NativeSCAPE Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society
Help for Our Native Hemlocks By Mary Tucker Page 10
Our native hemlocks are dying due to a spreading infestation of the hemlock woolly
adelgid (HWA), an aphid-like insect native to Asia. Hope for biological control of
the infestation comes in the form of a tiny black beetle that feeds on the adelgid.
July 2009
Volume XV, Number 3
President’s Message 2
Restoration News 17
Plant Rescue News 18
Chapter News 19
Upcoming GNPS Events 20
Member Page 21
Newsletter Editor
Sharon Parry
Newsletter staff: Ellen Honeycutt and Lisa Betz, Proofreaders NativeSCAPE is published quarterly by the Georgia Native Plant Society. A subscription is included with membership in the
GNPS.
Copyright 2009 by the Georgia Native Plant Society. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without
permission of the author.
Walking with Wildflowers By Gina Strickland Page 13
Try to imagine cool wooded valleys with winding roads beside roaring green-blue
rivers. Broad embankments of trillium in bloom outside your car window as you
pass. High mountain top pull-offs with vistas with no cities in sight below.
Rescuing in Woodlands - Observations By Jeane Saylor Reeves Page 3
Our Georgia woods are a wonder, filled in all seasons with treasures, beauty, and
release from the pressures of daily life. When we stroll or hike into a rescue site
with the intent of saving plants from the imminent, catastrophic effects of earth-
moving machines, our hearts are in the right place.
Hickories By Ken Gohring Page 7
Trees of the Carya genus are found primarily in North America. While taxonomists
differ regarding classification of some plants, 12 distinct species and many
varieties are currently recognized as being native to the United States.
About Mushrooms By Mary Woehrel Page 12
Mushrooms were once thought to be part of the plant kingdom. With the
introduction of DNA analysis, it was found that they actually have more in common
with animals than with plants.
Black's Bluff and Wolf Creek Preserve By Ed McDowell Page 16
In September of 2008, the board of directors made the decision to contribute
significant gifts from reserve funds to two specific land management organizations -
The Nature Conservancy, Georgia Chapter, to assist with the expansion of the
Black’s Bluff Preserve in Floyd County and the Wolf Creek Preserve in Grady
County.
2
I’m amazed at how lush the woodland plants have become as a result of all the
wonderful rain we’ve had this spring. I especially noticed the trillium - during the
drought they were quite small with few flowers, and this year they are huge with
many of them blooming. I’ve learned a lot from observing native plants in their
natural habitat and how they adapt to weather cycles, often much better than non-
native ones.
We had a spectacular members only garden tour April 19. A big thanks to our
members who allowed us to tour their gardens and to Jane Trentin and Nancy
Goodwin for arranging the tour. If you missed the tour check it out on our website at
www.gnps.org. Speaking of our website, Mike is constantly updating and adding new
information, so be sure to check it out often.
In response to our February survey, our July and September meetings will not be held
at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Visit our website for more details. Carol Brantley
has volunteered to coordinate car pooling to our meetings. If you are interested in
participating, contact her at [email protected]. There is more information
below.
Congratulations to Barbara Dorfman, Karen McCaustland and to all of you who
volunteered at the plant sale at Stone Mountain Park. It was a great success.
Barbara and Karen are considering holding another sale this fall. We’ll keep you
posted as plans are made. Also at Stone Mountain Park, Marshall Wilson has
volunteered to be our Propagation Chairperson. If you want to learn more on
propagation, attend some of their workdays. It will be well worth your time.
My last reminder is that the Heritage Park workdays are the 2nd Saturday of each
month from 10-12. It is a great opportunity to learn more about our native plants in
a beautiful park setting.
