Blazing Summer2014 v5 c BlazingFall08 v4nanps.org/wp-content/uploads/Blazing_Star_2014Summer.pdf · wide-spreading form in its natural shaded environment. Its bark is dotted with

by Mark Funk

No plant in the forest awakens mysense of smell quite like spicebush(Lindera benzoin). This aromatic,inconspicuous woodland-dwellerexudes a spicy citrus aroma from itsleaves, bark and flowers. Sometimes Iregister the presence of spicebush withmy nose before I see it with my eyes!

Spicebush usually has either onesolitary stem or a few zigzagging stems,and tends to take on an open andwide-spreading form in its naturalshaded environment. Its bark is dottedwith small white lenticels, like that of ayoung cherry (Prunus spp.) or alder(Alnus spp.). Like most of its relativesin the Laurel family (which includessupermarket classics avocado, bay leafand cinnamon), it has alternatelyarranged leaves that are entire.Southern Ontario has few nativewoody plants with entire leaves andsmooth margins like this. Others thatcome to mind are pawpaw (Asiminatriloba), sassafras (Sassafras albidum)and cucumber magnolia (Magnoliaacuminata).

Spicebush is one of three NorthAmerican species in the genus Lindera.As with the other two, L. benzoin isfound mostly in moist habitats, such asrich woodlands, shaded foot slopes,bottomlands and woodland seeps. Itsrange extends from Texas to Florida,

north to Maine andsouthern Ontario, andwest into Michigan. In mywanderings, I have seenspicebush associated moreoften with sandy or loamsoils and less commonlywith clay. A good example ofthis is at the North AmericanNative Plant Society’s Shining TreeWoods preserve, where spicebush isabundant on the sandy soil.

In the northeast, you mayoccasionallyhear spicebushreferred to asthe “forsythia ofthe wild”. The yellowflowers of spicebushemerge in late winter orearly spring along itstwigs and branches.Although these flowers areonly about three millimetres(1/8 inch) wide, they arestriking en masse, creating avisual effect similar to the goldenforsythia varieties common to thehorticultural trade. In fall, the leaves ofspicebush turn to a warm yellow,creating a lovely contrast when pairedwith the orange or red leaves ofserviceberry (Amelanchier spp.),maples (Acer spp.) or viburnums(Viburnum spp.).

Those who want theirgardens to sustain wildlifeshould not ignore spicebush.

In fall, the fruit (a drupe)ripens to a showy, bright

red. Migrating birds favourthe fruits because they are

high in lipids (naturallyoccurring molecules that

include fats and fat-soluble vitamins),which they need for their long journey.The beautiful spicebush swallowtailbutterfly relies on L. benzoin as it isone of its primary host plants. Froman anthropocentric perspective, thefact that it is not a preferred food ofdeer is a much appreciatedcharacteristic of spicebush! Insouthern Ontario at least, high deerpopulations can be a challenge forgardeners. Although some say thatwhite-tailed deer will browse the twigsof spicebush, their voracious appetitesseem to be focused on less fortunatewoody species.

If you want your spicebush to

S U M M E R 2014 , VO LU M E 15, IS S U E 3

A PU B L I C AT I O N O F T H E NO RT H AM E R I C A N NAT I V E PL A N T SO C I E T Y

Native Plant to Know

Continued on page 15

Spicebush Lindera benzoin

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2 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

The Blazing Star is . . .

The Blazing Star is published quarterly(April, August, November, February) bythe North American Native Plant Society(NANPS). Contact [email protected] editorial deadlines and for advertisingrates. The views expressed herein arethose of the authors and not necessarilythose of NANPS.The North American Native Plant Societyis dedicated to the study, conservation,cultivation and restoration of NorthAmerica’s native flora.

Summer 2014Volume 15, Issue 3ISSN 2291-8280

Editor: Irene FedunProduction: Bea PatersonProofreader: Eileen AtkinsonPrinted by: Guild Printing, Markham, Ontario

© North American Native Plant SocietyImages © the photographers and illustrators, text © the authors. All rights reserved.

North American Native Plant Society,formerly Canadian Wildflower Society,is a registered charitable society, no.130720824 RR0001. Donations to the society are tax-creditable in Canada.

NANPS Membership: CAN$25/YEAR WITHIN CANADA,US$25/YEAR OUTSIDE CANADA

Join online or send cheque or moneyorder to North American Native PlantSociety, Box 84, Stn D, Toronto, ONM9A 4X1.Telephone: (416) 631-4438. E-mail: [email protected]. Web: www.nanps.org.

Board of Directors:Honorary President: James A. FrenchExecutive Director: Peter KellyPresident: Cass StablerVice-President: Adam MohamedSecretary: Miriam HenriquesTreasurer: Janice KeilBronwen FitzsimonsAlice KongLeeAnne MacGregorHoward MeaddHarold Smith

In my opinion, the North American Native Plant Society’s most under-utilizedresource is its membership. With over 500 members across Canada and the UnitedStates (and even a few in Europe), NANPS has access to a treasure trove ofknowledge about a broad spectrum of topics and issues related to the study,conservation, cultivation and restoration of native plants and native plant habitat.

More and more, NANPS is a go-to source for information on native plants fromhome gardeners, media, other non-profit organizations etc. “Could you direct meto someone who knows something about cultivating American ginseng?” “Whichnative wildflowers are the prettiest?” “Which native plants would work best in araised bed in a community garden?” These are just a few of the inquiries we havereceived in the last few months.

Do we have a member knowledgeable about cultivating American ginseng (Panaxquinquefolius)? I was embarrassed to admit that I did not know. I find it frustratingthat I cannot access those of you who love sharing your knowledge and passion fornative plants with others because we don’t know what you know. You may have alot of experience growing Kentucky coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) from seed.We would love to know that. Have you had success restoring a wetland on yourproperty? We would love to know that too. You don’t have to perceive yourself asan expert but if you feel you have helpful information or insights to offer, please letme know. Or contact The Blazing Star ([email protected]) to have your tipspublished as part of our periodic Lessons Learned column.

I feel there is enormous potential for the North American Native Plant Society toact as one giant advisory board. I would love to put together a master list of topicsthat our members could offer advice to others about. Your commitment (at most)would amount to a handful of emails or phone calls per year, but you would befurthering the cause of native plant conservation and building NANPS reputationin our communities.

