Download Spring 2016 - Herb Society of America

Spring2016
WelcometothelatestGreenBridgesnewsletter.Asyoumayhaveheard,wehave
anewlogoandwehopeyouallagreethatitiseye-catchingandwillserveuswell
asweforgeaheadpromotingourprogram.WewillbemailingoutGreenBridges
signstoqualifiedapplicantssoon.Ifyouhaveacertifiedgardenandhavenot
gottenasign,[email protected]
wonderfultohavethesesignssowecanletthepublicknowaboutourprogram.
NOTABLENATIVE2016–Pycnanthemum
PycnanthemumpilosummountainmintPhoto:KarenO'Brien
WEBINARONTHENOTABLENATIVE
OnJanuray19,membersofHSAweretreatedtoanoutstandingintroductiontotheNotable
Native,Pycnanthemumspp.PresentedbyKathySchlosser,thiswebinarrecountednotonly
the attributes of this worthy native herb, but also gave background information on the
historyoftheNativeHerbConservationCommitteeaswellastheNotableNativeprogram.
Thanks,Kathy,forajobwelldone.Ifyoumissedthewebinar,itwillbepostedsoononthe
websitesoyoucanaccessit.
EARLYSIGNSOFSPRING–Canyouidentifytheseplants?
Thoughit'scoldandwindyoutrightnow(atleastinmypartofthecountry!),springisreally
rightaroundthecorner.Soontherewillbebudsswellingandgreenbitspokingtheirheads
out.Canyouidentifytheseearlyspringnatives?
A Photo:KarenO'Brien
CPhoto:KarenO'Brien
B Photo:DebraKnapke
DPhoto:DebraKnapke
EPhoto:KarenO'Brien
ANSWERS
WEHAVEANEWCHAIRFORGREENBRIDGES!
IampleasedtoannouncethatwehaveanewchairoftheGreenBridgesprogram.DebbieBoutelier,
PastPresidentandChairoftheNominatingCommittee,hassteppeduptocontinueherworkwith
HSA and add momentum to our noteworthy GreenBridges program. She has graciously agreed to
begin immediately as chair, and I hope you will all assist her as she jumps into the position. She
has a newly certified GreenBridges garden and looks forward to interfacing with all NHCC and GB
members.Thankssomuch,Debbie–andgladtohaveyouonboard!
IwanttotakeamomenttothankSusanBetz,previousChairofGreenBridges,asshemovesonto
new projects. She is still a member and eager as ever to teach others about the safe passage of
plantsandpollinators.ShepresentedawebinarforHSAinNovemberandifyoumissedit,youcan
access it now by going to theHSA website Members Only section. Thanks, Susan, for all your
efforts and enthusiasm. The Botany and Horticulture Chair oversees several committees, which
takes a lot of time and coordination. Currently, we really need a chair for the Native Herb
Conservation Committee. I am hoping that someone will step forward to chair the NHCC. If you
know of anyone who would be a likely candidate, please let me know and I will contact them.As
always, if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I
[email protected].
Thanks,
KarenO'Brien
HEPATICA:PETTICOATSANDFUR:DRESSEDFORSPRING
BySusanBetz
Hepaticasymbolizesconfidenceinthelanguageofflowers.Dressedandreadytobloom,hepatica
eagerlyawaitsthefirstraysofwarmsunshine.Thefirstflowerofspringboldlypokesherway
throughdeadleavesandlingeringsnow.
Hepaticaisaquirkyplantwithacharmingandself-deprecatingdisposition.Itsdelicateblue,pinkor
whiteflowersareactuallysepalsthatlooklikepetals.“Iwillteachtheworldthatbractsarejustas
goodtowraparoundflower-budsassepalsandthatsepalsmaybejustasbeautifulaspetals.
SincemypetticoatisprettyenoughforadresswhyshouldInotwearitthus?”—TheChild’sOwn
Book OfWildFlowers
Aperennialnativeherb,hepaticathrivesinmoist
woods beneath oak, beech, and maple trees
across Northeastern regions of United States.
Theplant’sdistinctiveleatheryleaveshavethree
rounded lobes marbled with a purplish hue.
Historically, the plant was used medicinally for
liverproblems.Theuseandshapeoftheleaves
led to the plant’s abundant nicknames. Liverleaf, Round Leaf Hepatica, Liverwort, RoundlobedorKidneyLiver-leafandSquirrelCup.
It is associated with some fun plant lore too.
Hepatica was once thought to remove freckles
and cure crossed eyes or a twisted mouth.
