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)