Exciting last finds in the Fells- Aug 2018

The last couple of weeks working on the flora project were exciting and sad at the same time. Going on our last couple of hikes through the Fells- I knew I was going to miss walking through the trails in search of new mosses and lichens we had not found yet. In mid-August we went to the old MIT observatory site where we made some very exciting discoveries. The old observatory foundation is still intact up at the top providing a very unique habitat for finding mosses and lichens that we hadn’t collected yet. There had been a large rainstorm the night before so the mosses and lichens were very happy- they had soaked up a lot of water making it possible to find some new friends.

 

As I crouched down to look in the cracks of the rocks making up the old foundation of the observatory I noticed something black and slimy on the sandy-soil below them. I took a closer look and was surprised to see a jelly lichen! I called Walter over and we continued to walk around the foundation and found more and more of it. We took it back to the lab where I squished some of the thallus on a slide and slid it under the microscope- I could see the Nostoc algae colonies that live in jelly-lichens, and was really excited to identify the lichen. The apothecia (fruiting cups) were bright orangey-red and had a border of the black-green jelly around them. To our surprise it was a rare find- Collema bachmanianum. Not only was it a new species to add to the Fells flora- but also a new species for all of Massachusetts. It is known to be more common in artic regions and in Europe, but there are only a few collections from the United States. Walter and I were both very excited about the find and learned that the lichen likes calcium rich soil-which the MIT observatory foundation had below it.

 

This summer was such a fulfilling experience. To work in a place like the Fells was a great opportunity and I hope in the years to come the community continues to use it not only for recreation, but also to learn more about how unique it is and some of the amazing species that inhabit it. I know the 90mm site might be demolished and turned into an ice hockey rink- and I would be so sad if that happened. I hiked around that site many times throughout the summer, and its flora of not just lichens and mosses, but of wildflowers, insects, and other organisms was truly amazing. I hope if I ever return to the Boston area I would be able to hike around that site again and re-visit some of the friends I made there.

DEC 18, 2018 UPDATE!

On Facebook Mayor Stephanie Muccini Burke of Medford posted:

“I am pleased to share that this evening the City of Medford received notification from Commissioner Leo Roy of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) that the proposal to build a Recreation Facility/Hockey Rink in the 90mm site of the Fells has been denied. Thank you to the Friends of the Fells and all those who advocated against this proposal. As a result of our efforts, our precious open space will remain just that.”

Thanks to all who contributed to this community effort!

 

BACKGROUND:

Have you been following the 90mm meadow restoration project, spearheaded by Medford Girl Scout Troop 75198? Read early news on this fantastic project here and here.

Also, in the summer nature committee member and blogger Laura Costello generated and photo-illustrated detailed field reports here and here.

Updates include our official position paper on the proposed hockey rink at the 90mm Meadow site — click here to download 2-page PDF: PositionPaper90mmMeadow. See also a letter from our Executive Director, Ron Morin, outlining concerns about the proposal: [click here for October 2018 letter].

Wicked Local ran a story about plans to build a hockey rink at the 90mm meadow site on October 16, 2018 [click here for article link]. On October 23, Medford Mayor Stephanie M. Burke wrote a letter of support for our stance to Governor Charlie Baker [click here for PDF.]  On October 25, the Medford Transcript covered the letter online with a photo of the 90mm meadow site kiosk [click here for article link].

A local Winchester couple started an online Change.org petition to protect the 90mm meadow.  The Friends of the Fells asks supporters to please visit the site and sign the petition and share it widely. After reading the main message for supporters, be sure to scroll down the page for updates.

On October 28, the Boston Globe posted an article about how the “Medford Fells ice rink proposal sparks criticism.”  [Click here for PDF of Globe article]  Subsequently, Friends of the Fells Board Chair Jeff Buxbaum published a letter to the editor in reply, published November 4.

On December 3 Mass Audubon, the Appalachian Mountain Club, Environmental League of Massachusetts, and the Trustees cosign letter to DCR Commissioner Roy opposing the conversion of the 90mm meadow into a hockey rink and parking area [click here for PDF].

