What in the Woods Is That?

Play our biweekly guessing game!

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!).

Cherry Tree Mystery

Penelope Harris forwarded these photos of a friend’s cherry tree in Bakersfield, Vermont. She was curious: what had caused the gelatinous material seen on the tree?

Answer

The gelatinous substance is sap produced by the tree as a response to damage or injury. This response by the tree is known as gummosis and can be triggered by insects such as the cambium miner, fungal or bacterial cankers, or mechanical damage. Gummosis is common in many stone-fruit species. Here’s a more detailed look at the condition and possible culprits.

This week’s contest winner was Karen Sutherland