We have been busy applying for funding lately to move forward on a number ofnew initiatives and to expand our existing outreach. It is my hope that NANPS cancontinue to grow as an organization; having a volunteer advisory group ofmembers would be a great first step.

What are your strengths? Please email me at [email protected] or leave us a voicemessage at 416-631-4438. NANPS would love to know. Thank you.

Peter KellyPeter is NANPS executive director

Editorial

Darcie McKelvey is graciously openingher garden in Caledon, Ontario tovisitors. As Darcie says, “This is anopportunity to see a native plantgarden and tell me about yours.” Shementions one caveat: “There are honeybees living here, so reconsider if youare allergic to bees.”

Date: September 7, 2014, 10 am – 4 pm.

Address: 16771 Albion Trail, Caledon(just south of Highway 9, about sixkilometres west of Highway 400).

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SUMMER 2014 3NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

NANPS EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 Nomination Deadline for NANPS Awards

Visit www.nanps.org for details.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 Gardening: Planting the Seeds for Biodiversity

Meaford Garden Club, 7pmMeaford Hall (North Gallery), Meaford, Ontario Presentation by NANPS former president Paul LaPorte

NOVEMBER 15, 2014 NANPS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Noon – 4 p.m.Canada Room, Markham Civic Centre, Markham, OntarioVisit www.nanps.org for details.

THE LOCAL SCOOP IS EVOLVING

The Local Scoop – NANPS e-newsletter – is bursting withnative plant news, events and other growing topics. And,just as a garden eventually does, The Local Scoop neededpruning. With the approach of its sixth anniversary, theScoop needed more sunlight to help it bloom.

Scoop Assist (the Plant Assessor) was consulted andconcluded that, to facilitate new growth, the Scoop needed anew environment. Like a plant rescue, the Scoop wastransplanted to WordPress (not PlantPress, the Scoop ispressing words instead of plants). And just as a plant isresponsive to light levels, moisture regimes and soil types, sois the Scoop responsive to the needs of our readers,including the need to branch out and be seen on all yourgadgets – from the smallest mobile pollinators to the biggestmonitors.

It was a particularly harsh winter in 2014, but with lots ofattentive care the Scoop has rooted and flowered. Take anexcursion to the new websiteat thelocalscoop.org,featuring an updatedcalendar and a home pagemini-calendar with the mostrecent updates at a glance.Stroll leisurely through theArt-Hives art gallery. Peerinto the Scoop’s own Pixand dig through the NewsArchive compost to reviewpast newsletters. Wadethrough the Bog Blog,which is not about bogs, butwritten for those who may

be in a fog about what native plants are and what the bigdeal is. And don’t worry, the Scoop is still the native wildstock that it has always been and always will be – dedicatedto the promotion of native plants while digging the dirt oninvasive species and bad bylaws.

The Scoop launched a contest to celebrate its sixthanniversary, inviting “NANPS members in good planting” toenter by naming two six-petalled plants native to Ontario.The winner, Isabelle Smith, received a copy of the recentlyemerged Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm.

If you are not receiving your free copy of The Local Scoopby email, go to thelocalscoop.org/subscribe/.

Charles Iscove (Scoop Assist) and Janet Harrison

For more information about NANPS Speakers Series andother events please visit www.nanps.org.

Have you ever thought about becoming a native plantseed donor for NANPS? We are so grateful to those goodfolks who keep our member-only seed exchangeprogram stocked with native plant treasures(www.nanps.org/index.php/plant-sources/nanps-seedexchange). But we always need more donors. FYI,seed donors get first pick of the seeds and can ordertwice as many packets as seed buyers (up to 30 packetsfor donors). Although orders are on a first-come, first-served basis, seed donor orders always go the front ofthe line!

If you’ve never done it before and you’re anxiousabout how to collect the seed visitwww.nanps.org/index.php/plant-sources/159-seedcollection-reaping-what-you-sow. The seeds have tobe collected properly in order to stay viable. A commonerror for beginners is not allowing the collected seed tosit a while and lose some of the moisture content so thatit can be stored.

Email [email protected] if you have questions.

NANPS NEEDS SEEDS

Isabelle Smith with her copy ofPollinators of Native Plants

NANPS members have recently been given the option ofreceiving The Blazing Star by email (in full colour) or tocontinue receiving the black and white print version in themail. We are still giving that option, but now we have torequest an additional $5 a year with your 2015 membershipapplication if you want the print version mailed to you.This is necessary to keep up with the increase in postagerates. If you elect to receive the print version, you can alsoreceive the digital version. Please make sure you send usyour email address regardless so we can send you The LocalScoop and keep you informed about upcoming events,workshops, etc. Thank you for your understanding andcontinued support.

NANPS MEMBERSHIP UPDATE FOR 2015

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4 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

Starting with Seeds

by Vivienne Denton

Each year, I look forward to the fallissue of The Blazing Star with thelatest NANPS Seed Exchange listtucked safely inside. I’m anxious to seeif any NANPS member has donatedseeds from indigenous plantsregionally suitable for the soil andclimatic conditions of my garden…that I don’t already have. I also lookfor seeds in the Seedex from plantswhich I do have in my garden, butwhich are not generating enough seedsto grow into new plants that willextend my plot. Often I suspect I havenot placed my plants in suitableconditions but I don’t want to risktransplanting them, so it’s nice to havethe chance for a second try.

I have been cultivating a nativeplant garden for 20 years. I’ve movedtwice during that time and this is mythird garden. Each has had differentgrowing conditions and differentproblems, even though all have beenin the same Toronto neighbourhood.It all started when my husband and Idecided to get rid of our lawn and our

lawnmower. I had no idea how Iwould fill the space but, by goodfortune, I happened to be living on thesame street as Jim Hodgins, co-founder of the Canadian WildflowerSociety, later renamed the NorthAmerican Native Plant Society. I wasentranced by the quiet beauty of hisfront garden and delighted to realizethat all the plants were wildflowersand other plants native to the region.