Dec 12: Friends of the Fells issue briefing book on the 90mm meadow site, called “The Butterfly Effect” [click here for link].

Dec 17: Wicked Local runs update about the campaign against the hockey rink proposal – includes link to the briefing book [click here for link].

Dec 19: Patch.com reports “DCR Rejects Proposed Middlesex Fells Ice Rink” [click here for link].

Dec 19: Wicked Local reports “State rejects hockey rink proposal for Middlesex Fells” [click here for link].

Dec 19: Boston Globe reports “State turns down Middlesex Fells ice rink proposal” [click here for link].  [Click here for PDF of Globe article]

 

Over the summer the Girl Scouts, DCR, Friends of the Fells, and other community partners remained busy!

Tufts University came out to learn about and maintain the site as part of their innovative Tufts FOCUS first year orientation program.  Check out the photo series from their visits below:

 

In addition, DCR and Friends of the Fells staff had a great time and learned an incredible amount at our recent meadow workshops (see photos below). This knowledge will help us support, expand, and mentor in this, and other ecologically vital areas in the Fells. Thanks Helia Native Nursery, Bridghe McCracken, and others who shared their knowledge!

Given all the buzz (okay, pun intended) surrounding the area, Harvard botanist and hike leader Walter Kittredge opted to lead his latest tree hike there.  Thanks to everyone who came!

Walter is telling the crowd about this pignut hickory.

View Walter’s gorgeous photo album of the area here.

Thank you for all your support in this area.  If you’d like to support these types of efforts, click here to donate and here to volunteer.

Located at Ramshead Hill, the 90 mm meadow site can be accessed at Gate 10 in the Fells or via the trails surrounding it. Click here for a link to our free maps page:

https://www.friendsofthefells.org/maps/

Stay tuned for more news!

 

Photo credit Marian Siljeholm

October 5, 2018

Letter of concern from Ron Morin, Executive Director, Friends of the Fells

Please click here to see our position paper on the 90mm Meadow/Hockey Rink Proposal.

Dear Members and Friends,

As you can see from the newsletter and our website, the Friends of the Fells opposes construction of an ice hockey rink in the ‘90mm’ meadow (also called Nike) site in the Lawrence Woods area of the Middlesex Fells. The location of this proposed facility in the Reservation would destroy natural resources, negatively impact contiguous sections of the Fells, and bring unacceptable traffic levels and alterations to South Border Road, a historic parkway.

This is the wrong site for constructing a hockey rink, which would also include a 120-car parking area, an access road, electric transmission lines, and other unwarranted infrastructure.

The project would destroy much heavily wooded forest as well as the only uncontaminated open meadow left in the Fells. Since the 1960s, Fells rangers and volunteers ranging from local area Scout Troops to high school and college students have worked to maintain the meadow as a rich and welcoming habitat for birds and butterflies. Mass Audubon has documented numerous rare bird species nesting in the site and since 1980 to now 67 species of butterflies have been observed at the site.

We have published this initial position paper to bring notice to the public. As stewards of this great, public forest reservation, we believe it is our duty to shed light on any potential impacts from such proposed projects and in this case to advocate strongly for the continuation of over five decades of meadow restoration work at this pollinator and bird sanctuary.

We have met with the hockey rink developers and the Commissioner of DCR, and we have agreed that a public forum would be important for allowing the public’s voice to be heard regarding this important issue regarding the future of the Fells Reservation.

We will keep you informed over the weeks and months ahead. We look forward to your thoughts and comments. If anyone wants to be more active in opposing such a development, please get in touch with Ron.Morin@fells.org

Sincerely,

Ron Morin

Executive Director, Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation

For more background, find our landing page on the 90mm site here.

Note the temporary new location!

Saturday, October 6-Sunday, October 21, 2018

“Count Down to Fall” by Fran Hawk, illustrated by Sherry Neidigh.
Count backwards from 10 to one during one of the most colorful times of year, fall. Learn about the bright, colorful leaves and the trees from which they fall: aspen, birch, maple, oak, chestnut, linden, pine, beech, dogwood, and sweet gum. Watch the animals frolicking in the crisp, autumn air as they get ready for the approaching cold winter! Foster your child’s connection with nature as well as their literacy skills by participating in our StoryWalk® in the Fells!

