A LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS RESERVATION THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS • JORDAN CLARK • FALL 2014 • CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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A L A N D S C A P E D E S I G N F O R
D I N O S A U R F O O T P R I N T S R E S E R VAT I O NTHE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS • JORDAN CLARK • FALL 2014 • CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
Nestled snugly on eight steep, mostly wooded acres on the western bank of the Connecticut River, Dinosaur Footprints Reservation (DFR) is a geological and cultural landmark featuring at its center a sandstone outcrop imprinted with early Jurassic dinosaur tracks. Located on the northern fringe of Holyoke, MA, The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) property is squeezed between busy Route 5 and a stretch of railroad tracks. Currently, it serves as a point of interest for school groups and passersby as well as a popular draw for local riverfront access. In addition to its unique cultural and recreational function, the site also hosts a handful of state-listed rare plants.A central tension of this project lies between the maintenance of the reservation as an accessible place for human enjoyment and the preservation of the site’s ecological functions. Project programThe objective of this project is twofold: to improve the overall visitor experience at Dinosaur Footprints Reservation while effectively stewarding the site’s natural resources, including the dinosaur tracks and rare plant species.The landscape and management of the reservation can foster a positive visitor experience by offering a place that is perceived as safe and welcoming, coherent and navigable. Such a place serves as a destination with a wide array of opportunities to learn, to play, and to rest.To enable a more engaging and satisfying visitor experience, The Trustees would like gathering areas suitable for reflection and education, expanded views into and out of the site, a solution to the eyesore represented by the concrete retaining wall that runs along the property, and a more deliberate and coherent navigation framework and visual aesthetic. Additionally, they would like to maintain rare plant habitat on-site and manage water flow to prevent erosion in problem areas.
Stewardingnaturalresources
Creating asatisfying visitor
experience
Thethoughtful
designcombinesfunctions
INDEX OF SHEETS1. Project Overview
2. Context
3. Existing Conditions
4. Views Analysis
5. Access & Circulation Analysis
6. Slopes & Drainage Analysis
7. Vegetation & River Resource Analyses
8. Summary Analysis
9. Design Alternatives
10. Final Design Plan
11. Final Design Details
12. Plant Recommendations
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CONTEXTDinosaur DiscoveriesThe Connecticut River Valley is home to the first known dinosaur tracks to be discovered in North America, and the collection of fossil sites in the region played a key role in the early study of dinosaurs. What is now Dinosaur Footprints Reservation provided some of the first evidence of the existence of these prehistoric beasts.The sandstone slab sitting just off US Route 5 at Dinosaur Footprints Reservation features hundreds of impressions from early Jurassic-era dinosaurs, first studied by Amherst College Professor Edward Hitchcock in the 1830s. The location of the footprints was well-known to paleontologists in the 19th century, during which it became a key site in the creation of “ichnology,” the study of fossilized footprints. Today it continues to be a popular location among scientists The footprints from at least four distinct two-legged dinosaur species (including a likely ancestor to Tyrannosaurus Rex), along with other trace fossils and ripple marks, are thought to be around 200 million years old. Though the footprints (and others like them nearby) now lie in the Connecticut River Valley, the creatures that left them were walking in a swampy subtropical mudflat on the supercontinent Pangaea. The footprints were rediscovered in the following century during the construction of what is now U.S. Route 5, shortly after which the land on which they sit was acquired by The Trustees of Reservations for its preservation for the public. The route of the old country road replaced by Route 5 is still apparent on the site — a relatively flat strip that runs through the otherwise steep terrain. Chunks of the broken-up old road can be easily found less than a foot from the surface in many places.
Conserved, though fragmentedThe immediate setting of Dinosaur Footprints Reservation echoes its broader surroundings. It lies within a mosaic of conserved land that includes much of the Mount Tom and Mount Holyoke ranges, and it is part of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, whose goal is to protect the ecological diversity of the Connecticut River watershed. Despite its importance to the broader ecosystem, it is constrained by surrounding development and fragmented by the major transportation corridors that run through it.
A popular but remote spotThe reservation sits just off the major connecting route for car and bike traffic between Holyoke (pop. 41,000; city center is 3 miles away) and Northampton (pop. 29,000; 7 miles away). Despite its proximity to large population centers, it is still a relatively out-of-the-way destination for all but those with access to a car. Bike paths run along Route 5 (there are no bike racks on-site) and buses will stop at the reservation, but there is no official stop. The portion of rock outcrop that juts into the river across the train tracks from DFR property has long been a popular river access point among locals, as Holyoke center provides no access to the river that runs through it. Also, perhaps due to its secluded setting, it has had a reputation in the past for playing host to illicit nighttime activities. During visiting hours (dawn to dusk), there are occasional reported thefts of items left in cars parked at the reservation, though Holyoke’s police department has confirmed that such incidents have greatly decreased in the past several years.
