Autumn creeps on Cheesequake State Park

In October 2019, I visited Cheesequake State Park in Matawan/Old Bridge, NJ, which is notable because it lies in the transition zone between two different ecosystems, and harbors organisms that are native to both south and north New Jersey.

Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)

One of the more interesting things I noticed was that the carpets of invasive Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass) that covered some of the forest floor had turned golden in color, and made the scenery seem quite magical and surreal.

Microstegium vimineum (Japanese stiltgrass)

But perhaps the highlight of the place for me was the Crabbing Bridge, a long boardwalk that passed over the marshlands in the park and was surrounded by tall grasses.

Crabbing Bridge on Sept, 2018

Birds flew and waded in the grasses that stretched into the distance.

Sporobolus pumilus  (saltmeadow cordgrass)

Although they were too far for me to make an ID easily, at least some of them were Sporobolus pumilus  (saltmeadow cordgrass), which was previously named Spartina patens.

Sporobolus pumilus  (saltmeadow cordgrass)

Also present in the park was the invasive Phragmites australis, which is one of the more ubiquitous grasses in the state, and which I will be discussing in a separate future post.

Phragmites australis