For more on Pack Forest and context of walk, see daily account for 3/31. On an exposed hillside above the grassy field at Pack Forest, a stand of dried, dead looking shrubs were covered in these strange growths. There were no distinguishable leaves or buds on the plants- they were approximately four feet tall, but many had fallen. I was attracted to the small growths (approx 1 inch in diameter) because I first thought it was a seed pod or something that would help me distinguish the plant. They were soaking wet, perhaps it is a disease that wiped out this stand of shrubs?