The Story of Grey Rocks, Part 6: Plants of Wildlife of Grey Rocks
By Andrew Veilleux, Program Manager
NLRA’s Grey Rocks Conservation Area holds different meanings for different people. The property has been used by Native Americans as a fishing camp, young women attending Camp Grey Rock and most recently by boaters as the Newfound Marina. At its peak, the Newfound Marina operated 6 buildings and dozens of boat slips, with heavy use of roads, walkways, and the surrounding water. Before the property was donated to NLRA in late 2011, structures were demolished and most of the evidence of decades of commercial use was removed.
The NLRA is keenly aware of the many unique conservation values of Grey Rocks’ 30-acres, and the importance of any decisions made about its future restoration and use. This eNews is the final section in the six-part series that tells the story of how Grey Rocks has become an example of practical and sustainable land-use practices. Each email highlights an aspect of Grey Rocks’ restoration and introduces you to how the NLRA is restoring the site. You can view earlier articles in the series here.
The Future of Grey Rocks
The NLRA continues to use Grey Rocks to display low impact landscaping methods in ways that involve the community, work with nature, and have a positive impact on the environment. The Newfound community has overwhelmingly supported this project through sponsorships, public input and attending volunteer days. We work with nature by planting native species, using plants to improve the soil, and creating a low-maintenance and sustainable landscape. Every decision on the site accomplishes multiple purposes, including benefits to pollinators, insects, soil quality, shoreline stability, aesthetics and more.
We will continue to involve the public with volunteer days and workshops at Grey Rocks. There are a few boards left on the Grey Rocks’ bridges for custom engraving and sponsorships for trees, benches and tables are available to recognize your support of this special place. Seeing names of families that love Newfound associated with Grey Rocks affirms our reasons for making Grey Rocks both beautiful and educational. We want to make the site welcoming for everyone and present useful information to visitors. Workshop topics may include fruit trees, mushrooms, pollinators, medicinal plants, and foraging. Ideas are welcome!
Everything that was planted in 2018 will likely be established by this summer, following the adage of sleep, creep and leap. Perennials look like they’re “sleeping” the first year, though they’re actually building extensive root networks. In this, our second year, groundcover will start to “creep,” shrubs will grow taller, and trees will begin to provide shade. Next year should be an impressive year with plants “leaping” out and showing their full colors and flowers. We still have additional plantings to complete in 2019, and will experiment with other plants and ideas we’ve developed since we started. It will be important to observe annual progress as we make changes and improvements.
We have had many questions about native plants on the property. Certain plants have been extensively tested in New Hampshire, deemed useful, and classified as “friendly non-natives.” We will focus on native species, and use minimal numbers of these friendly non-natives on the property.
Plant of the Month: Wild Bergamot
Also known as Beebalm, this native plant is a popular garden species with bright fragrant flowers and many uses. As part of the mint family, the leaves are edible and often used to make tea. The flowers are also edible and a major attractor for bees, hence the nickname of Beebalm. Our Beebalm should be blooming by mid-May in bursts of pink and lavender.
Grey Rocks Sponsorship
Become a part of Grey Rocks by sponsoring a bench, picnic table, or tree. Sponsors make a visible and lasting contribution to our mission to protect the Newfound watershed, and receive recognition for their contribution though engraved plaques with text of your choosing. Please contact the NLRA for more information and prices at info@newfoundlake.org.
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