Wildlife. I love it. Aside from the many birds, it runs the gamut from chipmunks, turkeys, opposums, raccoons, squirrels to the occasional coyote. I left out Peter rabbit on purpose because he’s on my bad list lately. This herbivore seems to have developed a taste for Uvularia grandiflora (large-flowered bellwort), the occasional non-native daffodil, and most heartbreakingly the Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple). I’ve waited painstakingly for two years while the one plant I have in the garden was teethering on the brink of no return. Two weeks ago I saw multiple stems from what seemed to have become a healthy rootstock. Oh joy! Finally! Alas – As soon as the leaves emerged, they were mowed down (and unceremoniously spit out) by our resident rabbit. Rabbit stew looks better every day.
Bloodroot displays flowers that look like white pearls among the leaflitter. Unfortunately, these little gems are somewhat fragile. Rain and wind will drop petals. This could be one of those plants that you may simply miss if you are not looking for it. Despite the short lived nature of the flowers, and the extremely early bloom time, this plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and even birds. Native Americans used the red juice from the underground stem as a dye for baskets, clothing, and war paint, as well as for insect repellent. The plant is used in homeopathy today. This plant is not edible – it is mildly poisonous when ingested.
This was the best looking specimen I could photograph. The flowers had just emerged the day before, but heavy rains did a job on them almost immediately
| Scientific name: | Sanguinaria canadensis |
| Common name: | bloodroot |
| Other name: | N/A |
| Bloom time: | Late winter, early spring |
| Color: | white |
| Light requirements: | partial shade to full shade |
| Zone: | 4 to 9 |
| Soil: | mildly acidic to mildly alkaline |
| Water: | average water needs |
| Origin: | eastern North America |
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In my last post I wondered which native plant would be the first bloomer. After 3 years of seeing Thalictrum thalictroides present its little white flower heads first each spring, I should know better. Even though the fauna has arrived (or woken up in the case of the peepers) weeks ago, the world of flora is lagging a bit compared to last year. I am estimating plants are some 14 days behind last year’s schedule. So maybe we’re back to “normal”?
I had only a few plants 3 years ago. With some 10+ plants visible this year, rue anemone is slowly but surely establishing itself in the woodland garden
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The spring peepers are back in orchestral mode. They first started some feeble song rehearsals on March 23. Not quite as early as last year, but commendable considering that the nights, and sometimes the days, are below 32 degrees. They had it easy last spring when it was 70 degrees out. They are not the only ones back in action. I remember seeing the common grackles a month or so ago, massing in the trees everywhere. Soon after the turkey vultures spiraled into the Cape Cod sky-scape. I’ve already seen a few ospreys here and there, but the birds we’re most familiar with have not yet arrived. I hope they survived the winter. Maybe they are here but are unaccustomed to what they are finding: A lot of the familiar nesting platforms are now devoid of last year’s structural remnants, or worse – they have been toppled thanks to our weekly stream of blizzards and nor’easters. In the water, the herring have come in and stripers are off the Connecticut coast. Another rite of spring is soon to start – it is apparent that the hunter’s blood still flows in some of us. The ground is stirring with plant life too. Virginia bluebell shoots are showing off their dark green shoots, and the Phlox is starting to show green buds. I know from past years that these plants will soon be overtaken by more vigorous growers. Who will be the first native bloomer this time around?
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This past winter, the Cape got hit with more snow and stormy weather than I have seen here in a few years, which put a damper on the frequency of our weekend walks. One hike we attempted became impossible because we were literally unable to find the snow-covered paths off the main road, another walk became somewhat of an adventure which left an unexpected result.
We returned to one of our favorite paths in late February, the Bridge Creek Conservation Area, behind Fire Station, Route 149, West Barnstable. We were absolutely shocked by the devastation the February 2013 storm had affected on the trees in this area. It was as if a bomb had hit - it seemed like every other tree had been split, torn or otherwise damaged. Towards the beginning of the path, a 60 foot pine lay fallen completely in our path. We had to climb the tree sideways, this is the sort of exercise that uses muscles you didn’t know you had. At other spots, you couldn’t even tell that there had once been a path – brush now grew across it – driven there by the 70 plus mph winds. The walk was actually fun, and we managed to avoid the thorny brambles going home with just a few cuts and scrapes. Until, that is, I ended up at the doctor’s office with poison ivy or oak gone wild 2 weeks later. I joke that a flesh-eating virus got me – but the fact is that this poison ivy flare-up has caused me 4 weeks of headache inducing medication and enough large wound dressings to stock an emergency room.
