Happy Mystery Monday! Can you guess what is pictured in the photo below?
The answer to last week’s mystery is the northern crane-fly orchid, Tipularia discolor, pictured in the photo below:
The crane-fly orchid is one of the most common orchids in North America. Spring is when the plant’s green leaves begin to emerge. They appear as a single leaf, often with raised purple spots and a fully purple underside. The leaves disappear in late Spring–early Summer, before the orchid blooms. The flowering stem is leafless and reaches 15–20″ tall.
In late Fall to early Winter, each crane-fly orchid plant will produce a single green leaf. The leaf is called a hibernal leaf because it is present only during the Winter when many other plants are dormant
The orchid’s dull yellow–purplish brown flowers bloom on a reddish-brown stem in Summer. In the Fall, oval-shaped pods containing seeds form up and down the dried stem. Each pod is the size of a pinto bean and houses thousands of dust-like seeds that scatter in the wind across the surrounding leaf litter.
Crane-fly orchids do not transplant well, so it’s best to enjoy them in their natural woodland setting.
Mystery Monday is sponsored by the Spy Newspapers and Adkins Arboretum.
Schindler is not a traditional anthropologist. Specializing in primitive technology and experimental archaeology at Washington College, he uses a teaching approach that he calls “soul authorship” to immerse students in experiences that teach them first-hand about primitive technologies and ways of life practiced by our prehistoric ancestors. Today he applies prehistoric-focused approaches in experimental archaeology to address a major issue facing humans right now: diet. By reconnecting with the food of our ancient ancestors,Schindler believes that we can find solutions to building a more sustainable, healthful food system. In this quest, Schindler, who holds a Ph.D. from Temple University, completed a year-long research endeavor called the Food Evolutions Project. He traveled the world working with indigenous groups, traditional societies, and Michelin star chefs. Most recently he launched the Eastern Shore Food Lab at Washington College, a center dedicated to empowering the public to reconnect with their food, take control of what they eat, and learn to eat like humans again!
Crow Vineyard & Winery will be hosting the Chili Cook-Off event again this year to be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019, from 12PM-4PM. The event will benefit The Animal Care Shelter for Kent County. For more information and to RSVP, please visit 
Join Friendship Montessori School and Crow Vineyard & Winery for a day of games, hayrides and live music at Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 14th. This fun-filled event takes place from 12pm – 3pm at Crow Vineyard, located at 12441 Vansants Corner Road in Kennedyville.
Crow Vineyard & Winery has brought back the Chili Cook Off event to be held on Sunday, March 18, 2018 from 12PM-4PM. The event will benefit The Humane Society of Kent County. For more information and to RSVP, please visit: 
