one hundred and twenty one

This first day of May was a picture perfect day for a hike. We met up with some friends, and a group of locals, for a hike with the ranger at Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover.

We chatted along the route, saw skunk cabbage and budding trees, had an impromptu “does it float or sink” experiment and spotted snakes and turtles along the lakeshore. It was topped off by a picnic lunch near the pond as one of the regulars gave a little campfire starting demonstration.

Somewhere along the way, Catherine found this Oak Apple Gall. It was still perfectly spherical when she picked it up, but curiosity got the better of us and we wound up cracking it open. Ranger Bob gave us the lowdown on this first home for the Cynipidae Wasp. It’s a fascinating story of symbiosis between the oak tree and the wasp larvae. (Check out the wiki link above to learn more!)