Here’s my tip: avoid going off the paths when hiking on Cape Cod; apparently, even in the dead of winter, poison ivy (or the oil it leaves behind) is in abundance.
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On the Monday after the Blizzard of 2013 hit Cape Cod, we got an unusual visitor – an adult Eastern Screech Owl fell into our fireplace. At first I actually didn’t know it was an owl, I just saw a dark grey or black living thing hopping around in the soot. I knew I had to move fast to save the animal plus make sure things didn’t become completely chaotic in my house so I sprang into action. I immediately opened the fireplace grate to let whatever it was escape from the fire, quickly put my cat into another room and opened a window close by so the creature could escape. When I returned to the fireplace, I discovered the animal was an owl. He had climbed away from the fire, but instead of flying away he was perched on a large log. I collect owl figurines and have hundreds of them in all shapes and sizes, so it was very surreal to actually have a fairly large live one sitting in my living room. My first concern was that it had been burned or otherwise hurt. My second concern was my own safety because I know enough about owls to know that they are predators like eagles and hawks, possessing razor sharp talons.
I couldn’t figure out if it was hurt by looking at it as it wasn’t moving and had its eyes closed – only later did I read that the behavior the owl exhibited was a defense mechanism. Owls will do whatever they can to blend into the forest when threatened – even slightly changing the shape of their face and closing their bright yellow eyes. I figured the owl was probably ok because it stood upright and didn’t fall over, but I couldn’t be sure. Of course I had no internet (power and cable was out all over Cape Cod) to Google what to do, and Mr. Owl was perched right in front of some bookshelves with all my books about wildlife…So for a while I just sat and looked at him with a mixture of concern and confusion.
I tried to see if G was available, but he was busy in a meeting. When he finally finished his meeting I told him we had a visitor. At first G actually thought the owl was a statue that I had picked up for my owl collection – he looked so cute sitting on the log next to the fireplace. G had no idea what to do either, we both called IFAW, the ASPCA and a friend who volunteers at the Brewster Natural History Museum. Of course noone answered as it was late on a Monday night. Besides, with all the snow, were they even able to reach us? We didn’t think it a good idea to call the police – with so many elderly without power post-Blizzard and other catastrophes going on such as blocked roads, fallen trees and downed wires – the owl seemed like a silly reason to call 911.
Our plan was to leave it in a guest bedroom with food and water, and that I would call a local Wildlife Organization the next day (I wasn’t going to put it outside to get eaten by predators if it couldn’t fly or protect itself). G lifted the large log into a large plastic bin while the owl remained motionless. We tried one last time to entice it out the window, even though we weren’t sure it could even fly. After sitting quietly for a few minutes the owl finally opened its eyes, peered intently out the window, turned its head about 360 degrees and looked at me – and flew off. I went outside to make sure it wasn’t injured and saw it safely perched in a tree nearby where it was busily grooming, preening and shuffling its wings.
The next day I got in touch with the state to get phone numbers in case anything like this ever happens again. The Humane Society of the United States has a local office on the Cape in Yarmouth Port – their number is 508-362-0111. If you cannot physically take an injured wild animal there – they contact the Cape Cod Wildlife Department at 508-790-6272. I had an acquaintance tell a story about how she picked up a badly injured squirrel on the side of the road and ended up in the emergency room bleeding profusely with a bad bite. As much as you or I might love wildlife, the key here is that they are, in fact, wild. My friend’s experience is  a good reminder that no matter how cute an animal is there is a potential danger in handling one when you are not a professional. It was recommended to me that a 911 call would have been appropriate in the case of wildlife being trapped in a home, but I guess my gut told me deal with this the way we did.
I am sorry we didn’t get a photo, but our first concern was getting this owl safely out of the house without him or us being injured. Although nerve-wracking for both ourselves and the owl, it was cool because it isn’t every day we get to see an owl up close. I am not sure what the owl thought of us, but I like to think the 360 degree head turn before he (or she) flew off was an owlish thank-you gesture.
This incident was an unusual chance to learn a little more about these enigmatic creatures and experience the nature we love so much firsthand. The Mass Audobon Society asks everyone to report bird sightings so they can track the health of various bird populations. I encourage you to do that here.
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Winter is our favorite time to enjoy the natural beauty of Cape Cod marshes and woodlands. The combination of stark frozen landscapes and an off-season peacefulness make these walking paths particularly wonderful. It’s also a great time to enjoy the woods and marshes without worrying too much about ticks (although even on the coldest days it can’t hurt to check for ticks after being outside). Also good to remember that these paths can be very icy, especially when steep, so soles with a good grip need to be worn. We recommend Beth Schwarzman’s book “The Nature of Cape Cod”; it has more information on these paths and many more across Cape Cod.
Nickerson State Park, Route 6A, Brewster
With 1,779 acres of land, Nickerson State park is considered a birder’s heaven. You really get a sense of the unique Cape terrain; it tells a vivid natural history of time with its 2 kettle ponds created by glaciers and sandy soil supporting only the hardiest pitch pines. Listen for a unique crystalline sound as the ice on the water hits the shore; it adds to the magical stillness of the place.
Botanical Trails, Route 6A Yarmouthport, behind the Yarmouthport Post Office
This is a very short walk of just 1 mile that features a romantic 150-year-old weeping beech tree. It is a great walk for children or anyone who has trouble getting around as there aren’t too many hills or obstacles.
Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, Route 6A, Yarmouthport (Audubon Society)
One of my favorites because of the different types of terrain and large variety of native trees – many marked with handy signage. This walk is very short at just 101 acres but has features like small ponds, marsh, meadow and a beach walk with an incredible view of Sandy Neck.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster “John Wing†and “South†Trails
Because these trails (each about a mile) go through marshland, you may not be able to complete the walk unless you have waterproof wading boots on, so best to check the tides before you go. Muddy feet are worth it with these paths, as they lead to one of the most beautiful and quiet beaches on Cape Cod. At low tide it is a good hour and twenty minute walk to reach the water, at high tide the walk from parking lot to the sea is just 20-25 minutes. The ocean views are incredible from every angle and distance on the path.
Bridge Creek Conservation Area, behind Fire Station, Route 149, West Barnstable
With a great variety of terrain this path will take you through areas that were once farmland. You will see several 200 year old rock walls that separated these farms; one guide book describes it as the closest thing you will come to seeing how the land looked to early settlers. I prefer this path in winter, as it has a great deal of deer and with them come ticks. Also a visit in the summer found the path quite overgrown, but a recent winter visit showed it to be clear of brush. Regardless of the season you will see clubmosses everywhere – take your imagination back to millions of years ago when this was the dominant plant organism across the globe. There are a lot of small hills and marshy spots which makes it interesting, but something to think about if you have difficulty walking on uneven terrain.
Skunknett River Wildlife Sanctuary Barnstable, Parking on Bumps River Road (Audobon Society)
A short path with just 178 acres, this had a variety of scenery most notably some very pretty white pines. In the 19th century Skunknett Brook was dammed for a mill, but the marsh has since recovered. At low tide you can see the remains of Atlantic White Cedar stumps, a testament to the hardiness of this type of wood.
Indian Lands Conservation Area, behind the Town Hall Main Street in Dennis
This is a 2-mile walk that will take you along the banks of Bass River. It is a very pretty path with some great opportunities to see wintering birds, I saw my first Common Merganser here this past January. You can hear the woosh of the traffic on Rt 28 at times, but it’s not too noticeable. This land – like so many of the conservation areas – is “recovered” marshland, for many years it was used as cranberry bogs. For history buffs – there are reports of Native Americans artifacts being found here.
Hathaway Pond Recreation Area, Barnstable, Parking on Old Phinney’s Lane
Of all the walks, this one felt the least private or pristine. It is a very well known for being a popular spot in the summer for picnics and swimming; in winter we saw a lot of people walking their dogs or hanging out in the parking lot. It does however have lovely pond views and is worth a visit.
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The Cape Cod Times recently did a feature of the top stories of 2012 – and we felt that there were a couple of big news items left out locally. Â So here is my rundown of the top news events on Cape Cod in 2012:
- Cape Cod saw its first wild bear since colonial times – and had its first great white shark attack on a human in 76 years. Wildlife experts captured the bear and delivered him to western Massachusetts (where he later attempts a return to Cape Cod) with this to say: “The Cape is not the place for bears. There are too many roads and too many people in a relatively confined area that means too many opportunities for bears to get into trouble.” That seems odd – we have a lot of humans getting into trouble on Cape Cod, especially in the summer, but for some reason we never send them to Western Massachusetts. One thing not mentioned in the Cape Cod Times article which I found to be newsworthy is that both the bear and the shark set up Twitter and Facebook accounts. So not only is it historic that these species are back in town, they are also on social media for the first time. The shark has a few identities – most popular I believe is @ChathamShark (others include @capewhiteshark, @sharkoncapecod)Â and the bear can be found at @BearSwimmer or @capecodbear. Combined these guys have a couple thousand followers. Â In his top stories of 2012 article Doug Fraser does mention that both shark and bear were indeed internet celebrities: “a recent search produced more than 200,000 hits for the Cape Cod Bear, 61,200 for the Cape Cod shark attack and 29,200 for Taylor Swift on Cape Cod.”
