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Winter may not seem like the best season to observe our meadows but it still has a lot to offer the overall landscape.
Winter may not seem like the best season to observe our meadows but it still has a lot to offer the overall landscape.
There are so many species that call this land home and their intricate root systems help to hold the earth in place. The meadow relies on its biodiverse landscape to maintain its health and prosperity. According to the International Convention on Biological Diversity the word biodiversity is defined as “the variability of living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems.”
Overlooking Fenton Farm in the winter
Overlooking Fenton Farm on a misty summer morning
Plants make up an important part of our overall ecosystem. Here in the meadows the variety of plants provides food and shelter to a large population of wildlife. For example, ground nesting birds like redwinged blackbirds rely on the tall grasses and dense vegetation of the meadows to make their highly camouflaged nests in summer.
Male red winged blackbird sits perched atop meadow vegitation on guard to protect his family's nest
Bradford Pear plant in the park meadow
Invasive Species Alert!
Invasive Species Alert!
Invasive species like the Bradford pear can throw an ecosystem out of balance. It grows very quickly and unlike the native plants in the meadow, animals do not feed on it so there is nothing stopping them from growing out of control and forcing out our much needed native plants. Mowing the meadows helps prevent these seedlings from growing any larger but it is important to not plant anymore Bradford pear, even though it is a popular landscape plant, because it will allow the invasive to continue to spread.
To learn more about invasive plants in our park, visit the invasive plants page of our virtual nature center (click the bradford pear picture as a shortcut!).
To get to the next stop
To get to the next stop
Take a left and continue following the mowed trail across the street. Be sure to look out for cars!
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