I decided this was the way to go buthow, as a city dweller, could I find wildplants without plundering naturalareas? I began by pulling wildflowersfrom the roadsides – mostly asters(from Symphyotrichum and othergenuses) and goldenrods (Solidagospp.). In spring, I dug over theremainder of the lawn and sprinkled alarge packet of seeds I had boughtlabelled “Wildflowers”. (These were, ofcourse, not native to anywhere inparticular – a mix of cultivars andspecies from Europe, North Americaand other places.) As the seasonprogressed, not much happened inthis first attempt at a wildflowergarden, until sturdy little plants began

to pop up everywhere. I watched theseedlings hopefully, trying to identifythe plant, always hoping for aspectacular burst of prairie bloom.Finally, when the plants were waisthigh and beginning to display a mostunspectacular flower, I had to admitthat although I had grown a nativewildflower, Erigeron canadensis, theend result of my efforts might betterbe described as a front yard full ofhorseweed.

A short while later, I was able tocatch Jim Hodgins tending his garden.I asked him how he obtained hisnative plants without robbing thewild. He gave lots of great advice. Ireturned home with plant cuttings andcopies of Wildflower magazine, and Ipromptly joined the CanadianWildflower Society. Ever since then, Ihave found the annual plant sale, theSeedex and the native plant supplieradvertisements in the newsletter to beinvaluable resources. Over the years,my original aims broadened. Now Isee my garden as a small way to giveback to the Earth and the creatures weshare it with.

For me, seeds are an important partof this process. By tending andgrowing seeds, I learn more about aplant than I can by simply planting apot. The new seeds I get each yearfrom the seed exchange or from swapswith friends broaden my knowledgebase.

Cold stratification, a processwhereby gardeners pre-treat seeds tosimulate the freeze/thaw conditionsthat a seed would undergo undernormal winter conditions, is necessaryfor most seeds harvested in the fall. Inanticipation of the arrival of my seedsfrom the Seedex, I keep some pots andpotting soil indoors. Once seeded, thepots go outside where the seeds get thebenefit of frost and weathering action,conditions that soften the hard seedcoat and allow the embryo to emergewhen it warms up in spring.

Each fall, I harvest seeds from mygarden, some to give away and somefor myself. As the seeds mature, I

Zigzag goldenrod and hairy beardtongue thriving in a shady spot in May

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SUMMER 2014 5NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

bring them inside to dry on flat traysfor about a week. Then I store them,each species in its own carefullylabelled envelope, ready to share orplant. I plant the seeds I harvest frommy own garden before the soil freezes,usually around the end of October. Isprinkle them either in pots or directlyon the soil in a prepared area in mygarden. Squirrels like to dig inunprotected pots of seeds left on mypatio so I use garden netting to coverwhole flats of seeds. For individuallarger pots, the plastic net bags thatonions and oranges are packaged in atthe supermarket make excellentprotective covers: they just slip overthe pot like a sleeve.

I have found that some seeds –especially plants that flower in springand early summer – do better whenplanted directly into the garden. Andit’s easier than storing them throughthe summer. Butterfly milkweed(Asclepias tuberosa) is one such plant.It is fussy about transplanting. In mytwo former gardens, I transplantedand carefully tended this orange-flowered milkweed but always hadpoor results. Luckily, my currentgarden soil and sun conditions are justright; when I sprinkle the seedsdirectly onto the garden it grows like aweed in the dry sandy soil in a sunnysouth-facing spot.

I enjoyexperimentingwith seedgrowing. Someplants growmuch moreeasily from aroot cutting,but it is stillfascinating toplant a pot ofseeds each year,watch thedelicate sproutsgrow and plantthem out invarious placesto see wherethey’ll do best.

When I find the right niche, I watchwith satisfaction the transformationfrom the small and frail plantlets ofthe first year to sturdy perennials thatlast for many years and often needstringentcutting backto keepthem incheck!

New seedsprovidesurprises.The tallbellflower(Campanulaamericana)seeds I onceorderedfromNANPS arean example.I shouldhave paidmoreattention tothe name.In the firstyear, I transplanted the delightfulrosettes of this biennial along mycrazy paving path. They made a prettyborder. The next year they rose totheir full height of two-thirds of ametre (two feet) and more; they weremore like a small hedge!

In a city garden, other less desirablesurprises pop up. I am surrounded bygardens filled with cultivars of thenative strains I am carefully cultivatingin my garden; some cross-pollinationnaturally occurs. American columbine(Aquilegia canadensis) will not seedtrue if cross-pollinated with Europeancolumbine (Aquilegia spp.) cultivars.Unfortunately, there are gardens in myimmediate neighbourhood withcultivated columbines. I weed out anyof my columbines that do not have thenative yellow and reddish-orangeflower so my plants look true to form,but they may be hiding someEuropean genes. For that reason, I donot send my columbines to the seedexchange or give them to friends. Ihave suspicions about my black-eyedSusans (Rudbeckia hirta) as there areseveral neighbourhood gardens withplants that look like the cultivars. Isuspect there are other natives which

are likely to cross- pollinate in the city.This is something to look out forwhen sharing seeds.

For me, one of the importantbenefits of creating a wildflowergarden is attracting wildlife and

The shade garden where heart-leaved aster, zigzag goldenrod, white snakeroot, bottlebrush grass and blue-stemmed goldenrodstand out in the snow.

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Vivienne’s seed nursery pots get a little sun in early March

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providing food for birds, butterfliesand bees. I like to watch goldfinchesperch and sway on tall seed-bearingstems. In early winter, juncos peck atseeds that have fallen to the ground.My pearly everlasting (Anaphalismargaritacea) attracts Americanpainted lady butterflies. Note that ifyou want to provide a home for thesebeauties you have to share your plantswith their leaf-chewing caterpillarsand accept the mess they can make ofthe young flower shoots. I find acertain charm in the sharp round bitesthe leafcutter bees make in showy ticktrefoil (Desmodium canadense) –they’re like naughty children takingbites out of cookies. Asters,particularly the common NewEngland aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), provide nectar and pollen fornumerous pollinators when in flower,while the seed heads are food for thebirds.

Seed heads look lovely in the snowso I don’t clip the perennials back tothe ground in the fall. The seeds ofblue vervain (Verbena hastata) andwhite vervain (Verbena urticifolia) areas pretty as the flowers. I am also fondof ironweed (Vernonianovaeboracensis) seed heads, and thetall candelabras of giant hyssop(Agastache foeniculum). I havedeveloped a technique for easingmilkweed seeds (Asclepias spp.) fromthe pods once they brown, poppingthe pods with my fingers and thensliding out the seeds. I leave the podsto dry on the plant providing winterinterest in the garden.

