The Wetland

Explore an ecological treasure

Our entire woodland garden slopes downhill towards the wetland, which is fed by two small springs. During Dr. Munger’s time, the wetland was the family’s swimming pond. But over the years, erosion and sedimentation have filled in much of the pond. Now it is home to many turtles, frogs, salamanders, insects, and wetland plant species.  A wetland is like a giant sponge that soaks up water and stores it. A wetland stores vast amounts of carbon in the plants, soil, and trees, creating a carbon sink that is important for climate regulation.

Our wooden walkway and the zig-zag bridge carry us across wet areas to protect the sensitive environment from foot traffic. One of our favorite trees is the baldcypress (Taxodium distichum). Do you notice the cypress “knees” that stick up through the mud and water? Scientists believe these growths enable the trees to more efficiently exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in their wet environment. 

Wetlands play a vital role in protecting our watershed. They provide habitat for many species, hold runoff and rainwater to minimize flooding during storms, maintain surface flow of water during drier times, and store carbon. Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world - comparable in their biodiversity to coral reefs and rainforests.