August Views of an Upland Meadow in Connecticut

During my August wanderings and seed collecting I came upon a wonderful example of an Upland Meadow at Westmoor Park.  I took many pictures to serve as records of what a well-established native plant meadow looks like.

"Turkey Foot" is an appropriate common name.

Andropogon gerardii

"Big Bluestem" can be seen here.

 Andropogon gerardii is a bunchgrass which prefers full sun, and will thrive in moist to slightly dry conditions, excellent in an upland meadow location.
It is an excellent wildlife plant...  feeding many grasshoppers (this is good because you can plant it as a trap plant around crops)  Check out this link:  Grasshoppers




"Tall bluestem"  & "bluejoint" are other common names for this native prairie plant.  It also is host to several caterpillars of various Skippers:  The Delaware Skipper, Dusted Skipper, Leonard's Skipper, Cobweb Skipper, Ottoe Skipper, Indian Skipper & Byssus Skipper.  It is an important food plant  for the "Short-winged Meadow Katydid", "Sword-bearing Conehead" and Thrips, Billbugs & Leaf-hoppers.  Don't forget the seedheads for the grain-eating birds..  Field Sparrow, Tree Sparrow & Chipping Sparrow.  Foliage is good fare for herbivores / livestock, as well as the Prairie & Meadow Vole.

 Meadows appreciate some bright color. As do our native Pollinators... Here we are hosting  a variety of native bees.    

  


  You will find many different sizes from the tiny sweat bees up through  the solitary bees, the mason bees , carpenter bees and the queen bees you may occasionally catch glimpses of.

Silphium integrifolium

 


 Wasps also come in several sizes and varieties, with most being beneficial in plant pollination or by using pest insects to feed their young.












 


  
 Having seen such great 
examples of a Native Plant
Meadow here in Connecticut, 
I began to concentrate on 
collecting seed for propagation
of natives that would do well 
in an open meadow area.   

Ratibida pinnata

It appears that this strategy was working...  I obtained good quantities of locally sourced (local eco-type) seed as they ripened. Plus...  I was able to keep busy and not fret so much as I awaited further development on the possible new location.
 


 






 I would be able to use any local sourced seed to establish a native meadow within that eco-region of the potential property...   When and if the proposal for "Eden's Natives Nursery--Wildlife Habitat and Education Center"   was approved.

Growing Eden's Natives has benefited from networking with many organizations throughout Connecticut.  This August things started looking more promising for finalizing a location to which I could move the nursery.  Although things always move more slowly than we may prefer...  It seemed that we were making progress.  Taking pictures of local eco-type natives might help me focus on positive thoughts.

 These photos of Sambucus canadensis were taken at Auer Farm in Bloomfield, on August 1st, 2014.  They are a great example of a native edible that can be grown for human consumption as well as wildlife use.  Having a variety of ripeness within the same grouping allows everyone to share the bounty, and prolongs the harvest.    



Westmoor Park in West Hartford has many gardens to admire...   and many use plants that are native to North America.  I also took pictures of these demonstrations of native horticulture as most were mature and beautiful. 

The Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden was developed in 2002 through a Wildlife Habitat Project Grant.  This native vine, Lonicera sempervirens, is a true Hummingbird magnet.  Known as Coral Honeysuckle it serves as host for the caterpillars of Spring Azure butterflies and Snowberry clearwing moths.  After pollination the bright red fruits are sought after by Quail, Purple Finches, Goldfinches, Hermit Thrushes, and American Robins....


Also in the garden, this Pycnanthemum tenuifolium draws attention with hoards of pollinators descending upon the blooms...  from the unusual to the common:   wasps (Bee Wolves are an example) bees (Long-tongued bees for example) flies, beetles, butterflies, skippers and plant bugs all seek nectar from this clumping native mint.

Here, the Narrowleaf Mountain Mint is hosting a Double Banded Scoliid Wasp (Scolia bicincta) & you can just catch a glimpse of the blue underwings.    Note that the slender foliage has a distinct minty smell and can be dried for use in teas.  It is an excellent plant to use if deer are present...  they avoid the minty foliage in most cases.


I have successfully become enamored of native plants in local public areas and am now on a quest to see what other native plant demonstrations I can locate. Photography helps me document relationships between plants and wildlife, and pinpoint locations for possible seed collection.  So far, most native plant advocates and growers gladly give permission for a 10% collection of seed.  One must always leave enough for wildlife habitat usage and species continuation, and in the wild this is most important...  in a garden setting, being able to find mature seeds is a challenge...  Super vigilant gardeners often dead-head flowers rather than leave the seeds for birds and wildlife to consume (or in my case--gather seed for future propagation)

Snow is in the Forecast for Tuesday & Wednesday in Connecticut... Will we ever see spring flowers?

Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex

Double Bloodroot has an interesting history.  Originally found by Mr. Guido von Webern on his property in Dayton, Ohio in 1916, this amateur botanist protected his find.  As it grew, he divided it and gave three divisions away.  Apparently the propagation & distribution of his clone within the horticultural world is attributed to Henry Teuscher of Montreal Botanic Gardens. 

