Wildflower Walk May 9

The walk on the North Langdon Trail last Thursday May 9 was a great success with a short walk from the Trail entrance on Millcroft with about 10 contributors and several Green Scene members. Maarten Simon-Thomas, Green Scene co-chair, gave a short introduction to the 'rewilding project.'  We then walked down trail to the just completed .25 acre deer fenced exclosure. On the way we walked along one of the three creeks which come together here along the trail. They form Bush Creek which then flows into Jordan Lake. We also saw a patch of mayapple which had somehow escaped deer. (We would like to transplant a few into the plot.)

Henry Castner, who established and maintains many of the Fearrington trails with a group of volunteers, was also present. At the 7 ft tall fence and gate we learned the lock combination and inside saw that Henry and his crew had cut and removed the infestation of autumn olive, another important factor for restoration (in addition to deer exclusion). Inside the exclosure there is an area of shaded forest and a more open, sunny and grassy portion. Flowering at this time were both yellow - and pink -flowered wood sorrels as well as tree seedlings such as southern sugar maple - now protected from deer.  The painted buckeye had just finished flowering. There is a large black walnut and sycamore both common trees on floodplains. Several ferns including sensitive fern, grape fern and spleenwort also grow in the plot. We pointed out the poison ivy which perhaps someone brave and not allergic could remove. Also invading parts of the plot is Japanese Stilt Grass; a problem along trails in many areas of Fearrington.

The Kreismans (Ruth and Leonard) offered to buy a bench for the plot and Leslie Palmer would like to draw some of the wildflowers in the plot, including those which return or are now protected. She would sell them and donate proceeds to the project.

After leaving the deer fence area we walked a short distance on down the trail where there is a spicebush, a early-flowering and fragrant shrub we would like to re-establish in the plot. Also a rare Indian Current or Coralberry both growing near the bend in the stream where there is a nice bench and a box with a journal to record observations.  On down the trail we walked with Dav Robertson and saw a large blackhaw tree, several sugar berry or hackberry trees and alot of Jack-in-the-pulpits. Near the end of the trail along another creek we saw a very large vine climbing into the trees which is the invasive oriental bittersweet.  

Charles & Marilyn Racine