The following article was written by Eileen Neiler and originally published in the Volume 18, Number 3 issue of UT Arboretum Society Journal, The Leaflet.

This trail begins to the left of the Arboretum entrance gate and just beyond the sign "Cumberland Gorge Association Model." Rustic wooden stairs up the bank establishes your starting point. The path, although it somewhat parallels the Arboretum access road, is well screened from this and Kerr Hollow Road by young trees. The trail appears to be graveled but is crushed chert which, fortunately for Arboretum trail maintenance, has "surfaced" here.

In spite of the recent abysmal weather, the moss along the trail's edge was abundant and seemed to be bearing up well against the drought, as was an occasional stem of spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata). Many folks have difficulty discerning between spotted wintergreen and pipsissewa. One field-mark for wintergreen is the pale pattern of the leaf midribs; or look at the style of the leaf arrangement, pipsissewa's leaves grow in a whorl from the stem.

Also thriving in this rocky terrain as we proceeded up the trail were ever increasing numbers of Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) as if to form a fence between us and the open woods. Notice the maple, on the left, the trunk is a veritable artist's palette of lichen; maple trees seem to be proficient lichen growers. On the downhill side of the trail the forest floor greenery presents a vigorous carpet of Virginia creeper and poison ivy but this noxious stuff is keeping its distance from the path so one need not worry about contact!

The first information sign identifies the trees one should look for at this point, shortleaf and Virginia pine, scarlet, white, black and northern red oaks. Another sign, as many others in the Arboretum, reminds us that this area was once farm land and is gradually returning to forest, thus the many noticeably young trees among the seniors. One of the more numerous (or should I say aggressive?) of seedlings, taking up residence with the tulip poplars, is sassafras. Incidentally, don't be confused if some signs say Yellow poplar and some say tulip, it's the same tree.

A display with a crosscut slice of an old tree shows us the effects of fire and explains the successional changes that will occur in the forest as a result of fire. As part of your forestry lesson, watch for other evidence of fire.

The distinctive leaf of wild ginger (Asarum canadense), several varieties of grasses, and many young American beech and sourwood seedlings are added to the scene. Be sure to look up the hill, to your right, for the long, very long, arching branch. What has caused this particular growth? The forest canopy is no different here than elsewhere. The pattern has obviously been happening over a long period for there are many young sprouts growing erectly along the branch. Unfortunately, the tree was too far from the path for positive identification.

Near this spot you will notice a sourwood tree with two holes that have occurred at ground level, almost as if the tree has grown around some now absent obstacle, and yet the tree has overcome these challenges. The large hole would provide a perfect home for a fern; the small, heart-shaped hole adds the decorative touch.

Other specials to watch for are the huge white oak; the beech with the "autograph" (whose initials are they and how long ago were they inscribed?); the tree with the tortured/distorted bole; and the kiosk with information about the colonies of umbrella magnolia that grow on either side of the trail. There is also a kiosk with information about the farm on this site and the farmer’s effort to build a stone wall as he cleared the field. Judging from the visible remains of his rock wall and our knowledge of the area geology, he spent a lot of time clearing rocks! The accumulation of fifty-some years of leaves and other vegetation have failed to eradicate his work.

Huge black oaks are nearby; the woods are more open here, offering a glimpse of a large clearing beyond the trees. At the edge of the woods are some Norway spruce and Swiss mountain pines. These two trees are quite similar but certainly one has an advantage over the other for its branches seem ideally suited for "dumping" snow.

Now it's decision time, which way to go? Straight-ahead is the Shrub Garden and the new Program Shelter; right and a short cut through the rhododendrons or back the way you came? You decide— no need to hurry.

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