Pond and Wetlands
Alabama’s wetland habitats are so unusually diverse that representing them with our single stream and pond is a daunting task ,and so is preserving them. Alabama has lost over half (4 million) of its wetland acres in the last two centuries. It is also estimated that 10 percent of the country's freshwater flows through our state, so realizing the importance of wetlands is vital to the health of our native ecosystems. We have a pleasant wandering stream with muddy, sandy and rock-bottomed portions, as well as a boggy area, low flood plain, high flood banks and a pond.
A major challenge to the degree of diversity we represent is our tree collection, which offers little sun for the wetland areas. Therefore, most of our pitcher plant (Sarracenia) collection is located in an artificial bog in a field. The most prevalent species in our flood plain is the bald and pond cypress (Taxodium distichum and T. ascendens), with the willow (Salix) species a close second. Black gum, water and ogeechee tupelos (Nyssa sylvatica, N. aquatica, and N. ogeche) surround the pond area. Upstream around our swampy island iris species, scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale) and wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera , M. heterophylla and M. pennsylvanica) proliferate. If you follow our water to its source, you will find an inlet near a mass of snowy white sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) roots from a young, but robust tree nearby.