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!).
Northern Woodlands’ subscriber Katie Koerten came across these cups of black kernels while exploring a wooded area in a Vermont bog. What are they?
Miterwort seeds.
The flowers of miterwort (Mitella diphylla) are so small and delicate, they’re easy to miss (but worth stopping for a closer look). In this photo, the flowerheads have gone to seed; those little black specks are next year’s flowers.
This week’s contest winner was Cheryl Boyes