Thursday, February 26, 2009
Omick Preserve
Omick Preserve is a patch of woods on the north slope of the Sourland Ridge, east of Rte. 31, a little south of Ringoes. There is access from Rte. 31 via a 50' ROW just south of Ms. Omick's house. The southern edge is theoretically accessible from Rocktown Rd. via a trail easement, but there is no place to park. Basically it is undeveloped, but has a stream, a former farm pond turned into a bog, a logging road including a bridge over the stream, and a few deer stands.
I've been messing around in there for a bout a year now, mostly attacking multiflora and the red maples invading the bog. We are trying to restore the bog area, which has interesting vegetation. Jared and I plan to do a PSI this May.
Jared, I wanted to add photos, but don't see how. Maybe next week.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Handler / Maple Leaf Ridge
Handler is a 12 acre plot in the Sourlands, on Ridge Road near Amwell. I built a trail there this summer while interning at the Greenway. This was my first return since school began. It was great to get out there again, remembering how much I enjoyed this sort of work. The trail needed work, too - many sticks had come down over the winter, which I cleared away, and two trees have fallen across the path, which I did not clear away but might be doable with a chainsaw. The patches of multi-flora rose we cut down earlier seem to have sprouted only a few new shoots before the winer. Where I could, I pulled out the roots and stumps - most of them seemed pretty loose with the wet ground, maybe also shriveled from the RoundUp.
There weren't many signs of human use at the site - I didn't see anyone walking around, but on the positive side there was no atv or bike damage, no trash on the trail or along the roadside. I did see signs of animal life, mostly scat from deer. The trail might need a little more work in straightening sections (especially the rocky, uneven end stretch) or adding more markers.
I will head back as spring unfolds to see what fills in the spots where oriental bittersweet and multi-flora rose have been removed. Hopefully I'll have the chance to see many of you at our next SS gathering!
Dry Run Creek Trail
Friday, February 20, 2009
Drake's Corner in February
My first visit to the site since the inaugural-walk-through with Jared on Jan 6th 2009. Not much has changed – but I wanted to take a look around and get the feel of the space. It was an extremely cold and windy day – but good to be out there.
This is a 14 acre plot in a corner of Princeton that is otherwise becoming overgrown with large homes and it is almost an island within that. Like many islands (which it seems to be) it has a bit of everything - the good and the bad, and plainly the habitat has stood up to a lot.
There is a meadow, a stream, and a range of different woodland types all in this small area. Some of the land seems to have been just left untouched for many years, other parts have a number of invasive species roaring in and doing very well.
There are some lovely native trees and so for this visit I decided to focus on a few of the bark textures.
Here is a trunk of Persimmon (left) – a lovely native tree that seems to be doing well on this site, on the right
is hornbeam also called muscle-wood – and you can see why!
I’ll be back up there soon- it is a true oasis! Mary.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Salvage
I was inspired by the encouragement of Jared to blog anything, not just reports, and, by an experience that I had on Sunday morning at the SS gathering. I therefore present, in poetic form:
Salvage
Spring ephemeral
Entwined in wineberry root
Release, replant, rise
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Plum Brook Preserve
Wow! i am very impressed by Rachel's blog and feel that mine will be a little bit weak in comparison - but here we go!
first things first, i often do not use capital letter while i type, email, blog informally.
i have been dealing with a lot of medical issues with my mom for the past 2 months. one day i really needed to clear my head, so i decided to go walk my site, the plum brook preserve. i did this walk about 2 weeks ago, to sort of assess what's been going on down there since D & R took it over. there was snow on the ground and the brook was actually covered with ice, but not solidly! i had sadie with me, for those of you who do not know her, she is my ADD dog - and that does not mean that she can add!
we walked along the creek and the first thing that i noticed was a tree with markings made by a pileated - that is definitely new, because that is a part of my regular walk, that i have been doing there for many years. we walked along the creek and looked for a spot to cross over. i used a long branch to test the water ahead of me, but there were still times that i fell through! fortunately, the water is really not too deep.
it is always the silence and the surroundings that get to me. it's like a huge weight just slowly starts to lift off me.
i have to say that for no other reason than providing as many people as possible that peace, D & R is doing a great job!
Hope to see you all at the gathering!
kathy
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hillman Preserve
For those of you not familiar with the Hillman Preserve, it lies just south of Hopewell Borough. The north side runs along Crusher Road high on Hopewell ridge. From there it drops in elevation quickly and thus has numerous rock outcroppings and vistas. The steep hillside is forested with tulip trees, oaks and several species of hickory. The forested area continues to the base of the hillside and along the lower level for a short distance. This was probably the woodlot for the family farm in the 1800’s. The preserve includes 2 large old farm fields and totals about 72 acres. There is a fairly good understory with spicebush and other natives. Unfortunately there are also numerous Japanese barberries, euonymus, honeysuckle and of course, multiflora rose
The Hillman Preserve was absolutely beautiful today with a layer of fresh snow covering the ground and all the branches of the trees and shrubs. From the higher elevations I could see the distant fields and former farm house through the leafless trees. The scene was almost monochromatic in the afternoon sun with the bright snow in stark contrast with the dark trunks and branches of the trees. However, as I picked my way down the steep hillside I discovered a dramatically different scene. In a sheltered cove, basking in full sunlight was a rock wall covered with brilliant green moss glistening with droplets of melted snow. I'm sure there are many more treasures waiting to be found.
It’s a great preserve and I’m looking forward to numerous walks there. As a stewardship project I may select one of the rock overlooks and clear out all the invasive species in the area. It will afford a beautiful vista in all seasons.