Terrestrial Projects:
Overview
Terrestrial terrain is gerally upland and dry, vs. wetland or riparian areas.
Chicorylane terrestrial lands are varied, including grasslands, forests on both
hilltops and slopes, and wooded shoulders that do not retain moisture. Also
included in this group are several areas that require regular or occasional
maintenance and which from time to time are incrementally improved. Total
terrestrial acreage is approximately 45 under natural conditions, and another 5
are residential and work areas.
General
Underlyig goals for all these projeccts are to improve the ecological diversity, quality,
services, and interest of relatively small areas that can, potentially,
aggregate into larger, symbiotic composites. Individual areas often
evidence a particular ecological feature, such as a notable specimen (e.g.,
large old willow treee), or
multiple clusters of a particular species (e.g., multiple viberna), or a particular natural
formation (e.g., a stream or rock outcropping). The main point is to
focus, first, on what is there, and then build on that, keeping the scale and effort doable.
This project
is seeking to enhance an area directly adjacent to the Riparian North section of
Brush Mountain Run. It is across the stream from and east of the ChicoryLane
Farm Pond. It is bounded on the south by the farm lane, on the north by the Wet
Meadow, and on the east by a pinetum of conifers and a tractor path.
topograhically, the western portion of the area i a continuation of the flood
plain next to the stream and rising to a knoll of about 20 feet. It is largely
open with numerous clumps of Gray Dogwood and a variety of mast fruit trees
including pear, apple, cherry, and Red Mulberry for which it is named.
Enhancement will be relatively light, but include removing the usual invasives
and adding additional Mulberries and complementary species with diverse fruiting
periods.
This project
concerns a 2-3 acre shoulder that runs east-west along the hillside above
the Riparian SouthWest segment of Brush Mountain Run. Below the shoulder is the
floodplain that is part of that area and just below the steeper hillside that is
the Succession West forested area. The primary enhancement effort involves
establishing a Black Locust forest with intermixed small trees (Dogwood and
Redbud), Viburna. Gray and Silky Dogwod, and an American Plum grove.
This
area is comprised of two separate forest growths. The extreme eastern segment is
a 5-acre segment of a long-established Hemlock - Red Oak- Northern Mixed
Hardwood forest that was the only wooded area of the farm when we moved here 50
years ago. It remains intact and includes in addition to Hemlock and Red Oak, a
stand of mature Beech with numerous young offshoots, Hophornbean, and American
Hornbean. The western segment, another 3-4 acres, was a pastured hillside 50
years ago. It grew up first in Elm, which all died, followed by Green Ash, most
of which died, and now a third generation of maples, cherry, more ash, the
occasional Oak, Redbub, Flowering Dogwood, and Serviceberry. This north-facing
slope also includes numerous herbaceous plants including Black Cohosh, Triliums,
Ginger, Bloodroot, Maidenhair and Wood ferns. The primary enhancement efforts
will be to control invasives, add additional shade-loving herbaceous species, as
well a diverse mix of shrub and mid-story trees.
This area
is the most thickly overgrown , the least accessible, and the least visited
area of the property. It lies on a very steep hillside above the Locust Shoulder
and adjoins a portion of the Forest UpTop. However, we have recently added a
crude "logging road" that will provide working access to the upper segment as
well as a single path cut at the lower margin. The latter will provide access to
the lower segment. The whole area is comprised of a successional growth from the
original pasture to a random mix of hardwoods, white pines, and numerous
invasive shrubs and vines - i.e., European Bittersweet. There is much work to be
done to control invasives, to inventory desirable species, and to introduce
other members of the Red Oak community . . . not to mention reduce damage
being done by deer.
Maintenace and Rejuvenation Changes
The two areas/projectws described below are both part of NRCS
(Natural Resource Conservation Service) CREP (Concervation Reserve Enhancement
Program) projects begun in 2005. Both were begun with 15-year contracts, which
have been renewed. Both require yearly and ongoing maintenance. During the next
few years, both will be given an extra boost of attention to address some
additional mid-growth issues.
This is
a 12-13 acre project to convert a former agricultural field to a Red Oak - Mixed
Norther Hardwood forest. Some 1,500 trees were planted acording to a plan
developed in collaboration with NRCS and PA-DCNR (Pennsylvania Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources), especially Tim Cole, our local Consulting
Forester. This area is approaching mid-growth, including a number of 20-25 foot
trees. The main effort will be to replant in selected locations trees that have
not survived. And we will do a comprehensive intenive removal of invasives that
have crept in. Thus, this is more a maintenance or rejuvenation effort than an
enhancement.
This second CREP
project is also a repurposing of a former agricultural field. It occupies
approximately one-fourth of the property and lies in the north-east quadrant of
the property, behind the house and yard areas. It was seeded with a mix of cool
and warm season grasses - including Big Blue Stem, Little Blue Stem, Indian, and
Switch Grasses, as well as diverse mixes of native wildflowers. The main efforts
here will also be rejuvenation and control of invasives. Areas that have
become densely matted with, for example, Switch Grass will be disked or
otherwise ttreated to promote new growth. In a few areas, we will explore
options to reseed. And, we will continue selected mowing to reduce weed
populations - especially Golden Rod - and to promote desired growth.