Wheaton Woods - April 21, 2004

Wheaton Woods is a typical southerastern MA mixed forest with wetlands. This was one of the first warm days in April and there were many signs of spring.

Entrance to Wheaton Woods - American beech to the left holds its leaves Skunk cabbage in wetland at bridge Lots of skunk cabbage Stone wall in Wheaton Woods - sign of former field Skunk cabbage up close Green brier or cat brier Across the stream in Wheaton Woods Gray squirrel near decomposing tree trunk Fern fiddleheads emerging This vernal pool is studied by faculty and students Salamander eggs center right and maybe some frog's eggs at top White pine understory indicates an area with good light Mosquito ditch in Wheaton Woods Bracket fungi - decomposers Sassafrass grows along the edges of the paths Oak tree with three trunks Red oaks develop deep tracks in the bark as the tree gets older Woodpecker holes in a red oak Decomposition Club Moss - one of several types of Lycopodium in Wheaton Woods Spotted wintergreen has stripes, not spots! Wintergreen or teaberry - Gaultheria procumbens Old cedar with beautiful patterns in the wood White Pine - apical bud was nipped by beetles - sign of former open field Poison ivy without its leaves - stay away! ? Last year's Japanese knotweed Japanese knotweed emerging ? Rumford River - the water is very high - red osier dogwood on the far side Canada Mayflower or wild-lily-of-the-valley Fern fiddlehead Lambkill. dwarf laurel, sheep laurel - Kalmia angustifolia Beautiful branch patterns New growth from old beech Fiddleheads emerging Cattails and Phragmites in a wetland Fern Fiddleheads Beech catkins Beautiful patterns of branches ? Lenticels Woodpecker holes ? ? Birch catkins