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A WINTER WATERSHED MOMENT

A FROZEN MORRIS PARK LANDSCAPE POISED TO BECOME PART OF INDIAN CREEK. AFTER SPILLING INTO COBBS AND DARBY CREEKS, THE SNOW  IN MORRIS PARK WILL BECOME THE DELAWARE

THE EAST BRANCH OF INDIAN CREEK WINDS THROUGH ITS FLOODPLAIN,VIEWED FROM THE END OF THE MORRIS PARK ROAD TRAIL
THE EAST BRANCH OF INDIAN CREEK WINDS THROUGH ITS FLOODPLAIN, VIEWED FROM THE END OF THE MORRIS PARK ROAD TRAIL

At the end of the Morris Park Road trail is a spectacular view. Meeting the Upper Trail, Tuesday morning, we can see the valley below, and Indian Creek, which has created the valley over the millennia.   This picture tells the Morris Park watershed story. From the base of the trunk of the large Beech tree on the left side of the picture (Fagus grandifolia), to the surface of the winding creek in the middle of the picture is a 90 foot drop in altitude.  To the right of this photo, about 75 feet, is a trail that goes straight down to Indian creek.  This steeply graded trail , comparable to that of a zesty and challenging mountain hike, is quite a contrast from the casual and leisurely woodland stroll of the Morris Park Road trail.

A 90 foot drop in elevation is quite an accomplishment for a creek. From the picture we can read how much room the creek needed to carve out such a grand ditch. Reading the photograph, go up the hill on the other side of the stream. At a point the snow ends and the trees begin, and for a section there the trees end and there is a bit  of sky and the picture ends. Some of those trees are 70 to 80 feet high. the clear line at the bottom of those trees is about 750 feet from the bottom of our Beech tree to the left foreground and the immediate horizon, right where i was standing to take the picture.  Indian Creek had dug a hole 750 wide and 90 feet deep!

Just try to imagine how long it took for that to happen, how many rainy days and nights, snow melts, and summer thunderstorms to wash away the soil to create this magnificent valley!  A ravine, 750 feet wide and 90 feet deep is a massive amount of soil that has been washed away over the years and carried downstream, eventually out to sea.

Standing at 226 feet above sea level, looking down at Indian Creek, 145 feet above sea leve
Standing at 226 feet above sea level, looking down at Indian Creek, 145 feet above sea level.

In the picture, Indian Creek is just a dark curvy slash through the center of the image. However, it is the creator of the image, the whole valley, the topography, the place itself.

The dramatic altitude drop of 90 feet comes close to closing the difference between two continental provinces. We stand on the piedmont, a landmass that stretches around 1000 miles long, from Alabama to New Jersey.   The Coastal Plain, which Indian Creek is about to reach is a landmass created from the run-off of piedmont soil, from all of the creeks like Indian creek cutting into the Appalachian mountains, cutting through the piedmont, and making their way into the Atlantic Ocean. Thousands of creeks, constantly washing away the land into the ocean.

Looking down on Indian Creek we see the beginnings of the coastal plain, the massive flat and grand region of the east coast of the North American continent.  The hike down to Indian Creek is a hike through the millennia of geologic history. We experience a significant part of the transitional phase between two grand landmasses of the continent, the Piedmont and the Coastal plain in this 90 foot drop.

In this wintery photograph, we can see the history and read the topography of Morris Park through the bones of the forest.

Last summer we followed the course of Indian Creek, exploring sections of Cobbs Creek Park along the way. While there is much to write about this subject, we will for now just tell you what we found as we reached Darby Creek, which is what Cobbs Creek spills into, Cobbs Creek being what  Morris Park’s Indian Creek spills into. The whole complex of one set of creeks spilling into a larger creek becomes the Darby Creek Watershed, which Morris Park is a part of.

What we found  towards the end of Darby Creek was a world so different and yet so close to us. This August 2010 photograph is truly in sharp contrast to the previous photo. Its location is in the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum Township right north of the Philadelphia International Airport, just about 6 miles and 6 months away.

Hibiscus moscheutos John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge

This is one of Sean’s first attempts at photographing a wild bird.

All of the snow that is piled up in Morris Park right now, along the paths and in the woods, along with whatever material (organic and inorganic) that gets dissolved in the snow, eventually ends up here, just a few miles away.  To further deepen our understanding of Morris Park, a visit to The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is most recommended by the staff of  The Sanguine Root. It will be a great day. Enjoy our Darby Creek Watershed.

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BEECH TREES RATTLE IN THE MORNING BREEZE

A TALE OF TWO BEECHES; WHY IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT DARKER THAN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT?
A TALE OF TWO BEECHES; WHY IS THE ONE ON THE LEFT DARKER THAN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT?

Fagus grandifolia.  Walking Keeba on Saturday morning, we noticed that these two young Beech trees had different colors in the leaves.

This Monday morning, while walking Keeba, the Beech trees were rattling in the breeze.  The leaves of the Beeches stay on through the winter, and they turn yellow and brownish, and they get brittle.  When the wind blows the leaves rattle. On a quiet winter’s day, while working in Morris Park removing invasives, this rattling sound is the only sound in the forest.

The two beech trees in the photo above were covered with grape vines this fall. The one to the right is still leaning a bit from the vestigial impact of the vines. The Vines have been removed and the trees now have a chance to grow.

The fallen tree behind the Beeches is an oak tree, and its status is considered a log. A log is a fallen tree.

