November 2014 Photo of the Month Contest

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by kchd

I actually managed to capture a photo this month worthy of the POM contest. Found this speckled kingsnake in the yard on Saturday when we had a beautiful warm day. Kingsnakes are some of my favorites, being so amazingly docile. You can pick them up and they will just hang out.

Attachment 41919

What a cool looking snake! Great photo.

I love the story that goes with it. Docile snakes...those are my kind of snakes.

Still not my favorite animal, but since encountering garter snakes, black rat snakes, and maybe a couple other species since moving here, I have gotten used to them. I'm not into picking up snakes, but I like that king snakes would "just hang out"...my only handling of a wild snake was when I freed that black rat snake from the berry netting it was hopelessly tangled in.

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by rockerBOO

That is Witch Hazel, which will keep "blooming" all winter and finish producing seed in the next fall. This allows warmer days in the fall/winter for it to get pollinators when not much else if any is blooming. Hazelnut is very early spring.

Thanks, rockerBOO. I guess I should've read farther down in the thread before I answered.

Interesting about less competition from other blooms so that it gets the pollinators all to itself.

Another fun fact I read about way back when: the seedpods explode to disperse their seeds. From what I read, someone had cut some branches to display the blooms inside, and when they were all settled in for the evening they heard a strange racket that made them jump up and go explore...that is when they found out the seedpods were shooting their seeds all over the room!

[rockerBOO]

Originally Posted by dapjwy

another fun fact i read about way back when: The seedpods explode to disperse their seeds. From what i read, someone had cut some branches to display the blooms inside, and when they were all settled in for the evening they heard a strange racket that made them jump up and go explore...that is when they found out the seedpods were shooting their seeds all over the room!

haha

[wildwatcher]

I'm not sure these witchhazel bloom would explode, as they don't have seedpods, or at least none that I can see. But with all this talk of witchhazel blooms, I should at least submit a rather pitiful picture of it (NO these are not entries in this POM contest). I guess I can see how this would be a nice 'winter blooming' thing to have in the yard, now that I noticed several of these shrubs that are quite large some nearly 15' tall. I like the 'witchhazel' crookie~swervie structure & splotchy color of stem & limbs.

I'm definitely going to try collecting/drying some witchhazel leaves next year, about the same time I collect some sassafras leaves...I'll just have to make sure I don't intermix the two type leaves (one for medicine, one for cooking). I wouldn't mind trying to decoct my own witchhazel water.

My funny story of the witchhazel fruit, several years ago I thought they were hazelnut, and so I'm out there trying to gnaw on these hard little pine cones/fruit things from this bush to decide if they were worth bringing some home~~~I wasn't too impressed flavor-wise, but they were probably too green for a proper taste test!

ww

[EllenW]

I remember my Mom using witchhazel when we were kids. It was in a bottle as a liquid and she would use it on wounds or for some medicinal purpose.

[EllenW]

Any more November photos out there? You have through Dec. 5th to submit them. thanks!

[dapjwy]

Originally Posted by wildwatcher

I like the 'witchhazel' crookie~swervie structure & splotchy color of stem & limbs.

I've always enjoyed their trunks shape and branching structure, too.

I've added two near the house, and a few out in the woodland...I want to add still more.

Originally Posted by wildwatcher

My funny story of the witchhazel fruit, several years ago I thought they were hazelnut, and so I'm out there trying to gnaw on these hard little pine cones/fruit things from this bush to decide if they were worth bringing some home~~~I wasn't too impressed flavor-wise, but they were probably too green for a proper taste test!

Funny, but also a reminder to be sure of one's ID, before consuming something.