Trail Moments: A Petal Pedal—Identifying Plants on the Path
When we tell people we’re hosting a “petal pedal,” we often hear in response, “A what?” For us, a petal pedal is a way of combining our love of cycling on rail-trails with botanizing. Cycling offers the opportunity to access plant populations quickly and cycle through different habitats along a trail.
A recent petal pedal that we offered for free through the New York Flora Association began at end of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Kingston, New York. The 21-mile route passes through wooded swamps, by 19th-century limestone mine shafts and eventually over a 150-foot-high trestle spanning the Rondout Creek in Rosendale. The trail is packed gravel and does not have many cross-streets, so the ride is relaxed and easy to navigate.
The mid-September ride was our fifth petal pedal, and 10 plant enthusiasts signed up, ranging from expert to novice in botanical expertise. The sharing of plant identification knowledge is a huge part of the experience, so cyclists not only carry water and snacks but also a loupe or hand lens to see the small characteristics of plants along the way.
An Outdoor Classroom for Botany and History
The late summer flora included asters, goldenrods, grasses and even interesting fungi! At the start of the trail, we gathered around a northern population of a native cactus, the eastern prickly pear (Opuntia cespitosa), which we were lucky to find in fruit. The cactus’ spring flowers are showy and yellow; they ripen to red, fleshy fruits called “tunas” that are eaten by many bird species and rabbits.
On a warm day, like the one in September when we did our ride, the approach to the historical limestone mines is easily noticeable by the cold air currents blowing from the mine shafts. The drop in temperature and the view down into what looks like big caves is exciting. There are many species of ferns growing along the limestone rock faces. There are other dramatic plants as well, such as doll’s-eyes (Actaea pachypoda), which have small white flowers that mature into distinctive, hard-to-miss fruits.
In addition to opportunities for identifying plants on the path, the route boasts many interpretive signs and passes by the original kilns where Rosendale natural cement was produced from the early 1800s and into the early 20th century. The former industry supplied cement all over the United States, and its historical structures are still in good condition.
A picnic lunch in the town of Rosendale included a side trip to the local farmers market and then a long haul back up the hill to cross the 940-foot-long trestle.
Flora, Fun and Fellowship
Riding back to the start, we noticed even more plants that we must have whizzed by on the way south. “Loved the ride” seemed to be the sentiment of the day!
If you’re out riding on your own without a botanist to point out interesting plants, there are many apps that can help with plant identification all over the United States and even worldwide. Seek by iNaturalist, Pl@ntNet and Go Botany (for New England) are worth checking out.
Leading petal pedals has enabled us to keep active cycling, as we usually scout out a bike route for plants, as well as amenities, prior to leading a ride. We have met many people by sharing our plant knowledge and have discovered other plant people who like to cycle as well. And we try not to brake too suddenly if a plant pops into view along a trail!
This article is part of Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Trail Moments initiative—to elevate new and tried-and-true trail voices around the country, and how trails impact the lives of Americans. Learn more at trailmoments.org and use #TrailMoments on social media to share your story.
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