Planting of Atlantic White Cedar at Child’s River Restoration

On June 22nd, a quotidian summer day, in collaboration with Essex Horticulture and Interfluve, the Living Observatory visited the restoration project at Childs River in Falmouth, MA. Forty Atlantic White Cedars (Chamaecyparis thyoides) were planted to kick off a new project. Specifically, the project aims to test the viability of planting two year old Atlantic White Cedar (AWC) at wetland restoration projects on retired cranberry farms in Massachusetts. Over the next five years, these trees’ health, growth and overall success will be assessed. Though the heat and microtopography were worthy adversaries, Glorianna and Zane of Living Observatory along with Nick Navarro of Essex Horticulture had all 40 Cedar saplings planted within two hours, in two portions of Farley’s bog, a section of the site which showed particular promise.

Figure 1: One of the lighter AWC saplings which were planted. Photo by Zane Elias, 2021.

Figure 1: One of the lighter AWC saplings which were planted. Photo by Zane Elias, 2021.

The AWC is intriguing, with a long varied history. The aromatic tree, with its spire-like crown and straight trunk, thrives in wet, acidic, and peaty soils (1.) The tree itself provides ecological benefits, reinforcing soils through deep root systems while also acting as the host plant for the Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly (2.) Though slow growing, once fully grown the tree provides a beautiful canopy shade. Sadly, due to the AWC’s rot resistant, sturdy wood, it has been unsustainably farmed throughout history. Moreover, its habitat is quite specific: “Atlantic white-cedar grows in a narrow coastal belt 80 to 210 km (50 to 130 miles) wide from southern Maine to northern Florida and west to southern Mississippi” (3.) Moreover, wetlands generally face a host of environmental pressures and degradation from development (4.) Ultimately, these pressures threaten the AWC’s ecotype. Hence, the reintroduction of them through LO’s restoration of wetlands in Massachusetts is critical as they are true cornerstones of a wetland ecosystems’ unique complexity.

Figure 2: A more mature AWC. Photo by Glorianna Davenport.

Figure 2: A more mature AWC. Photo by Glorianna Davenport.

If the 40 cedars planted show overall success in Child’s River, there are a variety of novel insights and promising opportunities to be had. One of those opportunities is realizing more cost effective restoration. Often, the practice of transplanting three to four year old trees in wetlands with developed soil structures can pose economic hurdles for restoration practitioners. Utilizing the transportable saplings (seen fig. 1) allows planters to move through sites carrying saplings with them, promoting easier planting. This is opposed to rerouting to a central container of heavy, static trees (see fig, 2). Effectively this saves time, energy, and money on the planting side.

Further, for nurseries that work with AWC — such as LO’s Native Plant Nursery — growing larger trees for three to four years requires more protection through winter and larger pots, all costly practices and materials. If successful, the practice of earlier planting can reduce speculation in relation to supply and demand. It is challenging for nurseries to accurately forecast the potential demand of AWC on a three to four year scale versus a two year scale. Overall, if the project at Child’s River is successful, the intertwined, collaborative nature of work which restoration demands becomes all the more accessible and feasible.