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Winterberry grows along the road on Southport

When the holidays come around, many people turn to the woods to help decorate. White pine, balsam fir, red spruce, and cedar are some of the local trees whose boughs find their way into wreaths and swags. Often punctuating the greenery of these displays are branches of small red berries from a native shrub that is part of the holly family. The common name of this plant is winterberry, a nod to the persistence of the plants fruit which can often be seen throughout the colder months.

Winterberry is most noticeable along our roadsides this time of year, where its stark grey branches end in dense clusters of round red berries. This shrub will tolerate extremes in soil moisture, such as the occasional flooding and periods of dryness found in ditches. The plant is also found in swamps, damp thickets, and low woods where it is slow growing, often forming large thickets up to 12 feet fall.

A close up picture of the winterberry fruit 

Like other plants in the holly family, winterberry has separate male and female plants, and both are needed in close proximity to make berries. Unlike the hollies seen in landscaping which have evergreen leaves, winterberry leaves turn black with the first frost and drop off. This seems to make the bright red berries even more noticeable, especially to the 49 species of birds that will devour them throughout the winter. Frequent songbird consumers include eastern bluebirds, hermit thrushes, American robins, catbirds, northern mockingbirds, brown thrashers, cedar waxwings, and white-tailed sparrows.

Raccoons and white-footed mice also enjoy the fruits and seeds on the winterberry shrub. Henry David Thoreau once observed the mice eating winterberry, writing that they “run up the twigs at night and gather this shining fruit, take out the small seeds, and eat their kernels at the entrance to their burrows.” Because the berries are relatively low in fat content, they are often taken late in the winter when other fruits are scarce. This translates into a longer period in which we can enjoy the wow factor of winterberry. 

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Black Trumpet Mushrooms Photo Credit: Greg Marley

I have noticed that nothing sparks people’s curiosity on a nature hike as much as a mushroom. They offer a splash of color among the browns of the forest floor or decaying wood, and come in a variety of surprising shapes and sizes. Mushrooms can be deadly poisonous or delicious to eat, depending on the species. They are a mysterious, magical, and a sometimes-frustrating organism. Becoming a mushroom expert is a lifetime pursuit, as proper identification can be tricky to say the least.

Mushrooms are part of the fungus kingdom, and are the fleshy, reproductive body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. The majority of the fungus is found underground, where it spreads through threadlike structures called mycelium. It isn’t your imagination that mushrooms seemingly pop up overnight. Mushrooms do take several days to form their fruit bodies, but after that they absorb water rapidly, sometimes greatly expanding their size in just a few hours. This rapid expansion in size and scope is where we get the expression “to mushroom” or “mushrooming”.

Destroying Angel Mushroom

Though the spore bearing mushroom is short-lived, the underlying mycelium itself can be long-lived and massive, spreading throughout the forest floor and forming a vast, branching fungal network. More than 90% of plant species in the forest and fields around us are in a symbiotic relationship with the mycelium, where nutrient and water absorption capabilities are shared and protection against pathogens is increased. The symbiotic relationships between fungi and plants are known as mycorrhizae.

Late summer and early fall are a great time to look for mushrooms locally. If your looking to see a variety of mushrooms, head out after a rainstorm, with a soggy forest being a good place to start. The species of mushroom you find will have everything to do with the surrounding habitat, with some fungi forming relationships with deciduous trees and others with conifers. If you learn to identify trees, this will help you identify mushrooms.

Mycologist Greg Marley Photo Credit: Greg Marley

If you are interested in eating mushrooms, positive identification is key. There are about 40 species of mushrooms in Maine that are commonly collected and eaten. Unless you know what you are doing, DO NOT eat mushrooms unless you are forging with an expert. If you make a mistake in identification, you may experience gastrointestinal distress or a mind-bending experience, or even death. One extremely common mushroom in Maine is the Destroying Angel, and you only need to eat one for the results to be fatal.

Lucky for us, we do have some regional mushroom experts, and Boothbay Region Land Trust is proud to host the renowned Greg Marley on September 25th at 9 AM at our Oak Point Farm headquarters (group size limited and registration is required by emailing thall@bbrlt.org). Greg will lead us on an exploration of fungal ecology, edibility, toxicity and the wonder of mushrooms during a walk in the woods. Greg has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching about mushrooms for over 45 years.

So next time you are in the woods and see an intriguing mushroom, take the time to look a little closer and get to know it. Learn more by acquainting yourself with online mushroom identification sites and mushroom field guides. Talk to experts at a local farmers market, a land trust. or join a mycological club. Always identify species through a variety of sources and be thoroughly convinced with the identification before eating a wild mushroom. Be patient as your knowledge grows, and you will be rewarded with a true delicacy.

