Discover Native New York Plants In Brookside Wander

There’s no shortage of stunning scenery to explore on an Upstate New York vacation. Whether exploring a local hiking trail on a guided outing or discovering nearby waterfalls, there are plenty of ways to surround yourself with Mother Nature’s beauty. One of the things that makes this area so special is the abundance of plants native to New York. Staying at Emerson Resort & Spa means you don’t have to go far to catch a glimpse of this stunning flora.

What Upstate New York Nature Can You See?

Our Catskills resort is home to Brookside Wander, a unique stream buffer native planted area established in partnership with the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative. This group works to help streamside landowners fortify their stream banks with native plants. Restoring these plants helps reduce flooding and erosion, improve water quality, and support a diverse ecosystem. The plants along Brookside Wander also attract a wide range of fauna, including pollinators like bees and birds such as the yellow warbler and great blue heron.

The organization worked with our resort to plant native plants in a specific area of a waterway here to use as a demonstration area. Brookside Wander has become a living laboratory and teaching zone that demonstrates the importance of restoring native flora along streams and creeks while combatting invasive species.

There are two ways to explore the area: a guided nature walk or a self-guided outing. If you are exploring on your own, stop by the front desk and ask for a Guide to the Native Plants of Brookside Wander booklet. Several informational panels are also located throughout the streamside area.

Some of the plants you can see include:

• Black Chokeberry: The berries can be found in everything from wine to tinctures to ice cream.
• Red Osier Dogwood: The Lenape used the inner bark of this tree as a dye, mixing it with minerals and other plants.
• Staghorn Sumac: Beekeepers can use the dried bobs as fuel for their smokers, and the fruit can be collected and processed into pink “lemonade.”
• White Meadowsweet: Lenape women drank tea made from its leaves and flowers to help ease childbirth, and early settlers used the inner bark as an aspirin substitute.
• River Birch: Native Americans created a sweetener similar to maple syrup by boiling the tree’s sap, and the inner bark can serve as survival food.

Reconnect with Nature on a Catskills Vacation

Discovering native New York plants along Brookside Wander is only one way to enjoy picturesque views at Emerson Resort & Spa. Our on-site restaurant, The Catamount, offers diners views of the famed Esopus Creek. Outside The Shops at Emerson is a peaceful trail that loops through evergreens and our fields.

Browse our lodging options to start planning your relaxing getaway to our Upstate New York spa resort  No matter which style you choose, you’ll have a well-appointed space to call home. Call 845-688-2828, option 0, to learn more about our accommodations and how to save on your stay.