| Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area Preserve | |
|---|---|
 Folly Mills Fen, 2006 | |
   | |
| Location | Augusta County,Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°05′59″N79°08′00″W / 38.0998°N 79.1334°W /38.0998; -79.1334[1] |
| Area | 28 acres (11 ha) |
| Owner | Private |
Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area Preserve is aNatural Area Preserve located inAugusta County,Virginia. The preserve was dedicated in 1998, and was the first privately owned Natural Area Preserve to be dedicated in the state.[2]
The 28-acre (11 ha) preserve contains aShenandoah Valleyfen community; the property is located in thefloodplain ofFolly Mills Creek, a tributary ofChristians Creek.[3] The fen is fed byartesian springs from anaquifer in the region'slimestone bedrock; this fosters the development of numerous rare and unusual plants. Suchwetlands were once more common in the Shenandoah Valley, but few remain. The habitat contains mainlysedges,cattails, and variousshrubs. Among the rare species are bog buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), pussywillow (Salix discolor), queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra), shiningladies' tresses (Spiranthes lucida), prairiesedge (Carex prairea), and prairie loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora).[2][4]
The preserve is privately owned, and public access is restricted. Visitors must make arrangements with the property's owners and a state-employed land steward prior to visiting.[2]
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