470 ACRES OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES
Pyramid Hill's beautiful setting of lakes, meadows, forests, hiking trails, and creeks is scattered across over 300 acres of rolling hills.
There is no shortage of nature to explore here at the Park! In recent years, Pyramid Hill has become increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the natural elements and cherishing what makes us unique. We are doing all we can to learn more about the native plants and species in our area in need of protection and how we can implement sustainability efforts into daily Park operations.
Our present landscape has been formed by both cultural and natural processes. Still in the process of change, the Park is set in an oak-hickory forest with over 206 species of plants in 58 families. In recent years, the woodland area has been expanded through new maintenance that limits lawn areas and prioritizes the regrowth of the dynamic nature of our forests.
Why increase forest areas?
Forested areas are one of the best ways to mitigate climate change. Forests sequester carbon and clean the air, provide homes and food to many species, and cast shade that cools us and the atmosphere. We are proud to have worked with the forces of nature to increase our forest areas at Pyramid Hill by over 20% in the last 10 years, with plans to continue.
Key tree and shrub species of our oak-hickory forest include:
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Red oak
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Black oak
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Scarlet oak
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White oak
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Chestnut oak
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Pignut hickory
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Bitternut hickory
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Shagbark hickory
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Flowing dogwood
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Hawthorn
We also have a few large areas of younger sugar maple, walnut and buckeye trees.
The woods of Pyramid Hill can be enjoyed on our woodland trail system, as well as by just being in the Park along the woodland edges. See our park map to plan your next visit to maximize your nature experience!
Another way we have increased the native habitat of our Park is by the creation of the Native Plant Garden. This beautiful garden sits in the Central Valley of our Park, nestled alongside a creek and next to the Pioneer House. It is a sanctuary for indigenous plants, as well as a habitat for native insects, birds, fish, and mammals. The symbiotic relationship between flora and fauna contributes to a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Plants like milkweed and spicebush are host species to native insects like monarch butterflies and the spicebush swallowtail butterfly, adding to the Park’s biodiversity..
Through cultivation of the Native Plant Garden, we are hoping to bring awareness to our local plants and the importance of biodiversity in the health of our shared ecosystem.
The Native Plant Garden is accessible from the Ancient Sculpture Museum parking lot via A Bonny Bridge at Tefend Crossing, designed and created by artist Bruce Olsen. More information on this functional art piece can be found here.
The Park also features several other managed garden landscapes. They include
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The Walled Garden
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The Ancient Sculpture Museum Courtyard
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The Pavilion Garden
These gardens contain many additional plant species selected by their designers to create beautiful landscapes that are always worth a stop during your visit to Pyramid Hill.