Northland Nature: Puffballs are ripe in the woods

Mid-November is a good time to walk in the woods. The fallen leaves allow for easy viewing into the surrounding trees. The temperature is often agreeable, and the pesty six-legged companions will not be with us. At first glance, the whole woods is gray or brown and we see green only with the conifers that blend with deciduous forests of the Northland. But there is green to see on the ground when you notice the many thick growths of mosses. Standing up or spreading out, these small patches will remain green throughout the winter. Clubmosses are larger and grow over the ground. The name is a misnomer, as they are not mosses, but more closely related to ferns, and are also called princess pines and ground pines. Some reach up to a foot tall, looking like miniature trees, and take over huge parts of the forest floor. A few wood ferns are still green, as are leaves of hepatica, pyrola and wintergreen. The trees also abound with a plethora of lichens of various colors, shapes and species.

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