Species of the Week: Invasive, Medicinal, or Just Plain Cool?

Welcome to Friends of Pandapas Pond new weekly blog article titled "Species of the Week." Here, we will be showcasing some important plant, animal, and mushroom species that are easy to spot and serve some kind of purpose to us, whether it be good or bad. This week to kick off Species of the Week, we will be focusing on a few tree and wildflower species that we think you should know about.

Virginia Pine

Photo of  a young Virginia Pine (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

The first species of note here at Pandapas Pond in Virginia is naturally the Virginia Pine. This tree is easy to spot by its needles clustered in groups of two twisted needles. This pine species is native and very useful to the wildlife in the area. The trees textured bark acts as a hub for insects to reside and a buffet for birds looking for dinner.

Table Mountain Pine

Photo of two Table Mountain Pine Cones; cone on the left has been exposed to
extreme heat and cone on right is still sealed
(Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Our next pine species is a rather interesting one; the table mountain pine can be identified by its unique grenade-shaped cones that feature spikes that will pierce your hand if you squeeze them too hard. These cones are serotinous, meaning they are sealed shut and only open to reveal their seeds upon exposure to extreme heat, aka fire or prolonged direct sunlight. Pandapas pond is managed to prevent wildfires, so table mountain pine is not an ideal species for this location, but nevertheless, it persists. 

Broom Sage Grass

Photo of Broom Sage Grass at Pandapas Pond (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

This species of grass is a Virginia native that has some important vitality traits; it grows in areas where many herbivores reside, but it is not very palatable for these critters, so it persists rather intently. This is a good thing because it grows in clumps that provides shelter for small animals hiding from predators. Also, since the broom sage grass is not invasive, it does not inhibit other plants from thriving around it, promoting much-needed diversity. 

Spotted Touch-Me-Not

Photo of Spotted Touch-Me-Not at Pandapa's Pond (Photo Credit: Virginia Wildflowers)

This pretty little flower serves much purpose other than just sprucing up the pond with a little bit of color; its medicinal properties are fantastic. Also known as Jewelweed, this plant is recognized by its delicate orange flowers with maroon speckles whose pods pop open upon being touched, dispersing the seeds up to a foot away (hint, the touch-me-not part). These plants typically grow nearby poison ivy plants, which is fortunate for you if you are allergic, as they are known to help prevent and heal the blisters. Crushed leaves and stalks will secrete a juice that is excellent for application on poison ivy rashes. This plant also contains a compound called "lawsone" in its leaves, which has been proven to have anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Heal-All (Self-Heal)

Photo of Heal-All around Pandapas Pond (Photo Credit: Virginia Wildflowers)

As the name would suggest, Heal-All has been used to treat all sorts of ailments over time. Although this plant is not native to America, it is now found all across North America, blooming June through August. This little flower is best identified by its opened purple flowers and its curled-down, deep green leaves, and its square stem will tell you that its a member of the mint family. The traditional homeopathic properties of this plant are practically endless; it has been used to mend sore throats, mashed into a paste for skin wounds, and is even edible in salads, soups, and stews.

English Ivy

Photo of English Ivy encroaching up tree (Photo Credit: Heather Rhoades)

English Ivy doesn't have much positivity to add to the forest, unfortunately. Directly from the name, English Ivy originates from England and was brought here during colonization. This plant is extremely invasive with an innate ability to climb thick and quick. English Ivy is known for its beautiful dark green hues that some may find very aesthetic on the sides of old buildings, but on trees, it's a different story. The thick coverage will damage the bark, weaken tree branches, and even prevent light from penetrating the leaves. Invasive plant species removal projects occur typically once a year throughout Pandapas Pond. Stay tuned to our Facebook for the dates of events like these!


References:
Pandapas Pond -- Field Guide for a Nature Hike -- Blacksburg, Virginia. (2010, April 21). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from https://blog.twoknobbytires.com/2010/04/21/pandapas-pond-field-guide-for-nature/

Rhoades, H. (n.d.). How to Kill English Ivy. Retrieved November 19 , 2017, from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/groundcover/english-ivy/kill-english-ivy.htm

Spotted Touch-Me-Not. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2017, from https://www.prairiemoon.com/impatiens-capensis-spotted-touch-me-not-prairie-moon-nursery.html

Virginia Wildflowers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from https://virginiawildflowers.org/tag/pandapas-pond/

A Nature Walk Around Pandapas Pond: What Will You See?