CO
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MT. TOM
DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS RESERVATION
INTERSTATE 91
U.S. RTE. 5(NORTHAMPTON ST.)
Edward Hitchcock
The riverfront adjacent Dinosaur Footprints Reservation is a popular local attraction. Bing Maps Image
Bing Maps Image
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EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
Parking lot
Intermittentstream
Riverfront rock outcrop
C O N N E C T I C U TR I V E R
Bing Maps Image
Projectscope
Footprints location
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DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS
DECIDUOUS HARDWOOD FOREST
WOODCHIP PATH
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SUMAC STAND
DECIDUOUS HARDWOOD FOREST
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DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS RESERVATION PROPERTY
U.S. ROUTE 5 LAND FROM THE TRAIN TRACKS TO THE RIVERFRONT IS NOT OWNED BY DFR
Dinosaur Footprints Reservation sits on a narrow 8-acre strip of land along the western edge of the Connecticut River. Steep and mostly forested with a central open area surrounding the rock outcrop that features the dinosaur footprints, the property is squeezed between U.S. Route 5 on its western border and a railroad on its eastern edge, cutting it off from direct contact with the river. The focal area for this project is the middle third of the property (shown here).The major section of sandstone outcrop directly abuts the retaining wall of Route 5. This concrete wall, about 12 feet tall at its tallest, blocks some noise and views from the busy road above, but its monolithic presence adds little to the visitor experience and may invite vandalism.
The steep terrain throughout the site presents challenges for accessibility. The woodchip path from the parking lot down to the dinosaur footprints area is mostly greater than 10 percent grade, double the acceptable grade for handrail-free access. The slopes also contribute to erosion across paths in some areas.Currently a single maintained path leads to the dinosaur footprints, while a secondary trail cuts through the woods toward the river. This compacted soil and rock outcrop trail is heavily used by those visiting the site primarily for river access. An information kiosk greets visitors in English and Spanish at the point of entry, and another sign featuring details about the dinosaur footprints stands at the end of the main path, just before the forest opening.
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VIEWS ANALYSIS
Upon arrival at the Dinosaur Footprints Reservation parking and entry area, views to the interior are limited. The dense forest growth that envelops the path leading to the dinosaur footprints lends a sense of mystery about what lies further ahead. It does not, however, offer the visitor any glimpse of the destination, which can make visitors feel unsafe. Openings in the woods can be comforting both when a person is in them and when one can look into them. Therefore, to create a more more enticing and reassuring landscape, thinning and limbing up trees along the main path to open up views may be necessary.
Thick vegetation (mostly woody shrubs) in the central section also obstructs any views to the nearby river from on-site. Paring back some of this growth to open up views could provide a new area of interest near the location of the dinosaur footprints.The concrete retaining wall provides a barrier to the bustle of the road above, but in the context of the forest and dinosaur footprints, it is an eyesore that tends to invite vandalism. However, the wall presents an opportunity for a mural that could tie into TTOR’s interpretive plans for the site.
Thick vegetation creates inviting enclosed spaces and provides a diversity of surroundings within the reservation, but obstructed views can cause frustration and safety concerns. A concrete retaining wall separates the interior from the adjacent busy road, but its appearance clashes with the reservation’s natural setting.
From the open area around the dinosaur footprints, views of the river are blocked by vegetation.
Autumn gives a glimpse of the river views possible from on-site.
The retaining wall provides separation from the busy road above, but it detracts from the natural surroundings.
Just across the train tracks, the rock outcrop jutting into the river affords stunning views
THE RETAINING WALLIS AN EYESORE WITHIN
THE PROPERTY
DENSE WOODS BLOCK VIEWS FROM THEENTRANCE
THICKVEGETATION OBSCURES VIEWS TOTHE RIVER
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BARRIERS TO VIEW
NEGATIVE VIEWS
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At the entrance, views down the path are restricted. The forest encloses the path to the footprints before opening up.
