| Where We Live |
| building better communities |
| WINTER 2008 Hike with The Nature Conservancy |
On Saturday, December 6, 2008 we kicked off our new series of
quarterly hikes with the Nature Conservancy with a trek led by Sara
Over through the preserve behind the Boiling Spring Lakes
quarterly hikes with the Nature Conservancy with a trek led by Sara
Over through the preserve behind the Boiling Spring Lakes
Center. The topic of the hike was
"Fire and the Boiling Spring Lakes
Ecosystem."
It was brisk but not too chilly as we
set off down the trail. Sara is
incredibly knowledgeable about our
local flora and fauna, and was quick
to point out interesting plants along
the way. We traipsed through
"Fire and the Boiling Spring Lakes
Ecosystem."
It was brisk but not too chilly as we
set off down the trail. Sara is
incredibly knowledgeable about our
local flora and fauna, and was quick
to point out interesting plants along
the way. We traipsed through
| (L) A recently burned area.. (R) Alexander Gilland checks out some wiregrass. |
| (L) Entering the pocosin community. (R) The encroaching Turkey Oaks. |
Sara stops to point out some unusual
plants.
plants.
Thank you, Sara, for an informative and invigorating walk through
our fascinating nature preserve! We hope everyone will take
advantage of this precious resource.
We're looking forward to our next hike, in Spring 2009! Hope you'll
join us!
our fascinating nature preserve! We hope everyone will take
advantage of this precious resource.
We're looking forward to our next hike, in Spring 2009! Hope you'll
join us!
several different environmental communities, amazed by the
difference just a few feet can make in the variety of trees and plants
inhabiting a given section of the trail.
We were most interested to hear about how fire, while a frightening
prospect to homeowners, is a necessary part of the maintenance of
our ecosystem. Our famous long-leaf pines grow alongside turkey
oaks (a vibrant red at this time of year) which can actually harm the
pines if they grow too large. In many areas along the trail, Sara
pointed out turkey oaks that were far too big. In other areas along the
trail, pond pines require fire to propagate; their pine cones will only
burst and spread seed if they are heated to a very high
temperature.The Nature Conservancy does do controlled burns in
areas that need it, but due to the very dry conditions we have
experienced in recent years, they have not been able to attend to
these spots.
difference just a few feet can make in the variety of trees and plants
inhabiting a given section of the trail.
We were most interested to hear about how fire, while a frightening
prospect to homeowners, is a necessary part of the maintenance of
our ecosystem. Our famous long-leaf pines grow alongside turkey
oaks (a vibrant red at this time of year) which can actually harm the
pines if they grow too large. In many areas along the trail, Sara
pointed out turkey oaks that were far too big. In other areas along the
trail, pond pines require fire to propagate; their pine cones will only
burst and spread seed if they are heated to a very high
temperature.The Nature Conservancy does do controlled burns in
areas that need it, but due to the very dry conditions we have
experienced in recent years, they have not been able to attend to
these spots.
| (L) New growth.. (R) We weren't the only ones on the trail that morning! |
