Join us to check out a special property near Orlean!
This site hosts a nice variety of habitats from rich riparian forest dominated by Tulip Poplar, American Hornbeam, and Witch Hazel along Locust Run, to open hilly forests. Part of the property was clear-cut approximately 12 years ago, and that disturbance allowed the persistence of two patches of the globally rare and imperiled Torrey's Mountain-mint. Other exciting open woodland species at the site include Featherbells (new for Fauquier County), Bashful Bullrush, Clasping Milkweed, Whorled Rosinweed, Forked Bluecurls, Rose-pink, Maryland Senna, Post Oak, Allegheny Chinkapin, and Bigtooth Aspen.
The bedrock is metasandstone which creates an acidic soil in most areas, but there are richer areas (Little Heartleaf, Wood Anemone; new for Fauquier County) and clearly some more basic areas as well (Maidenhair Spleenwort and). Wetter areas host abundant Cinnamon Fern, Skunk Cabbage, and Water Hemlock.
This walk will be led by Bert Harris, Co-director of Clifton Institute.
The walk will be a one mile loop on a good trail. Overall it's easy to moderate but there are a few steep, rocky sections. It's not suitable for shaky walkers.
