Last Updated on November 20, 2024
Nature Trail Club
Bonnie Kawecki, Leader
Donna Ferrara, Co-Leader
The NTC works to preserve and enhance the beauty of the Nature Trail, the Butterfly Garden, the Rock Garden, and the Wildflower Garden by eliminating invasive plants and adding native plants and trees. Our interests extend to helping maintain the beauty and trail of the Lake Charles area including the Old Stone Bridge Trail. We also help the Charlestown community appreciate its natural environment.
Nature Trail Table at the September 2023 Fruits of Our Labor.
| SCHEDULE | TIME | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Wednesday (Except December) | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Music Room |
See information of their activities:
History of the Nature Trail
As Marie Brinsfield wrote in her brief history of the trail, it was the vision of Paul Gaudreau, a retired architect and early resident of Charles town. Once it was determined that the trail would cross Herbert’s Run, Paul researched bridge designs and produced the sketches from which the covered bridge on the trail was constructed. A plaque at the Cross Creek entrance to the trail is dedicated to him.
John Erickson was an enthusiastic supporter of the trail, and his assistant, Dick DeLottinville, worked closely with Paul Gaudreau to make the trail a reality. With the help of the Grounds Department, the covered bridge and the wishing wells were built and installed, the 4 x 4 timbers that form the curb of the trail were laid, and the banks of Herbert’s Run were stabilized. Later, residents using the wood shop contributed the several benches along the trail. Members of the Maryland Forest Service identified and tagged the 26 species of trees found along the trail.
Several other early residents of Charlestown made significant contributions to the development of the trail. Bill Bowles, Marie Brinsfield, Sally McBride, Ruth and Tom Hopkins, and Lou Romatowski worked to discover, identify, and mark plants and wildflowers, eliminate weeds, and strip ivy from tree trunks. Ruth Hopkins worked to eliminate poison ivy along the trail. Dorothy and Howard Jones planted over 130 ferns. Carl Tongier planted dozens of tiger lilies.
Howard Jones made and installed numbered markers every 25 feet on the curb of the trail. Over the 25 years since the creation of the trail, numerous residents have contributed to its preservation.
Where to Find the Trail
The Nature Trail on the Charlestown campus follows the course of Herbert’s Run, the stream flowing through the wooded ravine behind Brookside.
One entrance to the trail is behind the Cross Creek Station lobby. From this entrance, the path curves downhill to the right and a short walk leads to one end of the trail. To the left, the trail curves downhill, leads across the covered bridge and exits at the Butterfly Garden on Erickson Way. This entrance to the trail is across from the Lake.
The Nature Trail Committee
Paul Gaudreau formed the first Nature Trail Committee made up of the residents who helped to develop the trail. The current Nature Trail Committee meets once a month. It works with the Grounds Committee of the Residents’ Council and the Grounds Department to maintain the Trail, enhance the environment of the Trail, and preserve the numerous native wild flower species.
The Nature Trail Committee is currently made up of a Coordinator, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and about 15 other members, several of whom have assumed responsibility for, among other things, the Butterfly Garden, the Rock Garden, the Wildflower Garden, tree and flower signs, and invasive species. In the Spring, the Committee also stages Nature Fest in conjunction with the celebration of Earth Day.
All are welcome to enjoy the trail and to join in its continuing upkeep and preservation.
Please contact Bonnie Kawecki or Donna Ferrara, with any questions about the Committee. See their contact information in the Resident Directory.
Nature Trail Updates
This time of year, the Nature Trail is a fairly dormant operation, but a few things keep it interesting. For one, we have added a troll (see pic). He is properly green and peers out from the old spring opening, which seems appropriate, since by Norwegian lore they live in caves. He is about 50 feet from the covered bridge, which is also appropriate, since they reportedly like to hide under bridges and reach up to grab passersby. To round things out, the series of tree section seats nearby can be considered the trolls’ meeting room. Anyhow, kids especially like this part of the Nature Trail, and now they have another reason to enjoy it.
The old dead (but spectacular) weeping cherry tree in front of the Chapel was taken down last week, but it will be recycled in the form of its chips being added to the Nature Trail. Please see the separate blog input on the tree.
At Lake Charles the Grounds Department has had a contractor treating invasive plants in the Lake until the end of the year. This is done annually, with one chemical being used for algae control, and another chemical being used for control of water primrose. The latter is a rooted invasive plant with a pretty yellow blossom, but it grows to the point that it chokes the margins of the Lake, which is especially perturbing to our fishermen and members of the Black Swan Yacht Club. Also at the Lake, a new section of fence was put in on the east side, because intruders had collapsed part of the old fence. The uninvited guests had not only compromised our perimeter security, but the purpose of their visits was to go fishing, and they didn’t exactly obey our catch-and-release policy at the Lake.
Lastly, as I write this blog on January 23, it is still snowing, with at least 18″ on the ground at mid-day, so I thought a couple of snow pix of the Nature Trail might be appropriate
Bert Clegern
Co-Chairman
Charlestown Nature Trail Committee