Thinking back on our work in the Woodland Habitat and Corner in 2025, what stands out for me is the enthusiasm and diligence with which many of our volunteers tackled the heavy-duty job of spreading leaf mulch. Their willingness to work on an unglamorous task for the long-term benefit of a patch of land they have come to love exemplifies volunteering at its best.

The volunteers worked in teams of 2 or 3 and used pitch forks to load up our big red wagon with decomposed leaves from the enormous pile left for us the year before by the landscaping crew. They then hauled the heavily loaded wagon into the woods, where they spread the leaves over large areas of bare soil. The thick layer of leaves will protect the roots of woody plants and perennials from both heat and cold; and the decomposition of the leaves will condition and fertilize the soil. In the spring we will begin transplanting woodland perennials from other parts of the Habitat into those areas.

 Mulching and watering were critical in helping our most recently purchased plants survive the exceedingly hot, dry period in June and July. We focused our efforts on the smallest, most vulnerable perennials, mostly marginal wood ferns. Despite the drought, my photos of the Habitat in the summer show a lush-looking landscape. Even plants that wilted and looked bedraggled during the drought bounced back when it rained.

This year we planted trees in memory of Pamela Hart and Nancy Haslett, two of our dedicated volunteers. We chose a swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) for Pamela, who died on February 17, 2025. Pamela was a Habitat volunteer from the beginning.  Her extensive knowledge of plant ecology and plant species, especially native plants, guided us in making major decisions about overall design and appropriate plant choices ranging from canopy trees to groundcovers. For Nancy, who died on Dec.2, 2024, we chose a black gum, (Nissa sylvatica). Nancy was a long-time member of the Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation Planning Committee. We celebrate Pamela’s and Nancy’s contributions to the Habitat and the Friends group. We miss both of them.

Extremely windy weather last year toppled several large ash trees in the woods and brought down many limbs and branches. Our workdays often began with the task of hauling the most recently fallen branches to our brush barriers, where we dumped them on top of the pile. The larger pieces had to be cut up with a chainsaw. Special thanks to Liam Spratt for his skill in bucking those trunks and limbs into pieces we were able to move. We used many of them as borders lining our paths.

In September, a magnificent yellow (edible) chicken of the woods fungus (Laetiporus sulphureus) emerged from the tree stump holding up our bright blue rain barrel, creating a month-long visual treat that we all enjoyed (but did not eat).

Damage to plants from browsing deer is an increasing threat in the Habitat as the local deer population continues to proliferate. The Cambridge Water Department provides much-needed help in our efforts to limit that damage. Once each month during the growing season, a staff person now sprays a strong, ecologically safe, deer repellent on our understory plants. This intervention has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the condition of our woody plants and certain perennials such as False Solomon’s Seal (Maianthemum racemosa) that deer apparently find delicious.

Another threat to our purchased plants since the beginning of this project has been grazing by hungry rabbits. I remind myself that the rabbits were living in these woods long before we arrived, and they are not going away. This is their home. True to the name of this project, we have created a vastly improved habitat for them. Although we protect our most vulnerable plants with poultry netting cages and limited applications of a rabbit repellent, we leave plenty of other native vegetation for the rabbits to eat.

Elizabeth Wylde

March 4, 2026

Volunteer work hours in the Habitats in 2025: about 700 (plus many unrecorded hours.)

Volunteer Stewards in 2025: Richard Bosel, Ralph Clover, Susan Coolidge, Betsy Meyer, Joanne Mullan, Elizabeth Peters, Franziska Schuerpf, Amy Waltz, Jeanette Wardell, Jake Wiesner, Elizabeth Wylde, Candace Young. Also, Laura and Eric (last names not known.)

Special thanks to Henry Goldfarb of All Gardens, Inc. who chose and delivered the two memorial trees. Henry purchased and donated the tree for Pamela Hart, who was his mentor.

Thanks to Water Department Staff for their support: Vince Falcione, Dave Kaplan, Tim Puopolo, Amanda Garms and Liam Spratt, as well as the landscape crew who delivered leaves to our leaf mulch piles.

Thanks to The Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation for covering various expenses, including the purchase of a memorial tree, gardening equipment, caging materials, and animal repellents.