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Located along a major traffic route three miles north of Holyoke center, the reservation is a consistent draw for visitors, who come either to compare footprint sizes with dinosaurs or to access the riverfront. Due to its proximity to Holyoke and its position along the Connecticut River, DFR serves as an informal river access point for kayakers and fisherfolk; direct river access is unavailable in the center of Holyoke. Accessing the river requires crossing the railroad tracks along the eastern border of the property, which is illegal and a possible liability issue for TTOR. Currently an informal path draws visitors to the train tracks and down toward the river.Parking for approximately seven vehicles is available at the entrance along Route 5. When buses bring school groups, however, parking is not sufficient. Current pedestrian circulation within the park is somewhat ill-defined, with a branch off the main path leading down toward the river, where a sign advises against crossing the train tracks. The layout of the area surrounding the dinosaur footprints tends to impose a linear progression toward the end of the footprints
slab, with no apparent option for continued exploration. A more satisfying arrangement might involve looping circulation to accommodate the visitor’s desire to continue exploring.
ACCESS & CIRCULATION ANALYSIS
The sign on the left is the only advertisement for the reservation, just off a 45-mph road. The entrance kiosk provides bilingual site information, including a map of the reservation.
A sign at the base of the dinosaur footprints area greets visitors.
The far end of the dinosaur footprints slab is a dead end. A more thoughtful site layout might encourage continued exploration beyond that point.
At DFR, the allure of what lies beyond the rail-road is both an asset and a liability.
P
CAR - BUS -
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NORTH
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DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS
RIVERFRONTACCESS
RAIL
ROAD
Visitors are officially informed that crossing the train tracks is illegal, but there is no physical barrier to doing so.
MAIN ATTRACTION
BARRIER TO ACCESS
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Most of reservation sits on slopes of greater than 15% grade, with pockets of less steep terrain occurring primarily through the center of the site, along what was once a country road. A seating area would require a relatively level surface, which could necessitate some regrading.Most of the existing woodchip path connecting the parking lot to the dinosaur footprints area is greater than 10% grade; an accessible path without handrails would require regrading to under 5%, as well as surface hardening.There is evidence of erosion on paths across downhill grades, such as the area where the path forks and the lower portions of the compacted soil footpaths. Rerouting water flow around paths will be important for maintaining the integrity of the soils and walking areas.
SLOPES & DRAINAGE ANALYSIS
Gullies erode away compacted soil paths. Sheet flow across the trail fork is causing erosion.
The site’s steep slopes present accessibility problems for visitors, while maintenance challenges arise where erosion and soggy conditions cause damage to paths.
AREAS OF EROSION
SOGGY AREA AT END OF PATH
Water flow creates soggy conditions at the bottom of the path.
SLOPES >15%
SLOPES 5-15%
SLOPES <5%
WATER FLOW
DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS RESERVATION PROPERTY
A section of Dinosaur Footprints Reservation, through the central portion of the site, shows significant slopes from west to east.
U.S. ROUTE 5 LAND FROM THE TRAIN TRACKS TO THE RIVERFRONT IS OFF DFR PROPERTY
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Three distinct plant communitiesRed oak/sugar maple transition forest, about 60 years old, covers most of the site, except for the cleared area surrounding the dinosaur footprints. The forest comprises mostly white and red oaks, red and sugar maples, and mature hickories, with a smattering of tree species commonly found along rivers, includ-ing hackberry, sycamore, and cottonwood. Thin soils over bedrock limit the size and type of trees growing here. The understory is of varied density, and much of the shrub layer is made up of exotic invasives such as Morrow’s honeysuckle; however, native shrubs including blueberries, gray dogwood, and Carolina rose, as well as wood aster, false Solomon’s seal, and Virginia creeper in relatively open sections are also present. Rocky outcrop communities host DFR’s two main attractions—the large area of exposed sandstone along the road retaining wall that contains dinosaur tracks and the outcrop that juts into the river, to the east of the railroad (not TTOR property). Crevices in the rock with shallow soil pockets provide the habitat for these communities. At least three state-listed rare plants have been reported on these spots. Tradescant’s aster (Symphyotrichum tradescantii) and upland white aster (Oligoneuron album) both grow in crevices near the river, while false pennyroyal (Trichostema brachiatum) is found in the open area around the rock outcrops on DFR property.
Maintained grassland and early successional areas surround the footprints slab, as a result of the recent removal of a dense thicket of invasive shrubs. Various grasses, increasingly dense patches of staghorn sumac, and a few scattered young Eastern red cedars grow in the shallow-to-bedrock soils.
