Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.
Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).
Sort of other worldy, huh? What in the woods is it?
Hoarfrost. While some readers saw pine trees in negative light, or plant fronds under magnification, the unusual patterns here are hoarfrost. According to the American Meteorological Society, hoarfrost is more fluffy and feathery than rimefrost, which in turn is lighter than glazed frost. Check out this weblink for great snow flake and hoarfrost pictures:
This week’s contest winner was Mary Anne Machis of Morrisville, Vermont