What is it Wednesday: June 23, 2021

Can you identify what's in this photo?

 

 

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

 

 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

 

 

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on

June 23, 2021. 

 

 

 

And the answer is....

 

These are beech nuts, not yet fully ripe. 

Back in June, a large portion of a European beech tree along the main Lutherlyn driveway recently broke and fell to the ground. In the tops of the branches that ended up on the ground were many many beech nuts. Beech nuts, like most nuts, ripen in the fall, so these were still green, not fully developed or ripe. Visiting that beech tree again right now in October might result in finding nuts that have ripened. 

Beech nuts, though small, are wonderful food for animals and humans, but the animals usually get to them first. It is far more common to find the empty husks on the ground than ripe nuts, unless you have good luck and timing. Both European and American beech trees produce edible nuts.

This beech tree is near the Nursery Trail, which is a popular spot for trail rides from the Equestrian Center. For more on how you can spend some time on Lutherlyn’s trails, on a horse or on foot, during summer camp or other programs, check out www.Lutherlyn.com. 

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!