Rare Plants Thrive on the Rewilding Shores of Muddy Pond

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The Plymouth Rose Gentian (Sabatia kennedyana) shines like a pink sun when it blooms. This rare species occurs on shorelines and in wetlands from southern Rhode Island to the north shore of Massachusetts. The Gentian’s limited range and sensitivity to changes in water level and quality, as well as the destruction of wetlands along the Atlantic Coast, threaten the species: in Rhode Island it is endangered, and in Massachusetts it is classified as uncommon and of special conservation concern.

But at Northeast Wilderness Trust’s Muddy Pond Wilderness Preserve, the Plymouth Rose Gentian and other rare and endangered species are thriving. Nestled among the densely populated suburbs of Kingston, Massachusetts just a half-hour south of Boston, Muddy Pond comprises more than 300 acres of woods, wetlands, and the eponymous waterbody for which the Preserve is named. Forever-wild conservation protections shield the entirety of Muddy Pond from the development typical of the eastern seaboard.

The Preserve showcases the globally rare and threatened Atlantic Coastal Pine Barren forest type. Many species associated with this ecosystem are threatened by the same human-induced pressures that plague the Pine Barrens at large. But at Muddy Pond, which is stewarded according to the same ecocentric principles applied to all of the Wilderness Trust’s lands, these species enjoy the freedom to flourish.

The stunning display of Plymouth Rose Gentian on Muddy Pond’s shores speaks to the efficacy of this approach. Southern New England Land Steward Joe Falconeiri documented the Rose Gentian’s display during monitoring trips in July.

A Needed Respite

A section of Muddy Pond where the Plymouth Rose Gentian bloomed was formerly a cranberry bog. In the background of one of Falconeiri’s photos is an old shed once used in the cranberrying operation. The moldering siding of the derelict structure outshone by the Plymouth Rose Gentian’s proud blooms creates a striking image of rewilding at work.

Muddy Pond’s protection six years ago gave the shoreline a much-needed respite. For years, unallayed off-road vehicle (ORV) traffic degraded the pond’s shore and likely stifled natural communities like the one that supports Plymouth Rose Gentian. That kind of human disturbance and its deleterious effects on local flora and fauna are part of what the Wilderness Trust sets out to limit in acquiring and protecting wilderness. At Muddy Pond, the exclusion of motorized vehicles has been a boon for a variety of species and ecosystems.

“These days the shoreline is an exemplary and thriving rare natural community.” Joe Falconeiri, Southern New England Land Steward

The Rose Gentian was not the only rare plant Falconeiri documented that day. Blooming alongside it was New England Boneset, Eupatorium novae-angliae, pictured above. This endangered species of Boneset is endemic to southern New England’s coastal plain and documented in only four counties along the Atlantic coast: two in Massachusetts, and two in Rhode Island. The Massachusetts guidance on New England Boneset sums up the panoply of threats this and similar wetland species face on the heavily developed coastal plain of southern New England:

New England Boneset is threatened by any activity that changes the hydrologic regime, water, quality, or soil integrity of the coastal plain ponds they inhabit. Region-wide, coastal plain ponds are imperiled due to shoreline development, water table drawdown (from wells), eutrophication (resulting from fertilizers and septic systems), and soil disturbance from from heavy recreational use (ORV [off-road vehicles], horse, and foot traffic; camping; boat-launching; raking and digging).

Rewilding a Degraded Landscape

These globally rare, sensitive species need the space and peace afforded them by forever-wild protections to thrive. Such protections also benefit the Preserve’s other landscape features, from vernal pools to oak forests, and ensure that landscapes like Muddy Pond remain havens for wildlife, climate-stabilizing carbon sinks, and sources of enrichment and spiritual solace for people.

Muddy Pond is one of the Wilderness Trust’s Ambassador Preserves, meaning visitors can view these exemplary natural communities firsthand—and see the wonders of rewilding in action. A small parking area, kiosk, and footpath allow for easier access—always designed with preserving the land’s wild character as the top priority. At Muddy Pond, a detailed sign explains the unique ecology and conservation needs of the threatened coastal plain ecosystem.

For more information on Muddy Pond, and to inquire about volunteer options and citizen science at the Preserve, please contact Joe Falconeiri at joe@newildernesstrust.org.Photography by Joe Falconeiri.

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Rare Plants Thrive on the Rewilding Shores of Muddy Pond

A Needed Respite

Rewilding a Degraded Landscape

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