|
Botanical Observations at Devil's Hole State
Park, 2002 |
|
BOTANICAL
OBSERVATIONS AT Part 3
- Gallery of the Middle Section
Periwinkle (Vinca
minor) is commonly planted in parks especially near bridge abutments and
other architectural elements. The Periwinkle planted over a half century ago
in this old and remnant section of Devil's Hole State Park shows how this
plant can dominate the soil surface in disturbed areas in full and partial
shade.
On the other hand,
opportunistic and pioneer native species can also dominate. In the area adjacent
to the Periwinkle, the ground in this area is covered completely with one of
the three common natural ground cover species. The first two are Virginia
Creeper (Parthenocissus vitacea) and River Grape (Vitis riparia).
The third is this species shown: Poison Ivy (Rhus toxicodendron).
Looking across the
Devil's Hole cove from the middle section, the masonry constructed as a
stream outlet and subsequently blocked is visible through the surrounding
shrub layer. Looking at the south rim of the cove.
|
|
This alien Hawthorn is
a favored horticultural species planted in many of the State Parks along the
Niagara River: Crataegus monogyna. It is abundant in the middle and downstream
remnants of old Devil's Hole.
Another Hawthorn
species also planted is Crataegus phaenopyrum, both abundant in these
sections. No other native Hawthorn has the leaf shape of these two species -
a helpful characteristic in a group notoriously difficult to identify.
Several specimens of
Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) have sprung up near the edge of the
Niagara Gorge in this section.
A remnant of the old
masonry wall: this is a pier, indicating that perhaps the intermediary sections
between piers were pipe-sections, not continuous masonry.
Looking at the alvar
viewing station at the southernmost (upstream) section of Devil's Hole park
from the middle (downstream) section across the cavity of the Devil's Hole
cove. |
|
|
