Green is the color of rest and relaxation. Unless you are building.  Then some green is certainly better than other green. 

Different types of plants like different environments.  Like people, they can live in less desirable environments, but the best specimines are found within the environment best suited to their needs.

No suprise, wetland plants like tobe aound water.

After the last posting, it might be thought, “wait, there are all types of water events from ponding to  subsurface groundwater”. How does that work for plants? Can they tell the difference?

Yes. And they are picky.

Picture the wetland as a slope with a permanent pond at the bottom and full fledged buildable uplands at the top. 

At the very bottom:

Permanent standing water: Plants such as pond lillies like constant standing water. The leave help float the flower and the stems grow up through the water. The plant does not drown.

One notch upslope:  Within a wetland that may not have standing water all year long, but does have q longer period of ponding, plants such as sphagnum (the extra fluffy bright green mossy plant) will thrive.  Look for skunk cabbage nearby

One notch more upslope: Plants such as royal fern may be found. These plants don’t like standing water all the time, but won’t be around without at having their feet wet at  least some portion of the year.

One notch more upslope: The ferns will still be found, but changed to Cinnamon fern. This plant prefers to be sort of wet and can take a bit of standing water- if it must. The plant is  frequently found in groups or clumps.

One more notch upslope: Snack time. This is where the highbush blueberries dwell.  This is where the territory of what is obviously wet and what is not becomes blurred to the casual observer. Few think blueberries and think swamp. Red maple might also be found here along with white oak.

One more notch upslope: Now things are starting to get more dry. White oak becomes red oak and the healthy Eastern white pines may be observed. Yes, Eastern white pine may be found in a wetland, but either the wetland is drying or the tree is drowning.

One more notch upslope: Is that a beech? Yee-ha, we’re in dry country.  Eastern white pines blow in the breeze, massive red oaks house red squirrels and the beech provides those spear-like buds that critters love.  The water is low, the trees are tall and the soils are sandy. What could be better?

There are, of course, tens of other plants that will happily occupy the “notches” on the slope. Plants, as I said, are picky. Some prefer more acidic soils, some prefer more alkaline. Some prefer sun, some prefer shade. The ones provided are commonly found in Massachusetts and are provided for illustration only.