ENTS,

Another site I surveyed on my recent visit to Ohio was Pearson Metropark, a
relic black swamp forest east of Toledo, Ohio. Like Goll Woods, this remnant
preserves a small portion of the vast "Black Swamp" that covered much of
northern Ohio. Although the trees were not of the immensity of Goll Woods it
is a very impressive site with a high canopy. Unlike the Swan Creek Preserve
with lots of people running and hiking this site was nearly devoid of
people. I soon found out why. mosquitoes with no time wasted to take a sip!
I endured, however, and spent about four hours traversing the dense forest.

The site is flat with a few lower areas of ephemeral water and rivulets. The
wetter areas are dominated by cottonwood, sycamore, and silver maple. The
slightly higher areas have more oaks and red maple. The understory is thick
with spicebush, bladdernut, and a shrubby honeysuckle. Like everywhere in n.
Ohio, the ash are mainly dead from emerald ash borer. Diversity was high and
this site would pose some challenges to those just learning the red oak
group; northern red, Shumard, pin, and black oak were present. Bur oak and a
lone swamp white were the only white oaks I saw in the swamp area. I was
particularly impressed with the awesome collection of mature silver maple-
definitely the tallest and best formed I have ever seen. The red maples were
nearly as impressive with one specimen likely a new state record. There was
a definite state record candidate mockernut hickory but it had died.

~130' sycamore

Tallest red maple 39.2" DBH X 118.6'

Perfectly formed silver maple 44.4" DBH X 120.3'

Massive 40.6" pin oak

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