|
| Habitat Highlights - Penn's Woods |
 |
October is emblazoned by the glory of our native trees in
their fall foliage. The woods are lit up by the brilliant
colors of maple, sweet gum and sourwood, to name a few. One
of the best spots at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve to
enjoy the spectacular fall  show
is Penn's Woods. Before you hit the trail, come to the Visitor
Center and pick up "Penn's Woods Tree Trail", a brochure that
identifies many of the trees and shrubs you'll see.
Living History
The birth of Penn's Woods at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
marks an important time in Pennsylvania history. In celebration
of William Penn's 300th birthday, the Pennsylvania State Legislature
passed an Act to establish the first state Memorial Reforestation
Program. With the designation of Penn's Woods, a 15-acre managed
woodland at the Preserve, the Reforestation Program was inaugurated
on October 12, 1944. (The name Pennsylvania literally means
Penn's Woods, a tribute to William Penn's pivotal role in
the founding of the state.) Our Penn's Woods was dedicated
to George Washington's troops, who used Bowman's Hill just
to the south of the Preserve as a lookout and camped nearby.
In keeping with our mission, all of the trees and shrubs
planted in Penn's Woods are native to Pennsylvania. Of the
869 trees in Penn's Woods, 79 tree species and 32 shrub species
are represented.
Penn's Woods is, however, more than an ordinary reforestation
project. Each of the trees has been dedicated by individuals,
organizations, garden clubs and conservation groups in memory
or honor of noted public figures, conservationists, American
war heroes, or loved ones. Each tree is marked with a plaque
bearing the species name and a number keyed to a list of these
individuals.
Some famous people to whom trees have been dedicated include
Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Pennsylvania
governors Robert P. Casey and James H. Duff, former Secretary
of the Department of Forest and Waters, Dr. Maurice K.Goddard,
and of course, William Penn and George Washington. As important
to the creation of this woodland are the many other individuals
who, though perhaps publicly less well-known, have been honored
and remembered through the trees dedicated to them.
Into the Woods
Because Penn's Woods was designed as an arboretum, the woodland
does not have the shrub layer that would be found in a natural
forest. This makes access to the trees much easier and allows
the visitor to enjoy the small flowers, ferns and occasional
orchid found in this rich habitat. During the fall, beechdrops
(Epifagus virginiana) are in bloom. Look for this unusual
plant near beech trees (Fagus grandifolia). At first
glance beechdrops can be mistaken for a clump of dried twigs
sticking out of the ground, but look closer and see small,
off-white and magenta-striped flowers blooming on the brown
stems. This parasitic plant gets its nutrients from the roots
of the beech tree and so does not need the green chlorophyll
that other plants use to make food. The beech trees that support
the beechdrops also attract wild turkey, which enjoy the beechnuts
as well as the acorns from the many oak trees found throughout
Penn's Woods.
Squirrels and woodpeckers are frequent visitors to the woodland,
also foraging on the bounty of acorns. Keep an eye out for
the pileated woodpecker - a crow-sized bird with a brilliant
red crest that pecks large holes in dead branches and trees
while looking for insects.
A little-known native fruit tree, the pawpaw (Asimina
triloba), grows in its own grove in Penn's Woods. A member
of the custard-apple family, pawpaw bears fruit that ripens
in the fall. This delicacy tastes like a combination of bananas
and strawberries and is greatly relished by raccoons (as well
as people!). The raccoons and pawpaw have formed a symbiotic
relationship over time--the pawpaw provides food for the raccoon
while the raccoon's digestive system breaks down the hard
outer seed coat of the pawpaw, enabling it to germinate once
it has been passed. The pawpaw's sunny yellow fall foliage
is a beautiful addition to Penn's Woods, making a trip through
the woodland well worth your time.
|