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I was walking my dog the other day when a red squirrel crossed our path, carrying a shapely white object almost as large as it was. It was far enough in the distance that my dog didn’t notice, and I had to do a double take to figure out what I was looking at. As the squirrel made its way into a young spruce tree and left the white object on top of some branches, what I was witnessing became clear. The squirrel was storing mushrooms.

a red squirrel left this mushroom on top of a spruce branch to dry out for later storage

Summer is the bountiful time of year, when squirrels are stashing food for the leaner months of winter. Red squirrels mainly feed on the seeds and cones of evergreen trees, but they will also eat mushrooms, bird eggs, berries, and fruit when they are available. Seeds and cones are stored in underground caches, ready to be dug up later. Sometimes they forget to dig up these seeds, and unintentionally plant trees in new places. Mushrooms on the other hand are stored differently, placed atop branches to dry out, then gathered and placed in tree cavities.

Many species of mushrooms are collected by squirrels including those that are toxic to humans. They have the ability to eat poisonous mushrooms because of their unique gut, which passes toxins straight through their body without ever entering the bloodstream. Mushrooms of all sizes are gathered as well, and if the mushroom is too large to carry, the squirrel will break it into pieces for transport. This often leaves mushroom crumbles on the ground, another sign of squirrel activity.

A close up photo of a red squirrel midden pile shows the leftovers of a spruce cone

Squirrels can eat their own body weight every week, so all of this preparation and storage is important for survival. When hiking on our local preserves you will often witness a squirrel perched on a tree stump, dining on a spruce cone. While they will eat all parts of the mushroom, they do leave behind the scraps of their seed and nut meals. These leftover cone scales and acorn shells collect in piles called middens, which sometimes reach several feet across and are visible throughout the forests.

So next time you are visiting a BRLT preserve, be sure to look up and see if you can find any loose mushrooms hanging in the tree branches or look down and see if you can find a midden pile filled with spruce cone scales. Once you start looking, you will see that signs of squirrels and their dining habits abound.

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Although the preserve no longer has a schoolhouse and the pond is technically a bog, Schoolhouse Pond Preserve is worth a visit. On the northern part of Barters Island, the 42-acre parcel is one of BRLT’s quieter preserves and offers a secluded setting with a 1.2-mile loop trail. While there are no water views from this property, the beautiful mixed forest features a variety of wildflowers, interesting rock formations, spectacular outcroppings of granite and a beautiful old stone wall.

From early records, it appears this land had an unremarkable past. Ledge rock abounded so the best use of the land was probably as a woodlot, with opportunities for cranberry and blueberry picking. For many years, a single town road ran up the interior of Barters Island, with lanes and smaller roads branching off to serve the houses near the shore. In the 1870s new roads were built on the islands exterior, and the original town road fell into disuse. Even today, there are still distinctive ruts and furrows which endure from the old road, part of which has been incorporated into the trail that winds through the preserve.

The preserves biggest claim to fame is that it was home to one of Barters Island’s schoolhouses in the 19^th century. Old maps show the school was on the ridge, not too far from the small bog which is still there today. Built sometime between 1837 and 1846, the school was closed in about 1895 when a new school was built a short distance away on the west side of the island. The old school building was sold for $10 to a Barters Island resident and moved from the original location, but its new location has been lost through history.

For at least a decade prior to the acquisition of the property by Boothbay Region Land Trust, several individuals from Barters Island had explored the possibility of protecting a trail on the property, portions of which remained from the old town road. Others had requested that an additional hiking trail be opened on Barters Island to supplement the trail already in place at Porter Preserve. When the property went on the market, the land trust moved quickly to acquire an option to purchase it. Purchased in 2001 with funds raised by more than 80 property owners on Barters Island and other friends, Schoolhouse Pond Preserve and its rich history will remain protected into the future.

For a guided walk of Schoolhouse Pond Preserve, please join us this Friday, June 25^th at 10 AM. The hour-long program includes a 1 mile walk and explores the history and ecology of the property. Group is limited to 10 participants with the walk to follow current CDC Covid guidelines for outside gatherings. Registration is required by contacting Tracey at thall@bbrlt.org or 633-4818.

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Canada Mayflower in Bloom

Now is the time to see the beautiful flower of a common plant that covers our local forest floors all summer long. On summer nature hikes I often receive inquiries about the identification of the shiny oval leaves that stay low to the ground. Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum trifolium) is a wildflower which produces frothy white flowers in late May and June in the mixed woods of our region. It is one of our spring ephemerals, wildlflowers that grow early before the trees fully leaf out to take advantage of the extra sunlight.

Canada Mayflower often forms carpet-like colonies as it spreads underground through its rhizomes, a type of modified stem. The short stem seen above ground usually zigzags and holds two oval leaves, and when in bloom the tiny white flowers are in upright clusters on separate delicate stems. The entire plant is only 3 to 6 inches tall. Plants with only one leaf are immature and will not flower until the second year.

