Monthly Archives: January 2019

Ospreys might be the greatest of all fishermen

Posted on January 29, 2019 by tedmanzer

I wish I had more time to spend on and around the water. I love to watch the ospreys patrol the skies in search of fish. Some people call them sea-eagles or sea-hawks. In many places, ospreys can only be … Continue reading →

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Oyster mushrooms are a common fungus on deciduous trees

Posted on January 21, 2019 by tedmanzer

A friend of mine brought in a mushroom sample recently for me to identify. I smiled when I saw it. When I was a teenager, it was one of my favorites to collect. My dad and I usually found it … Continue reading →

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Grape Holly is a shrub with winter appeal

Posted on January 15, 2019 by tedmanzer

Recently, someone asked me about shrubs that were showy in winter. Obviously, camellias fit that bill as do winterberry holly and a few others. Mahonia, often known as grape holly, is an underused adaptable shrub that also has winter attributes. … Continue reading →

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Sweetfern is a spicy northern cousin

Posted on January 10, 2019 by tedmanzer

I was trimming a wax myrtle the other day when I caught a whiff of its sweet fragrance. It reminded me of my many treks through the Maine wild landscape. Walking through waist-high patches of sweetfern gave my clothes an … Continue reading →

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Bushy bluestem is a native prairie grass

Posted on January 1, 2019 by tedmanzer

This time of year, along the highway in full sun we see a tan upright grass with thick feathery tops. When other vegetation is growing, we rarely notice it. Until seed heads develop, this grass is easily ignored. It’s called … Continue reading →

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