Good Morning. I thought I’d steer us away from flowers again for a short time. I wouldn’t want anyone getting bored and there are many things in nature that are as beautiful as flowers. Sometimes, even more so-or at least in a different way-but that’s just my opinion. This time of year brings along the meadow flowers and that is where I’ve been spending a lot of my time. Grasses seem to be doing well this year-this stand was so tall that it was over my head.Many grasses are flowering now. This one is orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) which is described as a fast growing, cool season grass that is shade tolerant and drought resistant. Legend has it that it was reported growing in this country before 1760, so it has been here awhile. I love seeing grasses with their pollen ready to fly on the wind. It is a moment that passes very quickly and isn’t often witnessed. These odd looking things are the fruit of the black willow (Salix nigra.) This tree is also called swamp willow and is often planted on river and stream banks to help control erosion. The cone shaped seed pods will only appear on female plants and, as the photo below shows, will split open to release cottony seeds that are carried on the wind. I found this tree on a river bank. A female black willow (Salix nigra) tree releases its seeds to the wind. If you have ever wondered what the world will look like when human beings are no longer here, this photo might help. This is part of a street called Washington Street, which is a major thoroughfare running north-south through Keene, NH. The northernmost part of it, which was closed so a highway could be built, appears in the photo. If you look closely in the lower right corner you can just see the double yellow line that still runs down the center. Most of the low growth encroaching along each side is poison ivy. This street was originally laid out in 1736 so the town could have better access to a saw mill that stood near here. This part of it was closed in the early 1960s. I thought it might be a good place to find flowers. I followed the abandoned street looking for wildflowers but all I found was fungi, mosses and ferns. This yellow mushroom lit up a dark spot. A damselfly found a spot of sunlight and patiently sat still while I fumbled with my camera. I tried to identify this one but became overwhelmed by all the choices and colors. Turkey tails (Trametes versicolor) grew on a birch log, but these had colors much more subdued than those I usually see. I wonder if the tree species they grow on makes a difference in their color. Most of the very colorful ones seem to grow on conifers, I’ve noticed. I was reading recently about scientists studying these fungi as a possible cancer treatment. They have already been shown to inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus type 1. It boggles the mind to think of all of the benefits to mankind that nature might hold. I found a honeysuckle doing its best to strangle an oak tree with its roots, but the oak was winning hands down.This elm tree was getting awfully cozy with this pine, but I wasn’t going to be the one to say anything. Times are going to be tough later on when the elm outgrows what little space it has left. I’ve never heard of one tree completely growing around and engulfing another, but loggers and arborists have found cannon balls, intact rifles, arrows, unopened bottles of beer and liquor, toys, tools, clothes, bicycles, and even car parts inside living trees after they had been cut down. False Solomon’s (Maianthemum racemosum) seal fruit is ripening. It won’t last long-I’m sure there are many critters that will be happy to see it. Ruffed grouse and many other birds also eat this fruit, but most animals won’t eat the bitter tasting leaves. Deer will occasionally browse on them if they are hungry enough. Another important food for wildlife is the hazelnut (Corylus americana,) also called filberts. This bush was absolutely loaded with immature nuts ripening in their strange looking husks. American hazelnut is native to the eastern United States. Unlike many nuts, hazelnuts don’t need to be roasted before being eaten. They can be eaten raw or dried and ground into flour. Native Americans used them to flavor soups. Hazelnuts have a much higher nutritional value than acorns or beech nuts so they are the first choice of many animals and birds. When I was admiring the hazelnuts it started raining so I snatched one of the nut clusters off the bush and brought it home. This is what it looked like-a cluster with 5 unripe nuts in it. When they are near a water source royal ferns (Osmunda regalis) can grow quite large and appear to be a shrub. These in the photo were about chest high. The royal fern is found on every continent except Australia, making it one of the most widespread of all living species. They are also thought to be one of the oldest living things, with fossil records of the Osmundaceae family dating back over 300 million years. Individual plants are believed to be able to live for over 100 years. Cinnamon and interrupted ferns are also in the Osmundaceae family. It is thought that the genus might have been named after King Osmund, who ruled in the British Isles in the eighth century. Royal ferns are one of my favorites because they are so unlike any other fern. When I was a boy we called the frothy foam created by the spittlebug snake spit. Of course, it has nothing to do with snakes because it is spittlebug nymphs and adults that create the foam while feeding on plant sap. Spittlebugs, both adults and immature nymphs, feed with their head pointed downward. As the sap flows through their body and then drips down their abdomen they mix it with air inside a chamber on their abdomen to make it frothy. This froth or foam is used to both hide the young spittlebug and to keep it cooler. I found this example on a goldenrod stem.