NativeAmericanwomenmadelovecharmsfrom
Anemoneamericanahepatic aflowerPhoto:SusanBetz
theplant“tobewitchmenandmakethemcrazy
by affecting their hearts.”– Native American
Ethnobotany. Long ago, hepatica was a familiar and popular plant with children in and out of the
classroom.Wildflowerssuchashepatica,arbutus,andvioletsgrowingsocloseathandandreadily
availablewereusedasseasonalnaturestudysubjects.
After the plant finishes blooming, new leaves
appear and grow throughout summer.
Manufacturing and storing up food in the roots
provide hepatica the strength and resources to
spring into action during the first cool days of
next spring. The leaves and furry stems also
provide warmth for emerging flower buds in early
spring and hinder ants who try to sneak in and
steal flower nectar. However, after thousands of
years of living together within the same natural
community, the ants and hepatica plants
became more friendly. They developed a
symbioticrelationshipessentialandbeneficialto
bothofthepartiesinvolved.
Anemoneamericanahepatic aleafPhoto:SusanBetz
Littlelessonsincooperation!Antsprizehepatica
seeds as tasty treats. They harvest and carry
them back to their nests, eat the seed’s sweet
outer shell, and then help plant them by
discarding them in the soil beneath the ground.
Nowthat’swhatIcallcommunityspirit!Antsand
plants cultivating balanced friendly relationships
support the workings of the whole ecological
system.
Anemoneamericanahepatic abudPhoto:SusanBetz
Hepatica was brought into cultivation in North
Americangardensduringtheeighteenthcentury.
It is still a favorite with with rock gardeners
looking for early blooming shade plants. It is a
beautiful perennial planted under hardwood trees
and woodland settings. Wild ginger, bloodroot,
trillium, columbine, snowdrops, and spring
beauties all make great garden companions for
hepaticas.
References:
•ComstockAnnaB.Handb ookofNatureStudy.ComstockPub lishingCompany:Ithaca,1919Page
496
•Moerman,DanielE.NativeAmericanEthnob otany,Timb erPress:Portland,1998.page260
PLANNINGANATIVEGARDEN ForestfloorPhoto:KarenO'Brien
byKarenO'Brien
Mythoughthadbeentowriteanarticleonpropagatingnativeplants.Ihadmoderatesuccesswith
some of these plants. Mountain mint, spicebush, milkweed, beebalm, coneflower, to name a few,
wereallsuccessesinmyattemptto“gonative.”Ialsoachievedgoodgerninationwithanumberof
prairieplants,suchascupplantandcompassplant.But,Irecentlyacquiredabook,Handbook of
Wild Flower Cultivation, written in conjunction with the New England Wildflower Society, which
causedmetostepbackandre-examinemyefforts.
Inthisbook,theauthorssuggestthattherearetwowaystogoaboutcreatinganativegarden.The
first, which is probably what most of us do, is to add native plants to an existing garden, using
plantsfrommanydifferentpartsofourcountry.Plantsfromthemidwest,forexample,woulddojust
fine in many yards, using existing soil conditions that might mimic their native territory. Normally,
whenahouseisbuilt,thesurroundingareaisdisturbed,andmosttimes,weendupwithsoilthat
islackinginorganicmatteroranynutrientsandsoilorganismsthatarenecessarytosustainplant
life. So we then start by amending the soil, adding organic matter, to achieve a better soil and
environment for our plantings.And that works, for the most part, as long as it is understood that
thisisnotactuallya“native”ecosystem.It'smoreofanaturalisticgarden,andcanbeverypleasing
and attract pollinators, etc. However, if you are looking for a natural habitat, you've got a lot more
workahead.
For a natural habitat, you need to have an area that is less disrupted, like a wooded area, or
perhapsameadowthathadbeenallowedtoreseed.Anditneedstobenaturaltoyourarea,soif
you live in the desert, you can't have a bog or rain forest. Then you must research the plants that
will naturally grow in your particular place, so that you are restoring what should be there, rather
than creating something new. Certain plants need filtered light, others deep shade or lots of sun.
Youneedtoworkwithyoursiteanddevelopwhatwouldnaturallyoccurthere.
