Long before this land was Hidden Pond nature center or the United States of America or Virginia, native people used the plants that grew on this land for food, shelter, dyes, and games. Many of these plants still exist in the rich variety of habitats still found at Hidden Pond. This website takes you to some of those plants and shows you how native people still use them today. This website was developed by the Scouts of Troop 1145 as part of the Eagle Scout Service Project of Joshua McCoy, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
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The black walnut tree is a tall tree that can reach over 100 feet. A good example of the black walnut tree is adjacent to the parking lot. The tree has compound leaves with 15-23 slender, elongate leaflets. In the fall, the trees produce many large nuts that turn dark when they are ready to be harvested. Black walnuts are used for food and natural dyes.
Coordinates: N 38°46.376, W 77°14.366
An example of an elderberry bush is located in the water garden across from the map at the entrance to Hidden Pond. The leaves on an elderberry bush have 5 to 9 leaflets and each leaf is 5 to 30 cm long. In late spring the elderberry bushes get colored flowers and then come the clusters of black berries. These berries are edible and used to make jams.
Coordinates: N 38°46.371, W 77°14.359
The ash tree has compound leaves with 7-11 leaflets. A good example of an ash tree at Hidden Pond can be found off the main path between the parking lot and nature center, near a bench. The white ash is increasingly rare as a result of devastation by emerald ash borer. Ash trees are used to make traditional Great Lakes lacrosse sticks.
Coordinates: N 38°46.370, W 77°14.356
The tulip poplar is one of the largest of the native trees in the eastern United States. Although commonly known as a poplar, it is actually a member of the magnolia family. An example of a tulip poplar tree is next to the main path leading from the parking lot entrance to the park. They have alternate leaves measuring 5 to 6 inches long and very wide. It has a distinctive large four lobed leaf. The bark of the tulip poplar is used to make cordage.
Coordinates: N 38°46.370, W 77°14.350
A species of sunflower native to North America, examples of Jerusalem artichokes are found next to short brick wall by the Nature Center. The plant grows to over 4 feet tall with opposite leaves on the lower part of the stem. The leaves have a rough, hairy texture and are larger on the lower part of the stem and smaller and narrower on the higher part of the stem. It produces yellow flowers. Jerusalem artichokes are harvested by digging in the fall and eaten with other root vegetables such as rutabagas and carrots as part of a root roast.
Coordinates: N 38°46.349, W 77°14.330
Persimmon trees are short with long narrow leaves and woody branches. An example can be found in the staff parking lot at Hidden Pond. In the fall, these trees produce an edible orange-colored fruit. However, it takes about 10 years before a planted persimmon tree will bear fruit. The fruit is gathered once it falls from the tree and milled for pulp to make a pudding.
Coordinates: N 38°46.339, W 77°14.368
Growing on the edges of open areas, blackberries can be found near the staff parking lot up from the Nature Center growing in a bramble. The deep green arched stems have compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets and numerous prickles. In early summer, they bear aggregate fruit (sometimes called berries) that change from white to deep purple as they ripen. Blackberries can be used for food (cobblers, jams) or as a natural purple dye.
Coordinates: N 38°46.349, W 77°14.330
The mulberry tree is relatively small, reaching up to 40 feet. Mulberry trees are opportunistic and are found along fences and untended areas through the region. The tree is distinguished by its distinctive leaf, which is highly lobed in immature trees. A line of mulberry trees is found in front of the nature center at Hidden pond, with one labeled. In the spring, mulberries bear edible drupes, often called berries, that ripen to a deep purple. Mulberries are eaten as raw fruit, used in jams and cobblers, make a purple dye. The wood of the tree is often used for long bows.
Coordinates: N 38°46.349, W 77°14.343
The pokeberry bush is a small, bushy plant and a good example of it at Hidden Pond is found near the bench at the bottom of the hill near the Pond. It has a red stem and wide leaves. Clusters of berries develop in mid-summer and ripen to a deep purple by late summer or early fall. These berries are poisonous to humans, but make an excellent red or purple dye for fabrics.
Coordinates: N 38°46.377, W 77°14.318
The long slender leaves of the cattail are attached to a reedy stem at the base. The stem supports the familiar elongate, brown flowers at the end. In the spring, the brown heads produce pollen that can be used in place of flour and the heads can be roasted and eaten. Harvested in late summer, cattail leaves were and are still used for mats and the stems for doors of traditional dwellings. The tuberous roots can be harvested, roasted and eaten. The fluff of the mature heads can be harvested in fall or winter and used for fire starter.
Coordinates: N 38°46.376, W 77°14.311
Growing on the edge of Hidden Pond between the bridge and the dock in the NE corner of the pond, bulrush superficially resembles grass, but has long, round stems that can reach several feet in length, with brown heads at the end of the stem in summer. Bulrush is harvested and dried to be used to weave sitting mats that were typically used to cover the floor of a wigwam or a sleeping platform.
Coordinates: N 38°46.369, W 77°14.290
Growing as one of the largest trees in the forest, examples of white oak are found along the trail at the edge of the pond. One of the largest white oaks is labeled and near the red oak described here. The leaves of the white oak are 5 to 9 inches long and have rounded lobes or tips, which turn reddish brown in autumn. White oak acorns are harvested in fall and ground and dried for meal. With less tannic acid than red oak acorns, white oak acrons require less processing, although they tend to be smaller.
Coordinates: N 38°46.364, W 77°14.292
Growing as one of the largest, old-growth trees in the forest, a majestic example can be found along the trail at the Pond with a bat house attached. Red oaks are tall, straight trees, whose leaves have pointed lobes. This distinguishes them from the round lobes of the White Oak. The bark has reddish knobs and ridges and appears to have shiny stripes down the center which extend all the way down the trunk. In the autumn, the leaves turn a rich red. Red oak acorns are harvested in autumn to be ground into meal for breads. Rich in tannic acid, they require extensive processing by steeping them with hot water.
Coordinates: N 38°46.353, W 77°14.285