My heart is tuned to the quietness that the stillness of nature inspires ~Hazrat Inayat Khan
I hope you enjoyed seeing those things that often go unseen. Thanks for visiting.
As usual, your post has me thinking. I’m now going to have to look for those Trametes versicolor next time I get into a moist canyon. They are so pretty! I’m not sure that they grow here or I think I would remember them, although perhaps the ones here just don’t have all of that color.
That old road is interesting too. There is a section of old highway not far from my home that I remember from the 50’s and it now looks much like yours. Every few years I walk a mile or so of it and remember what it was like when I rode on it way back then. Still a little paint left on it too.
Turkey tails are really interesting as well as pretty. I like them because they add so much interest to the winter woods. I looked on a couple of websites that said they grow in Montana, but that doesn’t mean in every part of the state. Look for them on stumps and logs-especially hemlock.
I like old abandoned roads. It’s fascinating to watch them being reclaimed by nature over the years.
The miscellaneous stuff that please the eye on walks are enhanced when kissed by the light. Glad you included ferns. The simple patterned leaves always relaxing for me to observe.
I love ferns too Grampy. The woods just wouldn’t be the same without them.
Hi Allen, thanx again for sharing your pluthera of info……The mushroom u have captured……..I covered a steak with them last night……yum……they can b misidentified with what is called a false chanterelle…..mushroom collecting.com……there are also a small version of chanterelles…….So….with that said…..July and august are a great time 2 shroom…..Would u like 2 pick a day for u 2 come over? …….cook something on the grill and go looking for shrooms……Let me know…u b well……Michael……ps. Lost your e-mail address……might have gotten spammed
Hi Michael,
I know that it’s easy to get one mushroom confused with another-that’s why I never identify them on this blog. Thanks again for the invitation but I’m not sure what’s happening right now because my son is coming home from the Air Force next Friday the 13th and will be home for about a month before he goes off to his new base in Delaware. If you need to e-mail me just go to the “contact me” page on this blog and you can do it right from there.
I have a lot of beaked hazel on my place, but the animals eat them in about a day. I think they take them before they ripen.
There is a stand of royal fern growing near Sandogardy Pond, on the banks of the creek that drains it. I plan to transplant a few to my fern garden soon. We’ll see.
I’ll bet the hazelnuts go fast. I hope I can taste at least one, but a hungry bear could eat them off everry bush in one night and I don’t want them bad enough to wrestle a bear for them. Maybe I should count on hickory nuts instead. I’ve never tried transplanting royal fern. I can see the problem with them being not the transplanting but keeping them wet enough afterwards, because they like a lot of water. You wouldn’t want to plant them next to hay scented ferns for example, which like it dry.
The yellow mushroom is a golden chanterelle, people around here (Scandinavia) is crazy about it. Me too…
Thank you for the identification Bente. I wasn’t really sure what it was and I don’t feel comfortable guessing.
I love pictures of nature reclaiming land. The road you pictured reminds me of that show on History Channel, “Life After People.”
Me too!
I did enjoy seeing those things that often go unseen, Allen…thank you for sharing them with us. 🙂
Thanks for being a regular reader Scott!
It’s always a pleasure, Allen…most welcome. 🙂
As usual, you have identified something for me. I saw some Hazelnut pods the other day, and was not able to find what they were, anywhere.
I often walk on an old road that is slowly filling in with flowers, and trees. When I first came to this area is was open with lots of light. It is growing darker over time, and many different things are growing there now.
Hazelnuts are an understory shrub, so they don’t mind a little shade. I’m glad you were able to ID them-if you’re lucky this fall you might be able to taste them!
Very interesting stuff. I was intrigued by the weird hazelnut fruits, never having seen them in the woods.
Yes, the husks that enclose hazelnuts are really strange. I’m hoping I can beat the hoards of critters to the ripe nuts later on so I can at least taste a handfull of them.