Station 5: A First Step From Old Field to Forest
This small piece of land was continuously farmed for almost 200 years.
Many of the shrubs you see are Asian honeysuckle (left photo), common buckthorn, and winged Euonymous (right photo). All three are "invasive exotic" species because they are not native and they often grow vigorously, displacing native vegetation. These species often make use of open or disturbed areas, such as roadsides, to invade or spread. All three produce berries, which are eaten by birds, which then disperse the seeds.
This is the earliest stage of old-field succession on the trail. Along the trail we will learn more about the later stages in the occupation of an abandoned field by hardwoods.
