October 18, 1990 - Summery Dividend on an Ocean BeachOctober 18, 1990 *'The Suffolk Times C141
Summery Dividend on an Ocean'Beach
By Paul Stoutenburgh I
How could we be blessed with such
beautiful weather while those to the
south of us fared so miserably from the
fringe of a hurricane? So it was Sunday
when we wallowed in "summer
weather" as Lili, downgraded to a
tropical storm, veered off and dissolved
at sea. Everywhere you looked people
were taking advantage of the unusual
weather; boating, hiking, swimming,
driving, you name it, it was being done
out -of -doors here on the East End. I had
made a commitment to speak but as
soon as that was over we packed a lunch
and headed for the ocean beach. We, too,
would soak up the last of summer with
a hike along the South Shore's most at-
tractive asset.
Ocean beaches became an integral part
of my life for the six years I was a
Ranger - Naturalist for the National Park
Service at Fire Island. Once addicted to
an ocean beach, one has to return again
and again.
The sand of our outer beach is made
up mostly of quartz but when the wind
or water moves it at a particular rate and
angle we see the black sand of
magnetite and the reddish sand of garnet.
Perhaps many of you have seen these
great splotches of colored sand along the
side of a dune or at the water's edge,
often in interesting rippled patterns. It's
nature's way of sorting the light quartz
sand from the heavier garnet and
magnetite. Whether it be wind or water
that floats the lighter quartz away and
leaves the heavier material behind, it all
comes out the same, colored sand.
Grass Gone to Seed
And, of course, we couldn't have a
beach to enjoy at all if it weren't for the
dune grass that now stands with its long
seed heads awaiting winter's gales to
distribute the seed amongst the dunes.
Most will never have a chance to put
their roots deep into the sand in search
of moisture but some will; those that
do will sprout to start the holding
power of catching windblown sand and
in time create a dune. Should this seed
displacement fail, long rhizomes with
roots will spread out from the parent
plant and then, every eight or 10 inches,
new plants will sprout up to do their
part in holding the moving sands. These
strings of dune sprouts are easily recog-
nized at this time of the year.
Besides dune grass (ammophila) there
are others that are pitching in to stabi-
lize the moving sands. Rosa rugosa,
dusty miller, sea rocket and others all do
ocuu on
Nature
their share. Look closely and you'll see
prostrate on the sand a plant most peo-
ple pass over and never see — sea
spurge. It cannot tolerate the salt spray
and harsh wind -driven sands as the dune
grass can and so it hugs the sand and
misses the stinging adverse conditions
this area is so well noted for. Yet, it
too, with its deep roots, helps to pre-
vent the sands from being blown away.
Like so many good people in this world
of ours, it does its part but is seldom
recognized for it.
A more colorful and much more visi-
ble plant at this time of the year is sea-
side goldenrod. We all know goldenrod
but like many of nature's wonders it
comes in such a variety of shapes and
forms it is difficult to recognize any
particular one. Just as we have
goldenrods that thrive in open fields and
others in shaded woodlands so we have
the seaside goldenrod that outshines all
others in its sandy home by the sea.
Whether it's the Sound on the North
Shore or the bays or the ocean beach in
the fall you can be sure to see this big,
bold goldenrod defying the salt spray
and the stinging sands of its beach
environment and playing host to our
beautiful Monarch butterflies as they
pass through on their fall migration.
Nature's Wonderful World
Nature has provided a plant, a bird, an
insect, or an animal for every corner of
its wonderful world and seaside golden-
rod was by our side all along our ocean
walk. Sitting on the beach and eating
our lunch we watched the surfers having
a big day. Hurricane Lili had sent a
ripple of giant waves announcing its
passing offshore and the surfers had read
the signs and gathered to take advantage
of their thunder.
All along our South Shore is an off-
shore bar formed by the currents that
move along it. It's typical of all
beaches along our eastern seaboard and
elsewhere. It's this submerged bar that
claimed the sailing ships of years ago
and spawned the life- saving service
along our beaches that saved so many
lives in those early days of shipping.
As power took over and better
navigation came into practice their
services were no longer needed but from
it emerged what is now called the
United States Coast Guard.
Elbow El ast
Serving Dinner 7 days from 4 -10 p.m.
Enjoy Cliff's famous marinated steaks and fine seafood
that you've experienced at The Elbow Room,
Cliff's Rendezvous and Elbow Too.
Full - service bar
Kenny's Road (off the North Road), Southold
765 -1203
MIGRATING MONARCH BUTTERFLY —The
Photo Paul
bestyplace to Stoutenburgh
see
these butterflies in the fall is along one of our ocean beaches. They feed
and rest on the rugged seaside goldenrod.
It was this bar that was taking the
brunt of the waves now. Great columns
of spray burst into the air as they
crashed over the bar, only to roll on for
the joy of the waiting surfers. Then on
the shore they dissipated. It is this bar-
rier beach that takes the brunt of the
waves from the ocean and protects the
mainland. We watched and became
mesmerized by the moving sea in all its
beautifully spent power.
I'm sure many will remember their
free day of summer as we will. It was as
if Nature was repaying us for one of the
poorer days gone by. Some might say
we deserved it. Barbara and I thought we
were especially lucky. Lucky to be out
here where there are still great vistas and
great beaches to be walked. Lucky to be
alive and to have the opportunity to
grasp this wonder and sit and ponder. It
was a day that made us think what was
important in our lives. Try a beach
walk. It has the power to revitalize
one's soul. It puts things in their proper
perspective.
1Q76 TidwOwls Companion
„um n for & rBirder
North Road, Southold, 765 -5872
Open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Gifts • Binoculars a Books • Seed • Feeders • Houses