PussyWillow Fen

Pussywillow Fen is the temporary name we have given to the fen south of the Volunteer Management Unit. It is named that due to the large Pussywillows growing in it. We know it is a fen because of the large amount of Shrubby Cinquefoil growing there. There are many buckthorn trees, an invasive, and willow and dogwood, native shrubs. There is one large open area near the river, a few small open areas in the interior, a narrow open strip at the bottom of the hill and small numbers of natives such as Marsh Marigold, Skunk Cabbage, Spicebush, Ninebark, Swamp Thistle, Joe-Pye Weed, and Godenrod interspersed among the area overgrown by shrubs. Since this area is too big to attack all at once, a trail was made through it cutting off a piece on the north end. Our strategy will be to work north from the trail until we have eliminated all the buckthorn between the trail and the volunteer management unit, then cut off more sections until finally the whole area is clear. There may be a controlled burn some year. Today we greatly widened the area on both sides of the trail between the first two brushpiles, connected the area between the two brushpiles, and broke through to a small open area south of the trail. There are enough natives already here that the area can regenerate naturally without any seeding being necessary. This area will be our main cold season work area after Vaughn Woods is finished. Tom Turkey and Campbell Strip is still the main priority for this coming summer. I will make regular visits to Pussywillow Fen this summer to spray any sprouts and control the buckthorn seedlings that sometimes germinate in large numbers the first year that a buckthorn area is opened up.

Today we saw Pussywillow, Spicebush, and Skunk Cabbage in bloom, a praying mantis egg case, Swamp Thistle and Marsh Marigold seedlings, garlic mustard on the hill, a giant buckthorn trunk, and got to smell Skunk Cabbage and Spicebush.