A porcupine sculpted that elegant, snaking wave in powder snow in my front yard. The wave stretched from my house to garden’s edge, about 20 feet, then looped back, losing its artistry when the large rodent, second largest to the North American beaver, clumsily plodded to the spot where it squeezed under the house, its chosen winter home. The first porcupine in a string of winter squatters and the first to enter right beside the doorstep to my home, this entitled individual even tread onto and then sidled sideways off the edge of the lowest steppingstone to my front door to reach the crawlspace.
Windblown, sunlit seedhead, perhaps a goldenrod, etches a graceful arch in the snow-primed ground. As if to complete the painting, a small individual tracked across the canvas, adding a rhythmic, three-pointed design. A search of animal-track literature proved inconclusive but well worth exploring. My sources: Peterson’s “A Field Guide to Animal Tracks” and, on the web, Almanac and Mass.gov. Guesses: deer mouse, white-footed mouse, meadow vole.
Appearing to be three-toed animal tracks, or miniature soaring birds floating on snow, the fanciful yellow birch bracts—seed coverings—are found on snow along with released seeds. Notice the clump of bracts on the left in the photograph. Find winged seeds scattered over the snow, their lighter, gold-colored wings frame the darker seed at the center. GoBotany provides succinct descriptions and pertinent illustrations of all parts of the yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis, and the related black birch, Betula lenta, that follows.
Look up to the forest canopy and the crown of individual trees to study their twigs. This black birch tree, Betula lenta, is studded with winter flower buds. Winter buds borne on perennial trees and shrubs provide keys to their identity.
Compare yellow and black birches here.
Look for downy goldenrod (Solidago puberula) seedheads in meadows and along roadsides. See its blossoms, habitat preferences, and benefits to the landscape here and at GoBotany. Downy goldenrod is recommended among other “superstars” yet again. Collect seed or purchase seed and/or plants.
Celebrate snow!
Berkshire Botanical Garden Upcoming Classes in support of biodiversity
info@berkshirebotanical.org, (413) 298-3926
Invasives: Plants and Insects, at BBG, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, January 11 through February 1
Native Plants for Every Corner of the Garden, on Zoom, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., February 1 to 22
