At sunset, the visual drama intensifies. The forms coming and going become stark silhouettes. Come nightfall, the dunes are silent, but wildlife is there. Foxes roam the area as do deer and opossum, and vegetation thrives in the sand. Wild grapes and bayberry, along with black cherry and Virginia Creeper, are found along the park trail.
Sand is a challenge and a blessing.
It thwarts seaside gardeners who replace their sandy land with mainland soil to grow vegetables. The next time you stroll along the shore, notice the vegetation such as sea oats and spartina climbing the sloping dunes. Windblown sand collects behind these pioneer plants, which often grow in otherwise barren soil. With the right combination of currents and breezes, a dune can grow large enough to protect areas that lie behind them, forming tall barriers against the salty sea spray, hence allowing the birth of maritime forests. Our habitat has generated several such phenomena that interest the naturalist and layperson alike.