BLAIR'S
GROVE NATURE TRAIL
-Walking
time approx.: 1 - 1 1/2 hours
The Pine River Watershed Study
(1991) defined the Lurgan Beach Area, which includes Blair's
Grove, as a fragile environment due to the presence of erosion-prone
sand dunes and their associated habitats. The continual growth
of residential areas have resulted in a loss of habitat and
an increased disturbance of the remaining natural areas in
Lurgan Beach. In response to these developmental pressures,
M. Voske donated a 25 acre parcel of land in Blair's Grove
to Huron Township under the stipulation that it remain a
natural
area. However, indiscriminate pedestrian traffic over the
years has created a network of unvegetated paths, threatening
the stability of the sand dunes.
A trail system was developed through
Blair's Grove Natural Trail to minimize damage due to trampling
while providing an enriching educational experience. Please
adhere to the trail for you own protection to avoid the Poison
Ivy is wide spread throughout this area.
Interpretive stations are
located at each habitat along the nature trail to mark areas
of interest.
A diversity of wildflowers including four different orchid
species and two nationally and provincially rare beach grasses
exist within this nature area. The only acceptable
souvenirs of these plants and others are photographs.
En route to the first station, observe the actively
eroding sand dunes from the viewing platform.* With time
and
the elimination of foot traffic, lichens, mosses, and colonizing
grass species will re-establish this sensitive area.
(*
to be constructed)
MAP
OF TRAIL
(1)
Once stabilized by pioneer plant communities, dune
systems may support a greater diversity of plant species.
Under dry, sandy soil conditions, an Oak savanna has developed,
consisting of Red Oak, Common Juniper, Bearberry and Soapberry.
This type of habitat is unique to the Lake Huron Shoreline
region with the best known example of Oak savanna being found
at Pinery Provincial Park.
(2)
This clearing is the site of the dwelling in Blair's
Grove, which was a 27 x 16 foot long cabin built by William
Blair in 1849. Mr. Blair, his wife Susan and two sons traveled
by boat from Northern Ireland to settle here as farmers.
The
Blairs later moved eastward away from the lake to seek land
more suitable for agriculture
(3) The primary
vegetation found in this area is Balsam Poplar. This tree
is a fast growing, short lived species that requires
full sunlight to survive. Other trees in this habitat are
the Black Cherry, White Pine, White Ash, and Red Oak. These
woody species are long lived and will outlast the poplar
in
future years. Red Oak seedlings are present which indicates
that Red Oak may eventually become the dominant species
in
the area.
(4) There is
great value in this old Black Cherry tree for wildlife
habitat. It provides nesting sites, perches and shelter
for
birds. The tree is also a food source for animals that feed
on insects and grubs.
(5)
A meadow has developed in this area that is composed primarily
of Scouring Rush, Wild Strawberry, Long-Leaved Reed Grass,
Canada Bluegrass, St. John's Wort, Sandbar Willow and Balsam
Poplar are developing.
(6)
A mixed forest is present in this region. This habitat is
an example of advanced successional development on a stabilized
sand dune. The canopy species composition includes Trembling
Aspen, Red Oak, White Pine, White Birch, Cedar, Balsam Poplar,
and White Ash trees. The understory consists of Red Osier
Dogwood, Common Juniper, Soapberry, and Riverbank Grape. A
ground cover including Poison Ivy, False Lily-of-the-Valley,
Oak Seedlings, Pink Pyrola, and Star Flowered Solomon's Seal
exists.
(7)
This vegetation zone differs from the mixed forest because
it possesses a high concentration of Balsam Poplar that is
well represented in all three forest layers. It appears that
this species has secured a strong future representation in
this part of the park. Queen Anne's Lace, Poison Ivy, Prickly
Wild Rose and Lyre-Leaved Rock Cress are some of the more
common ground cover species found here.
(8)
A short-cut (denoted by - ->) branches off the main trail
and follows the edge of the mixed forest habitat. The dead
Junipers along this trail are the result of previous localized
herbicide spraying for Poison Ivy. Obviously, a spraying
program
in not a reasonable means for eradicating Poison Ivy in this
natural area, since the Poison Ivy has thrived while adjacent
Junipers and other vegetation were killed.
