With an engulfing green understory and damp earth underfoot, the hike through Whistle Path Woods on its eponymous trail can feel almost tropical, even in winter. This narrow path in Provincetown’s East End descends into a lush expanse of Ilex glabra, the evergreen inkberry holly, which towers eight feet high on either side of the trail, its small, glossy leaves reflecting the light that filters through the branches overhead. The western edge of this parcel of mixed woodland is so low in elevation that it is saturated by the water table; the native inkberry thrives in proximity to such wet conditions. A tough, trouble-free shrub, Ilex glabra is versatile in the home garden — just keep it irrigated if planted in full sun. —Joe Beuerlein
