Lost in Paradise, following hawk trails

Today we were lost in old paradise.  We cut through the trails of Camp Lion to reach Salem's Public 4-acre parcel (where a new road and parking lot is proposed to assist Lowe's scheme.)

 - - - back to paradise.
We were lost in an amazing place.  On Camp Lion we found 4 little downy hawk feathers on the ground.  There is a nest near the fallen feathers, but we are unsure if this is a hawk's nest or if there is another one near by.  It is hard to tell.  This area is by the Pine Barrens.  These wooded areas offer ecological diversity at high altitudes with tall trees in dry pine barrens and wetlands near a great Mass Pond (Spring Pond).  Maybe this is why there are many sightings of birds of prey here?

Next, entering Salem's public parcel (part of the proposed development), we found more interesting geological formations.  Here we heard the sounds of an hawk, and tried to follow it.  The hawk is faintly sounding in the middle of the playback, but is heard clearly near the end.



More from our discoveries of today's walk, to be continued... There is much to share!

Lynn - Salem

After the ownership of Fay's heirs, The Fay Estate in Lynn, Peabody and Salem was divided.  There was lack of interest in developing the area until The Great Salem Fire of June 25, 1914.  Many homeless Salem residents rebuilt their new home just over the line in Lynn, in a new residential neighborhood of the Fay Estate.  Many of the people living in the area today have grandparents that were survivors of The Great Salem Fire.  Ironic how life is...  I've heard several people say that Salem Mayor Driscoll is a Lynn girl(?).  Not to disrespect a hardworking person, but there is nothing wrong if it is so.

An original Lynn girl is pushing a scheme to negatively impact the neighborhood of original Salem families?  Isn't it odd for history to be able to reverse the table?   Maybe it will influence a good story book someday?

Many people do not care where one is from to be liked or heard. 

I wish everyone's homes mattered, including the wildlife that live in these woods.

News clipping from the Daily Item, January 24th 1952.  

In the News... important for me

Salem News- Friday, August 27, 2010, by Stacie N. Galang

Some might think Salem's leaders are acting logical, or some might say pushy without even knowing?  Salem might think its a Lynn/ Salem thing... but many will say... don't forget about Peabody, what about Marblehead or Swampscott commuters too?

Just a few corrections to advise on:  The map in this article is almost correct.  The red rectangle showing the area needs to be extended to the Lynn line.  And show Peabody's line across Spring Pond.  Then its perfect. 

Lets get some facts straight from the engineers.  Its not just 15 acres.  

Isn't this project affecting 29.7± acres of ledge, trees and wetlands? 
And is it not just two private parties involved as Mayor Driscoll mentions? 
Lets not forget Salem's 4-acre public parcel assisting the access way and parking lot for Lowe's to be constructed.

(Click images to zoom in)

Peace on

Benjamin W. Crowninshield speaks from his grave

Thank you to Tom Osborne for sharing this image .

      One of the first impressions made in history was in the day of the Third Plantation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1700, an early settler was drawn to an estate on the hillsides by Spring Pond, in the name of Dr. John Casper Richter Von Crowninshield (Johannes Kaspar Richter Von Kronenscheldt, as first spelled), who was among one of the first families to settle in this country and the first in the country to descend the respectable (Boston Brahmin) Crowninshield Family of Boston whose later generations became so prominent in Massachusetts affairs, cradled by Spring Pond.

Among the heirs of the family country estate and family line was Benjamin Williams Crowninshield.  He served as United States Secretary of the Navy, Representative of the United States Congress, member of the Massachusetts State Senate, in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and became one of the first directors of the Merchant's Bank of Salem creating the East India Trade of Salem; The USS Crowninshield Naval Destroyer was named in his honor.

Another blogger enjoys Spring Pond

http://lynnsideedition.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/discovering-spring-pond-woods/

Letters submitted to the news Editor

Can't wait to see these letters to the Editor of the Lynn, Peabody and Salem newspapers.  

