Appalachian
Treasure Hunt
Journaling Native Plants of Northeast Georgia
J. Whalen
"Safely the single seed through winter's cold
Husbands its image a million million fold."
Byron Herbert Reece
Most seeds are on the ground now waiting for winter rains to wash them down to the rich earth underneath the leaf litter. Birds and small mammals will find lots of them for nourishment through the winter. The seeds that remain until spring will germinate and reach for the light as soon as the days start to lengthen.
November 1
Along the Richard Russell Parkway on a foggy day.
November 2
It's always surprising to find flowers in late fall. This is a Southern Witch-hazel tree found in the understory of our oak-hickory forests, usually close to water. The flowers are clearly visible because the leaves have already dropped off. (Hamamelis virginiana, Hamamelidaceae) Union County
November 3
Identifying trees in winter is not always easy. This oak along the Richard Russell Parkway is distinctively "oak" with its tall straight sturdy trunk, and side limbs tapering to the middle of the top. Oaks also have lots of twiggy grown along the side limbs. To be sure of ID: Look for acorns on the ground!
November 4
White Oaks (Quercus alba, Fagaceae) usually develop shaggy bark as they age. Look for the beautiful leaves with rounded lobes to double check ID.
November 5
Find a tree with white "ski trails" down the bark? It's Northern Red Oak. (Quercus rubra, Fagaceae) Clark County
November 6
Most hickory bark has a "braided" look. Check dead leaves on the ground to see if it's a pignut or mockernut hickory.
November 7
Definitely a Shagbark Hickory. Do you see hickory nuts on the ground? (Carya ovate, Juglandaceae) Hall County
November 8
Muscle Wood (Carpinus caroliniana, Betulaceae) is also known as American Hornbeam. It has hard tough wood and has been used historically for tool handles. Note the twisted "muscular" trunk. Hall County
This old shaggy dogwood tree still has its distinctive bark with tiny squares arranged like a woodland mosaic.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida, Cornaceae) Check back in spring to see its outstanding large white flowers. Don Carter State Park, Hall County
November 9
November 10
Our Northeast Georgia pines have distinctive flat plates of bark. If you see these "resin pits" in the bark you are probably looking at a Shortleaf Pine. (Pinus echinata, Pinacea) Shortleaf pines are useful in the lumber industry. Clarke County
November 11
Black Cherry trees have distinctive marks called lenticels. These patches of spongy cells allow the twigs to photosynthesize like leaves do. (Prunus serotina, Rosaceae) Union County
November 12
Blackgum trees have blocky squares of bark. Look on the ground to see if there are bright red oval leaves that have just fallen. (Nysa sylvatica, Cornaceae)
November 13
If you are walking along the flood plain of a river you will likely see a Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Oleaceae). Notice the green twigs along the trunk. The compound leaves resemble hickory leaves but you won't find hickory nuts under this tree. The seeds will probably still be hanging on in beautiful dangling clusters. Clarke County.
November 14
If you come across one of these shaggy creatures climbing a tree trunk, stop and look but don't touch. It's a vine, not an animal, and can be recognized by the leaves and berries as poison ivy. The leaves will be toward the top of the tree so they won't be much help. If you can see any berries they will be whitish yellow. (Taxicodendron radicans, Anacardiaceae) Union County
November 15
Look down occasionally and you will notice the summer ferns are fading and drooping into the leaf litter. They will soon be gone until their fiddleheads emerge in the spring. This is Netted Chain Fern (Woodwardia areolate, Blechnaceae) The spores are stored in spore cases on spikes. Union County
November 16
Sassafras "fingers"
Sunshine through Sourwood leaves
November 17
Sweetgum "stars"
November 18
Black Willows are only going to be happy near a creek or river or lake. As you can see above, this one is close enough. Its LONG dense root system will easily find water here. (Salix nigra, Salicaceae) Hall County
November 19
So obviously a beech tree! If the carving wasn't a give-a-way, then look up to see the golden brown leaves still hanging on.
November 20
The long black "pea pods" on this Honey Locust makes identification easy in late fall. (Gleditsia triacanthos, Fabaceae) Hall County
November 21
A more common locust, Black Locust, has a few green leaves still hanging on. Come back in spring to see its showy white fragrant flower clusters. (Robinia pseudoacacia,
Fabacea) Both of these are in the "pea" family but, as you can see from the botanical name, they are in different genuses. Hall County
November 22
The tree above is a red maple. (Yes, they often have yellow fall leaves!) The bark is light gray and irregular in texture.
November 23
Two different elms in a local park. The top one is a
Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra, Ulmaceae). The tiny buds are already waiting for spring. The inner bark is fragrant and "mucilaginous", or slippery. The elm in the lower picture is winged elm (Ulmus alata, Ulmaceae) and, with a closer look, you can see the winged stems. (Longwood Park, Gainesville)
November 24
This red maple, standing alone among the white pines, is putting the woods in a Christmasy mood!
November 25
Fraser Magnolia "cone" and moss. (Magnolia fraseri, Magnoliaceae) Union County
November 26
Oak-Hickory Forest, Late Fall
November 27
Red Maple Leaf and Moss
November 28
Next year's leaf mold. Soon to be new topsoil.
November 29
Perfect for a late fall picnic.
November 30
Chestnut Oak leaves and acorns (Quercus prinus, Fagaceae) found on a Thanksgiving weekend walk around Unicoi Lake. (White County)
Hardwood logs warming the Pavilion at Lake Winfield Scott.
A recent newsletter of the Northeast Georgia History Center highlighted the importance of our native trees as a source of wood for local businesses. In 1870 a local citizen made wagons known for high quality and durability. "In his first catalog, John Bagwell devoted a full page to the quality of materials and workmanship put in the manufacturing of his wagons. 'Best white oak from butt cut logs; hickory spokes, tongues of young tough white oak; and body sides of yellow pine or poplar, heavily ironed on edge, with bottoms of long leaf yellow pine.'" Some of his wagons probably still exist!