White Ash Stand on the Winter Trail



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Just inside the entrance is a stand of white ash trees. It is so quiet in here! Up above, the wind sweeps through the leaf-less tree limbs with a low swoosh. The dry stems of last summer's plants stick up through the snow layer and some taller, woody shrubs are scattered in between the trees. None of these plants move as the wind blows far above us.

Poison ivy vine on ash tree trunk

On the trunks of some of the trees are the thick, "hairy" vines of poison ivy. Even in the winter you can pick up enough resin from the vine to cause a blistering skin rash. Although humans should avoid contact with this plant, many animals including over 60 species of birds, readily eat the small white berries which are produced from August to November.
Read more about Poison Ivy.

Read about Winter Birds

Trail Home | Winter Map | Go back | Go on

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This page was last updated on January 17, 2010

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