I like to deadhead the more prolificof my plants. I keep at least oneCanada goldenrod (Solidagocanadensis) among the New Englandasters in a far corner of the garden,but I get rid of the seed heads as soonas decently possible. Even so, plenty ofnew seedlings pop up the next year. Ihave hardy perennials (asters, black-eyed Susans, vervains and others)along the outside of the fence of mycorner lot, but in deference to myneighbours and passersby whose ideaof a city garden is more orderly, Ideadhead these as the seeds begin tomature. This keeps them floweringlonger and looking less rangy. I savesome of these early picked seeds sincethey will still be viable for producingnew plants. I leave a few neatlytrimmed seed heads along the fence toadvertise their winter beauty to theneighbourhood.

Sometimes I wonder if all the effortof turning my garden into a naturalhaven is worth it; future owners mightdig it under and plant a lawn. But theseeds will do their bit even if thathappens. Zigzaggoldenrods(Solidagoflexicaulis) dowell in Toronto’sshaded ravines.Over the years Ihave watched asseeds from thefew plants undermy Norwaymaple (Acerplatanoides)

populate the bare areas under maplesin the back gardens of my neighbours.When neighbours admire my street-side flowers, I suggest they take ahandful of the seeds when theymature, and many do. One summer,my lance-leaved coreopsis (Coreopsislanceolata) produced a spectaculardisplay. The following year, Coreopsislanceolata suddenly becamefashionable in the front gardens allalong my street. Once I watched indelight as a man pretended to admirea seed head in my front garden.Recognizing the routine as one of myown, I smiled to myself as I saw himsurreptitiously pick some seeds. Withthe glee of a guerilla gardener, I watchmy native flowers spread themselvesthroughout the neighbourhood.

It’s a sobering thought that the seedsfrom your garden are a legacy youleave behind long after you havemoved on.

Vivienne Denton regularly donates seedsto the NANPS Seed Exchange.

6 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

www.LongPointLandTrust.ca

GIVING NATIVE PLANTS A PLACE TO GROW

Native plant nursery, landscaping and

ecological services

Grow Wild!

www.grow-wild.com

3784 Hwy 7,Omemee, Ontario(by appointment only)

Home: 705.799.2619 (Paul Heydon)

Cell: [email protected]

Grow Wild!

visit www.brigittegranton.com

Original Artby

Brigitte Granton

Acrylic, Oil and Ink.Commission work by request.

Continued from page 5

by Brenda Costanzo and Chris Junck

Along the east coast of southernVancouver Island remnants of Garryoak meadows come alive withcommon camas (Camassia quamash)from mid-April tomid-May. Thefields of violet-blueinflorescencesinterspersed withthe yellow flowersof westernbuttercup(Ranunculusoccidentalis) and spring gold(Lomatiumutriculatum) are an amazing sight.

The Garry oak(Quercus garryana)ecosystems sharetheir endangeredstatus with theCarolinian forestsof southernOntario. Today, inBritish Columbia,Garry oak (theonly oak native tothe province) andassociatedecosystems (GOEs) cover less than10% of their original range, with lessthan 5% in natural condition. Theirloss has been attributed to landdevelopment (agriculture andurbanization), invasive species, firesuppression, trampling and lack ofadequate land management. Theecosystems are highly fragmented now and only small remnants existsouthern Vancouver Island. In 1999, agrassroots group called the Garry OakEcosystems Recovery Team (GOERT)began to coordinate activities for theprotection and restoration of thisunique assemblage of plants andanimals.

Garry oak and associated ecosystemsoccur in Canada only in BritishColumbia, along the southeasterncoast of Vancouver Island, the

southern Gulf Islands and two smallareas in the Fraser Valley. South of theborder, where Garry oak is known aswhite oak, these ecosystems are foundfrom Washington and Oregon tosouthern California. They are

composed of a diverse range ofvegetation types with associatedanimal species.

The Mediterranean-type climateprevalent on the southeast coast ofVancouver Island and southern GulfIslands provides a unique set oftemperature and moisture conditionswhich these plants are adapted to. Thisclimate is typified by generally drysummers with a drought period inJuly until mid-October followed bymild wet winters. The majority of theforbs are either winter annuals thatgerminate in the fall or bulbousherbaceous perennials that survive thedrought underground.

Garry oak ecosystems are hotspotsof biological diversity. More than 690plant species, 7 amphibians, 7 reptiles,104 birds, 33 mammals and more than

800 insects and mites have beenidentified in B.C.’s GOEs. Raritiesinclude the sharp-tailed snake andvesper sparrow. When GOERT beganits work, 61 plants (59 vascular plantsand two mosses) were listed as Species

at Risk (SAR) either by the provinceor by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada(COSEWIC). Now these ecosystemsare among Canada’s most threatenedwith over 100 at-risk species.

In British Columbia, Garry oakecosystems occur within the coastalDouglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone andvary in vegetation types from oakwoodlands to nearly treeless openmeadows with a few scattered oaks.The understorey vegetation of GOEs isa mixture of grasses, forbs and shrubsthat are uncommon to otherecosystems in Canada. Oak woodlandshave deep soils and large oak trees.After many of the oak trees were cutdown, these areas were used foragriculture for 150 years. In habitats

SUMMER 2014 7NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Garry Oak Ecosystem Restoration

A Garry oak meadow

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that have shallower soils, such as thoseoccurring on steeper slopes andpunctuated by rocky outcrops, theGarry oaks are stunted and shrubby.Both Douglas-fir and Garry oakcommunities have decreased by 90%since European settlement.

At some of the remaining oakwoodland sites, arbutus (Arbutusmenziesii) and Douglas-fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii) trees alsooccur. Partially due to lack of fire,Douglas-fir will eventually replaceQuercus garryana in the moisterwoodland sites. Within the associatedGarry oak ecosystems there may befew oaks or none at all. Theseassociated Garry oak ecosystems arefound within habitats commonlydescribed as coastal bluffs, maritimemeadows, vernal pools and seeps, rockoutcrops and Douglas-fir plantcommunities. As these sites haveparent materials and environmentalcharacteristics similar to those found

in Garry oakecosystems, theplant species arealso similar.