The very dark and thin tree to the left foreground is an American Chestnut (Castenea dentata).  This tree has been reduced to the status of a forest shrub or small tree, from originally the dominant forest tree in the canopy. The American Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) introduced from Asian chestnut trees is responsible for this condition.  The blight does not effect the tree below the ground, so the root systems are able to grow a new tree after the old one dies.  The thin tree to the left foreground may very well be hundreds of years old.  This specimen has been leafing out and growing taller year after year. However the blight, in the form of a fungus, tears apart the bark, and the tree may not live another year. (however the actual specimen will remain alive in its root system)  The roots have already sent out new shoots, which will grow into a new tree.

In Morris Park, there are a significant number of Chestnut trees in comparison to the rest of the city and county of Philadelphia.  This year, one of them even flowered and produced seeds, for the first time in at least five years (Since we first monitored them).

All of the trees we discussed today are in the same family, Fagaceae.  A family trait they all share is that they all retain some of their leaves throughout the winter.

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GREAT HORNED OWL HOOTS AS THE SUN SETS

THE SUN SETS WHILE WE REMOVED VINES FROM SMALL TREES
THE SUN SETS WHILE WE REMOVE VINES FROM SMALL TREES

The hooting began around 5:30 this evening and continued at regular intervals for about 20 minutes. The weather was for the first time in recent memory, much warmer (in the 40s) and sunny. The sunset made a nice glow on the forest.

a fleeting warm glow from the setting sun
A fleeting warm glow from the setting sun

Today the volunteer staff of the Sanguine Root focused on removing vines growing on small trees in an especially hard-hit area.  We encountered a variety of situations and species.  The biggest success story is a mature Dogwood tree (Cornus Florida) that had grape vines  all over it last Spring, hanging so heavily, the tree was in danger of collapse.  In June of 2010, the vines were clipped. Today, those vines were removed from the tree, leaving it with a great form and intact integrity.  Hopefully it will flower this upcoming spring.

The Grape vines had claimed another Dogwood however. This one had all of its main branches broken.  The vines were removed and  the broken branches pruned off.  There is hope because new shoots were coming up from the stump-like top of the tree.

As much as we love the native grape vines, they are a woodland edge species, that grow in areas with a decent amount of sun, like river banks, and the edges of forests. In the blighted areas of Morris Park, the woodland edge species have an advantage when there are so many trees missing from the equation. With this advantage, they can become aggressive and destructive, perpetuating a situation of canopy holes, which benefits the vines further.

Woodland pioneer Sassafrass overtaken with Grape Vines. Morris Park Philadelphia
Woodland Pioneer Sassafrass overtaken by grape vines. Morris Park Philadelphia

With the issue of grape vines, we must ask ourselves, what do we want?  If we want a forest, then the vines need to be controlled and monitored, so that trees can grow from saplings to maturity.

Being that our section of Morris Park is a Fairmount Park woodland area, it is our mandate to maintain this status.

Whether or not the grape vines that are growing here are even native has not been determined to our knowledge.

The Sassafrass tree to the left was in danger of having all of its main branches broken.  However, this afternoon, the vines have been removed, and the tree should be good to go. This specific specimen had a great well rounded sassafrass form, and it contributes to the health and well-being of this forest under stress.

Isabelle rescued this small tree from the invasive exotic Multiflora Rose
Isabelle rescued this small tree from the invasive exotic Multiflora Rose

This one we have not yet been able to identify.  It may be a crabapple. The Rosa multiflora and the Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) were having the run of the place until they met Isabelle Dijols (Homo sapiens sapiens).  After the vines have been removed, this tree now has a chance of survival.  We will revisit this specimen, identify it and rephotograph it in the spring. Look forward to updates on this specific tree. ( note the iconic pair of Tulip Poplars in the backround (Liriodendron tulipifera).

In just a few hours time, many trees and shrubs were de-vined.  A fine specimen of Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) was de-vined and there were numerous Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) that were over-run with Lonicera japonica . Also notably, was Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra).  The hickories fare the best when covered with vines, although they can still be broken and severely compromised . Even the tree that is used for hammer, axe and mattock handles can be brought down by invasive vines.

Burning bush roots(Euonymus alatus) Morris Park Philadelphia
Burning Bush roots Morris Park Philadelphia (Euonymus alatus)

The Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) was pervasive in this area, and we pulled them up.  The shallow root system and the loose soil makes this possible. With this plant, we always make sure we get every part of it out of the soil, otherwise it will regrow. Removing it from the soil requires lots of gentle tugs and back and forth movements. Eventually we can actually pull up on the stem and get the whole plant out, leaving no roots behind. The best time to do this is when the soil is wet and loose, like it was today.

Once removed, we try to put the soil back the way it was and put the leaf layer back on top. Soil is to be disturbed as little as possible. The best work is the work unnoticed, as if there was never a problem in the first place. Disturbed soil can lead to all kinds of problems.  Invasive plants can get a better foothold in disturbed soil, from seed germination to encroachment from roots.

Last night the fog rolled in and the forest was enchanting
Last night the fog rolled in and the forest of Morris Park was enchanting

It was a quiet and peaceful day in Morris Park.  One of our pruners lost a spring and 15 minutes was spent looking for it with no success. One specimen of Japanese Barberry was found with some alarm. Many small trees and shrubs have been readied for the spring.

The last photo here was taken last night as a gentle fog rolled into the area.  Fog is a welcome sight in the beginning of February. A subtle reminder of spring that is only less than 50 days away.