CARPENTER'S FALLS -- 'Located in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New
York, Carpenter Falls is a wonderful study in differential weathering. The
cataract is one of several beautiful waterfalls that can be found along
Bear Swamp creek as it journeys to Skaneateles Lake. The creek flows over
a shelf of Tully Limestone before plummeting straight down for 85 feet (26
m) -- this limestone is more resilient than the underlying shale.
Fast-flowing water, combined with the action of ice, has created a large
recess behind the falls. Eventually, the limestone shelf will break under
its own weight, causing the falls to “walk” back upstream.
Of interest to note is the fact that the 13th President of the United
State, Millard Fillmore, may have enjoyed the beautiful serenity of this
place. He was born only a few miles down the road from Carpenter Falls.'
Source: EPOD webpage
And thanks to Amy Samuels, Watershed Educator at
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County for sending us the
following info:
Pipewort is also known as Indian Pipe,
Monotropa uniflora.
"The Indian pipe is strange not only in appearance, but also in
lifestyle.
Botanists at first thought it was a parasite, feeding directly off the
roots of other plants. But Indian pipes own thick, brittle cluster of
roots never touches those of other plants. Then scientists decided it was
a saprophyte (from the Greek, rotten plant), living chiefly on the
decaying parts of other plants, particularly trees. However, botanists now
believe the plant is an epiparasitea parasite that forms a relationship
with another parasite to obtain its nutrients. Its roots employ certain
mycorrhizal fungi in the soil to obtain food from live roots of green
plants such as such as trees. The fungus connects the Indian pipe with the
host roots by means of the filaments." http://www.acorn-online.com/hedge/pipe.htm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County
220 Herald Place, 2nd
Floor
Syracuse, NY 13202
315 424-9485 X233
315 424-7056 fax
www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga
www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/homeasyst/index.htm
www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/watersheds/skanhome.htm
www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga/fingerlakeslan/default.htm
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