Witch Hazel and spice bush grow in clusters along this part
of the trail. Sugar maples and tall, yellow poplars grow right down to the
flowing margin of the stream. American beech trees are also numerous, and a
large number of beech seedlings line both sides of the trail. The abundance of
these beeches is indicative of the continuously moist soil conditions of
this north facing slope. The large number of older yellow poplar trees is
possibly indicative of the more sheltered conditions of this part of the trail.
Poplars, as we have mentioned before, are very brittle trees that are prone to
severe wind damage and breakage. These old, tall poplars have apparently been
able to ride out the frequent wind storms that hit our ridge down in the safety of
this ravine. In the late spring, Christmas and hay-scented ferns densely fill in the under-story vegetation out competing the May apple
which was so dominant on the other side of the stream. In the light gaps
scattered through this sea of ferns, wild rose and raspberry form dense thickets
of stems and canes.
....
Witch Hazel and spice bush grow in clusters along this part
of the trail. Sugar maples and tall, yellow poplars grow right down to the
flowing margin of the stream. American beech trees are also numerous, and a
large number of beech seedlings line both sides of the trail. The abundance of
these beeches is indicative of the continuously moist soil conditions of
this north facing slope. The large number of older yellow poplar trees is
possibly indicative of the more sheltered conditions of this part of the trail.
Poplars, as we have mentioned before, are very brittle trees that are prone to
severe wind damage and breakage. These old, tall poplars have apparently been
able to ride out the frequent wind storms that hit our ridge down in the safety of
this ravine. In the late spring, Christmas and hay-scented ferns densely fill in the under-story vegetation out competing the May apple
which was so dominant on the other side of the stream. In the light gaps
scattered through this sea of ferns, wild rose and raspberry form dense thickets
of stems and canes.