A map of Pandapas Pond (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Pandapa's pond is a beautiful natural wonder of the New River Valley. Located roughly 15 minutes northwest of Blacksburg, Virginia, where Virginia Tech resides, you can imagine it's a pretty popular place. This beautiful pond features a slew of different plants, animals, and people inhabiting the park any time of the year; the diversity is astounding! There are hours worth of activities to take advantage of from fishing, trail walking/running, biking, horse trailing, mountain biking, and so much more. Parking is free and plentiful, so you don't have to worry about missing out on the opportunities available if it's a busy fall or spring day.

If you decide to take the short drive out to Pandapas Pond for a nice leisurely walk or hike, you may want to know a little about what you are getting yourself into. Lucky for you, that's exactly what this article is going to tell you (without ruining the fun, of course)!

A beautiful picture of the nice quality trails Pandapas Pond has to offer (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Trailing around both Pandapas Pond and the wetland area adds up to be roughly 2 miles with little changes in elevation, so you will get your steps in along a nice walk. The trail is wide and smooth, making it suitable for people of all ages and dogs too.

A depiction of the elevation change of the trail around Pandapas Pond beginning at the lower parking lot
 (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

If fishing is your forte, you'll be happy to know that Pandapas Pond is stocked with Trout from October to May and is as deep as fourteen feet in some places. A fishing license and National Forest stamp are required for anyone older than fifteen years of age. There are multiple areas designated for fishing as well as a metal dock that travels roughly 25ft into the pond so you can reach those stubborn fish in the middle of the pond! Pandapas even participates in Kid's Fishing Day on the first Saturday in May where children fifteen or younger can fish to win prizes!

Other than fish, you may be wondering what other types of wildlife you might see here. As stated above, Pandapas does feature a beautiful wetland area along the trail that is home to lots of little critters. Among these, you might find tadpoles, baby turtles, newts, ducks and geese, and more. The stocked trout also feed on the smaller aquatic life in the wetland pond, so you might even see a trout rise to the surface of the pond!

Following the path out of the wetlands, you will enter a wooded area that is home to lots of other land-dwelling creatures. Among those, white-tail deer, squirrels, great horned and barred owls, woodpeckers, and green herons may be trotting through the woods, so keep your eyes peeled!

A beaver dam built in Pandapas Pond (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Another exciting critter to be on the lookout for is beavers; they are prevalent and active in and around Pandapas Pond. Male and female beavers live together in beaver lodges that you may see in the more shallow-depth areas of the pond. Beavers eat shrubs and aquatic vegetation around the pond and can grow to be almost 80 pounds!

For the dendrology lovers, you won't be disappointed either; the vegetation at Pandapas is versatile and beautiful. While walking through the forested portion of the trails, you may see Table Mountain Pine, Virginia Pine, Rhododendron, Broom Sage Grass, and so much more. If you visit in the spring, summer, or early fall, you will be pleasantly surprised at the blankets of wildflowers covering the pathways as well. Touch-me-nots, coltsfoots, and asters will be plentiful in the late fall, for example.

Spotted Touch-me-not found along the trail at Pandapas Pond in September
(Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Pandapas Pond is a gem of a recreation area that we are so blessed to have so close to us in Blacksburg, Virginia. With the multitude of activities to participate in, the wildlife to see, the flowers to smell, the trees to identify, and the beauty to take in, you'll never be disappointed at what you will see. There are also a multitude of other trails throughout the property that you may want to take advantage of if you are interested in hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding.

Map of trails at Pandapas Pond (Photo Credit: twoknobbytires)

Regardless of your activity of choice, or if you just want a nice, quiet place to set up a hammock or have a picnic, you will find plenty of beauty surrounding you!

References: Pandapas Pond -- Field Guide for a Nature Hike -- Blacksburg, Virginia. (2010, April 21). Retrieved November 20, 2017, from https://blog.twoknobbytires.com/2010/04/21/pandapas-pond-field-guide-for-nature/