Adkins Arboretum Mystery Monday! Guess the Picture Below
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Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The answer to last week’s mystery is seaside alder, Alnus maritima.Seaside alder is a small deciduous tree or large shrub in the birch family.It is often found growing beside streams, bogs, and ponds near coastal areas, and sometimes in standing water. It is well-suited to wet soils, or areas with seasonal flooding.Seaside alder’s dense foliage is attractive to nesting birds and makes a suitable windscreen, hedge, or specimen plant. Seaside alder is known for its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Adkins Arboretum has announced the 2024 lineup for its popular Soup ’n Walk programs. Explore the Arboretum’s forest, meadows and wetland on a guided walk themed to the season, then enjoy a delicious lunch and a brief talk about nature and nutrition. Copies of recipes are provided. All gift shop purchases on these days receive a 20% discount. This year’s offerings include:
Early Blooms, Songbirds & Spring Frogs
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Listen for songbirds and spring frogs while searching for early purple, pink and white blooms. Plants of interest include skunk cabbage, paw paw, spring beauty and bloodroot. Menu: hearty vegetarian chili, sweet and tangy sauerkraut salad, brown rice bread with spinach dip, dark chocolate chewy cookie.
Spring Ephemerals & Pollinators
Sat., April 13, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Look again! The blooms of ephemeral plants, trees and shrubs are here and gone in the blink of an eye. Look for pink, white and yellow blooms and listen for early pollinators. Plants of interest include pink spring beauty, may apple, dogwood, golden groundsel, spicebush, sassafras and white beech. Menu: ginger sweet potato soup, Eastern Shore crunchy cole slaw, ancient grain bread with strawberry jam, oatmeal walnut cookies.
Beavers, Tuckahoe Creek & Beyond
Sat., May 18, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Observe the beautiful Tuckahoe Creek view while scouting for signs of beavers. Plants of interest include mountain laurel, beech, tulip tree, pink lady’s slipper, Solomon’s seal and may apple. Menu: kale, apple, and lentil soup, green bean salad with honey cider vinaigrette, pumpernickel bread and apple butter, cinnamon crunch apple cake.
Sat., Sept. 21, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Walk the meadows in search of golden brown grasses and yellow and purple flowers while watching and listening for bluebirds and dragonflies. Plants of interest include milkweed, black-eyed Susan, goldenrod, Indian grass, big bluestem and sumac berries. Menu: split pea soup, wild rice berry salad, anadama oatmeal bread with orange marmalade, spicy pumpkin pie in easy crust.
Sat., Oct. 19, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Fall colors dazzle the eye and pique the appetite. Listen for migrating birds and woodpeckers while watching for changing color on red and orange sweet gum, sassafras, tupelo, sumac, dogwood, yellow paw paw, hickory, beech and tulip trees. Menu: butternut squash sweet potato bisque, red pepper and chick pea salad, whole wheat flaxseed bread with blackberry jam, tasty peach and berry crisp.
Sat., Nov. 16, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Enjoy autumn as we hunt for nutritious berries, nuts and seeds and check for signs of beaver. Plants of interest include dogwood, hibiscus, partridge berry, oak, loblolly pine, juniper, verbena, ironwood and strawberry bush. Menu: kale and chicken soup with lemon, black-eyed pea salad, dill rye bread with raspberry jam, Black Forest cake with cherries.
Soup ’n Walk programs are $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Early registration is recommended. Visit adkinsarboretum.org or call 410-634-2847, ext. 100 to register or for more information.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The answer to last week’s mystery is turkey tail fungi, Trametes versicolor. Turkey tail fungi grows in rows or clusters of tiered layers on dead wood. It prefers stumps or logs of deciduous trees, mainly hardwood, such as beech or oak.Turkey tail breaks down the lignin portion of dead wood, leaving behind white, stringy cellulose, hence, it is considered a “white rot” fungus. Fungi belong to their own kingdom and get their nutrients and energy from organic matter, rather than photosynthesis, like plants.While other fungi fade away by winter, turkey tail endures, and bridges the color gap to spring. Turkey tail’s vibrant contrasting colors makes one pause to admire the beauty.Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The answer to last week’s mystery is polyphemus moth cocoon, Antheraea polyphemus.The polyphemus is named after the giant one-eyed monster, Cyclops, of Homer’s Odyssey, for the big false eyespot on each hindwing. Their big, fake eyes make them appear larger to predators and when threatened they will flip forward their front wings to expose the large eyespots as a deterrent.Adult polyphemus moths are large and butterfly-like, with an adult wingspan of 4-6 inches. Their color varies greatly. Some specimens are brown or tan, others are bright reddish-brown.The polyphemus is a common, hairy-bodied moth that bears two broods a year in Maryland. Larvae are bright translucent green, with convex segments. Inside of each cocoon is a dark brown pupa which the adult moth will emerge from.Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
The answer to last week’s mystery is skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, pictured in photo below.
The large spathe surrounding the spadix cabbage gets its name from the unpleasant odor it emits.
The skunk cabbage exhibits thermogenesis, or the ability to metabolically generate heat. Its spadix can generate temperatures on average 20 degrees warmer inside the spathe than the surrounding air temperature for nearly two weeks. It can also bloom while there is still snow and ice on the ground.
