arrival of European settlers . They saw the dense forests as an impediment more than as a resource . By the end of the 18 th century , much of the forest had been turned into agricultural fields where the soils were good , or kept as a source of timber where they were not . All of the forests that we see today are second growth , either regrown after logging or after the abandonment of agriculture , usually followed , up to the present-day , by selective logging of older trees . A few very old trees persist , generally along field edges .
This leads to what we have today , and it is amazing , given the history . I will describe a few of the most diverse and , to me at least , most interesting places , and threats to them . I am sure you can find others . I will stick to those that have public access , so you can check them out for yourself .
First , is a rare example of the diversity that must have been widespread in the region in the 17th century , before the forests were cut down — Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park , preserved today as a Civil War monument by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority ( NOVA ). Dozens of species of spring wildflowers adorn the trails , including large populations of the state ’ s rare white trout lily . The steep , rocky terrain prevented clearing and plowing prior to the mid-19th century , and subsequent protection as a battlefield monument has mostly protected it since . Visit in the spring and you can imagine yourself back several hundred years . The trees are probably somewhat smaller , and there are some invasive non-natives species and evidence of deer browse , but
don ’ t let that interfere with your enjoyment . Along the riverside enjoy carpets of bluebells stretching as far as you can see . Large old sycamore , box-elder and silver maple trees lean out over the river flourishing even in the face of floods .
A smaller and more dangerousto-visit remnant of the pre-colonial diversity grows along Furnace Mountain Rd ., near Point of Rocks . Unfortunately , to see it you must walk along this narrow dirt road , but with attention to ( light ) traffic you can enjoy Virginia waterleaf , more white trout lilies , delphinium and others . Here , the diversity is protected by the steepness of the bank and the lack of undercutting to widen the old road .
Another , steep plant community can be found in Aldie , along Little River . Unfortunately , the steep , narrow path was recently widened , eliminating much of the lovely , early spring trailing arbutus , with its haunting aroma , only experienced by crouching down to the ground to smell the diminutive flowers . This hemlock ravine is a state rare plant community . Whether it will survive the disturbance to the bank is yet to be seen .
In the far western part of the
Banshee Reeks Meadow
county is the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship , site of Loudoun ’ s only state park , designated as such but not yet developed . Perhaps the most diverse part of this park , with the showiest flowers is known as “ butterfly alley ” at the southern end of the property . The native plants found
From the top : Blue phlox and dwarf larkspur ( Phlox divaricata and Delphinium tricorne ), and White trout lily ( Erythronium albidum ), Furnace Mountain Road .
12 wander I fall • winter 2022