Post 1
To the left of the trail, you will encounter a small pond. Home to many different types of creatures, the associated wetland stretches down the trail along Hop Brook, leading to another pond at the far end of the property. Along the trail you may notice a large amount of skunk cabbage, bracken ferns, and oak trees. If you listen closely, you may be lucky enough to hear the American goldfinch or see a turkey vulture flying above the open field in the summer.
Throughout the trail you may find poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans, on and around the path. You can avoid receiving the painful rash if you remember a few simple identification tips. The poison ivy plant has three almond shaped leaves. The middle leaf has a stem significantly longer than the other two. Young plants generally have light green leaves, which turn to a darker color as they mature. In addition, mature leaves will often be somewhat shiny. In the fall, leaves change color to yellow, orange, or red. Furthermore, the clusters of leaves alternate the side of the vine they are on, and the stem does not have thorns. Poison ivy can grow as a shrub up to about four feet tall, as groundcover up to ten inches high, or as a vine climbing on other plants. The entire plant, the leaves, vine, and roots, contains urushiol that causes skin irritation. If you see a poison ivy plant make sure you stay away in order to avoid a painful rash.