Some of themore charismaticrare plant speciesfound in GOEsare the sunflower-like arrow-leafbalsamroot(Balsamorhizadeltoidea), theviolet bell-shapedlily known asHowell’s triteleia(Triteleiahowellii), ahemiparasiticyellow paintbrush (Castillejalevisecta) and alarge parsleyfamily member,coastal chocolate-

tips (Lomatiumdissectum).

GOERT hasproduced manyexcellent referencematerialsincluding bestmanagementpractices, a Garryoak gardener’shandbook, arestoration guide,and manuals onSpecies at Risk(SAR) and invasivespecies found inGOEs. All areavailable atwww.goert.ca.Working with itsmany partners, theGOER team hasdrafted 17

recovery plans for 39 SAR as requiredby the federal Species at Risk Act(SARA).

An important part of Goert’s workhas been taking inventory andmonitoring of the species at risk inkey Garry oak areas and associatedvegetation communities. The datacollected was used for thedevelopment of recovery strategiesunder SARA. GOERT providestechnical advice to landowners to helpthem protect and restore GOEs andthe at-risk species on their property.

RESTORATION CHALLENGESThe practice of restoration has

undergone changes in the past fewyears in response to climate changeand ongoing discussions of whatconstitutes ecological restoration.Questions asked include: What is anovel ecosystem? What is a target

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Camassia quamash

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Triteleia howellii

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ecosystem? Should we accept thepresence of some invasive species?What are the goals of restoration intoday’s rapidly changing world?

Garry oak ecosystem processeswere influenced by both fire anddigging of camas bulbs by FirstNations peoples. However, for thepast 150 years, these disturbanceregimes have been absent.Reinitiating them or finding areplacement type of regime isdifficult, particularly since lightingfires is subject to local by-lawrestrictions. The influence of a longperiod of human occupation andfire suppression in the region hasmade it challenging to determinethe effects of climate change on thisecosystem.

Invasive species, in particularplants, exert a high degree of stresson sensitive ecosystems, especiallywhen exacerbated by fragmentation,changes in herbivory and

disturbance regimes. GOEs have beeninvaded by many non-nativesincluding shrubs such as Scotchbroom (Cytisus scoparius) which wasbrought to Vancouver Island in the1850’s, gorse (Ulex europeaus), Englishhawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) andspurge laurel (Daphne laureola), forbssuch as English ivy (Hedera helix),hairy cat’s ear (Hypochaeris radicata),Himalayan blackberry (Rubusarmeniacus) and oxeye daisy(Leucanthemum vulgare), andagronomic grasses that were used forforage. Developing mechanicalmethods for the removal of theseplants while limiting the use ofherbicides has been challenging.

A Sample GOE Restoration Site

Harling Point in the District of OakBay includes municipal land and aprivately owned national historic siteknown as the Chinese Cemetery. Itboasts seven rare plant species, five ofwhich are assessed by the COSEWICas Endangered or Threatened. They

Volunteer work party at Harling Point

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Bear’s foot sanicle at Harling Point

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Farley McGill Mowat OC, Canadianauthor, environmentalist and activist,died last May, just days before his 93rdbirthday. He wrote over 40 bookswhich sold more than 17 million copiesin 52 languages. Three of his booksbecame popular movies: Never CryWolf, The Snow Walker and A Whalefor the Killing. He received manyaccolades throughout his life includingthe Governor General’s Award for Lostin the Barrens, The Leacock Medal ofHumour for The Boat Who Wouldn’tFloat, The Order of Canada in 1981and a lifetime achievement award fromThe International Fund for AnimalWelfare in 2003. He was a lifelong loverof the natural world.

Farley Mowat was also an honorarydirector of The North AmericanNative Plant Society. I recruited him inthe early days of the organization(when it was called the CanadianWildflower Society). We were proud tohave his name on our masthead as fewCanadians have done more to protectour environment than Farley. I methim at the opening of Sir OliverMowat Collegiate in Toronto (he was

the Ontariopremier’s greatgrandnephew).His first wordsafter I introducedhim to theaudience were,“My father justgave me a note toremind me to keepmy legs crossedsince I’m wearinga kilt tonight.”Classic Farley.

We all have somuch to thankhim for and, onbehalf of oursociety, I say aheartfelt, “Thankyou Farley.”

James A. French Founder andHonorary Presidentof the NorthAmerican NativePlant Society

include the colourfully named bear’s-foot sanicle (Sanicula arctopoides),bearded owl-clover (Triphysariaversicolor), coast microseris (Microserisbigelovii), Macoun’s meadow-foam(Limnanthes macounii) and Victoria’sowl-clover (Castilleja victoriae).Threats to their survival are many andvaried: invasive native shrubs such assnowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) androses (Rosa spp.) and non-natives suchas Scotch broom, gorse and others,trampling by people and dogs, bankerosion from informal paths and waveaction, herbivory and soil disturbanceby Canada geese.

Many community volunteers arehelping to control the invasive plantsby participating in stewardship workparties. Last year, we noted a

significant improvement. GOERTrecently developed a management planthat prescribes invasive management,native plantings and monitoring. Italso recommends fencing, signage andcommunity outreach to reducehuman/dog impacts. However, theplan has not been fully implementedyet due to lack of funding. The CapitalRegional District and B.C. governmentrecently rolled out a Canada goosemanagement and public outreachprogram which may have positiveeffects at Harling Point.

Future protection of GOEs will beinformed by the identification ofpriority sites developed by GOERTthat can be used in establishing anetwork of protected areasrepresenting the full diversity of Garry

oak and associated ecosystems.GOERT has mapped 25 priority sitesso far and is working with localgovernments to provide current dataon GOEs to be used in updating theirOfficial Community Plans.

GOERT will partner on researchopportunities with universities to pushconservation of Garry oak ecosystemsinto the next decade.

Brenda Costanzo has a M.Sc. in biologyand has worked with GOERT since 1999on rare plants. She provides advice onthe restoration and management ofGarry oak and associated ecosystems.Since joining GOERT in 2002, Chris Junckhas helped people to better understand,protect and restore the Garry oak habitaton the land they own or manage.

