Lichen and Moss Forest

While exploring the gentle trails of the lichen and moss forest, you will discover the following:

Trembling Aspen: Where the meadow meets the forest, a grove of pioneer Trembling Aspen saplings settle into place. Nearby logs gathered from fallen trees are stacked for hügel use. They will possibly stay as they are for some time feeding mycelium under the forest floor.

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Pioneer Log Museum: Over a century ago, White Cedar trees near the periphery of the garden were logged for furniture. Left untouched since the carpenters’ departure, slowly growing lichens and mosses have welcomed the stumps back into the fold of the forest ecology.

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Burnt Stump Museum: White Cedar stumps show burn marks from sweeping fires of the early 1900s. Slow growing lichens and mosses complete the beauty of these Burnt Sculptures. 

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Wildlife Shelters: Cleared branches and leaf litter from the forest floor are stacked and domed creating “wood composts” that double as wildlife shelters. 

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Mushrooms: Fallen Balsam Firs are cut and stacked gathering lichen and mycelium. Mycelium is a networking system for the forest and mushrooms are its fruits. A variety of mushrooms can be found to appear from early August into late Autumn throughout the moss and lichen forest.

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Orchids and Flowers: Like clockwork, orchids and wildflowers pop their heads up out of the delicate forest soil. In order of appearance are Trout Lilies, White and Red Trilliums, Yellow Lady Slippers, Stripped Corals, Indian Paintbrushes, Rattlesnake Plantains and Indian Pipes.