President’s Message By Marcia Winchester
NativeSCAPE July 2009 Georgia Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 422085
Atlanta, GA
30342-2085
www.gnps.org
770-343-6000
GNPS Board of Directors
President
Marcia Winchester
Vice President
Kathryn Gable
Secretary
Shirley Center
Treasurer
Paula Reith
Members-at-Large:
Tom Painter
Dick Reeves
Don Stewart
Director of Communications
Sharon Parry
Director of Conservation
David Zaparanick
Director of Education
Ellen Honeycutt
Director of Membership
Mary Lou Cannamela
Carpooling in July!! Here is a chance to get to know other members, protect the environment and help your own budget. If you would like to help us test carpooling, send an email to [email protected] with the information noted below. Having as many replies as possible allows us to suggest convenient carpool groups --- it does not obligate you to participate nor promise a carpool for you. Send your information as soon as possible so that potential carpool members can be notified and plan their trips to our next meeting on July 14, in Alpharetta. 1. Name (yours) 2. Address with ZIP (the one from which you intend to carpool) 3. Best phone number 4. Email 5. Driving preference (choose one): Driver (my auto has at least 4 seats with belts, good insurance and reliable AC) Navigator (willing to mapquest or be able to read maps) Passenger (will have at least one joke and refrain from driving advice OR I don’t want to clean out the dog hair from my car) 6. Suggested meeting location (grocery or other public parking areas that are safe and don’t interfere with business)
3
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Our Georgia woods are a wonder, filled in all seasons
with treasures, beauty, and release from the pressures
of daily life. When we stroll or hike into a rescue site
with the intent of saving plants from the imminent,
catastrophic effects of earthmoving machines, our
hearts are in the right place. These native plants,
from small trees and lovely shrubs to delicate
wildflowers and graceful ferns, can and will adapt to
new, safe homes. But, to ensure their survival, each
rescuer should be aware, alert, and contemplative as
to the plants’ indigenous situations.
There are a number of factors that aren’t readily
apparent to the novice rescuer, and even seasoned
rescuers sometimes fail to consider that each plant has
its own needs. Some flora are even ―picky‖ when it
comes to relocation. For instance, native orchids
(Cypripedium spp.), trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens),
running ground pine (Lycopodium digitatum), and
horse sugar (Symplocos tinctoria), although different
in their needs, are all demanding, but well worth the
effort of educating oneself. Of course we all know
that moisture, light, and food are the basic elements
that all plants require in varying amounts. But other
factors aren’t so obvious, and even moisture, light,
and food aren’t so simple.
A water-loving plant growing on the bank of a stream
is there because it needs the oxygen contained in
moving, bubbling water. Gentians (Gentiana spp.),
cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), foamflower
(Tiarella cordifolia), and grass-of Parnassus (Parnassia
asarifolia) come to mind. Other plants such as Jack-in
-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and Virginia
sweetspire (Itea virginica) are found in damp or boggy
conditions, and are at their happiest there. Northern
maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), wild hydrangea
(Hydrangea arborescens), mountain laurel (Kalmia
latifolia), and galax (Galax urceolata), among others,
often prefer the conditions they find at the top of
stream banks and ravines. While they need ample
moisture, they hate ―wet feet.‖ Once in a while, a
plant will be noticed growing out of context, so to
speak. For instance, a southern lady fern (Athyrium
filix-femina) might be spotted at the top of a dry
slope; that doesn’t mean that lady ferns like dry
conditions. On the contrary, there is probably an
underground seep close by.
Seasoned native plant gardeners come to realize that
certain plants, such as foamflower, galax, and
Shuttleworth ginger (Hexastylis shuttleworthii), can be
moved into a garden setting and will do quite well.
While, in their natural settings, they prefer given
conditions, these amenable plants manage nicely
elsewhere, as long as they are given dappled sunlight,
adequate water, and decent soil.
About water: we have found that most native plants,
if given the choice, would reject chlorinated tap or
hose water in favor of rainwater. Since that isn’t
always an option – the years-long drought has made us
vividly aware of the glory of a soaking rainstorm – the
next best thing is to collect tap water in containers
and let it stand for a day or so. Just keep it lightly
covered to let the chlorine gases escape and keep out
mosquitoes.
Cardinal flower and green-and-gold (Chrysogonum
virginianum) are two of a fairly small number of plants
that need to be kept free of winter leaf litter. If these
wildflowers with winter rosettes are planted on slopes,
(Continued on page 4)
Rescuing in Woodlands - Observations By Jeane Saylor Reeves (Reprinted from the April 2003 NativeSCAPE for the benefit of our newer members.)
Pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) Photo: Robert Baker
4
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Rescuing in Woodlands - Observations Continued from Page 3
the canopy’s autumn leaves will slide off and let
winter sunshine in to do its work.
