Happy Mystery Monday! What native grass has seeds that look like snow flurries?
Last week, we asked you about ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)! Ironwood also happens to be our 2023 Native Tree of the Year! At Adkins, you’ll find ironwood in the understory, growing in and around the floodplains. Easily identified by its taut and rippled trunk, ironwood is known for its strong wood and has historically been used for tool handles and the like. Found throughout Maryland, ironwood is the host plant for a variety of butterflies, including the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), and many moths, including the American dagger moth (Acronicta americana) and banded tussock moth (Halysidota tessellaris). In addition to feeding many lepidopterans, ironwood foliage and twigs are tasty fodder for deer and the nutlets are browsed by mammals and birds alike.
#adkinsarboretum #nativetree #mysterymonday #mysterytree #mysteryplant #hostplant #winterinterest
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go here.
A showcase of excellence that dates to 1829, the Philadelphia Flower Show is a top destination and a must-experience horticultural event. On Mon., March 6, join Adkins Arboretum for 
Last week, we asked you about the Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana). Also known as scrub pine, this medium-sized tree tends to grow in old fields and poor soils. Here on the Eastern Shore, it tends to grow near loblolly pines and sweet gum trees. One of the easiest ways to identify this tree is to look at the needle bundles. The needles are paired in twos, with each needle slightly twisting. A good way to remember this is that the two needles resemble a “V” — “V” for Virginia. Virginia pine provides good cover for wildlife and often is one of the first trees to naturally regrow in mined or burned areas.
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go 
Last week, we highlighted the devil’s walking stick (Aralia spinosa). Devil’s walking stick is in Araliaceae, the same plant family as ginseng and wild sarsaparilla. It is most easily identified by its stem (in any season), which has strong thorns wrapped around it. The leaves are heavily divided and can reach 3-4 feet long and wide (per leaf!). It produces prolific white umbel flowers, which attract pollinators of all kinds! Just walk by in the summer and hear the buzzing! #nativeplants #mysterymonday #adkinsarboretum #mysteryplant #mysterytree #knowyourplantfamilies #devilswalkingstick #winterinterest
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go 
Last week, we asked you about the Maryland state tree: the white oak (Quercus alba). Oak trees are some of the most beneficial trees to wildlife. According to Doug Tallamy, oaks host over 900 species of Lepidoptera and produce nutrient dense acorns that birds and mammals rely on. One of the easiest ways to identify the white oak in winter is its notable light grey furrowed and flaky bark. Did you know that most oak trees don’t produce acorns until they are 50-100 years old? That said, some specimen trees can bear acorns as early as 20 years old, given optimal conditions.
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go 
Last week, we asked you about the swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) seeds! Swamp sunflowers fill our Parking Lot Alive! gardens with golden hues in the fall, but they continue to offer great structure and interest in winter! These plants are hardy and versatile, growing well in wet and dry conditions. They spread easily by seed and are an important food source for a variety of birds, bees, butterflies, and other insects.
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go 
Forest School is a drop-off program that meets Tuesdays, Feb. 7 to March 14, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The program is held completely outdoors and meets in all but the rainiest weather. Children should be dressed in warm layers. Caregivers are welcome to enjoy the Arboretum grounds and Visitor’s Center during class time.
Last week, we asked you about the American amber jelly fungus (Exidia crenata). This super fun fungus is also known as amber jelly roll (sounds like a holiday treat!). This jelly fungus is, well, jelly-like. It thrives in cool and humid weather and can often be found in the winter, especially after a chilly rain. This fungus has little dark wart-like structures on the fruiting bodies, which usually grow on fallen dead sticks and branches.
Thanks for following us this year — we look forward to seeing you in 2023!
Last week, we asked you about the false milkweed bug (Lygaeus turcicus). At first glance, this bug looks very similar to the large (Oncopeltus fasciatus) and small milkweed bugs (Lygaeus kalmii), as well as the box elder bug (Boisea trivittata). Fortunately, if you have time in the field or a good picture to work from, there are a few distinguishing features you can look for to identify the bug! Generally speaking, the milkweed bugs will be on milkweeds and other perennials such as asters. The false milkweed bug has what appears to be an overlapping “V” shape on its back. It is often found on oxeye sunflower and has been known to snack on the seeds. The large milkweed bug has a thick horizontal black band across its back and the small milkweed bug has a black heart shape on its back. The box elder bug is predominantly black, with some orange outlining and can be found on box elder, as well as maples and ash trees. It can take practice, but when you learn to look closer, there is so much more to see!
Adkins Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum. For more information go