“Life’s a Beech” Traditional Geocache

This geocache is placed in partnership between The Morris County Park Commission, (MCPC) and The Northern New Jersey Cachers, (NNJC). This geocache is part of the Giralda Farms Preserve geocaching program, an educational geotrail that features beautiful specimen trees throughout the preserve. The Morris County Park Commission added this historic Geraldine R. Dodge estate to the Loantaka Brook Reservation in 2015.

“Life’s a Beech Cache"

This cache marks the location of a large American Beech tree (Fagus grandifolia). Note the beautiful, smooth gray bark and the way its base resembles an elephant’s foot. Unfortunately, the smooth bark is often carved into by careless individuals. This can injure and even kill the tree as it allows fungi, insects, and pathogens to enter, though the damage may not be easy to see for many years. The tasty nuts of this tree are an important food source for numerous animals and the Lenape Indians prized them as well. The nuts were once a favorite food of the now extinct passenger pigeon, and the loss of beech forests to farming and development were a key factor in their decline.

Giralda Farms History

Giralda Farms was preserved in December 2014 when Morris County Park Commission, Chatham Township, the Open Space Institute and others banded together to raise more than $14 million to acquire the 136 acre property.

Once a part of the famous Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge estate, Giralda Farms Preserve consists of footpaths through maintained fields and forested areas and a network of streams and wetlands. Because the land is within the watershed of the federally protected Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, its protection also benefits water quality and wildlife, including more than 244 species of birds.

Dodge was the youngest child of William Avery Rockefeller, who co-founded the Standard Oil Co. When Mrs. Dodge lived there, the estate had bridal paths, specimen trees and gardens as well as a kennel for her beloved dogs. The nearby St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare enter was founded by Mrs. Dodge.

MCPC’s geocaching guidelines

This geocache is located on Morris County Park Commission land. All geocachers must adhere to MCPC rules and regulations while in this area, must stay on authorized trails and “leave no trace” or negative impact on habitat. This cache has been placed in accordance with the MCPC’s geocaching guidelines and will not require “bushwhacking” to access. Please help us to protect these beautiful natural areas! Caches may only be accessed between dawn and dusk. To view the MCPC rules and regulations on geocaching, download a map of this area, check the hunting schedule or get more information about our parks, please visit www.morrisparks.net . Rules and regulations for all sites can be found on site maps and on the Park Police link at www.morrisparks.net.