Another horticultural consideration is that some plants
require certain minerals, enzymes, or fungi for
obtaining or assimilating nutrients. For example, if a
downy rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera pubescens) is to
survive in a new site, a good quantity of the
surrounding, allied soil should accompany it. It should
then quickly be placed in a comparable wooded
setting. At that point, and with proper watering, the
gardener can only hope for the best.
On the contrary, other plants, such as Christmas fern
(Polystichum acrostichoides), Catesby trillium
(Trillium catesbaei), and mouse-eared coreopsis
(Coreopsis auriculata), are an easy pleasure. Another
agreeable fern, the small, charming ebony spleenwort
(Asplenium platyneuron), enjoys often acidic, less-
than-moist soil. It can be found colonizing on
disturbed soil (once, even in a local vineyard!), or
among lichen-spotted rocks on small, mossy ridges.
Please do keep in mind that a clump of green that is
seemingly insignificant, even boring in appearance,
may sport delightful flowers, fall color, or berries in
another season. And there are a few plants, such as
toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) and cranefly orchis
(Tipularia discolor), whose foliage appears in late
autumn and remains green through the winter, while
flowering in the spring and going dormant for the
summer. It really does serve a new rescuer well to
study a few books on native plants and to keep the
eyes and ears open to learn from other rescuers.
When we are fortunate enough to have a rescue site
that holds trout lilies (Erythronium spp.), we quickly
learn that the bulbs, more often than not, are nestled
among rocks under the soil. The rocks help prevent
rodents from digging and eating the bulbs, and they
also provide a cool root run. (By the way, trout lily
bulbs, as they gow older and bigger, work themselves
deeper into the ground; we must allow for that when
we dig, so as not to sever the bulbs. Another aside:
we find trout lilies in a given site springing from the
tops of mesic hillocks, growing down the slopes, and
almost into creeks.)
In fact, many plants benefit from including local stones
in the planting hole. In addition to a cool root run, the
rocks aerate soil that may otherwise become
compacted over time. Some plants such as hepatica
(Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa) and Oconee azalea
(Rhododendron flammeum) grow best in rocky, dryish
soil that has a rather high lime content. Even here in
our lower piedmont, with its many acid-loving plants,
we find pockets of basic (high pH) soil and the plants
that thrive in them. A quick mention of another factor
is that of ―lean‖ soil. The preference for some plants,
such as bird’s-foot violet (Viola pedata) and certain
asters (formerly Aster spp., now reclassified into
several genera), is for dirt that is not rich and friable
but rather thin, sometimes hard-packed, and usually
dry, often in sunnier sites. Erma Bombeck, the late
columnist, once wrote of rearing her children with
―benign neglect.‖ Sometimes green things, too, don’t
take to being coddled.
Rescuers need to consider that some plants, from
buckeye (Aesculus spp.) to Shuttleworth ginger, have
root systems that require special attention. Their
(Continued on page 5)
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) Photo: Robert Baker
5
Rescuing in Woodlands - Observations Continued from Page 4
roots are few in number, and therefore, must be
worked out of their homes with care. Patience is a
virtue – in fact, perhaps a matter of vegetative life or
death. But with any plant, don’t give up too soon if it
seems to have passed into the Great Beyond. ―Goner‖
shrubs and trees, while appearing to be dried-up
sticks, may send out new growth from the roots or
stems a year, or even two, later.
As for small trees, some are readily transplanted;
others hate being moved. Beech (Fagus americanus)
and chalk maple (Acer leucoderme) are quite tolerant,
while redbud (Cercis canadensis), which seeds
abundantly, often rebels at having its taproot
disturbed. Rescuers have joked over the years about a
small number of plants ―dying just to spite you.‖ Of
course, trees and shrubs are certainly more amenable
to being uprooted during dormancy. Unfortunately
this isn’t usually an option at a site on the verge of
being developed. Selective pruning can help lessen
the strain on the plant.