10 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

Continued from page 9

(705) [email protected]

Specializing in container grown Trees & Shrubs native to Ontario

Design & Consulting services available by OALA member

In Memoriam: Farley Mowat

by Evan Cantor

Bugs are not universally admired bythe human animal. Bedeviled bybuzzing mosquitoes, angry wasps,hungry yellow jackets, mindless gnatsand biting black flies, Homo sapiensdevotes much swatting, spraying andsmacking to an endless army of six-legged creatures. Some bugs come inswarms and clouds, others bringpandemic and plague with them. Whocelebrates the lowly cockroach, thedripping aphid, the malodorousstinkbug or my personal nemesis, thebox-elder beetle?

Yet for all this, bugs have theirdevotees. Prehistoric humans likelydepended on them for a reliablesource of protein. The Egyptians madeworship objects of scarab beetles.Tarantulas are sold as pets andnurseries provide ladybugs andpraying mantis eggs to gardeners. Asfor me, you can tell my favourite bugby the number of jeweledrepresentations I have bought my wife.Dragonflies are the winner, handsdown.

The Odonata family includes over5,000 species of dragonflies and theircousin, damselflies, distributed onevery continent except frozenAntarctica. In North America alone,nearly 500 species go by manypicturesque names: jewelwings,rubyspots, spreadwings,shadowdamsels, threadtails, dancers,bluets, sprites, petaltails, darners,ringtails, snaketails, sand dragons,cruisers, emeralds, pondhawks,skimmers, dashers, meadowhawks,clubtails, gliders and saddlebags. Thesedescriptive names imply a great dealabout Odonata’s appearance andbehaviour.

Damselflies share manycharacteristics with dragonflies but aremostly smaller. They hold their wingscloser to their bodies when at rest andhave a small space between their hugemultifaceted eyes. Dragons’ eyesactually touch one another. Their hugeeyes see quite a lot. Imagine if your

own eyes were half the size of yourhead! If you want to stalk a dragon ordamsel for a closer look, come frombehind, as that is the one direction inwhich they see poorly. Both typeshover like hummingbirds and flystraight up and down like stealthfighters. Of course, they can do therequisite backwards and forwards

swooping and cruising. They allfeature various shades of iridescentcolouring and large gossamer wings.Hence the many jewel-like referencesto their colours, as well as their wingsand flight, in the pantheon ofdescriptive names.

Dragonflies and damsels arepredators, mostly hunting other flyinginsects. Midges and mosquitoes arefavoured but they sometimes takebutterflies, moths and smallerdragonflies. The naiads (or nymphs)live in water until molting into full-grown dragons. They will eat almostany living thing smaller thanthemselves including massive numbersof mosquito wrigglers thus earning thenickname pondhawk. But they are notinvincible in their realm. Dragonflies

and damselflies are, in turn, prey forbirds, spiders, frogs and largerdragons. In the larval stage, they arevulnerable to fish and amphibians. Yes,it is a cruel world, but Odonatathrives.

Since they begin life in an aquaticstage, they are often found near ponds,lakes, streams and wetlands. As adults,

Odonata are fantastic flyers, amongthe fastest in the insect kingdom, sothey are found far from water as well.Some researchers claim a top speed ofnearly 100 kilometres an hour (60miles per hour), but most reliablemeasurements place them between 30to 50 kilometres an hour (20 to 35miles per hour). Of the 300 species inNorth America, less than 20 areknown to migrate seasonally.

As you might imagine, suchprodigious flyers are capable of greatmigrations. One species, thewandering glider or globe skimmer(Pantala flavescens), considered to bethe most widespread dragonfly on theplanet, makes annual flights across theIndian Ocean; this is twice the

SUMMER 2014 11NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Of Damsels and Dragons

Continued on page 12

Female ebony jewelwing on pale touch-me-not (Impatiens pallida)

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12 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

distance of monarch butterflymigrations in North America. Themost common migratory dragonflieson the Earth are the common greendarner (Anax junius), the wanderingglider, the spot-winged glider (Pantalahymenaea), black saddlebags (Tramealacerata) and the variegatedmeadowhawk (Sympetrumcorruptum). Although North Americandragonfly migration was firstdocumented in the 1880’s, it remains alittle understoodphenomenon.Migratory cues,flight pathways andsouthern winteringgrounds are allareas requiringexploration byresearchers. Thisproject has beenundertaken by athree-nationcollaborative(Canada, UnitedStates and Mexico),the MigratoryDragonflyPartnership. A largepart of theirmission is topreserve wetlandenvironments fromCentral America toCanada, whichbenefits everybody,not just dragonflies.

Culturally, Odonata has representeda Manichean diversity. In Europe,dragonflies have been linked with evil,snakes, the devil and demonicpossession. Romanian folklore pointsto the origin of the name “dragonfly”with a tale of the Devil turning thehorse of St. George (of dragon fame)into a giant flying insect. TheRomanian word for both devil anddragon is “drac” (Count Dracula,anyone?). It is thought that misguidedEnglish translations of thedemonically possessed horse turned“devil fly” led to the coining of theword “dragon fly”. Swedish folklore

tells of the Devil using dragonflies tomeasure people’s souls.

But in Japan, with 200 species onthe islands, the dragonfly is a symbolof courage, strength and happiness. InNorth America, dragonflies appear inHopi rock art, Zuni pottery andPuebloan jewelry. For some NativeAmericans, the dragonfly representedactivity and speed. For the Navajo,living in the parched southwest, thedragonfly symbolized pure water, a

precious commodity. No doubt thepresence of dragonflies meant thatwater was somewhere nearby.

Either way, evil or benign,dragonflies don’t bite or sting. It iswonderfully ironic that JohannChristian Fabricius gave us theidentification Odonata in the 18thcentury, borrowing from the Greek for“toothed ones”. Odonata have no teethbut they do possess powerfulmandibles and, if you hold one’smouth against your skin, it willinstinctively try to bite. It takes thebiggest among them to produce even alittle pinch. How big? The biggest ofall Odonata are found in Central

America and Australia, withwingspans up to 19 centimetres (seveninches) and bodies 10 centimetres(four inches) long. Fossilized Odonatahave been found with wingspans up to75 centimetres (30 inches) but thesegargantuans are long gone from theearth.

