Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.
Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).
Spotted on a Christmas tree farm, it’s taller than many of the young trees and still standing straight in late November. What is this plant?
That’s mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), a biennial that begins its first year as a very low-growing plant with large, velvety leaves. It takes off in its second year, and can reach six feet in height. Learn more here.
This week’s contest winner was Andrea Lani