Now, that's not to say that you can't have plants that exist from other zones or ecosystems. I
wouldn'tbewithoutmanyofmyplants,especiallyvegetablesandfruits,justbecausetheyarenot
native to my space. They will always be desirable for us, and can be part of our landscape. But if
you really want to create a natural habitat, that teems with birds, insects, small mammals, and
othercritters,youneedtounderstandtheplantsthatfitbestforyourarea.Doyourhomeworkand
searchthemout.Visitnaturalareasnearyouandseewhattypesofplantsthrivethere.Findsome
books that list the plants for your zone. Visit nurseries in your area that specialize in natives for
yourecoregion.
Once you have determined the plants you could grow, be aware of their needs. One critical
componentisorganicmatter,atleastinmostpartsofthecountry.Organicmatterholdsmoisture,
aerates the soil, and acts as mulch. Think of plants in the forest. There is rarely bare ground
anywhere. Leaves, twigs, animal matter and such, are all littering the ground, and decomposing,
adding precious nutrients to the forest floor.All of this duff (materials that are on the forest floor)
acts as food for bacteria and other soil organisms, which in turn make nutrients available to your
plants, and helps increase the efficiency of your soil. Compost or leaf mold are two options
availabletoyou.Leaves,byfar,areoneofthebestmulchesandsoilamendments,astheyseldom
introduceanyweedseedsascompostwould.
MonardafistulosabergamotPhoto:KarenO'Brien
Oak,beechormapleleavesworkwellandshreddingtheleaveseitherwithamulchinglawnmower
or a leaf shredder helps speed up the process. This also prevents the leaves from forming a mat
that can smother the pile. If you set up a compost area, use chicken wire to contain the leaves.
You can add leaves as you obtain them, wetting each layer as it goes into your bin. Moist leaves
will decompose faster than dry ones. I have the experience of collecting leaves (from family and
friends–hey,peopleareusuallymorethanhappytogivethemtoyou!)touseforchickenbedding.
Tired of paying for shavings, I gathered leaves and used them in the coop. The chickens would
scratch the leaves searching for insects and adding their manure to the leaves. Every couple of
yearsIwouldemptythecoop,thenusedtheresultingbeddingasadressingformygardenbeds.
One year, I had more leaves than I needed, so I bagged the leaves and left them in the loft of the
barn. Apparently, the leaves had enough moisture in them, because a few months later, when I
wenttousetheleaves,Ihadgorgeouscompost,dampandsmellingliketheearth.
We need to continue the building of our natural habitats, taking back what some have stripped
away.Evenalittlecornerofyouryardcansupportnativeplants.Floraandfaunawillflourish,ifyou
givethemachance.Ifyouknowofanurseryorgardencenterthatsuppliesplantsparticulartoyour
region, please share that information with me. We are looking to create a listing of these
establishments,sowecanletothersknowoftheirexistence.
IntheNortheast,wehaveseveraloptionsforacquiringnatives.Hereareafew:
NortheastPollinatorPlantswww.northeastpollinator.com
isanon-lineregionalproviderofnativeperennialsthathavebeencarefullyselectedtoensureeach
isofspecialvaluetonativebeesandbumblebees,ourmostimportantpollinators.
Selling only to the New England and New York States. Deliveries June–October; orders tak en
anytime.
Plantsforpollinatorsareratherspecificandvaryfromregiontoregion,duetoalongco-evolutionary
process. For thisreasonwearecommittedtosellingtheirplantsonlytotheNewEnglandandNew
Yorkstatesregions .
TrippleBrookFarmwww.tripplebrookfarm.com/
AtTrippleBrookFarmwestrivetomakeourgardensasproductive,attractive,interesting,andlowmaintenanceaspossible–andtosupplyplantstohelpyoudothesamewithyourgarden.Weofferawide
rangeofplants,mostofwhicharecoldhardyinsouthernNewEngland.Weshipplantscontinuouslyfrom
earlyspringtolatefalltoallportionsofthecontinentalUSexceptforCalifornia,Oregon,Washington,
Arizona,andNevada.TrippleBrookFarmTreeDiggingEquipmentandmostothernon-plantitemscan
beshippedworld-wide.Youmayorderon-line,orbyphoneat(413)527-4626.Wearegladtoanswerany
questionsyoumayhavealso.