It’s easy to attract dragonflies toyour garden. A diversity of shrubs andtrees provide hiding places for themand a variety of blooming plants will

attract the smallpollinators thatmake up so muchof their diet.Some suggestedgarden plants areblack-eyed Susans(Rudbeckia hirta),milkweeds(Asclepias spp.)and Joe-Pye weed(Eupatoriumspp.). Of course,if you maintain agenerous varietyof native plantsin your gardens,you will attractthe nativepollinatorstypically found inyour corner ofthe continent andlocal dragonflieswill follow.

Installing a water garden is the firstand fastest way to attract dragonfliesbut such gardens can also cultivatemosquitoes. If you can tolerate themosquitoes, iridescent damsels anddragons will thank you.

Evan Cantor is a musician, artist anddragonfly-jewelry fan living in Boulder,Colorado. He considers himself lucky tohave few mosquitoes in his gardens butplenty of iridescent blue damsels anddragons. To borrow from both Odonataand Nietzsche: life without courage,strength, happiness and pure waterwould be a mistake.

Continued from page 11

Twelve-spotted skimmer on blazing star (Liatris sp.)

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by Stephen Johnson and Mary Stark

In early spring, Jefferson County Park– an open, understoried, but rapidly

closing forest of 227 acres (91hectares) near Fairfield, Iowa –appears fairly clear of invasive species,but, as the seasons advance, the parkflora reveals itself to be almost asmuch Asian as North American. Thenative eastern redbud (Cerciscanadensis) – one of the earliestflowering Midwestern trees – is beingmarginalized in the park by Amurhoneysuckle (Lonicera maackii) whilethe native nannyberry (Viburnumlentago) shares the trailside withtartarian honeysuckle (L. tartarica).Wild gooseberry (Ribes missouriense)is being elbowed out by both Japanesebarberry (Berberis thunbergii) andmulti-floral rose (Rosa multiflora)while garlic mustard (Alliariapetiolata) quick steps through theunderstorey. Even the East Asianwinter creeper (Euonymus fortunei)and Nanking cherry (Prunustomentosa) make appearances. To us,the park is still magical, so we work toslow down the spread of garlicmustard and young Amurhoneysuckle, the invasives that aremost easily removed.

Perhaps one reason why the park is

floristically dichotomous is itsindustrial history. From the late 19thcentury into the 1970s, trainstraversed the region. The main trail

into the park is thebed of one of theoldest rail lines in thearea and an oldrailroad crossing signwelcomes walkers.Within the park aretwo or moreabandoned railroadcars that providerisky adventure forlocal people of allages. These oldrailroad cars toppledinto a ravine and areonly visible from thenature path duringthe winter when thedeciduous trees andshrubs are leafless.

Was the appearance and spread ofalien plants related to the railroads?How have the native plantsmanaged to survive thisonslaught? Were some of thenative species introduced bysettlers? These are questionsyet to be answered. Followingthe railroad era of continuousdisturbance, the area was setaside as a park. A countyconservation board officialtold us that a Fairfield coupleplanted several species ofwildflowers in the 1980s butno record has been found ofthe species planted or howthey fared. This only adds tothe mystery.

Despite the seriousencroachment by alien plants,the park contains many nativespecies commonly foundelsewhere and several specieswe’ve either rarely seen or notseen at all in other naturalareas in Iowa. One of themost attractive wildflowers isalso the earliest. As its namesuggests, snow trillium

(Trillium nivale) emerges and extendsits delicate white petals just as the soilaround it is beginning to thaw. Snowtrillium grows in a small area of thepark at the base of oak trees andwithin sight of the abandoned boxcars. This is the only population ofsnow trillium we have yet found inIowa. The 200 square foot (20 squaremetre) area containing this trillium isunder constant siege by itinerant,native wild gooseberry, but even moreso by the relentless garlic mustard.The latter persistent biennial brings tomind a line from Shakespeare’s HenryVI: “Now ’tis spring, and weeds areshallow-rooted; Suffer them now andthey’ll o’ergrow the garden/ And chokethe herbs for want of husbandry.” So,each time we visit the park we pullnew garlic mustard rosettes from thesite.

As snow trillium flowers begin tofade, more common spring flowersemerge. We have been monitoring asmall clump of sharp-lobed liverleaf

SUMMER 2014 13NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Our Magical Mystery Tour in Jefferson County Park, Iowa

Continued on page 14

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Collinsia verna, a true blue obsession of 19th century naturalistThomas Nuttall

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Anemonella thalictroides, charming, delicate harbinger of spring

14 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2014

(Hepatica nobilis var. acuta) in a verylimited area by the trailside. Thisclump of less than 10 plants isinteresting to us because at least twoplants have flowers of a deep velvetypurple. We have seen otherpopulations of this liverleaf butnowhere else have plants shown ussuch a rich colour. On the other sideof the trail just opposite the liverleaf isa population of bloodroot(Sanguinaria canadensis) covering aspace of 40 square feet (four squaremetres). This cluster is so large thatwhen the plants are in flower the arealooks like it just received a coating ofsnow. However, the “snow” isflickering with the frenetic activity ofandrenid bees. We have even observedthe bees mating on the flowers.

Soon after Hepatica has faded, thebicoloured flowers of blue-eyed Mary(Collinsia verna) appear. Blue-eyedMary is one of the only true-blue-flowered native plants in easternNorth America. The colour could beachieved either by using a bluepigment called delphinidin or byplacing the common purple- colouredphytochemical anthocyanin into amore neutral or basic cellularenvironment causing the chemical’snormal purple colour to be blue. Thefamous 19th century plant explorerThomas Nuttall was so fond of theplant that when he discovered that hehad lost his original specimen hecombed through four eastern states tofind another. Sadly, he wasunsuccessful.

Flowering simultaneously withCollinsia is the park’s second trillium,which goes by the misnomer prairietrillium. This common name ismisleading because Trilliumrecurvatum grows in open forests andnot in open grasslands. Unlike therestricted snow trillium, T. recurvatumis widespread in the park.

Infrequent spring flora along thetrail include miterwort (Mitelladiphylla) with its tiny but finelydissected white flowers as preciselyfashioned as snowflakes, and wild leek

(Allium tricoccum) which is easier tosee before it flowers when its wideleaves are still present. One of ourfavourite stories suggests that the areanow known as Chicago was once a wetbottomland full of wild leek that theMenominee named Shi-Ka-Ko or“place that stinks.”