The Latin name Mainanthemum comes from two Greek words: maios which means May and anthemom which means blossom. This year I have seen this wildflower blooming in May, but more often it is visible in June throughout our peninsula. The flowers can be fragrant if you can get down close to the ground to smell them. Later in the summer, the flowers become small berries with one to two seeds. The berries are initially green with spots, then turn a mottled dull red in late summer and red in fall.

Canada Mayflower Berries in Summer

Canada Mayflower is not a large source of food for wildlife but the berries and/or leaves are eaten by several bird and mammal species, including the Ruffed Grouse, Eastern Chipmunks, and Snowshoe Hares. It can be found on most BRLT preserves as it has rather flexible requirements for growth, finding success in a wide range of sunlight levels, soil types, and habitats. The range of Canada Mayflower extends from Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee.

If you are interested in learning more about the Canada Mayflower and the many other species of spring wildflowers that call our region home, consider joining us on June 11^th at 9 AM at BRLT’s Oak Point Farm for a spring wildflower walk.   Botanist and BRLT Board member Lauren Stockwell will help us identify some of our common wildflowers while observing the unique features of each plant. Group size is limited and registration is required by emailing or calling 633-4818.

If you are unable to join us for the wildflower walk, there are some great resources available for native plant identification. Our neighbors at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens offer a variety of native plant species for viewing and programs for learning. They also house an impressive herbarium with a collection of pressed specimens. The Wild Seed Project offers native plant profiles for Maine species as well as information on how to support local wildflowers. And as always, BRLT is happy to answer questions you may have about what you are seeing on the preserves. If possible, include photos with your questions.

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Today is Earth Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the importance of the planet in our lives and to focus on ways we can protect the Earth. It is serendipitous that Earth Day falls in the spring, a time of rebirth and renewal in the natural world. It is a fitting time for us to appreciate the incredible diversity of life that our planet supports. In our local woodlands, one of the best places to observe the renewal of life at this time of spring is in our vernal pools.

What is a vernal pool? It is a seasonal pool of water that provides habitat for certain plants and animals. Vernal pools are a desirable place for some species of amphibians and insects to reproduce, as they lack the egg eating fish found in ponds and streams. For portions of the year vernal pools dry up, but each spring they fill with snow melt and rain. This is when vernal pools host a flurry of activity, with frogs and salamanders migrating from the surrounding forest to mate and lay their eggs in dense jelly masses.

While Earth Day arrives on the early side of spring in midcoast Maine, vernal pools are generally hitting their peak activity on this day and are a fantastic place to appreciate the intricate balance of nature, in which even transitory environments like these have a vital role in sustaining our diverse wildlife. Many of us on the Boothbay peninsula live within walking distance of a vernal pool. On this Earth Day we all can be sure to enjoy this valuable habitat while observing its many sights and sounds. If you have never looked closely at a vernal pool, I encourage you to do so. Locally wood frogs, spring peepers, and spotted salamanders are finishing up mating, and their eggs are visible in the pools‘ waters. Frog calls can also be heard on warm nights–some from miles away, so be sure to crack your windows or step out on the porch to enjoy the rich cacophony.

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Students examine the bark of a paper birch.

I was recently invited to Southport Central School to take the 2nd/3rd graders on a hike that focused on trees. They had read about our self-guided winter tree identification walk in the newspaper and were hoping to visit Cross River Preserve. Alas our winter weather left the preserve parking lot in less than ideal conditions for a school bus to drive in, so we opted to take the students outside of their own school doors instead. In the 1/4 mile stretch of trail behind the school, we were able to find six species of trees: Paper Birch, Red Maple, Bigtooth Aspen, White Pine, Red Spruce, and Balsam Fir.

Students enjoy standing among tiny red spruce trees.

While leaning against tree trunks or running our fingers over needles, we discussed the difference between deciduous and coniferous trees and the characteristics we use for identification. We compared bark textures and patterns in young and old trees of the same species, and gazed high into a maple tree to spot its red buds glowing in the sunlight. The kids jumped right in, breaking apart needles to smell and then taste them, noticing that different species of needles have different flavors. As we hiked  they pointed out examples of the trees by name, remembering that our firs are friendly and soft to the touch and our spruces are spiky and sharp.

Learning some identification tricks for the white pine tree.

It was a magical afternoon in the forest as the children interacted with the trees around them. Our time in the woods led to other discoveries, like a thicket of young pine that was home to some snowshoe rabbits. Some students noticed a variety tracks and scat and pointed them out to the group. As we neared the school others discovered a dead standing tree, and noticed the signs that insects and woodpeckers had been there. As our walk ended, I encouraged the children to continue to look at the trees, as continued observation and practice will improve their ability to identify trees.

