The Friends of Herrontown Woods is hosting various events this weekend. I'll be leading a Fall Colors walk Sunday, Nov. 1 at 11, but before that will be May's Cafe--coffee, tea, and baked treats served in the Barden, 9-11:30am--and before that will be the last session of Gratitude Yoga for the year on Saturday, October 31, at 11am, next to Veblen House.
Don't forget to "fall back" timewise on Sunday.
The Sunday walk will focus on the woody plants that turn color this time of year, be they trees, shrubs or vines. Please register on the FOHW website. Though the walk is full, you can sign up for
"overflow" and we'll figure out how to accommodate everyone.
We'll start at the Barden (600 Snowden Lane) and head up the boardwalk to Veblen House and beyond.
One shrub people love to see is Hearts a' Bustin, the native Euonymus with ornamental seeds. We have a bunch of them in the Barden. Deer love to eat them, so we protect them until they grow beyond the reach of the deer and can show off their wonderful qualities.
Another big surprise this time of year is the flowers of witch hazel--a Herrontown Woods native that blooms in November.
Along the walk I have hung numerous plant labels on some of the 70 species of trees, shrubs, and vines--an astonishing diversity for just one corner of the woods. This preserve is such a special gift the Veblens gave Princeton back in 1957. The habitat restoration our nonprofit has been doing over the past thirteen years has steadily revealed the depth and beauty of that gift. Important as well has been Princeton's management of the deer population, which set the foundation for our restorative work and allowed the native flora to rebound and flourish.
Below, a flowering dogwood that gets enough sun in the summer to put on a big show in the fall.
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