Bittersweet – the Good and the Bad
November 30th, 2009
Oriental Bittersweet berries
I’m not talking about chocolate, a musical group or a pastry shop.
At this time of year, with deciduous leaves not obscuring your view, and the woods and thickets kind of drab and colorless, you can find a bittersweet vine readily in the northeastern US. Its bright orange/red berries framed in bright yellow bracts stand out and look rather beautiful in the dreary roadside woods.
There is an American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), the native “good” bittersweet, and Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) the troublemaker. They are much alike in their twining habit, except that Oriental bittersweet is the more aggressive, making American bittersweet less and less common.
Close examination can tell them apart most of the time. Oriental bittersweet has nearly round leaves, and the flowers and ensuing fruit are borne in axillary clusters. American bittersweet’s leaves are longer than wide and taper to a point at the end. The flowers and berries grow at the end of a stem, not at the leaf axils. Trouble is, the two plants hybridize, and the offspring can be a little of both.
Both C. scandens and C. orbiculatus twine around trees but the exotic one can trounce through a woodland and take over the place. If it doesn’t strangle its host tree by twining around its trunk, Oriental bittersweet can overtake it and shade it out. Either way, tree loses.
Birds, rabbits, grouse, squirrels, voles and other rodents eat bittersweet. Although they look beautifully tempting, the berries are not edible for humans. Even if you manage to choke down the horribly bitter-tasting berries, they’ll probably make you sick. Leave them for the wildlife.
Wreath decorated with Oriental Bittersweet berries
Basket decorated with Oriental Bittersweet berries
Thinking about upcoming holidays? Why not decorate with bittersweet? Because of their bright color, floral arrangements, basket decorations and other floral activities make use of sprigs of berries. You too may be inspired like me, to a “Martha Stewart Moment” and collect a few twigs for bringing some color into the house. I cut some branches and used them to revitalize my wreath as well as decorate a basket.
Be extra careful however, in keeping track of the berries. Don’t inadvertently aid in the spread of this invasive plant. I worked on newspaper, and made sure that any wayward and unused berries got put in the trash – not dumped in the woods or compost pile. Better yet, burning them would have been a better idea.
So get outdoors, and look for the brightness that is there for the finding.
Urban Raccoon
November 22nd, 2009Driving in downtown Springfield yesterday I was stopped at a light, city library to my right, city school administration building to my left. I had to do a double take as I saw something starting to cross the road in the crosswalk. Not a person, not a dog, but a big fat raccoon. He sauntered across almost mid way when the light changed, and the car he was approaching started to move. The raccoon quickly realized he was too late, did an about-face, and skedaddled back to the curb and up the nearby steps of the building.
I felt bad for the little guy – being stuck in this concrete jungle. Cars to avoid, people and dogs to contend with. How’s he going to get something to eat, much less navigate in this foreign land? How did he get here? Should I call animal control? I plucked out my phone and turned it on. He’d be better off in Forest Park, the nearby city park.
- Raccoon awaiting release
I reluctantly had to drive onward, looking immediately for a way to turn around and head back to follow my brave friend. While doing that, second thoughts gripped me. I thought about how city savvy that raccoon seemed to be. He knew just what to do to avoid getting squashed by a car. He knew the difference between sidewalk and street. Maybe he’s not so much of a newcomer around here. He didn’t even jaywalk.
When I managed to swing around and head back up the road, I looked for him. No sight of him either walking around or flattened in the road. There were, I noted, quite a number of dumpsters in the area. Maybe that fellow was taking advantage of all the trash. He was a rather chunky looking rascal after all. Instead of a poor displaced raccoon, perhaps he was quite the city slicker.
Yes, if he could find his way in, he could find his way out I reassured myself. Matter of fact – the next time he tries to cross the road, he’ll probably be pushing the “walk” button.
