Marilyn Poris
2008-02-11

One of the partners of the Old Rag Master Naturalist (ORMN) chapter is Montpelier, the home and grounds of President James Madison. This ongoing project of the chapter at Montpelier has several components, all of which we believe will help to maintain a beautiful and historic landmark in prime condition.

The site is one of the few existing Old Growth Forests on the east coast which, over the years, invasive plants have encroached upon. Of immediate concern is the extensive growth of garlic mustard (alliaria petiolata), which ORMN will attempt to eradicate.

To accomplish this, members of the chapter will work with Boy and Girl Scouts along with 4-H groups. Chapter members will educate the groups on the subject and then supervise the pulling removal of the plant. At the same time we will work with the scout and 4-H leaders to satisfy built-in goals of theirs such as earning specific badges. This activity will take place on a Saturday morning in late spring to be followed by lunch at a picnic site on the grounds and then a tour of the Gilmore cabin, a civil war site on the Montpelier grounds.

Subsequent to this, each year a specific site of invasive plants will be designated for removal following the same process. Additionally, observation and data collection of each of the sites will take place each year so as to generate information on re-growth and best practices. The combination of these activities makes the project types education, stewardship, and citizen science/monitoring.

Located on the ridge line of the Montpelier land is an educational post. Plans are well along and adequately funded to construct a five mile trail which will loop from the forest to the ridge and back again. As one walks along the trail, one will be able to see meadows, an area cleared to allow reestablishment and plantings of meadow species. Invasives will need removal. Further along the trail will be an area planted with pines to establish a pine grove. The next area will be forested with tulip poplars, from timbered to dense with trees marked for timbering. Near the ridge and house will be an old growth forest where regeneration of oaks is planned. All of this will enable one to see forest succession along a five mile trail.

This five mile area will enable ORMN volunteers to assist in the development where possible as well as educate others along the trail with programs such as Woods in Your Backyard. Working toward the trail and land development are consultants Erik Filep from Orange, John Munsell from Virginia Tech, and Adam Downing from Madison. Ches Goodall is the consulting forester. Charlie Huppuch is a retired forester who does trail maintenance would be willing to train ORMN volunteers in the task. The entire operation will lend itself, on an ongoing basis, to education, citizen science, and assistance with stewardship. Not only are all these opportunities available for chapter volunteers, but knowing we will be helping sustain an important historic landmark makes the project very special.