The Reservation on the whole is nearly pristine—nearly free from invasive and introduced plants,
except for the borders (e.g., Cardamine impatiens found immediately outside the southwestern border)
and a managed field containing many introduced plants.
Of special interest is a small area in the southern extremity of the Reservation,
which we have nicknamed the Hidden Garden. It harbors a number of woody and herbaceous plants introduced
as potted material directly from the Appalachians by the owners more than a century ago.
A few of them have not been recorded from a natural habitat in Massachusetts until now.
At least one of them, buffalo nut, or
Pyrularia pubera (photo at right) is now fully naturalized,
spreading outside the presumed area of its initial introduction. Find more detail about the Hidden Garden
here.