Field conditions
Habitats
Plants grouped by habitat type, with walking directions from the school dormitory.
Forest Floor
28 species documented
About this habitat
The shaded understory beneath mature deciduous and mixed forest canopy. Rich in leaf litter and decaying organic matter, supporting a diverse community of spring ephemerals, ferns, and woodland wildflowers that bloom before the canopy closes.
Walking directions
From the main dormitory, walk south along the path behind the gym toward the Fay Athletic Facility. Continue into the wooded area behind the fields — the mature hardwood canopy begins within 200m. The forest floor is richest between March and May.
Uneven leaf litter, root networks, moderate slope
Species found here
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Trout Lily
Erythronium americanum
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
Round-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa
Spring Beauty
Claytonia virginica
Red Trillium
Trillium erectum
Dutchman's Breeches
Dicentra cucullaria
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Pink Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium acaule
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Trailing Arbutus
Epigaea repens
White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
White Oak
Quercus alba
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Woodland Edge
27 species documented
About this habitat
The transitional zone where forest meets open ground — along fencerows, path margins, and the borders of athletic fields. These edges support a mix of shade-tolerant forest species and sun-adapted shrubs and vines.
Walking directions
Woodland edges are found along the entire southern perimeter of the school property. Walk the trail that borders the soccer fields on the south side. The edge habitat is especially rich along the stone wall near the upper fields.
Varied, may include stone walls, shrubby growth, fallen logs
Species found here
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
White Wood Aster
Eurybia divaricata
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
White Oak
Quercus alba
Northern Red Oak
Quercus rubra
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Flowering Dogwood
Cornus florida
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Northern Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Virginia Rose
Rosa virginiana
Sweet Fern
Comptonia peregrina
Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Roadside
20 species documented
About this habitat
Disturbed habitats along roadsides and paths support opportunistic native and invasive species. Often the best place to find common introduced plants and early colonizers of disturbed ground.
Walking directions
Walk along Marlboro Road (Route 85) on the school's east side. The road margins south toward the center of Southborough also yield many roadside species. Use caution near traffic.
Compacted soil, gravel margins, occasional mow strips
Species found here
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Queen Anne's Lace
Daucus carota
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
Common St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
American Elm
Ulmus americana
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Virginia Rose
Rosa virginiana
Sweet Fern
Comptonia peregrina
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Common Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Wetland
15 species documented
About this habitat
Seasonally or permanently saturated ground supporting specialized moisture-tolerant plants including sedges, rushes, cattails, and large ferns. Critical habitat for amphibians and migratory birds.
Walking directions
Follow the trail from the back of Lower School dormitory northwest toward the seasonal drainage area. The low-lying area west of the baseball fields remains saturated through June. Rubber boots recommended in spring.
Soft, saturated ground; standing water in spring
Species found here
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
Marsh Marigold
Caltha palustris
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Pond Edge
9 species documented
About this habitat
The margins of Chestnut Hill Pond and smaller water bodies support aquatic-edge specialists including cattails, pickerelweed, and moisture-loving ferns. Best accessed in summer when water levels are lower.
Walking directions
Take Chestnut Street west from campus for approximately 0.6km to reach Chestnut Hill Pond. The pond's northeast shore is accessible from the road margin. Always stay on publicly accessible land.
Muddy banks, emergent vegetation, steep in places
Species found here
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Black Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica
Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Lawn Adjacent
3 species documented
About this habitat
The mown and semi-mown margins of athletic fields and maintained lawns harbor disturbance-adapted plants — clovers, plantains, and early-successional wildflowers that tolerate periodic cutting.
Walking directions
The margins of all athletic fields and the main quad are lawn-adjacent habitat. Particularly rich in spring when dandelions and early wildflowers bloom before mowing resumes.
Flat to gently sloped, mown grass with weedy margins
Rocky Outcrop
8 species documented
About this habitat
Exposed bedrock outcrops of Milford Pink Granite support a specialized community of lichens, mosses, and stress-tolerant plants adapted to shallow, well-drained soils and high light conditions.
Walking directions
Several granite outcrops are visible along the ridge line northeast of the main campus, accessible via the cross-country trail that begins behind the science building. The largest outcrop is approximately 0.4km from the trailhead.
Exposed rock, thin soil pockets, steep in places
Species found here
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus
Round-lobed Hepatica
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa
Wild Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Trailing Arbutus
Epigaea repens
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Rock Polypody
Polypodium virginianum
Meadow
16 species documented
About this habitat
Open sunny areas with tall grasses and forbs — goldenrods, asters, milkweeds, and other late-summer bloomers. Important habitat for pollinators and provides the best collecting from July through October.
Walking directions
The open area north of the school farm, accessible via the gravel path past the horse barn, supports a semi-managed meadow community. Best visited in August and September at peak bloom.
Open, varied grass and forb height, may be brushy at margins
Species found here
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Sweet Joe-Pye Weed
Eutrochium purpureum
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Queen Anne's Lace
Daucus carota
Blue Vervain
Verbena hastata
Common St. John's Wort
Hypericum perforatum
New England Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa
Staghorn Sumac
Rhus typhina
Virginia Rose
Rosa virginiana
Hay-scented Fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Streambank
18 species documented
About this habitat
The banks of seasonal and perennial streams support moisture-loving plants including large ferns, cardinal flowers, and various sedges. Stream corridors also act as movement routes for wildlife.
Walking directions
Follow the drainage channel south of the main athletic complex. The intermittent stream flows year-round in the lower section where it crosses under Marlboro Road. The streambank habitat is richest in spring and early summer.
Sloped, often undercut banks; wet in spring; watch footing
Species found here
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Marsh Marigold
Caltha palustris
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Sweet Pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia
White Turtlehead
Chelone glabra
Winterberry Holly
Ilex verticillata
Paper Birch
Betula papyrifera
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
American Elm
Ulmus americana
Northern Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Northern Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum