Point of interest 6 - Where are all the trees?

This meadow in front of you is an excellent example of natural succession. Natural succession is a process that gradually changes bare ground to a mature forest. This is occurring in the meadow because at some point the vegetation and topsoil were stripped away, leaving the bedrock exposed. In this case, the red clay of the Queenston Shale bedrock was probably collected and used for brick making. Over the past century or more, grasses and other herbaceous plants started to grow anchoring the existing soil. As these plants die and decay, they add organic matter and increase the amount of soils. They also act like a net traping wind blown plant material which decays and thus increases the amount of soil. This eventually builds a healthy base for other larger plants and trees to grow. White Ash and Staghorn Sumac are some of the first large trees and shrubs to grow in the newly formed soil. This process will continue eventually allowing species such as White Pine, Maple and Oaks to grow as well as more lush shade tolerate ground plants like ferns, may apples and mosses.