The initial visit for the Foundation to the Wilson Brothers Forest was done over two days, with the Wilsons joining from their respective homes in Arizona and Colorado. The property line was well marked with Forest Service red blazes. The first day’s access was from the north corner via Doe Ridge Road, which fords two forks of Toms Branch as well as Laurel Springs Branch. At the east corner, observers moved a few hundred yards into the forest. On the second day, from the south end of the property, the route was via Mose Fitch Creek valley alongside an exquisitely beautiful cascading mountain stream, and continued to the west corner.
The entire property is covered by mature forest; there has been no logging since 1954 when the brothers’ father, Edward, had the tract horse logged, leaving all trees 20 inches or less diameter at breast height (DBH). Today, principal trees are Oaks (Red, White and Chestnut), Tulip Poplars, and Hickories of probably three species. There are some Black Locusts and Sassafras. In the central part is a large stand of White Pine. Other species noted were Red Maple, Hornbeam and Serviceberry. Many Tulip Poplars and Oaks measure 30- to 40-inch DBH. A White Oak in the northern section of the forest measured 52 inches and one Red Oak in the southern section was 57 inches. Forest healthWildColumbineSm, in general, is good. However, there was a fairly significant die-off of middle-sized oaks in the southern section, most likely the result of Gypsy Moth damage followed by a windstorm.
During this early spring visit, the forest floor exhibited flora just beginning to come out. The directors noted and recorded Toothwort, Star Chickweed, Columbine, False Hellebore and Bloodroot. A garter snake was out and active and both the red-backed and lead-backed forms of the Redback Salamander were uncovered.