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!).

Flower Power

This tree is bedecked with some ugly flowers – and in winter no less. What’s going on here?

Answer

These deformities were caused by ash flower gall mites. The mite feeds on the male flowers of ash trees; the infested clusters become deformed and remain on the tree into winter.

This week’s contest winner was Steve Kubber of Penfield, New York