State-listed rare plants on-siteConsidered endangered in Massachusetts (but secure globally), false pennyroyal (Trichostema brachiatum) is an herbaceous annual in the mint family that prefers open sunny exposures on disturbed sandy soil or rock outcrop. At the DFR, it can be found on and around the areas of exposed bedrock. TTOR has been actively encouraging its population expansion on-site, and has conducted an aggressive campaign against invasive plants that encroach on its habitat. Otherwise, its main threat to existence is shade. To this end, TTOR has maintained an open area around the rock outcrops.
Design directions:Given T. brachiatum’s protected status in Massachusetts, any design should include provisions for the long-term survival of the plant, either in its current location or nearby. For any design that calls for added vegetation, care should taken to match plant species to microclimate, sun and moisture conditions, as well as surrounding vegetation.Should a design call for new plant communities, only native plants or non-natives that pose no invasive potential in the area are to be used. In the creation of novel plant communities, it is essential to be a mindful agent of plant dispersal.
VEGETATION &RIVER RESOURCE ANALYSES
Though constrained by the transportation corridors that define its property boundaries, the reservation provides a diverse habitat along the Connecticut River that features three distinct plant communities and a handful of regionally rare plants.
Rocky outcrop community Red oak/sugar maple transition forest Maintained grassland & early successional communities
Yearly invasive control is conducted on-site.
RED OAK/SUGAR MAPLE TRANSITION FOREST
ROCKY OUTCROPCOMMUNITIES
MAINTAINED GRASSLAND &EARLY SUCCESSIONAL COMMUNITIES
REPORTED OCCURRENCESOF FALSE PENNYROYAL
200’ RIVER RESOURCE AREA
False pennyroyal
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SUMMARY ANALYSIS
DENSEGROWTHBLOCKS RIVERVIEWS
DENSE WOODSBLOCK VIEWSTO THEINTERIOR
DECIDUOUS FOREST;RELATIVELY UNUSED
DECIDUOUS FOREST;RELATIVELY UNUSED
OPEN AREASURROUNDING DINOSAURFOOTPRINTS
RIVER ROCK OUTCROP:OFF PROPERTY, A BIG VISITOR DRAW
ENTRANCE & PATH
ENTRANCE AND INITIAL EXPERIENCEA single, six-foot-wide sign in the grassy median along Route 5 announces the reservation; for a 45-mph road, this is short notice.
Visitors are greeted with a bilingual informational kiosk at the trail head. Signs warn of theft in the parking lot; the separation of the parking lot from the dinosaur footprints area and the lack of visibility to the interior can decrease the perception of safety. Views from the parking lot only extend halfway down the 400-foot trail.
The woodchip-covered trail from the parking lot is too steep to be considered universally accessible. An ADA-compliant path (5% grade without handrails) would require significant regrading and resurfacing.
DENSE WOODS BLOCK VIEWS TO THE INTERIORThe forest’s thick canopy envelops the path beginning about halfway down the hill, giving a sense of mystery to the site. The wooded enclosure can serve as a pleasant, even enticing, feature, but the restricted views may also contribute to a visitor’s perceived lack of safety. Thinning trees in this area to increase visibility can help one get a better understanding of what lies within the reservation, while also maintaining some of the element of mystery that invites exploration.
OPEN AREA SURROUNDING THE DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTSMost of the visitor activity on the property is concentrated in this zone; groups gather here and visitors walk on the rock outcrop to compare their footprints with those left by the dino-saurs.
Given the sun conditions (this zone is the sunniest patch on the property) and the prevalence of rock outcrop, the one rare plant species found on-site grows mostly in this area. At this point, the confluence of human activity and rare species growth has not proven detrimental to the plant, which grows in disturbed shallow soils. Most threatening to its survival are shade and competition from invasive plants.
The concrete retaining wall abuts the rock outcrop, buffering both views and noise from the road above, but also standing as an eyesore next to the natural features of the property.
OFF-PROPERTY RIVER ROCK OUTCROPApart from the dinosaur footprints, the rock outcrop that juts into the river is the site’s biggest visitor draw. It is known locally as the first river access point north of Holyoke center. Arriving at the riverfront, however, requires crossing the railroad tracks, which is illegal. No formal barrier prohibits this crossing, though as the tracks are converted for higher-speed passenger rail, this situation may change.
