September 1st

A tree stump, excavated by a Black Bear foraging for insects. They are generally after the larva.

September 2nd

Dewberry, pictured here, is a type of Rubus. Rubus is a Genus of the Family Rosaceae (Roses). The Rubus Genus has over 200 species in it, and it can be divided into three main groups, the Raspberries, the Blackberries, and the Dewberries. Dewberries are flattened shrubs with trailing stems and fruits that are similar to Blackberries. They are edible by humans and sought after by many animals. The first ones ripened here about August 20th this year.

September 3rd

A Beaver trail on the shores of Quabbin, near Gate 26.

September 4th

Leaves and nuts from Shagbark hickory, Carya ovata, the most common hickory in our local area around and in the Quabbin. It is found primarily on dry ridges, but in its range it occupies a wide variety of sites including deep moist soils of alluvial origin. The Genus Carya also includes C. glabra (Pignut hickory) and C. cordiformis (Bitternut hickory), both also found in our area. Pignut tends to be more of a dry site tree and Bitternut, the most widespread and probably the most abundant hickory in its range across the east and Midwest of the U.S., tends to be more a damp site tree. Much less common in the Quabbin area is Carya tomentosa (Mockernut), mostly occurring in a narrow band along the Connecticut River valley, doing best on dry sites.

When white men came to this continent, they mistakenly thought Hickories were Walnuts and began calling them that name. Indeed, the place where we live, Walnut Hill, was named for the prevalence of these trees, and retains the trees and the name today. Folks searching our hillsides for Walnuts might be disappointed, until they began to appreciate the Hickory, both for its own unique rugged beauty and the importance of its mast crop to wildlife. The nuts of Hickories are oily, edible, and delicious (except for the Bitternut which has a nut distasteful even to wildlife). Hickory nuts of Shagbark and Pignut are a locally significant food source for Red squirrels, Gray squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, and turkeys. Whitetail deer, to a lesser extent, will eat the nuts, and tender growth (browse) is a minor component of their diet as well. I have not had personal experience with Lagamorphs (rabbits and hares) browsing the seedlings and young trees, but I suspect they may, and there are references to this in the literature. Likewise, I have seen no evidence of Porcupines browsing on Hickory, so I am keeping an eye out for this. I have come across oblique references to opossum eating Hickory nuts, but I have not yet found evidence for that, as the densities of Hickory and Oppossum are relatively low and they most often do not share the same habitat near where we live.

Hickories are relatively slow-growing trees, but are long-lived and can reach substantial heights. Shagbark hickory has the capability to grow to heights of 130 to 140 feet, but it is unusual to find a tree of 70 feet anywhere in its range in the U.S. In Massachusetts, the record individual alive today is 60 feet high, in Groton (source: Native & Naturalized Trees of Massachusetts, UMASS Extension and United States Department of Agriculture). Pignut hickory may grow to 120 feet tall, but even 90- foot trees are exceptional and they do not approach that size in Massachusetts. Bitternut may potentially reach over 100 feet, and Mockernut is a much smaller tree, with 100 feet the potential limit, but these numbers are also theoretical limits and individuals found today do not approach that size, even in areas where growing conditions are ideal. The great forest denizens of the past are gone.

The wood of Hickories was used extensively in the past, for tool handles, door hinges, dowels, barrel hoops, fences, boxes, rustic furniture, adding flavor to smoked hams, and even for rifle ramrods. It was also burned extensively for firewood, as it is a dense, hot-burning fuel, second only to Locust in BTU’s. Untold amounts of Hickory fueled fireplaces in drafty Colonial cabins and houses. Locally in the Quabbin, hickory was harvested for the manufacture of charcoal during the 1800’s into the turn of the century, and vintage photos show huge charcoal kilns used in their production.

Shagbark begins producing good nut crops at about age forty, and can continue bearing nuts to about age 200, possibly 300. It produces good nut crops at 1 to 3 year intervals, with lighter amounts in intervening years. Pignut starts producing sizeable nut crops at about age thirty, and can also continue producing until about age 200, possibly 300. It produces good mast every 1 to 2 years, with lighter amounts in intervening years. Bitternut also starts producing at about age thirty, but can only produce until about age 125, possibly 200. Its heavy mast years are every 3 to 5 years, with lighter amounts in intervening years. Mockernut can start producing a bit earlier, at about age twenty-five, and bears nuts a shorter length of time, only up to about age 125, possibly age 200. Its heavy mast years are every 2 to 3 years, with lighter amounts in intervening years. (Source: Silvics of Forest Trees of the United StatesU.S. Forest Service).

Gram Parsons wrote a song called “Hickory Wind.” Gillian Welch recorded a version of it. Track it down if you can.

September 22nd

The last full day of summer this year is unusually warm, and Monarchs have not yet migrated south.

September 23rd

A Bullfrog, camoflauged. We watched in amazement and shock as he caught and swallowed a smaller frog that made the mistake of leaping by too closely on the surface of the Duckweed.

September 24th

A Chestnut Oak nipped by a Porcupine. Note the almost 45 degree cut on the twig.

September 25th

A White Oak nipped by a Porcupine. Compare the leaf shape to the Chestnut Oak of the previous day.

September 26th

Fairly typical Chestnut Oak. The thick bark gives it protection against fire.

September 27th

Chestnut Oak habitat - a dry rocky hilltop. This is at the top of Rattlesnake Hill.

September 28th

Porcupine territory - remote, rocky, rugged.

September 29th

A "typical" Porcupine den in a jumble of glacial erratics.

September 30th

Wild Sarsparilla in fall color.