If you have a letter you would like to share here, email peace@springpondwoods.com 

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Begin Letter to the Editor

by Katerina and Leslie, members of Spring Pond Advocates

August 26, 2010


Printed: Salem News
                   Lynn Happens
                    Salem Gazette

"Why Salem leaves behind nature's open space on the hilly summit by Spring Pond, for big-box development is unknown. A great vision written in "The City of Salem Open Space and Recreation Plan Update: 2007-2012" strategizes how to conserve important private, open space like this for people. This is a genius plan to put into reality, and in it, Camp Lion is inventoried. It states- "The need to improve and upgrade park facilities, and preserve and protect existing open spaces is widely recognized and deeply felt by Salem residents." We deeply feel the same way for Spring Pond's open space enriching Salem, Lynn and Peabody. Some of the goals in the plan include to: "Protect open space... Seek to establish public/private partnership for park maintenance... Identify parcels not owned by the City located in wetlands or other resource areas... speak to the owner about developing a conservation restriction on the property... provide consistently high standards for "symbolic landscapes", assess historic resources to prioritize protection of those that are most endangered... strengthen Salem's wetlands ordinance to protect rare, endangered and unique flora and fauna... protect examples of Salem's ecological diversity... revise local Wetlands Ordinance to include the implementation of conservation restrictions on parcels..." etc.  Camp Lion has features to protect: fragile waterways on the hills of Spring Pond, potential vernal pools, unfragmented wildlife habitat, pine barrens, geological formations, potential "symbolic landscapes", trails that follow meandering streams and ancient paths, a great camp ground for children set back from highway noise and trouble, and rare flora pertaining to history in a ready-made arboretum and learning reservation. Protecting our landscapes of heritage in Essex County is important not only for today or for tomorrow's kids, but for life a 100 years from now.We hope history will remember this place well and not those who were behind to harm it. Please lets not destroy this place and all the good it brings... for material things. There are other lots to build on."

The Open Space and Recreation Plan is found online (click here) or at City Hall.

Katerina Panagiotakis, 

member of Spring Pond Advocates

The Salem and Lynn Historical Society

The Lynn Historical Commission

Leslie Courtemanche, 

member of Spring Pond Advocates

author of two books of Spring Pond: "A Quest for Survival"and "Heritage and Habitat Lost"

......................................................................

Here's another letter to the newspapers sent last week, but has not been printed yet.

Arboretum enchants the Fay Estate

by Calvin Anderson, member of Spring Pond Advocates

           A very special place exists within Lynn’s borders: Take a turn onto Fays Avenue off Western Avenue near the Salem line. Then, get out of your vehicle and stroll or bicycle through the neighborhood known for the sprawling, once private Fay Estate on the shores of Spring Pond. Be prepared to step back in time...
Begin your journey by walking along Fays Avenue, the main roadway through the area. Let your mind’s eye take on a sepia tone. Blur the panorama, erase the asphalt and render it once again as a dirt and grassy lane. Picture the human-made structures and homes are gone. Eliminate one-and-a-half centuries of newer shrub and tree growth and where you are is an idyllic pathway through hilly meadows, with a striking vertical element here and there along the way in the form of a carefully positioned tree from somewhere exotic. They are still there, you know...those special, precious trees planted as a gift to humankind by Mr. Fay in his private arboretum. Today, after watching over the generations of souls who have lived and died under their canopy, they are a continuing respite from the workaday strife of the current city residents. They seem content being the senior members of the landscape of this enchanting gateway to Spring Pond and the surrounding Spring Pond Woods.

Members of Spring Pond Advocates (SPA) are working on a map for a walking tour of the Fays Estate neighborhood highlighting the locations and species of trees planted in the 1800’s by Mr. Fay. Many of the trees are on the public way and are grand enough and suitable for beholding and...hugging! The taller varieties of trees and groves which are located on what have become private home lots can be viewed from the right-of-way, as well, so one does not have to trespass or intrude!... This tree tour is being researched and prepared by Katerina Panagiotakis and me, members of SPA with assistance from arborist Richard Randall and naturalist Leslie Courtemanche. We also are both Lynn Historical Commissioners and are doing this pro bono project in conjunction with that body’s mission. We welcome inquiries and assistance through the web log “Heart of Lynn” and through Mayor Kennedy’s office at Lynn City Hall.

......................................................................

Here's an older letter someone shared from June 26th, 

and resubmitted a few days ago.

Main concern is Spring Pond

~ by Kerry D.
Printed:  Salem News

"In regard to the proposed Super Walmart and Lowes on Highland Ave near the Lynn/Salem line, a few may want the developments, but there are more en mass who do not. This may sound like great news for all of us in Lynn and Salem; increased revenue, jobs, tax breaks, incentives, etc etc etc. There are a lot of people out there who need jobs. I understand that and I want that to happen. But I live in Lynn and I work in Salem. The increase in traffic alone on Highland Ave and Buchanan Bridge will be tremendous. I don't care what all the statisticians say. They don't drive that road every day as I do. But that is just me talking about being inconvenienced.

