Our Environment: “A Walk Along the Turner Reservoir Trail” By Scott Turner
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Scott Turner, Environmental Columnist
View Larger +
Island in Turner Reservoir, Rumford, RI PHOTO: Karen Wargo
Last Saturday in Rumford, friends and fellow Ohio State Buckeyes Ron and Diane hosted a gathering of local alumni, featuring a nature walk along part of the Turner Reservoir Loop Trail.
“Buckeyes” is the official Ohio State nickname. A buckeye is a small, dark nut produced by Ohio’s official state tree, the buckeye. The tree grows naturally in the Midwest and lower Great Plains, with scattered populations to the north and south. Folklore says that the nut resembles a deer’s eye, and that carrying a buckeye brings good luck.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
The buckeye tree is not native anywhere in Southern New England. Moreover, it is rarely used in these parts as an ornamental. So, the largest collection of buckeyes in the region that day likely belonged to the 15-or-so folks who trekked into the Bridgham Farm Conservation Area, located on the western shore of the reservoir, and part of the East Providence Land Conservation Trust.
We were a mingling of Massachusetts and Rhode Island natives, who’d attended Ohio State at some point, and returned east, plus non-native transplants from several states such as Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, New York and New Jersey.
View Larger +
Newman oak, Bridgham Farm Conservation Area, Rumford, RI PHOTO: Karen Wargo
Our mix matched much of what we found on the walk. We entered the Conservation Area beside the colossal Newman Oak. This native white oak was named after the Rev. Samuel Newman, who led 58 Puritans from Massachusetts to settle nearby in 1643.
The Newman oak may be pre-Columbian, said Ron, or there before 1492. The trunk was massive but even more impressive was the tree’s widespread crown. That canopy was likely the largest I’ve seen anywhere in the Ocean State.
The woods showed significant signs of former habitation including various species of introduced trees, shrubs and vines, along with native flora and fauna, and a crisscross of stonewalls.
Amidst this foliage amalgam, one non-native tree stood out—a large amur corktree—identified by its short trunk and spreading branches, all covered by thick, corky bark.
The corktree is native to eastern Asia, preferring full sun and rich soil. That it now stood in the woods suggested that the tree was once an ornamental in the open, swallowed over time by regeneration.
In the preserve’s forest openings, multiflora rose was common. Another native of eastern Asia, multiflora rose arrived in the U.S. in the late 1700s. It was cultivated as an ornamental, and used for both erosion control and as a living fence. Multiflora rose smells good, and wildlife eat its fruit.
But multiflora rose climbs fast and spreads quickly. It is so invasive that Massachusetts banned its sale in 2009.
The woods also contained native species such as Eastern white pine, Eastern cottonwood, sassafras, black cherry and especially red and white oak.
This time of year, cottonwoods release their seeds within fluff that floats on the wind, and downy little clouds floated past us.
Near the reservoir, stretches of native wild geranium speckled the forest floor in pink-purple color. As the ground grew moister, the local wetland forest—red maple and black gum, dominated the landscape.
The Loop Trail featured idyllic views of the reservoir and its rocky islands and wooded shoreline. Several different birds sang, such as Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler and Baltimore Oriole, three species often found near water.
As we approached the dam and spillway, we found yellow-flowering water lilies near the shoreline. We also spied a fish ladder built to help restore herring to historic spawning grounds.
The route back took us through the open field and meadow of Bridgham Farm. We were surrounded by thigh-high grasses, swaying in a light breeze, and wildflowers of various sorts. There was red clover and a purple-flowering pea. Also present were cinquefoil, hawkweed and buttercups, all of which flower in shades of yellow.
This has been a good spring for buttercups, possibly because the species does well in most areas, and we’ve had lots of rain.
According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, “a special layer of cells” found just below the surface cells of buttercup petals accounts for their “shiny, waxy texture.” The Center also notes that the stems and leaves of a buttercup contain an acrid juice, “discouraging browsing animals and favoring the spread of the plant.”
Drawn together by shared Ohio State roots, we arrived at Ron and Diane’s home from multiple points and various life paths, all agreeing after the walk that the conservation area and loop trail were dazzling spaces well worth our interest.
And, as nice as it was to stroll there on a sunny spring day in the mid-70s, Ron left us with this teaser, “You should see it in fall!”
Scott Turner is a Providence-based writer and communications professional. For more than a decade he wrote for the Providence Journal and we welcome him to GoLocalProv.com.
Related Slideshow: 19 to Watch in 2019 - FULL LIST
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Angie Armenise
Chef and co-owner of Blackie’s Bulldog Tavern in Smithfield, Angie Armenise has it all going. Expansion to a new and larger location, a wonderfully loyal customer base and a big stack of awards -- and more to come in the new year. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Marcela Betancur
Marcela Betancur, the new head of Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University and will be the power behind Latinx think tank in 2019.
Betancur, a Central Falls native, most recently worked READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Brian Goldner
No one will influence the psyche of Rhode Island more this year than Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner. After the loss of the PawSox to Worcester and the closing of Rhode Island’s beloved Benny's in 2017, Rhode Islanders are a bit raw.
