Restored agricultural field west of Redwood lane and east of the lake, owned by Shirley Heinze Land Trust. Resembling savanna, the area includes different tree species, including oaks and tulip poplar, along with grasses and flowering plants.
Evidence of previous agriculture in the area is this clearance cairn of fieldstones generated during rock picking.
The deep basin where the lake is located is surounded by woodland, that includes tulip poplar and oaks on steep slopes and deep ravines.
Striking is the absence of well-developed ‘duff’ layer (spongy layer of partly decomposed organic matter between fresh leaf litter and mineral soil), suggesting introduced earthworms are active.
Deer Lake includes diversity of habitats, including sphagnum mat, floating islands, and open water.
Surrounding the lake is a sphagnum mat adjacent to dense button bush and poison sumac.
One common floating plant species is watershield, with small characteristic leaves, oval in shape and with undersides covered with thick, jelly-like slime.
Another common emergent plant species is spatterdock, with thick characteristic leaves, striking yellow flower, and spongy rhizomes.
Rose pogonia is a terrestrial orchid that can be found in wet habitats among the sphagnum moss.
Sundew is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants that can be found in dense patches among the sphagnum moss.
