A patch of ramps in Northern VA

Ramps – Wild Gourmet Edibles

Ramps are one of the first green signs of spring that appear in shady areas of the woods. Their official name is Allium tricoccum. They usually grow in patches under trees. One article stated that they grow in higher elevations in Eastern North America, but I am at sea level, and there are plenty of ramps.   […]

Animal tracks in the mud.

Beavers

One thing is certain, no matter where you are in the woods, you’re never really alone. It may seem like there isn’t any animal life around, but if you look closely, you can always find some tracks, scat, or remnants of nuts etc. that were eaten. With beavers, when they are active, it’s pretty obvious. […]

Twigs of mistletoe from a tree in Vienna, VA.

Mistletoe

Kissing under mistletoe is a weird tradition. There are several types, European mistletoe (Viscum album) is the type that is most known for kissing. This is the traditional plant of literature and Christmas celebrations. Kissing under the mistletoe is referenced from as far back as 16thcentury England to Christian literature 300 years AD. The Celts wrote […]

Changing Seasons

Seasons

The Four Seasons We all know that there are four seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter. They are specific time frames characterized by weather patterns, light, and temperature.  Usually in winter there is the least amount of light and the coldest temperatures. The closer we are to the north or south pole, the colder it […]

Sawdust is usually signs of borer activity.

Borers and Trunk Damage

There are all sorts of pests in the environment that do damage to trees. Most of these pests rarely attack healthy trees. They usually affect trees that are in decline or under some sort of stress. Droughts, excessive heat, too much water, and damaged limbs cause stress to trees and can make them susceptible to […]

Fungi in the forest

Forest Fungi

Ever wonder whether fungi on your tree is a good or bad thing? Here’s a little insight. There are basically three ways forest fungi survive.  Mycorrhizal fungi are partners with the trees. They provide the tree water and nutrients in return they receive sugars from the trees’ ability to photosynthesize. Others are saprophytic and live […]