Which Witch is Hazel? Traditional Cache
SirCrab: Unfortunately the owner did not respond to the previous note so this is being archived. Should the owner decide to repair/replace this and have it unarchived, it can be done as long as it still conforms to the guidelines.
Regards,
SirCrab
Volunteer Cache Reviewer
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This is the first of a series of Geocaches being placed at Cylburn Arboretum by Cylburn Arboretum Association.
The Arboretum grounds are open Tuesday thru Sunday 8am - 8pm, parking is available via the main entrance.
Cylburn Arboretum is a host to many nature, art and music events... check the Association website for more information.
www.CylburnAssociation.org
Although you may be tempted to bushwack from Cylburn Avenue, take the time to enter the Arboretum and park on the parking lot. It's a short walk to the cache and there's no need to leave the trail. You're looking for an ammo box.
Which Witch is Hazel...
This small, understory, native tree is a great plant for trivia questions such as: What tree has small fragrant yellow flowers, blooms in autumn well past frost, takes one year to discharge its seeds after flowering and is rarely identified by students on identification quizzes? If you guessed Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), you're right! Now can you identify it on your hike to this cache?
Common Witch Hazel is a little known small tree that is native from Canada to Georgia and west to Arkansas and Nebraska. It is found in the damp woods along the trail that leads to this cache.
Other than the interesting fall flower color, Common Witch Hazel has a gray-brown stem and dark green summer leaves that turn a beautiful yellow/gold color in autumn. However, the flowers are the most distinguishing feature as they bloom in late fall. Only after its yellow leaves have dropped and the late autumn air begins to chill, will you see the bloom... the flowers last into mid-November.
Witch Hazel extract was used by Native Americans as a curative for all sorts of diseases. It was used to treat tumors and inflammations and was ingested for hemorrhaging and other types of bleeding. Modern chemistry has found that Witch Hazel is quite inert, and any value the extract may have as an astringent and antiseptic may well reside in the alcohol essence.
Where did the name Witch Hazel enter into the picture? Some accounts say the hazel part came from its leaf similarity to the hazel or hazelnut (Corylus). The hazel of Europe was famous for its magical properties. Some accounts said one could use it to find witches. In early days in America, Witch Hazel was used in local witchery, to find water or even mineral deposits. A forked branch, one whose points grew north and south was chosen. By carrying it with a point in each hand and the stem pointing forward, any downward tug of the stem was said to indicate the flow of water. This was called water-witching by water witches which used a switch of Witch Hazel which best witched the water. Which is probably a witch’s tale!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Ab gebyyf, whfg jvgpurf haqre guvf oevqtr.