What trees are you seeing each day? Take some time to look around and interact with the trees with the fascination of a child and you might just learn something new. Keep an eye on the BRLT calendar of events for more programming on trees and other natural topics. We hope to see you at a future event!

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A Burl on a Tree Trunk

February 9: Tree Mysteries

Every once and a while, a tree will stand out among the others. Something about its shape, color, or pattern will emerge and catch my eye. A giant lump protruding from a tree trunk, a thick cluster of branches, some curious etchings under some bark. These tree mysteries can be found throughout the forest and all have a story to tell. I thought I would share some common conundrums you might find while in the woods.

One such mystery is a burl. A burl often appears as a large rounded bump on a tree’s trunk or branches. This growth results from a tree undergoing some form of stress, such as an injury, virus or fungus. The burl has a barked exterior and its interior is composed of a tree’s bud tissue that has not sprouted foliage or grown into a twig. As a burl grows, it absorbs the tree’s undeveloped buds that surround it and folds them into its enlarging form.

Burl cells are different from regular tree cells, often growing faster and during all seasons, which causes their unpredictable size and presentation.  Despite its appearance however, a burl itself is not diseased or contagious. In fact, it is important to leave burls on living trees as they are act as a bandage and seal off the injured area. Burls from dead trees are highly prized for their beauty and rarity and are used by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors.

Witches Broom in a Tree

Another tree mystery is known as witches broom. Witches broom appears as a dense growth of shoots from a single point, resembling a birds nest or a broom. This is another case of a tree undergoing some form of stress, such as an injury, virus, or fungus. The normal order of growth is interrupted, causing buds to grow wildly. The witches broom growth will last for many years, usually for the life of the tree and can provide nesting habitat for birds and mammals, such as the northern flying squirrel.

Wood Boring Insect Paths

The final mystery I would like to share is most often seen under the bark of dead trees, or those on their way to being so. What appears like small carvings in intricate patterns are actually the feeding paths of borer insects. These beetles and moths spend part of their life tunneling beneath the bark, consuming a trail as they move. Borer insects can damage trees, but they usually arrive after the tree is already stressed, injured, or dying.

These are just a few of the common tree mysteries one might encounter on a walk in the woods. Next time you are in the forest, be sure to keep an eye out. If you find a mystery of your own, we welcome you to take a picture and share it with us. Who knows, it might be what I write about in the next blog post.

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The Red Pine’s reddish-brown bark is where the tree’s name originates

Now that winter has set in, it is the perfect time to go for a walk and identify some of our trees while they are in their winter finest. We often rely on the distinct features of leaves to identify trees, but there are a few other traits which are present in all seasons that can be used for tree ID. Bark patterns and textures, leaf buds and scars, tree shapes, and habitat are just a few examples of the characteristics that can help to positively identify a tree. BRLT is posting a self-guided winter tree identification walk for Cross River Preserve that will be rolling out soon, but in the meantime I thought I would offer some helpful tips.

The dead leaves of the American Beech are light tan and tend to remain on trees into winter

When you encounter a tree you are interested in identifying, start by taking in the tree in its entirety. Stand back a bit and examine the tree from top to bottom, noticing the overall shape of the tree and the pattern of the branches. Next, look at where the tree is growing. Is it found in an open clearing, along an edge, or deep in a forest? Is the area in which the tree is growing wet or is it on a rocky ledge? Once you have taken in the big picture of the tree, it is time to look at the smaller details.

Zoom in on the tree, taking time to examine the bark for texture and patterns. Examine the branches and the leaf buds, noticing the pattern in which they grow. Are the branches and leaf buds directly opposite of one another, or do they alternate in pattern? Other hints can be found by breaking a twig and smelling the tree or by looking for last summer’s leaves on the ground. Some deciduous trees retain their dried leaves in the winter, aiding in identification.

Also important is to recognize is that trees sometimes break patterns, making them tricky to identify.  For example, some trees have different bark when the tree is younger versus when it is mature. Also, a tree that grows in deep shade may not have the same appearance as one that has grown in full sun. Sprouted branches arising from stumps may also look very different from the branches of a tree of the same species.

Taking all of these things into consideration, the best way to identify a tree with all of these characteristics is to use a field guide with a key. Lucky for us the state of Maine has put out an amazing field guide to local trees that can be downloaded for free off of the internet or you can purchase a hard copy. To get started identifying winter trees with a key, visit the Maine State Forest Service here: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/publications/handbooks_guides/forest_trees/index.html

Winter tree identification is a great way to slow down and observe the nature around you. For an added challenge–head out to Cross River and see if you can identify some trees using the Maine State Forest Service guide, and then return after we post our self-guided tree ID and see how it compares with your own observations.

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