(9) In this
meadow of Horsetail, Wild Strawberry and Purple-Flowered
Knapweed are invading species of Balsam Poplar, Willow,
and
Chokecherry. Notice the White Pines in this area. One can
see that they have been planted due to their uniform height
and their arrangement in rows. Soil samples taken in this
meadow show a layering structure that is nearly the same
as
that found in the samples of the Beech-Cherry forest. This
is strong evidence that the Horsetail-Knapweed habitat
is
an early successional stage following the clearing of a forest.
(10) Along secondary
trail leading to the Beech-Cherry forest, a grove of Pin
Cherry trees has developed. Pin Cherry is a
fast-growing, short-lived, pioneer species that is adapted
to growth on disturbed sites. This stand will provide shade
and sil conditions suitable for the growth of shade-tolerant
species such as Beech and Maple. These trees will eventually
mature and shade out the Pin Cherry. This series of events
is part of the ecological process known as natural succession.
(11)
You are now entering an American Beech-Black Cherry stand-the
most advanced successional community of the Blair's Grove
Nature Trail. The very smooth, light gray trunks of American
Beech and the black flaking bark of the Black Cherry tree
are easily recognized year round. Trilliums, Smooth Salomon's
Seal, Mayapple, Branberry and Rattlesnake Fern are just a
few plants of moist woodlands which can be found in the ground
cover layer at this site.
(12) This forest
has the richest variety of tree species of all the nature
parks involved in the PCGP. In addition to Beech
and Cherry trees, the list includes Hophornbeam, Sugar Maple,
Hemlock, Serviceberries and White Ash. An increment bore
analysis
reveals that one of the older trees in this stand is the
nearby evergreen Hemlock which is only 33 feet (10.06 metres)
tall
but 91 years old. Several American Beech representatives
are of similar age (approx. 90 years) but contribute to
the canopy
with their greater height of approx. 60 feet (18.29 metres)
(13) This area
is part of the Balsam Poplar-White Ash association described
in station number 7. Black-capped chickadees and
cedar waxwings are just two bird species which have been
observed perching on the poplar saplings.
(14)
A representative sample of all three Poplar species growing
in the park are evident in this station. A mature stand of
Eastern Cottonwood, a tree characterized by its triangular
leaf, is located adjacent to the trail. Balsam Poplar and
Trembling Aspen are the other two Poplars in this area. Trembling
Aspen can be identified by its small, only 2" (5.08 cm) diameter,
nearly circular leaves. Balsam Poplar leaves are larger, up
to 5" (12.69 cm) in diameter, are egg-shaped, and have distinctive
reddish resin blotches on them.
(15)
The diversity of vegetation on the Blair's Grove Nature Trail
enables it to supply food and cover for a variety of fauna.
White-tailed deer, Eastern Cottontail, Chipmunks, and Garter
snakes have all been sighted in this region.
(16)
The small wetland you see in the clearing surrounded by Cedar
and Birch trees is yet another distinct habitat along the
Blair's Grove Nature Trail. This moist area retains standing
water until early summer and supports the growth of Canary
Grass, rushes and sedges. Please do not disturb the wetland
by walking in or near the wet region.
(17) The opening
in the canopy provides full sun conditions ideal for the
proliferation of the blue coloured Great Lakes Wheat
Grass ( Elymus lanceolatus spp. Psammophilus).
This grass is rare in Ontario and in Canada. It is very
localized in Ontario, only occurring along the shorelines
of Lake Huron, Michigan and Superior. It is an important sand
binder and dune stabilizer due to its ability to spread rapidly
by underground rhizomes, forming a mat of vegetation that
reduces erosion by wind.
(18) The dune
grass providing thick ground cover around this interpretive
station is Long-Leaved Reed Grass ( Calamovilfa longifolia
var. magna ). This species is not as localized
as Great Lakes Wheat Grass, but it is also endemic of the
Great Lake shoreline and is rare in Ontario as well as Canada.
Different types of dune stabilizing species have varying tolerances
to trampling pressures: it takes only a few passes by an average-sized
adult to kill mosses and a few brittle lichens, while 50 passes
are all that is required to prevent the recovery of even colonized
grass species, such as Great Lakes Wheat Grass and Long-Leaved
Reed Grass. Please respect this fact by adhering to the trail
systems and avoiding damage to the surrounding environment.
Compiled
by:
Brian Folmer, B.L.A.
Graham Taylor, B.Sc.
Margaret
Wysman, B.Sc.
MAP
OF TRAIL
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