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The heavy rains of late have turned some homeowners in our region into hydraulic engineers, their sump pumps working overtime to pump rainwater out of flooded basements. When saddled with such a chore, it's hard not to look up at the maple tree in the yard with a hint of envy, trees being masters of the task...

When I was a boy, I would see Venus-flytrap in pots on sale at the local five-and-dime. With money from my paper route, I bought one, took it home and marveled at how its hinged leaf could shut in a second around small insects that I would drop into its maw, and imprison it within spiny bars, so the plant could consume it...

Four native fish species. Left to right, what are they?

Every other week we run a photo of something unusual found in the woods. Guess what it is and you'll be eligible to win a copy of The Outside Story, a paperback collection of our Outside Story newspaper columns. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner's name, will appear in next week's column. 

This flower was recently spotted emerging near our office. What is it?

 

This beautiful spring ephemeral blooms April to June, before the canopy leafs out. It's listed as Endangered in Maine, Threatened in New Hampshire, and Exploitably Vulnerable in New York. Like other orchids, the plant needs to develop a relationship with a fungus to obtain nutrients from the soil. According to the U.S. Forest Service, only fungi in the genus Ceratobasidium will do.

Be sure to check out our feature story on alpine wildflowers in the Summer issue.

 Visit our What In The Woods Is That? contest archive.