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!).
We found this large, distinctive bud opening up in a hardwood forest in the Champlain Valley. What tree species is this?
This is a shagbark hickory bud (Carya ovata), containing a large compound leaf made up of five (or occasionally seven) leaflets – no wonder it comes in such a big package!
This week’s contest winner was Matthew Slayton