What in the Woods is That?

We recently published an Outside Story describing four evergreen ferns that brave northeastern winters. Here are photos of two of these species, covered up to the tops of their fronds in the…

A very large egg? Or a very small boy? This mystery orb was photographed in a southern woods, but it's also often found in the Northeast. What is it?

While in the woods following one of our recent winter rainstorms, a few yellow stains were spotted around trees. What caused the staining of the snow? Thanks to Mike White for providing this…

The making of a Charlie Brown tree: this white pine was observed among a thicket of shrubs on a wet site. In addition to the shade and wet soil, what other major factor has limited the growth…

Found in the woods: This piece of metal is a portion (maybe one-fifth) of a longer object that was a crucial part of an old piece of equipment. What is it?

What caused the growths and dead needles on these branches?

What caused this branch to break from the canopy of the tree above?

Is this a topping of black pepper on the hophornbeam (also known as hardhack) leaves, or something else? There’s a hint in the photo.

“I found this huge thingy in the remains of an old maple stump in my yard,” explains Pamela Wells. The accompanying photo shows a cross-section; what is it?

No, this balsam fir is not changing colors as part of fall foliage. What does explain its yellow needles, the undersides of which hold the answer?

Last week, a game camera in Strafford, Vermont, captured this wildlife selfie. What are we looking at? Or, rather, what is looking at us?

The photographer was drawn to this tree (in mid-July, on a rich site) by a loud hum coming from its canopy. What’s the tree species, and why was its canopy humming?

What does this hemlock branch, beech sapling, and hunting camp have in common?

Deep in a Vermont forest, we discovered these gift-wrapped tips of Christmas ferns, and only Christmas ferns, among other nearby growing fern species. Who did it?

This scene was seen the morning after a rain storm. What are the orange items on the hood of this vehicle? (Fun tiebreaker: guess the vehicle make and model!)

Sandy Dannis captured this photo back in May. The plant has since unfurled. What is it?

What caused the unusual cluster of growth on this ash tree? (Hint: it isn’t emerald ash borer.)

What caused the orange mark on this Ostrya virginiana tree (known by many common names, including hophornbeam, hardhack, and ironwood). It looks like a poor boundary blaze, but it’s not.

The Lyme (NH) Historians, located opposite our office on the Lyme Common, are currently exhibiting historical artifacts related to logging camps and log drives. And that is your hint for this…

Three tree flowers, all collected April 25 from one field in central Vermont. What are they?