On either side of you lies the freshwater marsh. The plant growing profusely in large stands along the edge of the marsh is the purple loosestrife which has a spike of purple flowers during the summer. As pretty as this plant is, unfortunately it is an invasive European plant the often crowds out native species that are valuable to wildlife. The swamp loosestrife, which does not grow as vigorously here, is a native plant that is being crowded out by the alien purple loosestrife. Introducing exotic species to foreign areas can often lead to disastrous results for native species.
Please follow the arrows between the marsh and the orchards back to the parking area. Along the way, watch closely for birds, plants and animals.