And that is not my main concern. My main concern is how this will affect Spring Pond. This proposal will clear woods, take out wildlife, deer, bats, fox, woodpeckers, owls, all sorts of birds, plants, flowers, waterfalls, vernal pools.  It's a beautiful place. Go up there, take a walk. You will be amazed.

On Highland Ave we already have Home Depot, One Way Lumber, Target, Market Basket, Shaws, CVS and Walmart. But we won't have another Spring Pond. You can't build that. Nature builds that in it's own special slow way and it won't come around again soon. I understand that we need to progress. We must move on and we must build, but at what expense? There has to be a time to say enough. This is the time."

....................................................................

Email your letters to the editor:

Salem News:  nbenton@salemnews.com

Salem Gazette: salem@cnc.com

Lynn Item: letterstoeditor@itemlive.com
Lynn Happens: editor@lynnhappens.com

Peabody: editor@weeklynews.net

write in subject line:  Letter to the Editor
try to keep the letter short

Include your name, address and phone number
optional:  cc. peace@springpondwoods.com

If you do not see your letter within a few days... call them!

Nature Strikes back- Flood on Highland

Nearly every rainstorm brings a flood on Highland Ave in front of Wal-mart's lot.

Here are a few photos submitted by Brian C. at 11:19 am today [Thank You!].

The sewers on the Lynn and Salem side cannot handle anymore storm water.  Walmart's lot used to be a marsh... if this has anything to do with it ?  Taking away an enormous area of trees on the hillsides makes sense to continue with development here? 

Mass GIS data layer map c1900

Map overlay

Inconvenient Truths

Update:  Checking the links to the City of Salem website concerning the meetings mentioned below, on September 16, 2010 it is found that the links to the pages have been 'broken' or 'changed'.   This post will be updated soon with the meeting minutes attached.

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How to understand this?

How Salem is dealing with wetlands, in an appearing unrighteous fashion - helping development push through on pristine wooded, non-profit, open-space of camp ground.  5 questions remain.

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    Back on Dec. 11, 2008, in a meeting with the Salem Conservation Commission, Terry Gensel from ENSR/AECOM requested to classify the designation of a wetland as "intermittent rather than perennial so there will be no surprises to the buyer or seller." A site visit was okayed at this request.   (For meeting minutes click here)

• Q:    Can a waterway be determined by the Commission in one site visit, in a cold month of December for the advantage to the seller or buyer? 

• A:    No.  According to Mass DEP 310 CMR 10.00: WETLANDS PROTECTION  (click here)  "proving that a stream is perennial by direct observation requires multiple observations made in the late summer and early fall months over many years.."

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    Camp Lion's parcel was rezoned in 2009 by the City of Salem, resulting in giving the development of Lowe's and expanded Super-Walmart a go.  

• Q:  Was this done illegally as spot zoning? 

• A:  Hmmm....  From a statement mentioned in the Salem Public Hearing on Sept. 3, 2008, between Salem Council and the Planning Board, it states - "The catalyst for this ordinance amendment was the talk for the development of Camp Lion and Walmart."  (Meeting minutes click here ) 

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     In 2007, Salem proposed an Open Space and Recreation Plan to preserve open space.  In it, Camp Lion is inventoried. It states strategies on how to go about preserving open space like Camp Lion. One of the important things it mentions is to  "Revise local Wetlands Ordinance to include the implementation of conservation restrictions on parcels developed adjacent to resource areas" (Reference on page 99)

• Q:  Should we ask?:  Was Salem fully aware their local wetland ordinance needed to be updated in order to create more restrictions against development on open space... in 2009 when Salem rezoned Camp Lion's open-space parcel for development?   The Salem Wetlands Ordinance (from the 70's) did not become updated when the zoning was redone for "the catalyst" event.

• A:  We don't need to ask to know the answer now.

