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!).

Lawn Flower Mystery

It’s the beginning of another mowing season, and green is only one of many colors found on most rural lawns. While yellow dandelions are seemingly everywhere, these small white and purple flowers are also a common sight. What are they?

Answer

Sweet white violet (Viola blanda). Identifying white violets can be tricky, so we decided to accept any white violet answer. Leonard Perry, horticulture professor emeritus at the University of Vermont, adds that there’s always the potential for natural crossing. This guide can be helpful.

This week’s contest winner was Bonnie Rubrecht