This week in the woods, we persuaded two eye-rolling teenagers to accompany us out to a roadside swamp, where we gave them a long lecture on the wonders of skunk cabbages. The rosy spathes of these plants have already emerged from the muck at a time when most wildflowers are still dormant – an early season feat they accomplish by producing their own heat. The spathes encase spadices (cones) of 50 or more tiny florets, and as these become ready for pollination, the plants emit a pungent scent that attracts insects. Check out this Outside Story essay by Michael Caduto for more details.
Another way that some early-emerging flowers protect themselves from cold is by making their own fuzzy coats. Pussy willows provide critical early food for native bees, including frigid mining bees and just-emerged queen bumble bees. The shrubs are good candidates for native plantings, as long as you install them far away from underground pipes. Check out this how-to article – with beautiful illustrations by artist Erick Ingraham – from the spring issue of Northern Woodlands.
Finally, here’s an update on the cut red maple stems that we showed in last week’s blog: as expected, the buds opened, revealing beautiful little flowers.
What have you noticed in the woods this week? Submit a recent photo for possible inclusion in our monthly online Reader Photo Gallery.