This self-guided StoryWalk® is for designed for children and families. Walk a trail, read a story, use your senses and connect with your surroundings. Due to the road construction we are moving the walk to the trail that begins at the Botume House Visitor Center, 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham. Look for the signs. The trail is an easy walk, about 1/3 mile, and can accommodate jogging strollers.

This is a collaboration of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Friends of Middlesex Fells, Melrose/Wakefield Mass in Motion, The Medford Family Network, & North Suburban Child and Family Resource Network. Please be sure to sign in at the Kiosk off the parking lot. Enjoy this unique opportunity to bring the joy of nature and the magic of reading together outdoors! The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

The image above is downy rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera pubescens). This native, New England orchid had not been seen in the Fells for more than 20 years – until Dennis Crouse and Lindsay Beal re-discovered a small population.

Bryan Hamlin, our local expert on the flora of the Fells, says that a previous botanical survey in 1993 reported its presence. But the survey that he and others conducted from 2004-2012 had not been able to relocate it.

It is really exciting that it has been re-found after so long!

Rattlenake plantain in bloom

Rattlesnake-plantain in bloom – not taken in the Fells

The plants found this year were not blooming. But when this species does flower, it produces a spike of small, white flowers that I find very beautiful.

Closeup of rattlesnake-plantain flowers in bloom

Closeup of rattlesnake-plantain in bloom – not taken in the Fells

Look at the tiny pouch shape that the flowers make and the fine fuzz of hairs that give it the “downy” part of its common name. The “rattlesnake” part probably comes from the patterns on the leaves which look a bit like snake skin. And “plantain” from the leaves’ similarity to common garden plantain (Plantago major).

Dried brown seed capsules

Dried brown seed capsules follow the flowers if they are pollinated

Rattlesnake-plantain flowers in later summer and is pollinated by bees. If you find it at other times of the year, look for the dried brown seed capsules that indicate it flowered the previous season.

The leaves are evergreen, so it’s a great one to look for in late Fall and early Spring when the ground is mostly brown and its bright green leaves stand out.

Downy rattlesnake plantain is fairly common in New England. But, like most other local orchids, it is very sensitive to soil conditions and disturbance. If you’re lucky enough to come across this plant in the Fells or elsewhere, be careful not to trample it or disturb the area around it. And if you do find it in the Fells, take a picture and let us know!

To learn more about this plant, check out these resources:
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/goodyera/pubescens/
https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_gopu.pdf
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/dwn_ratsnk_pl.html
https://vnps.org/wildflowers-of-the-year/wildflower-of-the-year-goodyera-pubescens-downy-rattlesnake-plantain/

I went for a wander today through a unique part of the Fells called the “90mm site”, named after the military anti-aircraft weapons that once resided there.

Pollinator on flat-top goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) – native plant!
It’s unusual in that it includes areas of open meadow in the mostly-wooded Fells. A meadow habitat is a sanctuary for birds, animals, and insects – including pollinators like bees, flies, and butterflies.
Pollinator approaching hawkweed (Hieracium sp.) – likely non-native
In New England, meadows naturally give way over time to shrubs and then trees in a process called ecological succession.
Pollinator on black knapweed (Centaurea nigra) – non-native plant

Unless nature or humans intervene, that is.

Pollinator on round-headed bush-clover (Lespedeza capitata) – native plant!

To remain a meadow, an area needs ongoing care in the form of mowing and removing invasive species, like Asian bittersweet, which overrun neglected areas.

Pollinator on white sweet-clover (Melilotus albus) – non-native plant

Lucky for this meadow, Medford Girl Scout Troop 75198 have taken it on as their Silver Award Project. They’re clearing invasives, planting natives, and making way for more pollinators like the ones in these photos. What wonderful work!

[Plant ID corrections & pollinator IDs very welcome. There’s so much to learn! Thanks to Walter for IDing the goldenrod.]
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