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Skunk Cabbage

Skunk Cabbage

Skunk Cabbage is one of the first plants to bloom in spring time along the east coast of the United States and certainly one of my favorites. I love how their bright green color contrasts with the brown leaves of the forest floor and still barren trees. Skunk Cabbage favors marshy wetland areas and forested stream [...]

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Crown-topped Coral Fungus

Naturalist’s Notes: Catskills Tree Fungi

My interest in forest fungi started when I was hiking Vermont’s Long Trail in 2008 and I kept coming across these white fiddlehead looking plants called Indian Pipe or Ghost Flower. I took photos of them and the other new plants, trees, bugs, and animals I saw and started researching them after each of my [...]

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Fluted Mushroom

Maine is for Mushrooms

I saw the coolest looking mushrooms on the Maine Appalachian Trail this year, but I’m having trouble identifying what kind they are. Care to give me a hand? Leave a comment if you know their names, or if you’d like to make a plausible name up! It’s Friday! Most Popular Searchesmaine mushroomsmushrooms in mainemushrooms of [...]

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Deep Roots

Root Fires and Leave No Trace Campfire Building

I came across this note last week when I was hiking south past Rainbow Lake on the Maine Appalachian Trail.  It reads: What is a root fire? A root fire is a fire that burns underground along the root system of a tree. It’s a very dangerous form of fire because the fire can smoulder [...]

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Mount Katahdin, Appalachian Trail

The Sound of Cicadas

When I was growing up, I used to listen to the sound of the cicadas in our back yard. It’s the sound that I associate with the hot days and evenings of summer. Yesterday morning, as I was hiking the last few miles of Maine’s 100 mile wilderness, I came to an open area in [...]

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What is Krumholz?

Krumholz is a German word used to describe the stunted trees that grow on exposed mountain tops above treeline. They look like weathered bonsai trees but instead of a human gardener, the wind is their master. These trees grow together in impenetrably dense clusters usually below head height. They're broken and battered by storms and [...]

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Don’t Feed the Grey Jays!

Grey Jays are smart birds. They live in the northern half of North America, ranging from Alaska, through Canada, and down into northern New England.  I only see them at or close to mountain summits, where it's not uncommon for tame Grey Jays to land on people's heads or hands in search of a free [...]

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