William Cullen Bryant Preserve Grounds Exploration (Nassau Co. Museum of Art Grounds)
The preserve was much nicer than I expected. There was some interesting ecosystems in the area. Surrounding the ponds were small fragments of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and pin oak (Quercus pulastris) with great laurel (Rhododendron maximum) and northern spicebush (Lindera benzoin). The ponds also had many painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and I suspect that the areas support wood ducks (Aix sponsa) and a variety of amphibians. It was refreshing to not see red-eared sliders.
The upland forests of the flatter sections of the preserve (on the Manhasset Plateau, I believe) hardwood forests composed of impressive sugar maples (Acer saccharum) and tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipifera) were present. The Pinetum had many ornamental species planted, but among them were impressive stands of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) and northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). The hemlock seemed unaffected by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae).
On the west facing bluffs of Hempstead Harbor, ecosystem was similar to those of other tunnel-valley bays on the North Shore of Long Island, such as Cold Spring Harbor State Park and Trail View State Park. The soil here seemed to be slightly better and less acidic based on plant community, but members of the ericaceae were still present. Mountain laurels were not uncommon in the area (Kalmia latifolia). Dominant trees of this area were American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and red oaks (Quercus sect. Lobatae), with frequent black birch (Betula lenta) and sugar maple. On one southern facing bluff face, trout lilies were in full bloom (Erithronium americanum) and were intermixed with Jacob's needle/ common yucca (Yucca filamentosa). This was a surprising cohabitation, as I associate trout lilies with more mesic areas, and yucca with more xeric areas.
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