Winter Evergreen and First Beetle of the Year Walk at BARC Pine Barrens, MD
Date/Time
Sunday, February 4, 2024
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location
USDA BARC Building 426
Categories
Leaders: Rod Simmons, Damien Ossi, John Parrish, and others
Sponsors: Maryland Native Plant Society, Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, and the Botanical Society of Washington.
This year’s Solstice Walk will explore the globally endangered northern Pitch Pine sand barrens at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center at their southernmost extent in Maryland and why these natural areas are so highly valued and in need of conservation.
Many people have asked what is at stake if the Maglev Superconducting Railway proposal between Washington and Baltimore is approved. One outcome would be that rare plant and animal communities at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center would be harmed and irreplaceable natural resources lost forever.
Celebrate the beginning of the winter season amid the vast pine barrens forest with its spectacular scenery and remarkable diversity of native plants, wildlife, and natural communities!
We will see the following rare communities, among others. We will also see champion-sized Pitch Pine and other pine barrens trees.
Pine Barrens Pine-Oak Woodland: Pinus rigida – Quercus coccinea – Quercus falcata / (Quercus marilandica) / Gaylussacia frondosa Woodland (USNVC: CEGL006329). Global/State Ranks: G2G3/S3.
Lowland Pine Barrens with extensive, co-dominant colonies of Dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa). Global/State Ranks: G2G3/S3.
Pine Barrens Lowland Forest: Pinus rigida – Nyssa sylvatica / Clethra alnifolia – Eubotrys racemosus Forest (USNVC: CEGL006926). Global/State Ranks: G2G3/S2?.
Coastal Plain Depression Swamp: (Willow Oak – Red Maple -Sweetgum Type): Quercus phellos – Acer rubrum – Liquidambar styraciflua/ Vaccinium (formosum, fuscatum) Forest on the Central Farm of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Global/State Ranks: G3/S2.
View on YouTube: Rod Simmons presentation: “Endangered Pine Barrens Communities of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center”
Also see Marilandica, Spring 2008 for a thorough description of these natural communities in relation to the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Field trip is free and open to non-members. Registration is not required.
Directions: We will meet at the parking lot of USDA BARC Building at 426 Powder Mill Rd in Beltsville, MD. Take the Capital Beltway to the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy north to Powder Mill Road west exit and Powder Mill Road west a very short ways to the first parking lot on the left.
Bring: Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch or snacks and water. Most of the walk traverses fairly flat, open woodland, though some routes may have a moderate slope.
*In the event of heavy-steady snow, sleet, or pouring rain, or icy, dangerous conditions of roads, the field trip will be cancelled.