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     In the recent Salem Public Hearing on July 15th, 2010, the Development Group tried to say certain parcels, like Walmart’s lot need not apply for a wetlands special permit, because it was felt the property was not in a wetland/flood hazard district, according to the Salem local wetland maps (from the 70's that were not updated).   A person of the 'public', then commented at the hearing that the development should be following the latest wetlands maps by the DEP instead of the local Salem ones begin followed from the 70's... which does not have as much restrictions.

• Q:  Is it pretend time and no one told me?

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     Flooding and drainage:   Walmart's parcel is built on an old marsh.  Along with Highland Ave this area floods in a rainstorm. Please refer to the Mass GIS data layer for a historic map of c1900 showing a marsh in this area, or click here to view 3rd pdf.   The drainage system in both Salem and Lynn could not handle the water overflow.

• Q.  Why isn't this area on the Flood zone layer?  And why is there flooding shown just over the line in Lynn and Peabody, but not in Salem?  Refer to Mass GIS or click here to view 2nd pdf. 

• A.  Because it was not reported....  because?

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Anymore questions?

To download poster:  For best quality, click to open (zoom in), then right-click to save.

The Lion-Heart... The Crucible... The tall tale... The Richards

        On June 10th, 1696 Daniel Richards, mariner of Lynn, released lands of inheritance at Spring Pond.  This is the earliest trace, old history books tell. 

He inherited Spring Pond Farm from his father Edward Richards.  The following story is extracted from the Richards Family History Website, telling us interesting stories of a "tall tale" and of his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Basset-Proctor, an accused witch who survived the Salem Witch Trials, as mentioned in 'The Crucible'...

  

            "Edward Richards, chr. 26 Jan 1615/16 at St. Andrew's parish, Plymouth, Devonshire; d. 26 Jan 1689/90 Lynn MA

Edward seems to have arrived in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony in the summer of 1633 or 1634 as a young, teenaged, indentured servant for Sir John Humphreys, probably as an apprentice 'joiner', a carpenter doing interior detail, working on the estate of the Assistant Governor.  He ended his indenture and took the Freeman's Oath in 1640.  Since there is no land title, it is likely that Edward was a squatter on the Humphreys estate, and was permitted to keep a small portion during the depopulation of New England when Puritans returned to fight in the English Civil War.  His homestead referred to as Spring Pond Farm in later years.

One of the earliest court documents for Edward was in July 1646 when he was charged for public lying, saying that he was one of ten pirates who stole a ship to come to New England. They killed the entire crew, and Edward was made captain.  When they were overtaken, all the pirates were killed but Edward, since he was a minor. For this tall tale he was fined 10 s, and made to apologize in church before the entire town.

In June 1670, as the town of Lynn began dividing common land, Edward was in court again as he "stood with a club to defend the land boundaries." .... His first wife, and mother of all recorded descendants, is still undocumented. His second wife, the widow Ann (Ballard) Knight brought to their marriage inheritance of an inn, qualifying all his family descendants today as members of the Descendants of Colonial Tavern Keepers- and in July 1675 the court renewed his license to keep an ordinary [inn].

Edward died just two years before the witchcraft delusion in neighboring Salem. His son Daniel was to marry a survivor of the hysteria, Elizabeth (Bassett) Proctor, helping raise her five children.  One of Edward's descendants, Joseph Richards, married Mary Bowden, a great granddaughter of a less fortunate martyr of 1692, Rebecca (Towne) Nurse.

Children:
1st mar. appx 1643, Lynn MA, phps Mary FARNSWORTH
1. John RICHARDS, b. appx 1645 in Lynn MA; d. appx March 1712/13, Lynn MA
2. Bathsheba RICHARDS, b. appx 1647 in Lynn MA; mar. 15 Apr 1667 in Lynn MA to Robert BRINSDON, of Boston MA

2nd mar. appx 1649, Lynn MA, to Ann [Ballard] KNIGHT
3. Daniel RICHARDS, b. appx 1653 in Lynn MA; int. 22 Sep 1699 in Lynn MA to Elizabeth BASSETT-PROCTOR, whose husband was killed in Salem witchcraft hysteria [see Arthur Miller's The Crucible]."

Surname:
The name 'Richard' itself is Norman, and did not appear in England until after the Conquest in 1066. The name was still considered 'foreign' among the people of England and Wales until the reign of Richard the Lion-Heart, 1189-1199. Then, common people throughout the realm began naming their sons after the short-lived, but heroic king. " 

Thank you to Tom Osborn for sharing the link to the Richards family website.

