The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-05-20


others whose natural habitat is many
miles south of the lake, and the plant
life is bewiIdering to the uninitiated
and a joy to the botanist. The combi-
nation of underlying sand and humus,
with abundant moisture, makes a con-
dition of soil that is ideal, and the re-
suit is iuxuriant plant growth that
is almost tropical
The dune-floor vegetation is more
striking than the arborescent growth,
and the wealth of herbaceous plant
life is remarkable Even on the ex-
posed lake beach and on newly
formed sand drifts pioneer plants are
constantly springing up. Hardy
grasses, sea rockets, artemisias, sand
cherries and many others take advan-
tage of the slightest opportunity, and
around these plants embryo dunes
form, which in time grow and join
the everchanging and fascinating pan
Drama of dune succession.
AS soon as a slight covering of hui
mus accumulates, possession is taken
by the stronger plant growth, and
bearberry, juniper, arrow woods and
sumacs soon fill up the vacant spaces,
preparing the way for the tree growth
that is waiting it's turn.
The black oak is the most conspicu-
Gus tree of the older dunes, but 1t is
accompanied by many others, mostly
deciduous, although there are a few
evergreens and one other conifer-the
tamarack. Eastwood, poplars, tulip,
sassafras, juneberry, towering dog
wood, white and gray pines and oc-
casionally white oaks ares all to be
found in the drier parts of the dunes !;
and in the lower lands sour gum, red
maple, swamp whiteoak, pawpaw.
cherry and the larger sumacs grow
luxuriantly In the peaty soil.
Over all the taller growth are scat
tered draperies of vines, softening the
rigid outlines and adding their bios
SONS to the marvellous display.
The herbaceous plant life is even
more varied and wonderful. Great
masses of bird's-foot and other violets,
lupines, phlox of different colors, tril-
liums, waxy bells of wintergreen and
BURBERRY, hepaticas, trailing arbutus
not just few flowers, but acres of
them and miles of acres-make natu-
raj paradise which cannot be arti-
ficialIy duplicated.
Colorlng in the Marshes.
The marshes have their own indi-
viduality of sedges, cat-tails, reeds,
and borders of the larger ferns-royal,
cinnamon, and the interrupted or
clayton. The Virginia chain fern in
one of the drier marshes crowds out
the less vigorous plant life, coloring
with its fertile fronds great stretches
of the marsh a beautiful sepia. The
blending of browns and green's In the
marshes softens the Landscape to an
exquisite symphony of color in pleas
ing contrast to the more vivid color
ing of the higher land adjoining.
1t is In autumn, however, that the
dune cOloration is at its best, for then
the entire region becomes a fiaring
landscape of gorgeous reds and vel
lows. Nature goes into her winter
rest with a last effort in color that
is beyond adequate description. The
sour gum, red maple, sumacs, and
sassafras discard their modesty and
vie with each other in a gorgeous riot
Of autumn coloring.
Many of the trees and lesser shrubs
and other plants bear edible fruits.
providing a sumptuous larder for
hosts of birds and small animals. The
bird life of the region surrounding
the end of Lake Michigan is very
abundant, and during migrations no.
where in the United States are there
more varieties of both land and shore
birds to be seen than here.
The ruffed grouse. golden eagle.
horned owl and the great blue heron
stu visit the dunes, and in wintertime
the evening grosbeak. crossbills and
pine fnches are attracted by the
wealth of food.
GeoIogically, the dunes and dis
tinctly traceahle old shorelines tell the
fascinating story of the glacial period
antedating Lake Michigan. The near
by universities bring their classes to
the dunes as most necessary object
lesson Of their natural-science courses.
Historically, also. the dunes have
their place In the earlier history of
the West. The old Indian trails can
still be pointed out. and it was
through the dunes that the pioneer
French found their way from Detroit
to the site OF Chicago at the mouth
Of the Chicago river.