Releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Cover
50
%
Shrub Cover
70
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
10
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Relatively mature, bouldery northern hardwood forest situated just below the resistant cliffs the Garden Mountain summit. This stand has relatively high species richness for this type of northern hardwood forest and has a strongly mixed composition in all vertical strata. Some large trees are scattered throughout, and Acer saccharum var. saccharum appears headed for future canopy dominance. Downslope, this stand grades into younger Acer saccharum var. saccharum and/or Quercus rubra dominated forests occupying deeper, non-rocky substrates. Betula allegheniensis - Sorbus americana - Prunus pensylvanica scrub occupies the sandstone cliff just upslope.
Upper northwest slope of Garden Mountain, southeast of Burkes Garden. Plot located at foot of sandstone cliffs capping the mountain crest, 0.3 mi WSW of where Rt. 623 crosses the mountain.