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The Kiva Connection's charter location, Moon Ivy Hill, is incredibly diverse. This is due to its location in the northeast, temperate deciduous forest, where zones B and C intersect. This means that not only an abundance of oak, hickory and hemlock flourish on this rich, historic land, but a sprinkling of beech, birch and maple do, also. There are also other trees on the land, such as black cherry, walnut, white pine, poplar, ash, hornbeam (ironwood), musclewood, apple and elm.
There is good evidence that the first timbering of significance took place at the time of the civil war. Old-growth hemlock stumps, found in the forests of Moon Ivy Hill, tell this story. The growth rings of one in the Eastern Forest, in particular, are still visible where the whorled side branches target to the heartwood. The tree demonstrates great strength and power, having lived over three hundred years before it was felled (cut down) some one hundred fifty years ago.
The land has been timbered and farmed successfully since that first cutting. Today, Moon Ivy Hill has seventy acres of woods in various growth stages, fifty acres of pasture and/or meadow, and five ponds. Moon Ivy Hill is, literally, a mecca for a biologist, student of nature, artist, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature.
The woodlots and meadows display a cascading sequence of wildflowers from early spring thru summer, and into fall. Some of the early arrivals, prior to the leafing-out of the tree, are: spring beauty; hepatica; trout lily; trailing arbutus; bead lily; lily of the valley; solomon's seal; fringed polygala; tiger lily; and wintergreen. As summer arrives, so do columbine, wild geranium, woodrue, white baneberry, honeysuckle, wild rose, raspberry, strawberry, dew berry, and barren strawberry.
The pastures reveal several species of goldenrod, leading us into late summer and fall. Hawkweed, chickweed, butter and eggs, great mullin, moth mullin, milkweed and burdock are all abundant. There are so many more to be experienced and enjoyed, like meeting an old friend, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Come for a scheduled field trip, or come on your own. Moon Ivy Hill is a sacred power place, and you will feel that within your first few steps on her soil.
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