a cross between the MacIntosh and the Jersey Black varieties of apple.
* The skin of a ripe Macoun is a deep dark red with purplish blushes and tiny golden specks in the red areas.
* The good news is that the Macoun is has an excellent flavor and “keeps” better than a MacIntosh.
* The bad news is that the Macoun does not produce big crops every year. A good harvest (even a wild one) may be followed by a bad one.  This is not a take-it-to-the-bank, cash crop tree.
* Macoun apples are recommended for salads, snacks, and applesauce.  They go well with cheese and wine.  We like it for pies, too.
 

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A Bittersweet Story

October 24, 2008 at 6:33 pm10 (Uncategorized)

A clinging vine with attractive fruit

A clinging vine with attractive fruit

The Asiatic Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is also known as Asian Bittersweet or Oriental Bittersweet. It is generally found in open, sun-exposed sites but can also grow in partial shade. It is a dangerous, invasive species because it grows rapidly, girdles more desirable native plants, collapses small trees under its weight, and can even hybridize with the slower growing American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens).  This light-green leaved plant simply takes over forest edges, woodlands, roadsides, and freshly disturbed areas. 
 
How to tell the good one from the bad one: The flowers and fruit of the American bittersweet are at the ends of the stems that develop along the vine.  The leaves of the American Bittersweet are narrower.  the Oriental bittersweet has more “rounded” leaves. Because the two species hybridize, this can make a tough call to make in the field. The capsule or berry is yellow or orange, but as it dries, it splits and turns backwards to reveal the bright red seed covering inside.
 
Did you know?  Importation and propagation for sale of the Oriental Bittersweet is prohibited in Massachusetts (January 1, 2006).  The seeds of both Bittersweet species are most often dispersed by birds, but may also be spread by humans when the bright red and orange berries used in dried wreaths and decorative fall arangements are collected or discarded.
 
This post has been fact-checked using the publication A Guide to Invasive Plants in Massachusetts (Second Edition, revised 2008) and published by the Massachusettts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. To order your own copy of this 79 page illustrated and informative publication, send a check for $ 5.00  made out to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, Massachuseets Division of Fisheries and Game, attention Kim Ausmus, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough MA 01581.

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Forget-Me-Not

October 23, 2008 at 10:43 pm10 (Uncategorized)

The blue petals and yellow center of the Forget-Me-Not are barely visible in this photo.
The blue petals and yellow center of the Forget-Me-Not are barely visible in this photo.

October doesn’t seem to be a month that welcomes flowers, but there are Forget-Me-Nots growing at the edges of our garden pool.  Forget-Me-Nots are good indicator plants.  They grow well in well-areated soil that is rich in nitrogen.  To some, they are simply a weed – an uninvited guest in the garden.  It is easy to understand why: in addition to producing many seeds, Forget-Me-Nots have two flowering periods, one during May-July and another August-October.  This species grows in wet habitats in full sun or shade. It is often seen along stream banks and in wet meadows.  Because its fruits can be water-dispoersed across great distances, it has been named as a “likely invasive” herb by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 
This post was fact-checked using the book Weeds: The Unbidden Guests in Our Gardens by Mea Allen (1978) . NY: The Viking Press. p.87.

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Shrubs and Birds

October 23, 2008 at 12:33 am10 (Uncategorized)

 

 

 

The photo above shows the ripe red fruit of the High Bush Cranberry.  The fruit remains on the branches of this shrub throughout the winter and is a favorite food of the Cedar Waxwing.  Many vistors to the meadow’s edge comment about the variety of birds that can be seen and heard throughout the year.  This may be the result of location, varied habitat, and supporting species of plants. 
 
Location: The meadows are surrounded by mixed hardwoods (oak, hickory, and maple trees), pine forests, a cat-tail marsh, patches of swampland, several small ponds and a lake within a one-mile radius.
 
Variety of micro-habitats: There are dry meadow areas, wet meadow areas, and swales carrying flowage from springs, seasonal rains, and overflow from a swamp that drains from underneath a paved road.  The meadows are bordered by dense brushy thickets, sunny woodland borders, and openings in the nearby woods and its understory.
 
Supporting species of plants: Birds are attracted to areas where there is food, shelter and suitable materials for nest-building.  Birds flock to plants that produce fruit, nuts, or seeds or that are home for insects.
 
Some of the shrubs that birds prefer are cultivated varieties sold by nurseries for landscape plantings.  These include Forsythia, Lilac, Azalea, Rhododendron, Laurel, and Yew.  Other shrubs favored by birds are native shrubs like Bayberry, Sumac, Winterberry, Dogwoods, and High Bush Blueberry.
A few non-native shrubs have actually become invasive species in the woods and fields: Japanese Honeysuckle, Oriental Bittersweet, and Multiflora Rose.  The fruits of these plants are eaten by birds and dispersed in their droppings. Invasive plants grow faster than native plants and choke them out.
 
Desirable Native Shrub and Vine list
 
Bayberry (Myrica pennsylanica)
Blackberry (Rubus spp)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus hirta)
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Gray-Stemmed Dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus serecia)
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
High Bush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
High Bush Cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Maple-leaved Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Meadowsweet (Spirea alba)
Steeplebush (Spirea Tomentosa)
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca)
Silver Grape (Vitis aestivalis)
New England Grape (Vitis novae-angliae)
 
Invasive Shrub and Vine List
 
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculata)
Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Bell’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera x bella)
Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonicus)
Tartarian Honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
Border Privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium)
 
This post was fact-checked using A Guide to Invasive Plants in Massachusetts (Revised, 2008) published by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.  Westboro, MA: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. 
 

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