TheNewEnglandWildflowerSocietyoperatestwoseasonalvenuesfornativeplants:
TheGardenShopatGardenintheWoodsFramingham,MA
OpenTuesday-Sunday9a.m.to5p.m.andholidayMondays9a.m.to5p.m.Thursdays:8a.m.
to8p.m.Phone508-877-7630x3601
TheGardenShopatNasamiFarmWhatelyMA
OpenSaturdayandSunday10a.m.to5p.m.andweek daysbyappointment.Phone413-397-9922
Othernurseriesaroundthecountry:
ARKANSAS
•PineRidgeGardens.London,arkansas.Mailorder,web,www.pineridgegardens.comMaryAnn
Kingnativeplantnurserythatwillship
CALIFORNIA
•LasPilitasNativePlantNursery–8331NelsonWay,Escondido,CA92026
–3232LasPilitasRd.,SantaMargarita,CA93453
(shipstoCA)
•TreeofLifeNursery–33201OrtegaHwy.,Capistrano,CA92675
•MoosaCreekNursery–28435WilkesRd.,ValleyCenter,CA92082
COLORADO
•DesertCanyonFarm.1270FieldAvenue,CanonCity–2016OpenFarmDays–April16,2016
thruJune5,2016–SaturdaysthruThursdaysClosedonFridays!Hoursare9:00amto4:00pm
•HighCountryGardens–Thisnursery'sheadquartersisinVTbuttheplantsaregrowninNew
MexicoandColorado.www.highcountrygardens.com
NEWJERSEY
•ToadShadeNursery,Frenchtown,NJon-lineonlywww.toadshade.com/plantsandseeds
particulartotheNortheast
•TripleOakFarm,Franklinville,NJwww.tripleoaks.com
OHIO
•RiversideNativeTrees-MidwestNativeHardwoodTreesandShrubs
www.riversidenativetrees.com
2295RiverRoadDelaware,Ohio43015(740)815-3230
•SciotoGardensNativeNurserywww.sciotogardens.com
3351StateRoute37WestDelaware,Ohio43015(740)363-8264
•NativesInHarmony-GaleMartinandDanGrau-OhioNativePlantswww.nativesinharmony.com
4652TownshipRoad179Marengo,Ohio,43334(419)688-9800/Mobile:(419)688-9800
•NaturallyNativeNursery-JanHunter-NativePlants,Trees&Shrubs-Retail&Wholesale
www.naturallynative.net13787StateRoute582,BowlingGreen,Ohio43402(419)833-2020
TENNESSEE
•AppalachianNativePlants,Inc,676WaddellRoad,MountainCity,TN37683–dedicatedto
demonstratingandprovidingeducationinthepropagation,productionmethodsandpreservationof
NativeOrnamentalplantspecies.
•GroWildNativePlantNursery,7190HillHughesRd,Fairview,TN37062–Weareanallnativeplant
nursery,consult,design,buildfirm.Wegrowover950speciesandcultivarsofnativetotheUnited
StatesplantswithconcentrationontheCentralSouth.Currentlywehave34,465nativeplants
availableforsale–yeswereallydohavethatmanyandthatdoesn’tincludewhatisn’tforsale!
GroWildhashadthepleasuretoinstall8greenroofsincludingtheWilliamJClintonPresidential
LibraryinLittleRockArkansas.
•ShyValleyFarmNativeHabitatNursery&Herbary,315RidgeRd,FallBranch,TN37656–East
Tennessee’sbestsourcefornativeplants,herbs,heirloomtomatoesandedibles!
•SunlightGardensWildflowers,Andersonville,TN–mailordersourceforwildflowers,ferns,vines,
andshrubsofeasternNorthAmerica.Wegrowhardy,robustplantsthatareentirelynursery
propagated.Theywillbeautifyyourgardensandsupportadiversityofwildlife.
TEXAS
•TheNaturalGardenernaturalgardeneraustin.comAustin,TX
•BartonSpringsNurserybartonspringsnursery.netAustin,TX
WESTVIRGINIA
•EnchantersGarden,Hinton,WVwww.enchantersgarden.com
Plantspropagatedfromlocalgeneticsourcesfoundinthemid-AppalachianRegionwithoverlapinto
prairie,piedmont,andmorenorthernareasthatincludegrasses,perennials,shrubs.trees,vines.
WISCONSIN
•StoneSiloPrairieGardens-2325OakRidgeCircleDePereWI54115920-713-2879
www.stonesiloprairie.com.Thisisalocalone.Theirwebsitehaslotsofpicturesforidentification.
•PrairieNursery-NeilDiboll-W7262DoverCtWestfieldWI53964800-476-9453
www.prairienursery.com
Ifyouareinterestedinworkingmorecloselyonthisprogramasthe
NativeHerbConservationCommitteeChair,pleasecontactKarenO'Brien,
[email protected].
www.herbsociety.org
440.256.0514
[email protected]
TheHerbSocietyofAmerica9019KirtlandChardonRoadKirtland,OH44094
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