If you could only take one photo to tell the rest of the world that it was spring in New England, it would have to be of sap buckets hung on a maple tree. In spite of 25 of 31 days in March being colder than average the sap is flowing, but one syrup producer says that he has collected only about a third of the sap that he had last year at this time.
The purple bud scales of red maple (Acer rubrum) have pulled back to reveal the tomato red buds within. Once the buds break and the tree starts to flower the sap becomes bitter, and maple syrup season ends. That usually happens in mid to late April. If you don’t want to look at a tree’s buds another sign is when the nights become warm enough to get the spring peepers peeping.
Some of the daffodils are budded, but they have been for a while. They seem to be waiting for the weather to make up its mind before they’ll open. Either that or I’m just getting impatient.
Hesitantly, like a child sticking a toe in the water to feel its temperature before wading in, the spring witch hazels have started to unfurl their strap like petals. Last year they unfurled quite early and the cold turned them brown, so I think we’re seeing a “once bitten, twice shy” scenario here this year. Though we do have a native vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis), it doesn’t grow naturally this far north, and since this one is in a park I’m betting it’s one of the cultivated witch hazels. The other American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) that is native to New England blooms in the fall and grows in the same park.
I did find some green leaves in the woods, but they were on the evergreen dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens.) This plant likes wet places and trails along the ground like a dewberry, but it has smooth stems and dewberries have prickly stems. Its fruit looks and tastes much like a raspberry, but good luck getting any of it. Birds and animals eat the berries as fast as they ripen.
There is still plenty of snow and ice to be seen as this photo shows. Still, this is a sign of spring because this ice is rotten and parts of it were falling as I was taking this photo. The opaque milky grayish-white color of this ice was a sure sign that it was rotten, so I didn’t get too close. When ice rots the bonds between the ice crystals weaken and water, air or dirt can get in between them and cause the ice to become honeycombed and lose its strength. It looks to be full of small bubbles and has a weak, dull sound when it is tapped on. It’s a good thing to stay away from when it gets to be taller than you are.
A couple of posts ago I talked about pruinose lichens but they aren’t the only things that can be pruinose, as these box elder buds (Acer negundo) show. In case you’ve forgotten, pruinose means a surface that is covered in white, powdery, waxy granules that seem to be able to reflect light in ways that often make the surface they are on appear blue. Certain grapes, plums, and blueberries are pruinose fruits that we are all familiar with.
Split gill mushrooms (Schizophyllum commune) had their winter coats on, as usual. These are “winter” mushrooms that are usually about the size of a dime but can occasionally get bigger than that. They grow on every continent except Antarctica and because of that are said to be the most studied mushroom on earth. Their wooly coats make them very easy to identify.
The “gills” on the split gill fungus are actually folds on its under surface that split lengthwise when it dries out. The splits close over the fertile surfaces as the mushroom shrivels in dry weather. When rehydrated by rain the splits reopen, the spore-producing surfaces are exposed to the air, and spores are released. These little mushrooms are very tough and leathery.
I think this golden foxtail moss (Brachythecium salebrosum) has to take the prize for the longest moss that I’ve seen; its branches must have been at least 2 inches long. It’s unusual because it likes dry places, and I found it growing on stone in a shaded spot under an overhang, where it must have seen very little direct rainfall. This moss has insect repellant qualities and was once used to stuff pillows and mattresses. Today it is a favorite in moss gardens and in India they use it to wrap fruit in.
White cushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum) gets its common name from the way it turns a whitish color when it dries out. When wet though, it can be dark green as this photo shows. What this photo also shows are some fuzzy white growths on the moss that I’ve never seen before.
I don’t know if the fuzzy white things are mold that has grown due to the moss being covered by ice, or what they are. I’ve seen two different photos online of cushion moss with the same growths, but neither site explained what they were. If you’ve ever seen them and know what they are I’d like to hear from you.
This is my first photo of a whiskered shadow lichen (Phaeophyscia adiastola.) It’s one of those easily ignored lichens that you think you see all the time but in reality when you look closely, you realize that you’ve never seen anything quite like it. This lichen grows on bark, stone or soil and gets its common name from its abundant root-like rhizines, which show here as a kind of black outline. I found it growing on a piece of ledge that dripping water splashed on, so it was very wet.
This isn’t a very good photo but at least you can see the “whiskers” that give the whiskered shadow lichen its common name. These rhizines help foliose lichens anchor themselves onto whatever they’re growing on, much like the roots of a vascular plant would.
This is nothing but an old piece of bark that I found lying on the snow, but it was quite large and the photo shows what I saw when I turned it over. This is the side that would have been next to the wood of the tree, unseen. I thought the colors and patterns were amazing. If fungi would have caused this is a question that I can’t answer.
April is a promise that May is bound to keep. ~Hal Borland
Thanks for coming by.
Many fine shots, but the waterfall id outstanding.
Thanks Ben!
Reblogged this on Dawn of Divine Rays and commented:
Thank you, Allen. Namaste
You’re welcome Agnes, and thank you!
You are very welcome, Allen. It’s a very busy and difficult time since late March till now. Hubby got admitted to hospital at ER – suspected pancreatitis and inflammed stomach walls etc – tests needed to be done. Had to be discharged to wait for organs to ‘cool’ down before any tests/biopsycan be done … so .. may not be able to follow all your posts .. take care, Allen – life is precious. Namaste
I’m very sorry to hear that Agnes, and I hope it doesn’t turn out to be anything more serious than inflammation. You have enough to worry about without worrying about reading this blog, so take care of your husband and get him all better first, and then maybe later on you’ll have a chance to stop in and tell me how things are going for you. Take care.
