By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Lichens are fascinating, complex organisms that seem to be everywhere. They are found worldwide, from deserts to forests to tundra and many more habitat types. There are an estimated 20,000 species worldwide and approximately 3,600 species in North America. Lichens occur as the result of a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungus, and in some lichens, there are cyanobacteria that are part of the relationship.  

**Do not consume anything from the wild that a professional has not verified or accurately identified. Always be sure of the identification of the plant/fungi before consuming and avoid foraging in potentially contaminated areas. Misidentification can lead to serious illness or even death. Also, be sure to check local regulations and do not take more than you need.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Submission: Cheryl Batson

Willow bark from Salix varieties contains salicin which is a chemical similar to aspirin. In fact, initially, aspirin was derived from willow. Some of the cultivars of willows contain less salicin than the non-Salix varieties. Native Americans used to cut off willow bark and chew the inner bark as a pain reliever and to reduce inflammation. It can be used in the same way today.  Willow bark can also be harvested to make tea. 

Adapted from the Woodlands of Minnesota Landowner Handbooks

Invasive plants can cause big problems for woodlands when they displace native species. For example, shrubs such as buckthorn, garlic mustard, and honeysuckle can crowd the understory of your woods or proliferate along your trails, degrading wildlife habitat and making recreational access difficult. 

MN Invasive Terrestrial Plants & Pests Center (MITPPC)

Summary by Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester, agupta@umn.edu

Last June the MITPPC produce a white paper, Managing Invasive Buckthorn, summarizing buckthorn management research that can help woodland owners and land managers. The report includes buckthorn identification, types of removal options including goats, and prevention strategies.

By Chrissy Shaw, FFCP Senior Forestry Manager for Wisconsin and Minnesota

My family owns a cabin near Backus, Minnesota. Every June, we load the car and head up north for a week of non-stop fishing. The fishing is always good, but the cabin is truly an experience. We are always graced with the sounds of the loon, a swooping bald eagle that lands in a towering white pine hanging over the lake, a beaver that announces we are too close to the den, and if we are lucky, we see some curious fox kits roaming about. It all seems majestic, and the trip is inevitably nothing short of rejuvenating. 

By Misi Stine, Environmental Educator and member of the MN Herpetological Society

Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are curious critters for many, partly because sightings are considered rare, even though they are thought to be common, with an estimated population of 10,000 in Minnesota. They are found throughout the northern forested areas of Minnesota, with additional documented animals in the prairies to the west and the river valleys in the southeast.

By Angela Gupta, UMN Extension Forester and MNWWN Board member, agupta@umn.edu

This picture, from the Women’s Forest Congress in Minneapolis this past October says it all! Georgia, my “old” Extension Forestry friend from Michigan; Amanda, an “old” only-over-Zoom friend from Women Owning Woodlands, and I were able to meet, have fun, learn, support each other, and be our whole selves. I love that I’m in heels, a skirt, trapper hat and plaid vest and holding a large oak tree cookie while Georgia expresses her wild side and chainsaw confidence and Amanda, wielding a forestry manual and donning a cruising vest, looks on in horror! MNWWN Board members Ginger Kopp and Barb Spears, arranged to bring a forestry cruising vest, vintage forestry equipment, historical documents, and the large tree cookie to use as photo props. They also kept a close eye on the “toothless” chainsaw (used by tish carr from Maine for her chainsaw workshop at the hotel) that was loaned to MNWWN by Tim’s Small Engine in Lonsdale through MNWWN Board member Cheryl Jirik. Jennifer Teegarden, also a MNWWN Board member, helped provide the historic picture from the MN DNR that served as the backdrop.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Submission: Cheryl Batson

Chicken of the Woods is an easily identifiable mushroom to harvest for beginners. They grow late spring through fall. It is best practice to verify your selection with an experienced forager before eating to ensure you are correct. The Minnesota Mycological Society is a common, low-cost option for beginners in Minnesota to learn mushroom identification and the club holds forays throughout the harvesting season. Learn more about them at their website. Also essential is getting a good Minnesota mushroom identification book such as Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest by Teresa Marrone and Kathy Yerich. Being certain of your identification before eating any wild mushroom will help you prevent food poisoning and death.

By Val Cervenka, DNR forest health program consultant

As a woodland owner, you have likely heard of oak wilt, but you might be wondering how to know if your tree is infected or can you do anything about it.

Let’s start with the bottom-line message of prevention being the best way to manage oak wilt. Don’t prune or wound your oaks from April through July (this means avoiding activities in your woods that could injure any part of an oak), when the wilt-transmitting beetles are flying and may be covered in oak wilt spores from a nearby infected tree. If you must prune, cover the wound immediately with shellac or a water-based paint to limit beetle attraction.

MN Master Naturalist Submission: Heather Cummins — Entomologist, Science Educator, Metropolitan State University Community Faculty

The art and habit of nature journaling has grown in popularity over the last few years, but it’s a practice that goes back quite a ways. Naturalists, scientists, and amateurs of all kinds have used forms of art and journaling to engage with and document the world around us all throughout time. A nature journal is simply a record of your observations of nature, typically with some creative element included to help convey the story you’re discovering in your observations.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Submission: Cheryl Batson

Spring through September is harvest season for the versatile dandelion, an herb imported from Europe. All parts of this plant are edible, however, make sure you harvest in an area that has not been treated with chemicals. Healthline states that dandelion is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, folate, calcium, and vitamin K. As with any wild food, eat in small amounts to make sure you are not allergic and check with your doctor before eating any wild food when you are pregnant or have any medical conditions. Dandelions can thin out the blood due to the vitamin K and possibly lower blood sugar to some extent.