A Trip to the Shenandoah National Park, Part VIII

After everyone left the campfire, we went and walked on the Big Meadows under the stars for a short moment. Then we went back to the cabin and called it a night.

Sunday morning we both woke up before 5 AM. I offered to get up, and by that, I meant we could go and watch the sunrise. But my husband didn't get it. So we both stayed in bed for a few more hours. We loaded everything back to the car and checked out of the cabin around 9:30 AM, and headed back to the Big Meadows to join another ranger program, called, "Not Just a Meadow". It was a 90-minute walk to discover the interesting species living in the Big Meadows.

The lead ranger was the same one that hosted the campfire the night before. She mentioned again that this was her first season at Shenandoah, and she didn't really know her way around too well. She still did a fine job, since we knew nothing at all.

She started out by telling us the history of the Big Meadows. It used to be 10 times larger, but the tree line had been closing in over time. Normally the rangers would not interfere with nature's course, but they realized that many rare species (plants and animals) depended on the Big Meadows to survive. So they actually interfered and maintained this open area on purpose. The meadows were divided into three sections, and they rotated mowing, burning, and resting every year. So, it was actually an artificial meadow.

This was one of the rare plants she was trying to find and show us during the tour. I can no longer remember the name of it any more. I knew I should have taken better notes.

A shot of the view on the Big Meadows. The ranger said there was some significant meaning of these tiny trees in the middle of the Meadows. I forgot what it was.

I think the yellow plant is called the Yellow Rod? The ranger pointed out that most people believed it would make people sneeze, but it really doesn't. It just blooms at the same time as another plant which is the real convict to make people sneeze, but the Yellow Rod got the blame.