Here you see the WoodenBoat School marsh pond braving our recent freezing weather. Note the dry and decaying cattails that edge much of the pond. Below the ice, these dead reminders of summer still provide shelter for the small fish and other creatures that remain alive.
They also have special qualities that helped some of the northern tribes of Native Americans survive harsh winters, according to historians. The Indians used them to create mats that became insulating coverings for winter quarters and child carriers.
The shape of cattail leaves allows them to be interlocked in layers. They also contain small honey-comb-like air pockets, making the leaves excellent insulators. The mats of layered leaves also expanded with winter’s humidity, which made them virtually watertight. But, the sheltering effect reportedly lasted only two years or so before replacement was needed. (Image taken in Brooklin, Maine, on January 10, 2022.)