It’s good to see spring is finally coming to you. I hope those daffodils have opened by now because I’m very behind with my reading. I spent far too many hours researching my Titanic series and my head was full of sinking ships.
Nope, no daffodils but I have seen some crocuses. I know all too well how long researching these posts takes and I don’t know how you can do one every day. I wouldn’t have time for anything else if I did!
Bare ground and daffodil shoots? I am so jealous!!
I saw some crocus blooming today!
It’s great to see spring has started in your area! Love seeing the maple buckets and all the tree and flower buds!
It’s happening Michael, but there’s still plenty of snow left to melt!
It’s great to see some signs of spring appearing in your neck of the woods, it’s been a long time coming.
I’ve been following your blog for years, and I’m still amazed at all the lichens and mosses that you find. I’ve been looking more closely lately, and I’ve found a few that I thought were more common species, but I’m never sure. Today, I found lichens growing on old discarded carpeting, which threw me for a loop. I’d love to spend a few days in the woods with you in an attempt to learn what to look for.
Thanks Jerry!
It won’t be long now. Spring is showing itself all over the place now.
Strange that lichens would grow on carpeting but it does hold water a lot like moss.
I wish we could get together and go plant hunting sometime too. Who knows-it could happen!
We miss Maple Syrup Sunday in Maine – was fun to go and enjoy the pancakes and fresh syrup. Wonderful photographs ~
Thank you Mary.
If you ever get back up this way I think you’ll probably find that they still have the syrup Sunday.
There’s a nature preserve nearby that makes its own maple syrup, but sugar maples are not common here. I think I have read that climate change will push the range of sugar maples further north. The daffodils here are also beginning to bud. For some reason I am surprised that witchhazel cultivars would grow wild in the New Hampshire woods.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if sugar maples and a bunch of other trees get pushed further north if it starts really warming up.
That witch hazel cultivar in the photo was growing in a local park, not in the wild. The only one I find in the wild is our native Hamamelis virginiana. The vernal witch hazel Hamamelis vernalis doesn’t make it this far north.
I loved the shadow lichen. Have to watch for it here.
I’m not sure if it grows that far west but I would bet that you must have a variation of it.
My trips to Quebec have included a couple of opportunities to experience maple syrup harvest and the feast that goes with it.
I can’t think of anything that would be much sweeter than that Ivon.
I love the shots of the red maple and box elder buds! I am so pleased that you have these signs of spring now.
Thank you Clare. Yes, spring is definitely showing itself now. I’d guess we’ll have bulbs blooming within a week.
Wonderful!
I’ll take you word that split gill mushrooms grow everywhere but I have never seen one. I shall have to keep a better eye out.
That’s what I’ve read, but of course I can’t remember where.
They’re quite small but are bright white and usually grow in groups on shrub branches in winter.
I have my fingers cross that I might find the whiskered shadow lichen sometime! Enjoyed all your pictures … which make me glad all our snow’s melted.
Thank you. I just got back from a hill climb and found out that there’s still a lot of snow in the woods!
Those shadow lichens aren’t much bigger than a quarter, so it takes a little luck to find them.
A visual image always helps me and my fingers crossed
Allen, amazing!
Thank you Sven!
A lovely, enjoyable post about the first signs of spring, Allen.
I love the way you begin the post too, and that photo of the maple and sap buckets is a keeper!
Thank you Cynthia.
Spring is slowly heading your way!
Each year I try to find the old style sap buckets and each year it becomes more of a challenge, but they’re still in use here and there.
I think we still have some from back when we had a sugar bush. I think we use them for something else now, though.
I see them in ‘antique’ stores occasionally.
The maple sugar industry is really going to be hit hard this year. The few I’ve had a chance to talk to also said they are way down compared to last year which is too bad because last year they were down compared to the year before. I think we are in for an epic mud season following the winter that wouldn’t go away. At least you are finding the promise of spring. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Laura.
Yes, those with a maple sugar sweet tooth are going to have to pay more now, for sure.
I’ve seen mud but nothing drastic so far. But on the other hand I haven’t been on any dirt roads yet either. I think you’re right-it will be a while before we dry out!
I really like the iconic shot with which you opened your post. Nothing says spring like those old-style sap buckets. (I was worried that everyone had switched to the new-fangled system that you featured in another post). This weekend the daffodils started blooming–we are ahead of you, but inexorably spring is coming there as well. I enjoy the way, Allen, that you are able to chronicle the changes in the seasons and highlight the small, almost imperceptible signs that most of us miss.
Thanks Mike.
Each year i have to look harder and harder for the old style sap buckets but they’re still used by smaller, home based operations so I usually find them.
I’m glad you’re seeing daffodil blooms. Spring is slowly marching north so ours can’t be far behind. I heard that the red winged blackbirds have returned now too, but I haven’t seen (or heard) one yet.
I do so much enjoy the artist in you, the box elder buds, the icefall and especially that amazing piece of bark really made me look and look again.
Thank you very much Susan. I think that piece of bark was the most colorful I’ve ever seen. I wish I knew what caused it.