He is poised to announce that Hasbro is...READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Cortney Nicolato
New United Way of Rhode Island President and CEO Cortney Nicolato succeeded Anthony Maione in 2018 — and takes on her first full year at the helm of the social service organization in 2019.
She is a Rhode Islander turned Texan returned back to Rhode Island. The Pawtucket native is all about Rhode Island and is passionate about helping to improve issues of housing affordability and the quality of education in RI. She is the mother of two elementary school-aged children. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Sabina Matos
It is the rise of the Phoenix in Providence. On Monday, Sabina Matos won back the Presidency of the Providence City Council and returns to the top legislative position in the City of Providence.
As Providence goes so goes Rhode Island. Matos will be faced with taking on some of the most difficult issues in the state. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Jamie Bova
The Newport City Councilor At-Large lined up the votes to votes for Mayor after being elected to just her second term on the Newport City Council this past November.
Bova, an engineer who grew up in Middletown, attended URI, and moved to Newport in 2012, succeeds Harry Winthrop as the city faces major changes ahead for 2019, including the construction of a new hotel on Thames Street — and more hotel proposals in the pipeline — and READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Jennifer Wood
The former private practice attorney turned top government aide turned non-profit director might have her biggest — and most public — battle on her hands in 2019.
RI Center for Justice Executive Director Jennifer Wood joined GoLocal News Editor on GoLocal LIVE where she spoke to the next steps after filing a federal class-action lawsuit in late November on behalf of all Rhode Island public school students to establish the right, under the U.S. Constitution, to an adequate education to prepare young people for full civic education.
READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Catholic Church Sex Abuse Survivors
In 2018, Bishop Tobin with the Diocese of Providence landed on GoLocal's “18 to Watch” as the Catholic Church was — and continues to remain — at the center of lawsuits pertaining to the collapse of the St. Joseph pension fund.
He’ll remain squarely in the spotlight — and not for good — in 2019, when he has pledged to release a list of names of abusive priests “credibly accused” over the years in the Diocese, as pressure mounts nationally for how sexual abuse claims were handled around the country — READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Matt Voskuil
One of Newport’s most iconic — and upscale — dining locations has a new look, a new chef — and people are taking note not just in Newport, but beyond.
Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage, Matt Voskuil at the newly opened Cara at the Chanler READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
David Torchiana
The most powerful person in healthcare in Rhode Island may soon be a man who rarely visits the state and few here know his name.
Dr. David Torchiana is the CEO of Partners HealthCare and he is poised to push through an acquisition of Rhode Island’s second largest hospital group, ending the local control over three of Rhode Island’s most important healthcare assets. And, the deal has the potential of putting in peril thousands of Rhode Island jobs through consolidation. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
RI GOP Party Chair
Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Brandon Bell was defeated in his run for the General Assembly in 2018.
Republican Cranston Mayor Allan Fung lost in his second attempt at the Rhode Island Governor’s office, after a bruising primary that saw former opponent and House Minority Leader opt to endorse former Republican-turned-independent (and honorary chair for President Donald Trump’s campaign in Rhode Island) Joe Trillo. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Anthony Baro
Anthony Baro heads Newport-based PowerDocks — one of Rhode Island’s most interesting startups. It is a market-making green tech company that, in many ways, combines the best of Rhode Island.
The emerging maritime renewal energy company is having an impact in the U.S. and globally. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Blake Filippi
Blake Filippi is the new House Minority leader and is a fresh-faced leader for the GOP in Rhode Island. But, he faces a number of challenges. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Desmond Cambridge
Brown University sophomore basketball player Desmond Cambridge has been a human highlight film his first year and a half on College Hill. He won Ivy League Freshman of the Year and this year he is READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Sarah Markey
South Kingstown School Board member Sarah Markey has been at the center of controversy since her election in November.
Markey, a top labor leader for the RI National Education Association, has drawn criticism by Democrats, Republicans and multiple municipal attorneys because READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Peter Neronha
Peter Neronha, the new Attorney General, takes over for the controversial Peter Kilmartin. The former U.S. Attorney for Providence now faces a far busier assignment than his federal one. READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Dylan Conley
Dylan Conley seems to be everywhere. Recently, GoLocal featured the attorney as one of Rhode Island's "Emerging Leaders."
He is the chairman of the Providence Board of Licenses and is in a hotbed READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
Mike McGovern
Chef Mike McGovern -- formerly the chef at Red Stripe -- is taking the helm at East Greenwich's Kai Bar -- and now 241 Main Sports Bar and Grill.
Kai Bar is a combination of small plates and big drinks, “Kai offers a rotating small plates menu from an award-winning Chef and Craft Cocktails READ MORE
View Larger +
Prev
Next
BIg Tourism Voids
Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Rhode Island economy and two of the most important positions in the state are now vacant. READ MORE
Related Articles
Enjoy this post? Share it with others.