Another early flower that appearshere and only in one other park wevisit is rue anemone (Anemonellathalictroides) with its crystallinewatermelon-pink sepals. Oftenseen alongside it are thesporadic drooping petals ofwhite fawn lily (Erythroniumalbidum) with a corolla thatresembles the pointed andrecurved lace hats oftraditional North Holland(Volendam) women.

The genus Viola is as well-represented here as it is infreedom lawns. Here the blueviolet (V. pratincola) and itswoodland doppelganger Violasororia (sororia meaningsisterly) rub shoulders withthe not so common. Lesscommon is the downy yellowviolet (V. pubescens).Uncommon are cream violet(V. striata) found only inJefferson County andneighbouring Van BurenCounty, and what appears tobe a hybrid of Missouri violet(Viola missouriensis) and V.soraria.

Later-flowering herbs are rare underthe ever-deepening shade cast by bothnative trees and invasive shrubs. Onlycareful observation reveals suchhidden gems as whorled milkweed(Asclepias quadrifolia), miterwort, andgreen dragon (Arisaema dracontium).By contrast, the lavender trumpets ofsmooth ruellia (Ruellia strepens) arewaiting beside the trail to be seen andadmired. The showier flowers ofruellia disappear to be replaced byminiscule inflorescences such as thecommon pale pink-flowered pointedtick-trefoil (Desmodium glutinosum)

and nearby, the similar, but unrelated,lopseed (Phryma leptostachya).Lopseed flowers are tiny, delicate,pink-tinged white trumpets, onlyabout 1/16th inch (1.5 millimetres)long. Lopseed complements the Asianconnection since it is also native toChina – but only discovered in Taiwanin 2005.

Even more easily overlooked are themarble-white flowers of enchanter’snightshade (Circaea lutetiana ssp.

canadensis). Although the plants areinconspicuous when in flower, if youhike in the woods when enchanter’snightshade is in fruit, you willremember it as the plant that knityour socks into knots. The fruit isburr-like, sticking to fur and clothing,a good zoochorous reproductionstrategy.

The collection of canopy trees in thepark is somewhat different fromelsewhere in the state. Among thetypical white oak (Quercus alba) andblack oak (Q. velutina) found state-wide are three oaks of more southerlydistribution. The most distinct is the

Continued from page 13

Silene stellata, an indicator of good qualityhabitat

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Southern Bounty: How to Grow and EnjoySoutheastern Native Fruits and Nuts by Trey WatsonLegg Creek Publishing ISBN 061581568596 pagesAvailable at www.amazon.com/Southern-Bounty-Southeastern-Native-Fruits/dp/0615815685 in paperback or onKindle.

Southern Bounty is a small book written withlove and devotion. Trey Watson is a Texasgardener who owns Legg Creek Farm LLC, anursery specializing in native fruit-bearing plants for thesoutheastern U.S. His credentials include a degree inhorticulture and a Masters in environmental science.

Apart from the chapters on soils and propagation, eachchapter covers the natural habitat and background of onefruit or nut plant, placement of the tree or vine, care andmaintenance once the specimen is in the ground, growthhabit, propagation of the plant, and – the fun part – eatingor “preserving your harvest.” Colour photos of each plant aswell as its flowers, fruits or nuts accompany each entry.Many of the trees and shrubs documented can be grownelsewhere in North America and other temperate climates.

This book is not for the outright beginner.However, if a person has started into nativeplants and is looking for some sage andsimple advice, this book would serve themwell. For example, where the soil requiresmore acidity for a particular plant, thatrequirement is stated clearly. Take it from onewho has ignored that wisdom in the past andpaid the price: heed it! Other plants are moretolerant of soil types, moisture regimen, sun orshade, and the reader will discover thisinformation in the book.

I am partial to trees – big ones – such as thehickories (Carya spp.), walnut (Juglans nigra), andpersimmon (Diospyros virginiana) included in the

book. I was surprised to discover that what I’ve been tellingpeople for many years about persimmon fruit is not quitecorrect: the fruit must undergo a frost before it is edible.Not so apparently, and thank you Trey for setting thatrecord straight.

I commend this book to all lovers of native plants.

Review by Tom AtkinsonTom is a self-proclaimed tree freak living in Toronto. For thosewith an eye to names, your challenge is to discover what hisemail ID refers to: [email protected].

SUMMER 2014 15NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

produce fruit, you should plant at leasttwo. Half a dozen is even better!Spicebush is dioecious, meaning thatindividuals will possess only male orfemale flowers, not both. Therefore,you will need a male and a femaleplant to ensure that one producesviable fruit (flower buds and flowersare necessary to determine theindividual’s sex). In my experience,

spicebush will grow much better in asheltered and partially shaded locationthan an exposed one. If it is planted ina good location you will be rewardedwith growth of two-thirds of a metre(two feet) per year or more (even onclay)!

With its early spring flowers, brightberries, fall colour and uniquefragrance, spicebush is striking in

every season. If you venture into adeciduous forest of eastern NorthAmerica don’t be surprised to findyour nose drawing you towards thisdelightful shrub.

Mark Funk works as a forestry specialistat the Grand River ConservationAuthority in Cambridge, Ontario.

Continued from page 1 – Spicebush

New & Noted

entire-leaved laurel oak (Q. imbrecaria). In climate science thepresence of such entire-leaved speciesindicates a climate generally warmerthan that found just 50 miles (80kilometres) north as in Pella, Iowa.The other more southern oak speciesare the extremely long-peduncledswamp white oak (Q. bicolor) and pinoak (Q. palustris) that grow in a fairlystraight band from Virginia to

southeast Iowa.The town of Fairfield is perhaps

best-known as the site of theMaharishi International School ofManagement founded by MaharishiMahesh Yogi in 1973. This brings tomind the encounter between thisVedic sage and the Beatles in 1967.Two of their songs, “Magical MysteryTour” and “Strawberry Fields Forever,”come to mind during our visits. The

former aptly describes our tours ofJefferson County Park, while the latterpopped into our heads when we saw arare stolon of wild strawberry(Fragaria virginiana) on the trail.Magical indeed.

Stephen Johnson is fascinated bytrilliums and other floral surprizes. Mary Stark is interested in the literaryconnections to plants.

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