The Good, the Ugly. The EENF

from Feb-

CERTIFICATE OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON THE EXPANDED ENVIRONMENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM

for the Proposed Lowe’s, Walmart and Meineke Expansions and Future Camp Lion Improvements Proposed by the Kennedy Development Group

letter by Secretary Ian A. Bowles on February 19, 2010

Read here:  http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepacerts/2010/sc/enf/14532eenf.pdf

some highlights:

(This letter was written in February, before receiving additional commentary.)

A request was denied to the Kennedy Development Group, and the group needs to prepare an Environmental Impact Report.  The request was denied based on the need to evaluate additional alternatives to minimize wetlands impacts. 

quote- "“Big box” stores such as the proposed Lowe’s and Walmart are large energy users and generate considerable traffic, both of which result in significant emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. Fortunately, both Walmart and Lowe’s have made public commitments to reduce energy use and minimize the environmental impacts of their stores nationwide."  
(A green building cannot replace the negative impact this development will cause on this rich environment, history and every other problem.)

Permitting Process:

• This project is undergoing MEPA review 
• subject to preparation of a Mandatory Environmental Impact Report
• requires an Access Permit from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
• requires a 410 Water Quality Certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
• may also require a Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) from MassDEP
• an Order of Conditions from the Salem Conservation Commission and a Superseding Order of Conditions from MassDEP if the local order is appealed)
• and subject to EEA/MEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and Protocol
• a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Construction General Permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
• and a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE)

(and jurisdiction under Chapter 91 too?  The drainage will likely affect Spring Pond and its connecting wetlands.  Spring Pond is a Mass Great Pond.  Any project affecting these waterways is subject to this jurisdiction.)

Environmental Impacts

Wetland impacts on intermittent stream  

(... see how the 'intermittent' was decided in a cold month of December.  Maybe we should back up here.)

And the project will generate 5,960 average trips daily with a total of 17,716 trips on an average Saturday!!!  

( Traffic is tight now on Saturdays.  This says Saturday's traffic will add 24.6 cars a minute, but could be more if the real facts from WakeupWalmart are picked up.  And the 5,960 additional cars on an average daily basis does not sound correct for both stores combined.  An average-size Walmart Supercenter generates around 10,000 cars alone per day.  Check the facts on WakeupWalmart.com )

Alternative Analysis
Comments from MassDEP and the MassAudubon request that alternative layouts be explored to avoid and minimize wetland impacts...  The replication of a wetland proposed close to the access road does not have an adequate buffer to protect it.

Stormwater management... (skip, we already know the proposal doesn't work)

Traffic Analysis

As said before it will generate a lot of traffic.  (But the state is following a general rule based on ITE Land Code 820 (Shopping Center)... How about the real facts for a 'Walmart Supercenter'?  Who wants to tell the state?  see above for traffic info. )

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

(Again a green building cannot replace nature.  The Mass Building Code is for new building or renovations.  Lets not confuse and make it ok to apply to a building replacing nature.  Lets not loop hole around this.)

quote from letter- " In general I support Lowe's request to develop a prototype store for Massachusetts."  

Please lets not make this site the prototype... This would be a shame!  It is saying it is ok to rip up a site with rich history, potential vernal pools, geological features, pristine woods, limited open space, wildlife habitat, etc. etc.  (Again, I understand this letter was written in Feb.) 

This development is not the kind of prototype the Public should want.

Write concerns to MEPA

     For the Proposed Lowe's, Walmart and Meineke Expansions, and Future Camp Lion Improvements, EEA No. 14532 

Contact info:

env.internet@state.ma.us
Ian A. Bowles, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Boston MA 02114

What makes a great leader?

Ask a child this.  What makes a great leader?   

I've heard them say... "Someone who is positive" (close)

"A person who thinks positive"  (yes but a bad leader can think positive too)

"A person who does good" ....."A great leader is someone who makes a positive impact on life."   continued...

A great leader is someone who makes a positive impact on life  
today and for the future generations and environment 

a hundred years (and on)  from now.

In the scheme of the proposed development by The Kennedy Development Group for a Lowe's and Super-Walmart here in Spring Pond Woods... its not hard to not wonder who in our community is or is not a great leader.

