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Cronk's Rocky Woodland

Wellesley Conservation Council
Walking Time:  30 minutes

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This high, rocky woodland of over one-half acre was given to the Wellesley Conservation Council in 1977 by Mrs. Corydon P. Cronk in memory of her husband. The sanctuary is kept in its natural state to preserve an extensive inventory of wildflowers, plants and trees.

The Cronks purchased the lot adjacent to their home at 10 Crown Ridge Road in 1949. During their 28 year stewardship of this diverse plot they added bloodroot, trailing arbutus, partridgeberry and ferns to a large collection of native plants. Over 30 uncommon wildflowers bloom here.

A true “ New England woodland” of oaks and pine on rocky ledges, this sanctuary is a fine example of how the protection of existing plants and the wise addition of other indigenous plant material can preserve a broad sample of a town's natural heritage. Although there is interest here in every season, this sanctuary is a feast for all the senses during the spring.

Access
Park on Crown Ridge Road and enter the sanctuary through the center gate. Take care to stay on the narrow paths. Markers indicate general areas where wildflowers grow, but plants may “migrate” from year to year and be found on walkways.

Begin your visit by following the path to the right past a hemlock tree and several white pines. As you approach a narrow outcropping of granite, focus your attention overhead. Black and white oaks create a canopy over the woodland. Their leaves provide a dense mulch for many of the wildflowers along these paths. Low bush blueberry on both sides of the path grows well in this shallow, acid soil. (1) Look for crested dwarf iris and downy phlox growing near the rocks.

At the intersection ahead you may see pink lady's slipper on your left or across the path near a mountain laurel. (2) the plant stalk of this large orchid is sturdy and visible in every season. Bear right along the path which becomes quite mossy as you approach area (3). This is the wettest part of the sanctuary and perfect habitat for a quartet of aptly named wildflowers: bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, pink turtlehead and trout lily. In May enjoy the flowering dogwoods on your left as you continue towards the garden house. Cardinals, and especially robins, seek out the red fruits of the dogwood before migrating in the autumn.

The Garden House
To the right of the path before the patio is a fine colony of partridgeberry. You may want to pause near the garden house or perch in the stone chair opposite the fireplace. This rustic shed was build by Mr. Cronk and his son Casper . Spring beauty and shinleaf grow nearby.

Narrow stone steps to the right of the garden house lead around the edge of a large granite outcropplanted with ferns, creeping phlox and harebell. Follow the path around and down stone stairs to area (4). Canada anemone, spiderwort, may apple, and longleaved houstonia are just afew of the wildflowers that bloom along the path. Continue towards area (5) passing an American holly tree, with an American chestnut tree and spruces on your left.

As you pass the large granite outcrop and wander back toward the gate, see if you can identify trailing arbutus, fernleaved foxglove and black snakeroot anchored in the thin soil.

SPOTLIGHT

Pink Lady's Slipper ( Cypripedium acaule )
Pink moccasin flower and squirrel shoes are common names for the largest native orchid in eastern North America . Borne on a single hardy stalk with two basal leaves, this striking sac-like flower blooms in late spring. Listen carefully and you may hear bees rattling inside collecting nectar.

Lady's slippers, like other protected wildflowers, exist in a particular environment that is difficult to duplicate artificially. In the fall, germinating seeds develop into a small corm. The acidic soil common to oak and pine forests hosts a specific fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with the growing corm, helping it to absorb essential nutrients from the soil. Once this connection is established, a new plant will develop and bloom within several years.

Lady's slippers are often found in the company of two other acid loving plants, trailing arbutus and low bush blueberry, the latter common in the Wellesley sanctuaries.