Sweet birch, Yellow Leaves!!

Apparently, at Concord High (?), there is a requirement/challenge for kids to press a collection of leaves of every native species of tree in the town, which may be 45? I must research this further!!

The Sweet Birch is difficult to find, but at this time of season, the leaves go yellow and are especially easy to spot, hidden among the pines.

Striped Maple and other wonders of Fairyland

Start with Wiki for basic info.  Named by the Alcott sisters & Emerson kids & Thoreau as Fairyland.  Apparently, they would dress up and run around the forest as embodied spirits.  (Sometimes these events were called Masques).  There must be so many more stories, but perhaps because they were "merely" enacted/told by children, they may be lost.

It is a unique ecosystem and quite often the water will be warmer than the air, causing frequent fogging conditions.  And a general sense of magic.  Writings from a hundred years ago add to the legend.

Fed by Brister's Spring. More info here, at a blog called, Thoreau's Chronological Atlas. There were 9 identified springs in the town.  One was found by a brilliant  High School kid who is a great border.  This new spring was missed by both Thoreau and another -modern- surveyor!!

Not far from the water, we (Cherry) found a Striped Maple, and apparently it is very rare in Concord.

 Other Botany Words of the Day: Viburnum, Umbrel (flower cluster)

The above pictures were taken on a walk, "Ramble on the Amble" (10/19/13)  led by Cherry Corey (she is in blue, above).  Check out her amazing blog,  Sense of Place.  She also does great walks for the New England Wildflower Society.  Highly recommended!!

Pipsissewa

Found in Fairyland (but also around Walden)

This is my favorite plant, merely because I love to say the Native American name.

It is also known as "Dragon's Tongue".

Look for tiny little white flowers in midsummer.