With the seeds of spring-dispersed species ripening and falling throughout the past month, the Riparian Lands crew has had plenty of work to do, collecting, processing, storing, and broadcasting native tree seeds for a direct seeding project in partnership with Vermont Fish and Wildlife and the Connecticut River Conservancy. Silver maple was the main focal species for collection, with the goal of restoring a plot of land within the Johnson Farms WMA from hayfield to silver maple floodplain. Previously, the project area was mowed, treated with herbicide to control invasive reed canarygrass, and divided into experimental plots, in the hopes that the information gained from monitoring the area can guide future restoration efforts.
The first week of June was a whirlwind, as many tree seeds throughout the Northeast Kingdom ripened at once. The crew and partners collected 85 gallons of silver maple seed and just over 3 gallons of American elm seed, using tarps, ladders, pole saws, and whatever creative solutions came to mind to collect seed from both the tree and the ground below (while still leaving plenty of seed for wildlife and natural regeneration).
After drying for the weekend, the seeds were ready to be spread among the experimental plots. Added to the silver maple and American elm mix were fall-dispersed species that were collected last year, including speckled alder and basswood seeds. Seeds were divided evenly among twelve plots – six plots contained only seeds, while the other six had willow stakes with attached seed pods planted two weeks before. Six control plots were left to study how natural regeneration compares with direct seeding and staking.
Seed collecting efforts will continue into the fall. The seeds of fall-dispersed species will be added to the Johnson Farms site later this year, and others may be stored for future seeding on riparian restoration sites throughout the state.