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Delaware Township, Hunterdon County
57 Acres
First discovered in 1886 by botanist G.N. Best from Rosemont,
N.J, this site represents the only known and documented location
for Table Mountain pine in New Jersey. Decades after its initial
discovery, respected local naturalist and nature writer Vincent
Abraitys relocated this grove of trees again, bringing it to the
attention of his botanical friends and colleagues. Mr. Abraitys
lived and worked in the community, and collected and documented
rare plants from throughout New Jersey and beyond. His contributions
are recognized through the naming this preserve.
Table Mountain pine trees are named for the type location of
Table Mountain, North Carolina, where this species was first described.
The knurled stiff-branched tree is common in the southern Appalachians
where it is found growing on dry ridge tops and frequently in
areas affected by wildfire. Certainly its location on rich farm-like
soils in Hunterdon County is atypical. The Trust is actively managing
this site to improve conditions for the Table Mountain pine. Over
the years, encroaching hardwood trees have blocked sunlight from
reaching the forest floor and thick leaf duff has reduced the
chance that a seed from a cone would ever contact mineral soil
in order to germinate. Further, the cones of this pine are serotinous,
requiring fire or intense heat to fully open and release pine
seeds. Having found no young pine trees or even seedlings, some
modifications and careful forest management was needed. The Trust
collected seed cones and, with the help of the NJ Bureau of Forest
Management’s tree nursery, germinated and grew 50 potted
Table Mountain pines, which were later replanted on site. In addition,
the Trust developed and implemented a forest management plan where
hardwoods were removed within a study plot to increase available
sunlight with hopes that remaining pine trees might act as the
natural seed source for the prepared ground. On a snowy January
day in 2005, foresters and loggers from 4H Timber Management and
Timber Hoof Enterprises in Pipersville, PA volunteered their logging
skills to fell large tulip poplars and oaks. Standing by were
a team of draft horses along with a team of oxen, both from the
Mercer County Park Commission's Howell Living History Farm. The
draft animals pulled the logs carefully out of the forest to later
be delivered to the Howell Farm and sawn into lumber for use in
the farm’s new visitor center. Follow-up inspections show
that the planted seedlings are doing well for their second summer,
and hopes are high that the Table Mountain pines will survive
and reproduce well into the future. In 2007, Green Acres acquired
the remaining grove of Table Mountain pines as an addition to
the preserve
Public Access and Uses:
Due to parking restrictions general public access is limited at
this time. Special access arrangements can be made by contacting
the Trust. Hunting is not permitted.
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