Skunk cabbage attracts pollinators that are drawn to rotting meat, primarily carrion-feeding flies and gnats. It is also visited by bees, beetles, and other insects, possibly because of the warmth.
Skunk cabbage has a massive root system, with roots which pulls the plant deeper into the soil each year. A few inches below the surface, a thick mat of unbranched, fibrous roots grows out in all directions from the elongated rootstock, terminating in an extensive system of fibrous rootlets. The roots and rootstock store large amounts of nutrients necessary for thermogenesis and to produce the lush foliage the following year.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Today’s mystery:
The answer to last week’s mystery is eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, pictured below.
The eastern hemlock is a forest giant, affectionately nicknamed the Redwood of the East. It can live for over 500 years and reach heights of more than 170 feet. (Note: The eastern hemlock is not poisonous or related to the poisonous hemlock of the herbaceous species.)
This species thrives on streams-sides and is frequently found on steep, north facing rock slopes. It presents a very graceful appearance with dense branches that reach the ground.
Hemlock foliage is an important source of food and shelter in eastern forests, particularly in Winter when hardwood trees are dormant.
Historically, hemlock bark was an important source of tannin for the leather tanning industry. Hemlock also boasts the unusual power of holding spikes, so the lumber is often used for general construction and objects like crates.
For more about Adkins Arboretum, please go here.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Now in its 195th year, the award-winning PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is a one-of-a-kind marquee event known the world over for its exquisite and immersive floral exhibits, world-class plant competitions, family-friendly activities and educational offerings. It is a top destination and a must-experience horticultural event. On Mon., March 4, join Adkins Arboretum for an unforgettable trip to this year’s show, “United by Flowers.”
“United by Flowers” is a celebration of the community that blooms each spring at the annal Show—a moment with hundreds of thousands of visitors share in a week-long magnification of the transformative power of gardening. In this fragmented world of consistently changing landscapes, everyone who participates brings their passion and enthusiasm to co-create this unique event that proudly puts this vibrant and colorful collective on display.
The Philadelphia Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event. The show will be packed with a variety of flowers and plants at the peak of seasonal perfection. Visitors can expect spectacular floral and garden displays, educational areas, plant exhibits, shopping, a play area for families and plentiful food and drink options. Hundreds of spectacular native butterflies can also be experienced in the Butterflies Live! exhibit. The Arboretum group will be admitted to the show at 9 a.m.—a full hour before it opens to the public.
The trip is $150 for Arboretum members and $185 for non-members. The bus departs from Aurora Park Drive in Easton at 6:45 a.m. and will stop for pickups at the Rt. 50 westbound/Rt. 404 Park and Ride near Wye Mills and the 301/291 Park and Ride in Millington. Return time is 4 p.m. Advance registration is required at adkinsarboretum.org or by calling 410-634-2847, ext. 100.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Happy Mystery Monday! The answer to last week’s mystery is cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum, pictured here.
The cedar waxwing is small in size, landing somewhere between a sparrow and robin. They are native to North America. Male and female cedar waxwings look alike. Their bellies are pale yellow, and their tails are gray with a bright yellow tip. Their faces have a narrow black mask neatly outlined in white, and they have red waxy tips on their wing feathers.
Cedar waxwings are sociable, and often groom each other. They travel in flocks of 40 or more birds. Waxwings are mostly frugivorous, or fruit eaters. Occasionally a cedar waxwing will become drunk or even die from eating berries that have fermented. Male waxwings court the females by doing a hopping dance and passing berries or pieces of fruit to the female. If the female is interested, she will do a hopping dance and pass the fruit or berry back to the male.
The female cedar waxwing lays four to six eggs. The male will bring her food and guard the nest while she incubates the eggs. Both parents feed the chicks.
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.
Adkins Arboretum received a 2023 Chesapeake Bay Trust Outreach grant to partner with ShoreRivers on a “Naturally Better Landscaping” project that strives to educate and empower local homeowner associations to adopt environmentally-friendly landscaping practices. The project was prompted by the passage of Maryland House Bill 322, which prohibits HOA governing bodies from restricting homeowners who employ landscaping techniques that benefit the environment.
By using native plants in conjunction with other environmentally friendly techniques such as leaving the leaves, reducing turf, and finding alternatives to toxic fertilizers and pesticides, homeowners can help support wildlife and keep our waterways clean. Land, water, and wildlife are inextricably linked, and the choices homeowners make play an important role in safeguarding our environment.
During the initial “Naturally Better Landscaping” project year, Adkins and ShoreRivers have provided field experiences, site visits, and community presentations to Bay Bridge Cove and Chester Harbor HOAs in Queen Anne’s County, as well as Back Creek HOA in Talbot County. They have also developed garden concept designs and online and print resources. The project was featured in the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council’s “Turning a New Leaf” conference in December.
Queen Anne’s County officials have welcomed the “Naturally Better Landscaping” project as a way to raise awareness about best landscaping practices and stormwater management. With their encouragement, Adkins has applied for a second year of funding in hopes of working with three new HOAs in addition to the HOAs currently engaged. Mallard Run HOA in Stevensville has already expressed interest.
To learn more about the Naturally Better Landscaping project, visit adkinsarboretum.org.
Adkins Arboretum is a 400-acre native garden and preserve at the headwaters of the Tuckahoe Creek in Caroline County. For more information, visit adkinsarboretum.org.
The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.