Outings

Facing SW, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

We continued clearing around the base of these two big trees. An oak and a shag bark hickory look like one tree from this angle.
 

The hole we cleared appears as a dark central area, still shaded by the remainig buckthorn.

Facing S, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

Part of the group began working S toward Sun Lake where rare plants are growing. 
 

Facing S, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

We cleared buckthorn near the lone tree in th ecenter of the photo and hauled it to the edge of the farm field to the W.
 

Facing SSE, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

A pair of students joined us from Stevenson High School. 
 

Facing SSE, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

We continued boring into the dense buckthorn to expand the area for the rare plants.
 

Facing S, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

We left native Hawthorn in the foreground, and worked S.
 

Facing S, on the S edge of farm fields NE of Sun Lake.

Large clearings appear as small gaps in the dense canopy from this angle.
 

Facing W, on the N side of Oak Grove Hill in the center of the FP.

Wildflowers grow in this unfarmed area betwen the Grove and the drainage ditch. 
 

Facing W, on the N side of Oak Grove Hill in the center of the FP.

We'd like to see more of this FP covered with this type of growth.
 

Facing S, on the N side of Oak Grove Hill in the center of the FP.

A profusion of Goldenrod, Woodland Sunflower, and New England Aster.
 

Facing S, on the N side of Oak Grove Hill in the center of the FP.

Wouldn't it be great to have these all over the area!

Facing S, on Oak Grove Hill in the center of the FP.

This area has been twice dug up with heavy equipment to build motocross jumps. The holes damage the roots of the magnificent trees. Here, the FPD has once again had to spend scarce resources to refill the holes to try to rescue the trees.
 

Incompatible uses.

Two of these kids were caught with vandalized equipment belonging to one of the stewardship volunteers. They said that the one of the handful of kids on motorcycles was the vandal. They were told that their motorized vehicles are not allowed in the FP.

Use of motorized vehicles tends to disrupt the sensitive wildlife at the FPD.
 

Facing W, at the NW edge of Sun Lake, just E of Sequoit Creek.

Wow! This area was just cleared last winter, and already is bursting with wilflowers. Compare these pictures with the Bonfire pictures. 

Facing W, at the NW edge of Sun Lake, just E of Sequoit Creek.

Goldenrod, Woodland Sunflower, Thistle and other native species have already blanketed the area. The soils that appeared bare under the buckthorn were far from barren, and only waiting for our help to let light back in.
 

At the NW edge of Sun Lake, just E of Sequoit Creek.

Even the bonfire site, subjected to extreme surface temperature had some growth - a testament to the stamina of the seed bank, and the insulative quality of Houghton Muck.
 

Facing E, on the E edge of farm fields N of Sun Lake.

This area was plowed and disked this year, but many quick recovering species emerged again by the end of the summer.
 

Facing E, on the E edge of farm fields N of Sun Lake.

Mystery grass casts a purple hue over the meadow.