Sanguinaria canadensis

Thus we have this delightful mutation to entrance us humans.  The pollinators are not able to enjoy this fully double flower, as with many of like ilk, there is no pollen or nectaries available to them...   therefore no seed is produced... division (or cloning) is the only means of reproducing this plant.  Please remember this and provide the single bloom native in your environment as an early pollen source for our native miner bees. (These single plants do not produce nectar either...  the attraction is the contrasting white & yellow colors)

March 12, 2014 snow melt starting

 Eden's Natives are still under snow cover...  only the edges are melting from the remaining Magnesium Chloride mixture used on our roads....  which, FYI,  is another reason not to grow edibles within reach of that contamination....   Traditionally the bloodroot here begins blooming in the first week or two of April.  Whether the weather will dump more snow this week remains to be seen.  

Bloglovin link attempt

Follow "Growing Eden's Natives" with Bloglovin

 Supposedly this will allow people to follow the blog with Bloglovin....  We will at least attempt it...   I can't seem to get comments up and running...  Maybe this will work though....   crossed fingers & wishing may do it....  It doesn't seem like computer savvy has anything to do with it!!

Wildlife Habitat--What is Eden's Natives supporting this week?

Snow Snow Snow--

Eden's Natives are Buried ...  

18-24 inches of hard packed snow covers most of the yard....  Empty seed heads of perennial sunflower, coneflower, joe pye weed, ironweed & liatris are rising above the reflective white surface.  Only a few goldenrod & autumn clematis appear to have any seed remaining.  The american cranberry is still holding on to a few shriveled up, but still red fruit.   As with the crabapple, haw & aronia, these small trees & shrubs hold their fruit through freezes & thaws until the sugars are intensified...  Often they remain until spring migrants arrive so they can provide needed nourishment upon their return to breeding territory.

 Northern Cardinal-Male

The Northern Cardinal is now a year-round resident in Connecticut. Other birds are also enjoying the bounty of natural foods in the garden, our heated water feature & our black oil sunflower, thistle, suet, peanut butter & of course the Cardinals favorite- safflower seeds. 

I think I saw a big bad hawk!!!  Geronimo!!  (Tufted Titmouse)

 We have been hosting many year-round residents:   Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Black-Capped Chickadee, House Finch, American Goldfinch, & all, even the American Robin, have been frequenting our water trays.

White Throated Sparrow

Northern visitors for the winter have included WhiteThroated Sparrow & Dark-Eyed Junco....

American Tree Sparrow

We have our first arrival from down south...  
the Tree sparrow is here now, we should be
 seeing the Fox Sparrow next...

Fox Sparrow

Pussy Willow beginning to break dormancy

 In our wetlands we are catching glimpses of the first of the season bloomers....

Skunk Cabbage

 

Skunk Cabbage heat-producing flower

 Along the line of continuing education:  There is a free workshop tomorrow @ Tolland Agricultural Center that is being presented by the North Central Conservation District to support their coming Native Plant & Seedling sale in April.  The catalog & pre-order information is here:  NCCD's Plant & Seedling Sale

Jane Seymour showing Belding WMA wildlife habitat

  Saturday, March 8 at TAC in Vernon
10:00 am - Noon   Landscaping for Wildlife: Using Native Plants to Sustain Wildlife in your Backyard
Leading up to this year's annual NCCD Spring Seedling Sale, Jane Seymour, Wildlife Technician with the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Steward of the Belding Wildlife Management Area in Vernon will be presenting this workshop to inform the public how to use native plants in your yard to attract and benefit wildlife.


 Eden's Natives Nursery will have Native Perennials available for sale to benefit NCCD at the pick-up sites April 11&12, 2014.

Our Business Card/Information Stand

GROWING EDEN'S NATIVES

Eden's Natives Nursery Trailer with dormant native perennials.

Growing plants in an organic natural cycle environment does not mean that the grower is dormant while the plants are.  Gaining knowledge is a very active process during winter months, while the opportunities seem to be multiplying every year.  The plethora of events, whether they are designated seminars, symposiums, conferences or workshops are almost overwhelming.  How do you choose which educational opportunities are most beneficial?  

 Overview of the Ct Flower & Garden Show exhibits.

 What process do you pursue?  1st come 1st serve?  I volunteer for many organizations & often have to prioritize my efforts.  Most recently I volunteered throughout the Connecticut Flower & Garden Show.  This was an opportunity to help publicize many of Connecticut's non-profit horticultural related groups within one venue.

 Thanks to John Murphy for coordinating

 the Rhododendron Society of Connecticut display.

One of the "Backyard Paradise" exhibitors within the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut displays was the Rhododendron Society of Connecticut.   This group meets monthly on the first Tuesday, @ the Windsor Experiment Station (CAES conference room) for a 7:30pm presentation.  Their next meeting is this coming Tuesday, March 4th with Tom Ahern, who has been hybridizing Rhodos for over 20 years in his Pa. garden, presenting  his lecture "Rhododendrons & More". Rhododendron Society Of Connecticut Facebook 
 

Azalea "Marie Hoffman" was forced by nurseryman Dick Jayne.  His wife Sally, Tom & Jon pose with him at the Rhododendron Society of Connecticut display.