6.1 Successional Forest (Managed)
The hillside that the house faces runs east-west the entire length of the property -- some 4/10 of a mile. It is bounded on the south by the Red Oak - Mixed Hardwood forest. In 1974 it was an open pasture with a few scattered trees. Since then, it has become completely covered with trees, many of them 30-40 feet tall. Unfortunately, a large number of those trees are elms, almost all of which have died that last few years. A current and on-going project is to cut down the dead elm and release the other species which include Oak, Maple, Cherry, Locus, Walnut, Hickory, and Apple. We are also planting other species of full-size trees but also mid-canopy species that are members of the Red Oak - Mixed Hardwood community. Some of the mid-canopy species include Serviceberyy, Redbud, and Flowering Dogwood. This work is being supported in part by the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP)..
6.2 Hemlock - Red Oak Mixed Hardwood Forest (Natural)
This small, 3-4 acre triangular Hemlock - Red Oak Mixed Hardwood Forest lies at the east end of the property and on the hillside that is largely successional. It is one of the few patches of natural woods on the property. The slope is steep and north-facing. Trees include members of the Red Oak community as well as Hemlock, Beech, and Hophornbeam. A small green orchid has also been observed under the Hemlocks.
6.3 Red Oak Mixed Hardwood Forest (Planted)
This large, nearly 13 acre field sits on top of the hill that the house faces and that the successional forest occupies. It is triangular in shape and touches the east, south, and west property lines, running approximately 4/10 mile. Conversion of this former crop field to a forest was begun in 2005 with support from USDA through their Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). A forest plan was developed by a forester with Centre County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). It includes three wildlife protection and feeding areas in the corners of the area, each with several circles of conifers and mast fruit trees in the center. In the majority of the area, some dozen species from the Red Oak - Mixed Hardwood community were planted in several zones. These included Red Oak, Black Oak, White Oak, Maple, two kinds of Cherry, two kinds of Hickory, Basswood, White Ash, and Tulip Poplars.
Forests (2011)
July 30, 2011
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