Nature Net News
December 2008
Evergreens
"It is only when the cold season
comes that we know the pine and cypress to be evergreens"
Chinese Proverb
Dear Reader, They're nature's reminder that the green of spring will return again. Gracefully catching the falling snow or providing shelter for winter birds, these denizens of the winter landscape have become an icon of northern climes. But are all evergreens alike and do they all bear needles or cones? Find out more about the pine cone's role in nature, how you can identify conifers this winter, and a great way to get your fireplace roaring with pine cones in this month's Nature Net News. Enjoy! Kathe & Betsy |
There are nine native Wisconsin species of needled evergreens? White pine, Red pine, Jack pine, Balsam fir, Hemlock, White spruce, Black spruce, White cedar and Red cedar. Find out more about these trees and how they are used by people and wildlife from the Department of Nature Resources' EEK! website.
What to Do This Month:
Prune your evergreens while they're dormant this winter.
Bring in the pruned braches and decorate for the holidays.
Hang bird seed ornaments on your outdoor evergreens.
Take a Native Evergreens walk with UW Arboretum naturalists Sunday, December 7th.
Try soaking a white pine or hemlock pinecone in water for ten minutes. Observe what happens - can you figure out why the pinecone reacts to water?
Pick up a Winter Nature Passport at participating Nature Net sites beginning December 15th.
Tricks of the Trail for Parents:
Ever-curious Evergreen Hike
Winter is a terrific time to take an outdoor hike to discover and identify evergreens in your community. Remember a few simple tricks: dress in layers, including one outer layer for wind protection, wear warm gloves (and bring an extra pair!) and don a hat to capture precious body warmth. Warm dry boots are a must! Even though most leaves are long gone, evergreens provide an ideal chance to identify trees based on their branch and needle patterns. Print out and bring a copy of this simple Conifer Identification Card with you to help on your adventures. Laminate it or keep it in a small clear sealable sandwich bag to protect it from the elements.
Instant Outdoor Expert:
Conifer Confusion
Though the words "conifer" and "evergreen" are often used interchangeably, not all evergreens are conifers and not all conifers are evergreen. "Evergreen" is a non-scientific term used to describe plants that maintain their leaves or needles throughout the seasons. Whereas "conifers" are cone-bearing trees or shrubs. To simplify the matter, all Wisconsin evergreens are conifers (unlike in tropical forests where many trees are evergreen and even in parts of the Unites States where broadleaf plants like holly, ivy and bay laurel are evergreen). Coniferous female cones, made from modified scales, are devised to protect developing seeds (and that's exactly what green or closed cones are doing). When the seeds are matured and ready to hit the ground, the cone scales open and release them to the wind (or to animals). Male cones, incidentally, do exist but are generally small and, after releasing pollen, are shed. Learn more.
"Conifer confusion" often also exists with tree and shrub names. Although it seems daunting to learn their Latin names, in the case of conifers, eliminating common names often clears confusion. For example, the Juniper (genus Juniperous) which by the way is indeed a conifer despite its berry-like fruits (those are actually modified, fleshy scales), is also known as the Eastern Red Cedar. While the Northern White Cedar is not only in an entirely different genus (Thuja) it also goes by the common name Arbor Vitae. And a Nature Net favorite - which Leopold describes as "smoky gold" because its needles change color and drop each fall - the Tamarack (Larix), is also dubbed the Larch. Brush up on evergreens and their Latin names with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' EEK website or, for a quick recap of conifers, try the Home and Garden Network. For more in-depth information, check out the Gymnosperm Database.
Eco-Exercise:
Caroling Conifers
Sometimes just getting kids' outdoor clothes on for a winter excursion is exercise in itself. However, once warmly dressed, get your heartbeat going by taking a walk around your neighborhood in the tradition of caroling with this "Evergreen" song sung to the tune of Jingle Bells:
(Chorus)
Conifer, conifers, called the evergreens.
All have needles, all have cones, they make the winter scene. Oh!
Needles long, needles short, needles sharp or flat.
Bundles of 5 or 2 or 1, they get their name from that!
(Verse)
Jack, red and white are pine. The cedars there are two.
There's scaly arbor vitae and prickly juniper.
The spruce are white or black with needles short and sharp.
Hemlock and fir grow way up north and tamarack's needles drop.
Featured Nature Net Site
Nature Craft
Bethel Horizons
Bethel Horizons is nestled on over 550 acres of
hills, valleys, and cliffs inside the "Driftless Area" of Wisconsin.
Many plant and animal communities make the forest, prairie, and wetland
areas of Horizons their home. Horizons provides many unique
opportunities to explore and discover the wonders of nature, continually
striving
to teach the importance of the earth's wild places by
reconnecting people to the earth in which we live. Bethel Horizon's mission is to
develop and perpetuate a physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual
environment which strengthens and enhances the understanding of a
person's proper relation to nature, to self, to others and to God.
All are welcome to take part in the many nature programs offered at Horizons. Whether you are part of a school, business, organization, church, or scout troop, Bethel Horizons can coordinate a program to fit your needs, including topics such as Cliff Explorations, Environmental Games, Canoe and Cave Exploration, plus, Interpretive, Sensory, and Discovery Hikes and much more. You can also enjoy a visit to the Nature Center which includes hands-on exhibits, unique interpretive displays, reference materials, a wildlife viewing area, and a nature store.
4651 Cty Hwy ZZ
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-5885
Horizons also offers meals and overnight accommodations.
Pinecone Fire Starters
Get the fire going this winter with these great fire
starters made from pine cones:
First, spray muffin tins with the non-stick spray. Place one end of a
wick (or use string in a pinch) in each muffin cup, allowing an end to hang over the side.
Sprinkle some sawdust, crushed up leaves and acorn tops or cinnamon
stick bits in each muffin cup. Next, melt candle, soy or paraffin wax in
a double boiler over boiling water. (Or melt it
in a coffee can in a pot of boiling water). If desired, add color and or essential oils when
the wax is melted. Lower the heat a bit. Pour some of the hot wax into each muffin cup, covering
the wick and set
a pinecone upright into wax right away! Let them harden completely and
then pop each cone out, one at a time. You can leave them au natural or
coat the cones with wax, by grabbing a pinecone with a tongs by the bottom and dip the cone in the wax.
Turn it to coat all over. Lift the cone over the wax for a few moments to allow the wax to
harden. Dip again until well coated. Place pinecones on waxed paper to cool.
To light a fire, place a pinecone fire starter in between the logs and light
the wick.
The wax base will keep the cone burning for up to ten minutes!
)
Suggested Reading:
"Night Tree" by Eve Bunting (age 2-6)
"Where Would I Be in an Evergreen Tree?" by Jennifer Blomgren (age 4-8)
"Evergreen Trees" by John F. Prevost (age 4-8)
"Winter Trees" by Carole Gerber (age 4-8)
"The Cedar Family" by Shelba J Lynch (age 4-8)
"My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America" by Diane Iverson (age
4-8)
"Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for Kids" by Gail Gibbons (age 4-8)
"Take a Tree Walk" by Jane Kirkland (age 9-12)
"The Garden in Winter: Plant for Beauty and Interest in the Quiet Season" by
Suzy Bales (age 9-adult)
