© DCR-DNH, Irvine Wilson

Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area Preserve

Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area Preserve is a 29-acre property containing an outstanding example of a Shenandoah Valley fen community. The preserve is located in the floodplain of Folly Mills Creek, a tributary of the Shenandoah River. A fen is a special type of wetland with surface water originating from artesian springs and groundwater seepage at the base of a hill. This particular wetland is fed by artesian springs from an aquifer in the fractured limestone bedrock of the region. Here, calcareous or circumneutral groundwater fosters the establishment of an interesting plant community with several rare and unusual plants. These types of wetlands were once more common in the Shenandoah Valley, but most of the examples have been lost through drainage and conversion to other land uses. The vegetation is dominated by sedges and other herbaceous plants, cattails, and scattered shrubs. Rare species such as bog buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), pussy willow, queen-of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra), shining ladies' tresses (Spiranthes lucida), prairie sedge (Carex prairea) and prairie loosestrife (Lysimachia quadriflora) can be found here.

This preserve is owned by Elizabeth Mueller of Augusta County. Ms. Mueller and her late husband Dr. Robert Mueller, were the first private landowners in Virginia to dedicate their private property as a Virginia Natural Area Preserve in 1998.

VISITATION:
This privately owned preserve has no public access facilities and is not open to the public. Guided field trips to the preserve may be arranged by CONTACT:ing DCR.