HEAVY T
RAFFIC
DENSE VEGETATION BLOCKS VIEWS FROM THE PROPERTY TO THE RIVERDespite the reservation’s proximity to the riverfront, visitors who wish for a view of the river must cross the train tracks, because a thick pocket of vegetation grows between the open area and the train tracks. Replacing this woody shrub vegetation with a shorter-growing plant mix would open up a sight line to the river from within the property.
EROSIONON PATH
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The regraded path to the dinosaur tracks is ADA compliant; interpretive elements along the path and on the landing help set visitor expectations.
An expanded trails network allows exploration & variety of experience.
Expanded bedrock areas, exposed in phases, generate renewed interest and increase habitat area for rare species.
The retaining wall becomes an asset: vines add texture, color, and coherence; a locally-designed mural can engage the community.
A river viewing area visually connects the site to its broader context and affords the opportunity to make use of incoming views from passenger rail cars.
MAYBE LATER, VELOCIRAPTOR JURASSIC PARK: THE PARK
Dinosaur Footprints Reservation, in this iteration, focuses on transporting visitors to the ancient past. A variety of plant types, arranged thematically, serve as snapshots along the evolutionary history of plants since the days of the dinosaurs.
This is a more formal layout than the other designs; visitors journey through distinct groupings of vegeta-tion, large and small, in a guided fashion.
This is most effectively accomplished as collaborative effort with local organizations or universities.
DINOSAURFOOTPRINTS
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FINAL DESIGN PLAN
• Thinned trees in the wooded area between the main path and the western edge of the property increase visual access. The remaining distribution of trees lend both mystery and legibility to the landscape.
• Uphill swales and a small culvert direct the flow of stormwater away from its current erosive path where the trail splits. A small depression planted with water-loving plants mitigates soggy conditions at the end of the woodchip path.
• An outdoor room under the tree canopy, enclosed by dense understory vegetation and featuring an amphitheater at the forest edge provides a shaded gathering space with seating for up to thirty people. This space could also serve as an interpretive zone to prepare visitors for the dinosaur footprints experience.
• The re-routed secondary path, previously a shortcut to the river access point, funnels visitors into the center of the site.
• Creeping vines and a mural cover the concrete retaining wall that forms the property’s western border, giving a more comforting sense of enclosure to the open area.
• Bench seating at a river overlook, flanked by shade-giving trees, provides another resting spot. Native grasses populate the slope down toward the train tracks, offering a full view of the riverfront where once overgrown shrubs formed a visual barrier.
• Added vegetation throughout diversifies the plant population, and selection of species with prehistoric connections (ferns, horsetail, dawn redwood, ginkgo, etc.) help to visually transport the visitor to another era. In the open center the edge of the forest extends to feature dawn redwoods surrounded by an evolving mid-successional understory of ferns, sweet fern, and other evocative plantings.
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Enhanced views from the entrance to the site’s interior reinforce the perception of safety, while an on-site vista of the river provides an additional attraction. An outdoor room under the tree canopy offers a shaded place to rest that can accommodate groups, while the retaining wall becomes a pleasing feature befitting the landscape. Swales mitigate erosion and boggy ground on problematic areas of the main path, and a trail loop facilitates coherent circulation within the reservation.
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GINKGO
NATIVE GRASS MEADOW
C O N N E C T I C U T R I V E R
DAWNREDWOOD WITH PLANTED UNDERSTORY
TRAIL LOOP THROUGH WOODS
REVEGETATION OF FORMER TRAIL
OUTDOOR ROOM WITH AMPHITHEATER
THINNED TREES
RIVER OVERLOOK
AMPHITHEATER PATH THINNED TREES
DINOSAUR FOOTPRINTS RIVER OVERLOOK &NATIVE GRASS MEADOW
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FINAL DESIGN DETAILS Shaded amphitheaterAn outdoor room with an amphitheater under the tree canopy sits at the edge of the open area containing the dinosaur footprints. Three levels of seating, each six feet deep and raised sixteen inches tall, can accommodate up to thirty people. Stone slabs stabilize the edges of each level and provide firm seating material, while woodchips fill in the path and the remainder of the flat areas. A dense mix of vegetation ushers the visitor into the outdoor room and forms an enclosure around the amphitheater. RegradingSome regrading is necessary to create the terraces of the amphitheater. The top levels of the amphitheater and the bottom of the opening require fill, while the lower levels of the amphithe-ater require some excavation. Where soil is excavated, it should be used for any fill necessary to minimize the use of off-site materials. See grading plan below.