Should we not study what the impacts to the community, environment, the children's camp, future generations, and Spring Pond Woods, this clever development proposes?  It offers certain parties money- ok but not all are benefiting, and the negative impacts in society outweigh the good.  Life will be negatively impacted by:

loosing more wildlife habitat

loosing more of the limited open space there is left 
loosing a good camp setting in a quiet setback of the woods

damaging effect on wetlands and potential vernal pools

loosing trees

loosing trees pertaining to opulent history

loosing a place of peace on the facing hillsides surrounding a secluded lakelet

degrading neighborhoods

creation of traffic chaos

creation of drainage and flooding issues

blasting! threatening structural foundations et all

loss of  geological, potential archeological or "symbolic landscapes"
loosing landscapes of heritage (where to begin and when to end?.. see most sections)

 our great leaders?

 If I may say, one great leader would be a Camp Fire councilor. 

They teach children to:  love and protect the earth, and grow from this experience, play outdoors and appreciate others, and how to change ourselves for the environment, instead of changing the environment for ourselves.

They've taught children to analyze the wetlands, and look at bugs and species.

And to keep nature clean, by picking up pollution.

They've taught the children to build shelter in nature without impacting the earth.   

And then sit back and love all there is to learn from it.

(Photo of a shelter made by the children of Camp Fire)

I'ld also like to acknowledge and say thank you to these great leaders who are making a positive impact, by trying to sustain the good we have left in life to enjoy:

Marlys Russel, former Camp Fire executive director

Representative Steven Walsh

Mayor of Lynn, Judith Flanagan Kennedy

Lynn City Council: especially Dan Cahill, William Trahant and Timothy Phelan

Some on the Salem Planning Board? (early to say, but I have faith in (all of) them)

The Lynn Planning Board

Lynn Water and Sewer Commission

Lynn Traffic Commission

other Lynn and Salem Commissions

The National Park Service

Members of the Mashpee Indian Tribe

Workers unions who fight for fair wages, and for keeping industry in America!

The Spring Pond Advocates, 

including those on facebook.com/SpringPondWoods

StoptheGarbageNow.com

Rich Randall, arborist

Leslie Courtemanche, conservationist

Carl Greenler, Calvin Anderson, and Tom Osborn, historians

helping friends and everyone else who are writing letters, etc.

and the parents of children who raise them well :)

Peace

A ready-made arboretum

        A tree map through the old Fay Estate, where one can wonder through old paradise and find beautiful rare flora from all parts of the world pertaining to history, is found here: www.springpondwoods.com/p/arboretum.html


      We have a ready-made arboretum here in Lynn, Salem and Peabody by Spring Pond. The trees are found readily in Spring Pond Woods on the old estate.  Richard Sullivan Fay, a historic land owner imported 200 acres of rare flora from all parts of the world, and many of these species are believed to of been seen here first in the country!   In days of old, the trees were labeled for those who strolled through the estate to admire the foliage.  We hope to revive this historic landscape and bring it back to its days of glory.

The flora is inventoried as follows:

• Jasmine from the Mediterranean 
• Bitter Night Shade, native to the Mediterranean in  Europe or Asia 
• Mock-orange, native to America, Asia or southeast Europe 
• Asiatic Day Flower, native to east or south Asia 
• Lemon mint, native to the Mediterranean in Europe 
• Bamboo, native to east Asia 
• Red Oak, unique species 
• Norway Spruce, native to Europe 
• Black Locus, native to southeastern United States 
• Tulip Tree, unidentified
• Austrian Pine, native to Europe 
• European Mountain Ash, native to the Mediterranean in Europe or Asia 
• Birch, unique species 
• Sasafras, native to North America and Asia 
• Mulberry, native to the subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe or Americas 
• Scotch Pine, native to Europe or Asia 
• Missletoe, native to Great Britain or Europe 
• Pussy Willow, unidentified to native country 
• Rhododendrum, native to southern Asia, southern Europe, northern Australia or southern Americas 
• Hyacinth, native to eastern Mediterranean or Asia 
• White Campion, native to Europe, Asia and Africa 
• Elm, native to Asia
• Aster, native to Europe and western Asia

A variety of trees from North America include:

• Mountain Laurel 
• Honey Locus 
• Atlantic White Cedar 
• American Beech 
• American White Birch 
• Larch Tamarack 
• Sugar Maple 
• Lady’s Slippers Orchids

Other unique flora and trees remain unidentifiable

Photo above:  Spring Pond Advocates taking an inventory of the trees.