In this newest project, we will install native woodland plants along the shady upper slopes of the Dell above Violet Path. The design will highlight woodland spring ephemeral species such as Sanguinaria canadensis, whose short-lived and delicate blooms coincide with the breeding season of the Cemetery’s resident Spotted Salamander population at the vernal pool below. As the summer season progresses, unfurling ferns, groundcovers, and leafy shrubs will provide a layering of vegetation to increase habitat for birds, insects, and mammals. These will include Lindera benzoin – one of two host plants to the Spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) caterpillars that have been found in nearby stands of Sassafras albidum. Additionally, the design will consider erosion control strategies and maintenance practices that will improve growing conditions for the new plantings.