Flora and Fauna

Mushrooms

Commonly growing in grass beds, decomposing wood, or along the forest floor:

• Fairy Ring (Marasmius oreades)
• Field Mushroom (Agaricus campestris)
• Shaggy Ink Cap (Coprinus comatus)
• False Parasol (Chlorophyllum molybdites)
• White Dunce Cap (Conocybe apala)
• Weeping Widow (Lacrymaria velutina)
• Parasol Mushroom (Macrolepiota procera)
• Scruffy Twiglet Mushroom (Tubaria furfuracea)
• Common Brown Morel (Morchella esculenta)
• Destroying Angel (Amanita bisporigera)
• Puffball (Calvatia gigantea)
• Basket Stinkhorn (Lysurus cruciatus)
• Pinwheel (Marasmius rotula)
• White Dapperling (Leucoagaricus leucothites)
• Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) – Known for its iconic red-and-white cap.

Flowers

Wildflowers and sun-loving perennials that thrive in the partial sun of open woodlands:

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – Purple coneflower, loved by pollinators.
• Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta) – Bright yellow petals with dark centers.
• False Indigo (Baptisia australis) – Tall blue flowers in early summer.
• Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) – Pale lavender flowers, blooming in fall.
• False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) – Bright yellow flowers resembling true sunflowers.
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) – Bright orange flowers, a favorite of monarch butterflies.
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – Light purple flowers with a strong fragrance, attracting bees and butterflies.

Fruits

Fruits and berries that thrive in the woodland edges or open spaces:

• Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) – Produces small, dark, antioxidant-rich berries.
• Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) – Small, sweet fruits that ripen in the fall.
• Wild Grapes (Vitis riparia) – Vines that produce small, tart grapes, often found climbing trees.
• Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) – Edible tropical-like fruit with custardy texture.
• Purple Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata) – Vining plant with edible fruits and beautiful purple flowers.

Grasses

Resilient grasses and ground covers that thrive in the open woodland areas:

• Wild Oat (Chasmanthium latifolium) – A tough, graceful grass with arching seed heads.
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – A tall, clumping grass often found in open woodlands.
• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) – Tolerates poor soils and provides excellent cover for wildlife.
• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) – Tall, golden grass found in dry, sunny woodland meadows.

Trees

Since it's an open woodland, tree coverage would be sparse, but here are a few that might be found in the valley:

• Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) – A drought-tolerant oak, often found in savannas and open woodlands.
• Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) – Hardy and tolerant of rocky soils and dry conditions, with sparse growth in open spaces.
• Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) – A tall, open-grown tree with peeling bark, thriving in well-drained soils.
• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) – Often found along streams or in fertile soils, providing dappled shade.
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) – Tolerant of poor soils and windy conditions, with small fruits that attract wildlife.

Shrubs and Understory

• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – A small, understory tree with bright pink flowers in the spring, often found along woodland edges.
• American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) – A shrub with edible nuts, growing in sunny, open spaces of woodlands.
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) – A low, deciduous shrub with white flowers, thriving in dry, rocky soils along the cliff edges of the valley.
• Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) – A shrub with yellow flowers in the fall, known for its medicinal properties.
• Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) – A tough shrub with peeling bark, found in rocky or sandy soils, providing cover for wildlife.