OLD CHURCH ROAD CONSERVATION AREA

Old Church Road, Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut

Directions:

US 1 to Old Church Road (at YWCA). Turn onto Old Church Road. Property on right immediately after making turn. Property runs along US 1 to Greenwich High School property.

History:

Just north of Putnam Cottage is the Conservation Area. 

There is an historical plaque on a large rock here:

"This marks the spot where on February 26, 1779 General Israel Putnam, cut off from his soldiers and pursued by British cavalry, galloped down this rocky steep and escaped, daring to lead where not one of many hundred foes dared to follow."

"Putnam Hill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Greenwich, Connecticut.  A. D. 1900."

And just beyond the rock are the steps.  The steps have been carved out of a large rock outcrop and are fairly steep.  Also the steps are rather close together  this must have been hard on Putnam's horse. 

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick Cooney

*  = plant blooming on date of field trip, 10/19/2005

Trees:
Acer platanoides (Norway maple)
Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven)
Carya cordiformis (bitternut hickory)?
Fagus sp. (beech)
Fraxinus americana (white ash)
Prunus sp. (cherry)
Ulmus rubra (slippery elm)

Shrubs:
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)

Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Artemisia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Aster cordifolius (heart-leaved aster)       *
Aster divaricatus (white wood aster)        *  
Commelina communis (Asiatic dayflower)      *
Lepidium virginicum (poor man's pepper)     *
Oxalis sp. (yellow wood sorrel)      *
Plantago lanceolata (English plantain)
Plantago major (common plantain)
Polygonum aviculare (doorweed)      *
Polygonum cespitosum (cespitose smartweed)      *
Potentilla sp. (cinquefoil)
Rumex obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock)
Solanum carolinense (horse nettle)
Sonchus oleraceus (common sow thistle)
Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion)