Wetlands

This is one section of the garden that is probably of greatest interest, but the most overlooked. Frequently students ask why we don't fill in this ugly section of the garden, and plant something more attractive. Strangely enough, this is probably the most ecologically rich area to be found in our garden.

This is a low point in our garden, and whenever we receive rain, it all goes into a catch basin, which in turn channels the water to this part of our garden. Since much of the "basin" around the garden is parking lot, the water is full of oils and other impurities that would normally go right into the Harlem River. Fortunately, our wetlands catches this water, slows the flow, and provides a natural filtration system to this highly polluted water. This water in turn eventually flows into our pond, and is by then, is clean enough to allow fish and frogs to flourish.

This area is a reminder that our garden once sat in a river valley. Spuyten Duyvil Creek used to flow right through where our garden is now situated. Much of the land we sit on is fill that was excavated to create the Harlem River channel in the first decade of the twentieth century. Somehow, when the fill was put in place, a patch of land was left alone, and a depression with some of the original wetland vegetation has survived to this very day.

When this garden was first established, there was already a healthy stand of cattails, and a variety of milkweed known as dogbane on the drier fringes. While we had a considerable amount of Japanese knotweed, mugwort, and ragweed to remove (and still have to remove to this day!), there was already a highly unique context already in place. Instead of drastically altering this part of the garden, we have sought to enhance it. Numerous plant species that are native to to the northeast and commonly found in wet environments, have been added to the fringes of the wetlands.

Now, we have observed dozens of birds set up their nests in this habitat. The excellent shelter and coverage provided by the cattails has ensured that the nests go undetected by most predators. We also have observed skunks, raccoons, and rats in this environment, and surely they find this a great hiding place from their foes as well.

The greatest threat posed to this environment is an invasive species known as phragmites. These stalky reeds have colonized themselves in the wetlands, and are aggresively trying to muscle out the cattails. During the summer, we put in a few sessions of phragmite removal, cutting the stalks at their base. This is not the best solution, and phragmite removal is one of the greatest challenges facing anyone trying to restore natural vegetation to a wetland environment. Right now, the cattaials are still dominant, but if we were no longer vigilant, they would altogether by gone in a few years.

One of our biggest annoyances is that of trying to keep our cattail rich wetlands free of phragmites. Since 1998, these invasives have been making inroads into our wetlands, and Mr. Thoman has to wade into this area a few times a summer to cut these insidious weeds at their base. No, this is not the most effective solution, but this method has to do for now.

View photos of this area getting cleaned up in 1995

View an illustrated list of what grows in this area

View Gerardo Ciprian's Wetland webpage

Home