Along the same lines, it is important to keep in mind
that the ferns, wildflowers, trees, and shrubs one
comes across on a rescue in the woods emerged
through seed dispersal or offshoots. Almost never
were they dug from another place and plopped into
new sites. While we rescuers must do just that, extra
care – especially regular watering for a year or so – will
help to ensure their survival. Some of these stressed
plants may wilt badly, especially in the heat of
summer. (Again, cutting the foliage back can reduce
the strain on the roots.) Others, surprisingly, don’t
miss a beat and continue to adjust and thrive.
Canopy is another consideration; the treetop leaf
cover that starts out sparsely, with pioneering trees,
over the years becomes denser, heavily shading the
ground below. The plants that bloomed in bright
dappled shade may not do so when sunlight is notably
reduced. Piedmont azaleas (R. canescens), in
particular, might stop forming buds, even though the
shrubs themselves are quite healthy. Moving one
(while cutting it back as necessary) to a more open
area could be all it needs to start flowering again. The
larger lilies – Turk’s-cap (Lilium superbum), Carolina
(L. michauxii) – fall into the same category. Another
aspect of canopy is that, occasionally, rescuers will
discover a fresh point of view regarding flora that they
are only accustomed to seeing in a sunny spot. If
southern, or bull-bay, magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
is found in a rich, moist, wooded area, it will look so
different from its lawn or roadside version as to be
quite surprising. It grows tall and slender, not so laden
with leaves (and not usually blooming). In the winter
it reveals itself nicely through the stark hardwoods as
a bright, almost delicate, tower of green.
What about a rescuer who dearly wants that clump of
blooming fly poison (Amianthium muscitoxicum) but
can’t provide the loamy, wooded slope that is
commonly its choice? Or, say, a fine turtlehead
(Chelone spp.), thriving in a bright, damp swale? If
one studies the area in which a plant is distributed and
chooses a particular plant on the locale’s outer
reaches that most closely matches the new home
destination, chances for its survival improve.
(Genetics at work?) On the other hand, desire can and
should go only so far. Rescuers who can’t come close
to providing a suitable adoptive home are well advised
to let someone else with a more acceptable garden,
woodland, or creek setting take a treasure and keep it
healthy – or alive!
On a horticultural note, if a rescuer comes across a
plant that self-seeds readily, for instance Coreopsis
spp., Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica), or wild
geranium (Geranium maculatum), placing it at the
higher realms of a slope will help to ensure that the
seeds will work their way down over the years. A
―drift‖ of such a plant can be a lovely thing. Another
gardening tip: when one observes two or more plants
blooming at approximately the same time, and
appreciating the same conditions, placing them as
companions can create a delightful picture. Try the
pale yellow of bellwort (Uvularia spp.) nodding over
the dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), with its yellow
patch, for instance, or note how the rich, plumy red
NativeSCAPE July 2009
(Continued on page 6)
6
Rescuing in Woodlands - Observations Continued from Page 5
of sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus) is echoed in the
tiny dots of red seen in the white bells of mountain
laurel.
The education of a rescuer is a joyous thing for both
the neophyte and the facilitator or old hand who
helps. At the beginning of the learning curve, it may
all seem overwhelming, and even cause anxiety. But
our native plants are for the most part quite forgiving
and hearty. Out in the woods, after a few rescues are
―under the belt,‖ the many questions and concerns
soon give way to the camaraderie and good will that
pull us all together.
Our cause is good, and the results are a blessing. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
The family of Jeane Reeves attended the ceremony
dedicating her Native Fern Garden at the Georgia
Perimeter College Native Plant Botanical Garden, on May 2,
2009. From left to right: Jeane’s son Scott, Scott’s wife
Shirley, husband Dick, son Matt, and daughter Susan.
This sign marks the area dedicated to Jeane, the GNPS
founding member who developed the plant rescue program.
Nominations are now open for 2010
GNPS Plant of the Year!
This program promotes the recognition of
outstanding native plants and encourages a deeper
appreciation of our especially desirable native
plants.
GNPS members may nominate any plant which is
native to Georgia until 10/15/09. Please send your
nomination to [email protected]. Include
the common name, scientific name and your reason
for nominating your native plant in your nomination.
After the nomination process has closed, the
nominated native plants will be posted on the GNPS
website.
