ENTS,

Attached are two iPhone images taken in the lower meadow of MTSF. The grasses are a mix of natives and non-natives. Non-native Timothy grass is doing well during this wet summer; however, little bluestem dominates both the upper and lower meadows. By late August patches of big bluestem will remind Monica and me of the Kansas prairies.
In the second image, Monica is seen walking along the route of the historic Shunpike toward the old Indian encampment at the confluence of the Deerfield and Cold Rivers. The encampment was seasonal. It was primarily used when the Atlantic salmon were running.
Scenes like the two attached are always in danger of being lost. In years past, a forest supervisor in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection wanted to ring the meadows with campsites and put tennis courts in the centers of the meadows. The individual who pushed the idea now has a state forest named for him. Fortunately, wiser heads, some also in DEM, prevailed. They are the unsung heroes. I knew one. His name was Bill Rivers. He was a planning forester for DEM. I've been looking for a really special tree to name in Bill's honor, but would first contact his family to get permission.

Bob

LowerMeadowGrasses2.jpg 189K View Download

LowerMeadowMonica.jpg 212K View Download