- Almost one hundred trees (in just 2 towns) were taken down along route 6A in 2012. To those of you who never got the chance to see scenic route 6A in Barnstable or Yarmouth Port before 2013, you missed some magnificent ancient trees. The sight of all the stumps is a sad eyesore. Perhaps a slower speed limit (and enforcement of it) on 6A would have done the trick instead of destroying both the beauty and the habitat these trees have provided for the past several decades. Apparently regulations in place keeping real estate on the route “historic” had no impact on those very old trees. I am sure someone somewhere will call this “progress”.
- Elliot “Lee” Childs passed away unexpectedly at age 65 in 2012. One of Cape Cod’s most famous musicians, Lee played tenor and soprano saxophone and clarinet with such luminaries as Kurt Wenzel, Marie Marcus, Lou Columbo, Buddy Hackett, Billy Butterfield and Earl “Fatha” Hines. He brought an appreciation of bebop, the blues and Dixieland jazz to brand new audiences of people both young and old. We will miss him dearly. To us, Lee provided a perfect accompaniment to the Cape Cod landscape.
Posted in Guest blogger, Interesting, Rants & Raves | 2 Comments »
In the fall of 2011 it seemed like you couldn’t go very far on Cape Cod without running into an Eastham Turnip. Workers at various small grocery stores urged me to purchase one and cook it up for Thanksgiving, praising the Eastham Turnip’s merits again and again. Due to a combination of being a bit intimidated and having already planned my shopping list, I decided to file that idea in my mind for another time. Here it is fall of 2012 so I decided to give the Eastham Turnip a try. Unfortunately I may have to wait until 2013 because not only can I not find any recipes for this rare rutabaga – there is a noticable absence of this rotund root at the local grocery store. I half-heartedly asked about it and was given a shoulder shrug. No Eastham Turnips this year. This heirloom vegetable only grows in the special soil of Eastham, Massachusetts. Perhaps this year the crop did not make it. I guess I will just have to ask around as news on Cape Cod is a lot easier to find in person than online – Googling has only brought up last year’s Eastham Turnip related news.
As you may imagine, we like to source local vegetables as much as possible. I suppose if I were to devote more time we could grow our own vegetables, but that is not in the cards right now. One of the few crops which we were able to grow with little supervision that escaped animal pilfering this year was a big batch of chives. These make up part of this yummy dish – which I will be baking this year instead of Eastham Turnip.
Potato Leek Gratin
- 5 Tbs. butter
- 4 lb. leeks cut into 1/4 inch rings
- 1 1/2 tbs. salt
- 1 tbs. thyme
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 cup half and half
- 8 oz. Gruyere grated
- 4 oz. parm cheese grated
- 3 lb. potatoes peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 6 tbs. minced chives
Saute butter, leeks and salt in large frying pan for 20 mins. Add thyme, nutmeg, pepper and half and half and saute for 15 minutes more. Remove from pan. Combine shredded cheeses in a bowl. Layer 1/3 of potatoes, layer 1/3 of leeks, 1/3 of cheese then 1tbs. of chives in a large baking pan. Repeat layering 2 more times. Cover loosely with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil then bake 30 minutes more until potatoes are tender and crust is golden brown. Sprinkle remaining chives on top. Let stand 15 minutes. Serves 8-10.
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September 11 was the last day the hummingbirds visited the feeder in the yard or any of the still blooming cardinal flowers, jewelweed, and blue lobelias. This realization of loss, of not seeing the hummers again until next April pales to nothing in comparison to the loss felt on that day so many years ago, but I felt a pang of sadness nonetheless. Tempis fugit and this summer is fleeting by quickly. It was a good hummingbird season – Not only did they stay around much longer (by 3 weeks compared to last year), but I had greater numbers visit than ever before. They are very territorial, and the few times that multiple birds visited the feeding station or the same bunch of flowers a chase of sorts ensued. Luckily I have nectar producing plants in all corners of the yard, so they do not have to mingle all the time. Now is also the time the last of the osprey are heading to warmer climes – two nestlings that I have been observing all summer left the next day, on the 12th of September. There are still some stragglers though – I noticed a reticent osprey perched on another nest further in the marsh. Fishing is still good, for birds and humans alike. I just hope these birds don’t get caught in a sudden cold spell. 40s at night won’t be far off…
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