Geology of Cedar Bog that’s not a bog:
During Ice Age a glacier split to create end moraines of sand and gravel on the East and West side of Cedar bog, leaving it at the bottom of the valley. The materials allow for water to flow in and out meaning Cedar Bog is actually a fen with a constantly flowing source of ground water. This groundwater contains dissolved limestone making the water alkaline. Cedar bog is made up of several different habitats, a bog fen and a swamp forest. Some of the dominant plants in the swamp forest include tulip trees and northern white cedar in the over-story, prickly ash, hoptree, and sumac in the brush layer, and golden rod, solomon’s seal and wild-flowers in the understory.
This lovely little white flower has a CC value of 10!!
Another lovely little flower, this one with a CC value of 9!
A very special swamp birch with a CC value of 10!!
And finally, a peculiar swamp flower with a CC value of 8!
Natural History Note: Golden rods
Golden rods, genus name Solidago are a perennial plant with tiny yellow flowers, in clusters. There are many species of golden rod and they can grow in a variety of different growing conditions. Most of them however, typically thrive in full sun. Many species of goldenrod bloom late in the growing season and are therefore a very important pollinator source! We saw several different species of golden rod (some pictured below) on our trip to Cedar Bog. Some of them are even rare species!