6’ 16”seats
Understory plantings
Main path
A seating area with a vista of the river over a native grass meadow is flanked by shade-giving trees. Fern and shrubby understory highlight a large dawn redwood at the center of the sunny open area.
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Thinned and limbed up trees between the main path and the retaining wall (covered with Virginia creeper vines) enable views from the parking lot into the property. Horsetails growing in a swale at the end of the path mitigate soggy conditions.
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Grading plan for amphitheater
SWALE WITH HORSETAILS
STONE SEATING
WOODCHIP GROUND COVER
Amphitheater
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PLANT RECOMMENDATIONSScientific Name Common Name Sun Tolerance Moisture Tolerance FormSchizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem sun/partial shade dry grassAndropogon gerardii Big bluestem sun/partial shade moist grassSorghastrum nutans Indiangrass sun/shade dry/moist grassEragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass sun moist grassPanicum virgatum Switchgrass sun/partial shade dry/moist grassSporobolus heterolepis Prairie dropseed sun dry grass
Scientific Name Common Name Sun Tolerance Moisture Tolerance FormComptonia peregrina Sweet fern sun/partial shade dry shrubOsmunda claytoniana Interrupted fern shade moistPteridium aquilinum Bracken fern shade/partial shade dry/moist herbCornus racemosa Gray dogwood sun/shade moist shrubViburnum spp. Viburnums sun/partial shade dry/moistMetasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn redwood sun dry/moist tree
Scientific Name Common Name Sun Tolerance Moisture Tolerance FormEquisetum spp. Horsetail partial moist herbEurybia divaricata White wood aster sun or dry shade dry herbOnoclea sensibilis Sensitive fern shade/partial shade moist (drier if shaded) herbPolygonatum biflorum var. commutatum
Giant Solomon’s seal shade/partial sun moist herb
Gaylussacia baccata Huckleberry sun/shade dry/moist shrubMatteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich fern shade/partial shade moist herbOsmundastrum cinnamomeum Cinnamon fern sun/shade moist herbAmelanchier spp. Serviceberry sun/shade dry shrub
NATIVE GRASS MEADOWOn the sunny, relatively steep eastern edge of the property below the river overlook, a mix of native grasses lends a soft and pleasing texture to the opening and allows views of the Connecticut River.
EXTENDED FOREST EDGEWhere the forest edge stops just east of the footprints slab, an understory dominated by sun- and dry-tolerant ferns accentuates the featured dawn redwood, an ancient, endangered tree that until the last century was thought extinct. This spot receives partial to full sun, with shallow, well drained soils.
Scientific Name Common Name Sun Tolerance Moisture Tolerance FormParthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper partial shade/full sun dry/moist vineLycopodium spp. Clubmosses shade/partial shade dry/moist ground coverGinkgo biloba Ginkgo sun dry/moist treeEchinacea tennesseensis Tenn. coneflower sun/shade dry herbAllium cernuum nodding onion full/partial sun moist herbRhus typhina Staghorn sumac sun/shade dry woody shrub
FOREST UNDERSTORY AND EDGE In the understory around the amphitheater, dense plots of shrubs and ferns define the edges of the gathering space. A cluster of horsetails along the soggy end of the main path soaks up moisture and is a distinctive addition to the prehistoric planting theme. A similar thick swath of understory vegetation covers what was previously a steep path toward the river.
GENERAL PLANT PALETTEThe native vine Virginia creeper climbs the retaining wall, covering its facade and adding brilliant color in the fall. An attractive ginkgo tree shades the river overlook. Tennessee coneflower, a rare herb with delicate pink flowers, can accent the false pennyroyal population along rocky outcrops. Dense stands of staghorn sumac, already well-established on-site, lend a tropical-esque look to forest edges and open grassy areas.
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Equisetum/Horsetail
The dinosaur footprints found on this site are approximately 200 million years old—a time frame that can be difficult to comprehend. Plants with connections to prehistoric eras can serve as visual aids in making this jour-ney back in time. Ferns, horsetails, and ancient trees such as ginkgo and dawn redwood complement the dinosaur footprints as tangible snapshots back into the evolutionary history of the planet. A rolling native grass meadow on the property’s eastern edge affords prospect of the Connecticut River be-low. Virginia creeper meanders along the concrete retaining wall to hide its unsightly appearance.
Dawn redwood Ginkgo
Virginia creeper Sweet-fern Bracken fern
Sensitive fern Gray dogwood Little bluestemAll images are courtesy of wildflower.org unless otherwise noted.
wikimedia.orgwikimedia.org
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