A Year in the Forest

For the past three years I have noticed something in the woods that has caused my to wonder.  Around the base of many of the Beech trees there will be an occasional black spot.   I just assumed it was some sort of fungal rot that was effecting the Beeches.  While wandering through the forest today I finally figured it out.  On many of the Beech trees at this time of year there will be a limb that is completely covered with white aphids.   For some reason, as I idly passed by one such limb I noticed that underneath this limb was a black spot. 

Finally I put it all together.  It was aphid poop!  The black spot was aphid poop.  I began to look around and sure enough where ever there was a black spot, directly above it was a limb covered in aphids.   And of course the opposite was also true.  Under every limb covered with aphids was a black spot.  Aphid poop, who would have thought?

My initial object of study this trip was the woodland ferns that are throughout the woods.  They occur sparadoically throughout the woods but are concentrated in the stream bed area.  My intiial survey shows that there are primarily two types of ferns in these woods.  Neither one prefers one habitat over the other.  In other words they are both found throughout the woods from the ridgetop to the stream bottom.  One type has simple fronds and grows closer to the ground.  Its color is a rich dark green with a hint of blue.  I think it is a Christmas fern.  The larger ones grow about 24 inches high.    The other type of fern has deeply segmented frilly fronds.  I think it is a Lady Fern.  It grows taller, about 36inches high, and is a little more prolific.  Its color is more of a pale green.    As I mentioned though they both grow in the same places.  Here is a picture with both varieties side by side.  I imagine there are some other varieties around and I will keep my eyes open for them.