Moss Flinging
November 14th, 2009
Appreciating Moss - in the Woods
I sit here listening to the buzzing whirr of the power sprayer on the roof. With each zing and buzz, a little more moss is dislodged. My husband is out there rigged up in his climbing harness and tied via climbing rope to a big ash tree on the opposite side of the A-frame house. The rope comes over the peak and holds him in a rappelling position as the pitch of the roof makes it impossible to stand on. The power sprayer sits atop scaffolding erected on the front porch. Two lengths of hose and extension cord help it reach the top of the fourth level. Quite the operation; not something we want to do every year. As I watch the many bits and pieces of moss get flung off, I think about why the shingles on our shady north side are so conducive to the growth of moss.
Moss is a non-vascular plant, meaning it lacks the vessels for transport of water and nutrients. Therefore, by necessity moss stays small and grows close to or within a ready source of water. So shady places, damp places, near streams and water sources, wooded areas are all likely places for moss to inhabit. Acidic soils and surfaces are its preference.
Moss has a rather involved life cycle, involving a haploid stage and a diploid stage, so I’m not going to get much into it here. However, the spores resulting from its reproductive cycle are masters at dispersion. They can ride the wind or get tossed by rain and be flung far and wide. Not only that, the spores can start growing pretty much anywhere they land, given enough moisture. Wood, brick, coarse rock surfaces, soil, cracks between cement and asphalt and yes, roofing or anything that is porous or moisture retentive or has a rough surface are subject to moss growth. Once established, moss is super great at retaining water and which not only greatly reduces the lifespan of roofing, but aids in breaking down solid rock.
Getting rid of moss where you don’t want it takes eliminating one of its requirements for survival. Depriving the area of moisture by allowing more direct sun to hit the surface or by creating a drainage system will help. Heavy traffic will also eventually discourage it. Changing the pH of the substrate will also do the trick. This is the logical solution for our roof, as I don’t want to eliminate the beautiful big oak tree on the north side of our house that is the primary shade producer. Strips of copper installed within the rows of shingles on your roof do a great job. As rain falls on the exposed copper and rolls down the roof, it makes for very unsuitable conditions for moss or algae to grow. Any homeowner advice store or website will have more on this.
Aside from my roof, I love moss. To find a big bed of cushy moss on a hike is an invitation for a rest and maybe a quickie nap. Sticking your hand in a thick matt is simply luxurious. With about 12,000 species of moss growing in nooks and crannies all over the world, I think it goes unappreciated and is vastly overshadowed by those showy flowering plants. So, next time you are out and about in your own backyard, bend down, or look up at your rooftop, and take notice of this ubiquitous little survivor.
Acadia National Park’s Thunder Hole – Here’s How it Works
November 14th, 2009
Thunder Hole receiving a beating
Yesterday, several people were washed out to sea near Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park. Tragically, a young girl of 7 years old died. Others were hospitalized with broken bones and hypothermia. They were observing the effects of Hurricane Bill. Thunder Hole is a unique place to watch the effect of waves, but care must be taken.
Thunder Holeis a “must” stop along Ocean Drive. Try to arrive several hours before high tide and if possible just after a storm has passed out to sea. This may be asking a lot but when the surf is high and the tide is right, Thunder Hole and all of Ocean Drive can be the most dramatic experience in Acadia National Park.
Thunder Hole is a narrow chasm with a small cave at the end. As the waves rush in, air and water are compressed and forced out and up with a thunderous roar. Rounded boulders inside the cave add to the sound but it’s the water that is responsible for the thunder. At its most dramatic the surf is mesmerizing but you must remain aware of where you’re standing. When wet the rocks can be extremely slippery and occasionally rogue waves will wash high onto the shore. Those in their paths can be pushed onto the rocks or worse yet drawn into the surf as we saw yesterday.
Find out more about the natural marvels and dangers at Acadia National Park from the Acadia National Park NaturePod
As always, be responsible for your own safety while exploring and enjoying our wild and unpredictable wonders of nature.
My prayers and best wishes go out to the families and victims of this frightening incident.