Ep. 10 - Witch Hazel: An Explosive Late Bloomer

Exploding seed pods?!? Flowers in the winter?! Many species have evolved unusual strategies for reproduction, and this month’s target species is no exception. Witch Hazel (Hamemelis virginiana) is a small tree of the eastern forest understory that is easy to miss. It’s small and unassuming, but closer inspection reveals an array of fascinating adaptations that make it unique among our woodland species. Join Steve and Bill as they hunt for this wonder of the woods and share what they learned about it. This episode, they are joined by friend and author Gerry Rising, who recently published Birds and Bird Watching-100 Brief Essays. This month’s episode was recorded at the Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center in Depew, NY.