Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn Environmental Leader and Innovator | Page 11

Slope in Consecration Dell being planted
in 2003 after removal of Norway maple
trees (inset). To the right is the same slope
in May 2012. Photos by David Barnett.
goal was to enhance the area aesthetically while also respecting
the habitat requirements of the salamanders, which breed
each spring in the vernal pool. The spotted salamander
population has been carefully monitored each year, and it has
been gratifying to note its success.
Since 1997, we have gradually expanded our woodland
restoration efforts onto the slopes surrounding the vernal
pool, planting native New England species of trees, shrubs,
ferns, and other groundcovers. In the past, much of this area
was dominated by Norway maples, an invasive species that
had out-competed the native vegetation so that the forest
floor beneath the tree canopy was largely bare. With each
phase of the woodland restoration, the first step has been to
remove the Norway maples and other non-native species,
such as Japanese yews and Japanese barberries. Over the
years we have planted many thousands of plants comprising
over 128 different species-all native to New England. The
woodland habitat has greatly improved and is certainly at-
tracting birds—especially migrating warblers—and birders.
Funding from the Ruggiero Memorial Trust has also
enabled us to establish a wildflower meadow around Wash-
ington Tower (page 1), and to make habitat and landscape
improvements to our three ponds, including the installation
of a butterfly garden and a wetland “emergent zone” habitat
at Willow Pond in 2004–2005 (see photos on next page). A
hydro-rake was used to remove invasive aquatic weeds and
accumulated organic debris from the bottom of the pond.
A shallow underwater shelf was then constructed to provide
wildlife habitat and also to act as a biofiltration system at
the point where significant water and sediment flow into
the pond during major rain events. Wetland plant species
were then installed by New England Environmentals, Inc.,
a company that continues to help monitor and maintain
Mount Auburn’s ponds.
When I first came to Mount Auburn in 1993 as Director
of Horticulture, I had the pleasure of working directly with
Mr. and Mrs. Ruggiero on the Willow Pond project and also
on landscaping their family burial lot nearby on Bigelow
Avenue. They were remarkable people and, as we look back
at twenty years of projects made possible by their trust,
their tremendous impact on Mount Auburn’s landscape is
clear. These projects have been chronicled with “before and
after” photographs, and I encourage you to visit Mount
Auburn’s website to view these photos and more detailed
stories. With the help of the Ruggiero Memorial Trust,
we look forward to continuing our efforts to improve the
beauty and the wildlife habitat value of Mount Auburn’s
landscape for many years to come.
Anthony and Mildred Ruggiero. Photo by David Barnett
Summer 2014 | 9