Shreve Branch

Shreve Branch is the strip of cedar forest that slices through the northern part of Bass River State Forest. It extends eastward, merging with the pygmy pines.

Shreve Branch July afternoon

Mid-day cedar forest

Canals face drought

The Shreve Branch Teacup

Swamp and pond water takes on a black-tea resemblance, which is distributed via the Shreve Branch Teacup. This is what the swamps look like when there is no drought in the woodland.

What Shreve canals would look like with water

Cedar forests love to drink black tea

Shreve Branch teacup filled with black tea

Shreve Corridor

Ghost cedar forest during July early-afternoon

Shreve Branch corridor

Early July

The corridor of Shreve Branch contains wetland Pitch Pine, but much of it is a ghost forest. After what was most likely a fire, the cedars are dead, but the brush grows back uniformly.

Out of the Cedars

Shreve Oak peak summer foliage

Swamp dam and water foam

Upland trail near Shreve

During early July, the Pine Barrens' foliage peaks with clean, lush green leaves. Inside the swamp, a dam blocks the passage of water, causing it to produce foam. The dam is made of sphagnum moss, with ferns and foliage surrounding it. In the uplands of Shreve Branch, greenbriers, inkberries, blueberries (high-bush), and huckleberries are found along with pitch and scrub oak.

Healthy Forest, Mixed Cedar/Hardwood

Canal with little water

Meadow near Shreve Branch

Lane runs through mixed cedar and hardwood

The healthy cedar forest's canal begins to dry up. A meadow clearing near Shreve Branch is replenishing with new trees and vegetation.