GNPS members will select the Plant of the Year by
voting either electronically or in person at the
November general meeting. Electronic voting either
via the GNPS website or by email ends at midnight
11/9/09 preceding the November 10th general
meeting. You may only vote once.
Below is the link to the annual winners and some
photos of the winning plants.
http://gnps.org/poy/Plant_of_the_Year.html
2000 GNPS Plant of the Year
7
In the backyard of my home, west of Marietta, are two
large trees whose presence dominates the area. The
trees are about 80 feet tall and are among oak and pine
trees. These trees are mockernut hickories (Carya
tomentosa). Mockernut hickory is one of a dozen
distinct species of hickories found in the United States.
I was somewhat excited to have hickories in my
backyard as I have had an attraction to hickories for
some time. On the small farm I grew up on in Missouri,
a large hickory stood on a small hill top at the rear of
our home. It was quite a bit different from the hickories
in my Georgia back yard. It was a shagbark hickory
(Carya ovata), characterized by bark that appears in
long plate-like strips, attached to the tree trunk in the
middle but loose elsewhere along its length. This
attractive shaggy appearance has resulted in the tree’s
common name.
The hickory trees growing on my small farm in Polk
County are shagbarks. However, they are a special
variety, sometimes called southern or Carolina shagbark
(Carya ovata var. australis or Carya ovata var. carolinae
septentrionalis). The southern shagbark has slightly
smaller nuts and more narrow and less hairy leaves and
the bark, while shaggy, is not as regular and tight as the
standard shagbark. The southern shagbark is usually
found in neutral soils, whereas the standard shagbark
prefers acidic soils.
The reason for my attraction to hickories is the fruit,
which as children we called ―hicker nuts.‖ The fruit
production of hickories is quite variable and is one
reason why hickories are not often grown as a
commercial crop. The shagbark near the home where I
grew up did not produce many nuts. The same was true
of other hickories on our farm, but there were numerous
hickory trees on neighboring farms that did produce
large crops of nuts with relatively thin shells. These
were eagerly sought for eating as a tasty treat and used
in pies similar to the way pecans are used today. While
the nut meats are not as easy to extract as pecans, the
taste in my opinion is superior. Usually the desirable
shagbark hickories would be found in open, relative dry
pasture areas.
As a youth I noticed hickory nuts for sale in grocery
stores. These nuts were quite a bit larger than the ones
that we gathered. These nuts were the fruit of the
shellbark hickory (Carya laciniosa). Shellbark hickory is
less common than shagbark, but it does have a large
natural growth area. It is primarily a Midwestern tree
whose range extends from western New York to eastern
Kansas. Its southern range includes Tennessee and some
specimens have been found in northwest Georgia. Its
bark is very similar to the shagbark, and in some areas
the species is called shagbark.
Trees of the Carya genus are found primarily in North
America. While taxonomists differ regarding
classification of some plants, 12 distinct species and
many varieties are currently recognized as being native
to the United States. Another is found in Mexico and
two or more are found in Southeast Asia. Carya is part
of the Juglandaceae family, which includes the walnuts.
The Carya species found in the US are divided into two
sections, Carya and Apocarya.
The first section, Carya, includes what are called true
hickories. The second, Apocarya, includes the water
hickory (Carya aquatica) and the bitternut hickory
(Carya cordiformis), which are both native to Georgia.
Both of these hickories have bitter fruit which is quite a
contrast to the other member of the section, the pecan.
Hickories By Ken Gohring
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Fruit of Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
Paul Wray, Iowa State University, www.forestryimages.org
(Continued on page 8)
8
Hickory trees are characterized as trees with deep
taproots, having a compound leaf structure and being
monoeocious (having both male and female flowers).
The male flowers are catkins up to several inches long
that produce pollen that fertilizes the smaller female
flowers which are spikes at the end of stalks. The
pollen is wind borne and is one of the tree pollens that
can cause spring allergies in those susceptible.
Hickory trees are one of the most useful and
commercially significant trees found in the forest.
Native Americans used hickory nuts as an important
food, produced by cracking the nuts, boiling them and
skimming off the oily substance, and using it like butter.
Early American settlers also used this product, called
hickory milk, as well. Native Americans also used the
wood in making bows.
For years the American chestnut was recognized as the
most valuable tree found in the southeast because of its
many uses. In many ways, the hickory has filled this
role. Hickory wood is strong and durable, and used in
products capable of withstanding strong vibrations. In
pioneer days, it was used to make wagon wheels and
textile looms. It is still used to make handles for tools.
The wood is also used for charcoal and for smoking
meat. It is an excellent fire wood and is highly desired
for this purpose. The wood is used by the furniture
industry. It is also used to produce syrup like that made
from maple trees.
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is considered one of the most
valuable cultivated plants originating in North America.
Thomas Jefferson planted pecans at Monticello and gave
some to George Washington. It is said that these pecans
are the oldest trees at Mt. Vernon. A large number of
pecan cultivars have been developed and named. They
vary in nut size (from 1 to 3 inches), flavor quality, shell
thickness, age at first bearing, disease resistance,
bearing tendency and length of time for crop maturity.
Some of these with thin shells are called ―paper shells‖.
Even though pecans are most likely not native to
Georgia, the state leads the nation in pecan production.
One cannot drive through middle to south Georgia
without seeing a large number of pecan groves. The
pecan is the largest of the hickories, growing to 130 feet
in height. Its large major limbs grow up and out in a
distinctive spreading manner. It is fairly easy to spot
these groves of pecans because of this growth feature.
In addition to providing delicious nuts, the wood is used
for flooring, cabinets and furniture.
While the pecan is the state tree of Texas, it got its
name because early settlers found it growing and being
used by Native Americans in Illinois. It is somewhat
difficult to determine its original range, but it is
believed to be primarily along the Mississippi River
drainage extending as far west as Texas and as far north
as southern Illinois.
Many of the hickories are native to Georgia. One of
these is the pignut hickory whose nuts were gathered by
early colonists and fed to swine, resulting in the
common name. Pignut hickory is quite common in the
southern Appalachians. Other hickories found in Georgia
are the sand hickory (Carya pallida) and the mockernut
(Carya tomentosa).
The nutmeg hickory (Carya myristiciformis) is rare and
has a quite limited range. The only substantial
population is near Selma, AL. It is sometimes called
swamp hickory because of its growth habit. The red
hickory (Carya ovalis) is much more common that the
nutmeg hickory. At one time it was thought to be a
hybrid of the shagbark and pignut hickories.
Hickories Continued from Page 7
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa) - Fall Foliage Photo Credit: Sharon Parry
(Continued on page 9)
9
Hickories Continued from Page 8
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Common Name Species Height Nut Size Leaf Size # Leaflets Ga Native
SECTION CARYA
Pignut glabra 60 - 80 ft 1/2 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 12 in. Usually 5 Yes
Shellbark laciniosa 70 - 100 ft. 2 to 2/12 in. 15 - 24 in. 5 - 9 Yes
Nutmeg myristiciformis To 80 ft. 1 to 1.2 in. 7 - 14 in. 5 - 9 Yes
Red ovalis 80 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 12 in. 5 - 9 Yes
Shagbark ovata To 120 ft. 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in. 8 - 14 in. 5 or 7 Yes
Southern Shagbark ovata var.australis 65 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/4 in. 5 - 12 in. 5 - 7 Yes
Sand pallida 30 - 80 ft. 3/4 to 1-1/2 in. 7 - 14 in. 5 - 9 Yes
Scrub floridana 10 - 20 ft. To 1-1/4 in. 8 - 12 in. 3 - 7 No
Black texana 20 - 30 ft. 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in. 6 - 12 in. 5 - 7 No
Mockernut tomentosa 50 - 80 ft. 1-1/2 to 2 in. 9 - 14 in. 7 - 9 Yes
SECTION APOCARYA
Water aquatica 70 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 16 in. 7 - 15 S. Ga
Bitternut cordiformis 60 - 80 ft. To 1 in. 7 - 10 in. 7 - 11 Yes
Pecan illinoinensis To 130 ft. 1-1/2 to 2 in. 12 - 18 in. 9 - 15 No
Common Name Nut Taste Bark Husk Range
SECTION CARYA
Pignut Bitter Scaly ridged Thin SE US, Mo east to NY, north to ME
Shellbark Good Shaggy Thick MO east to PA, south through TN
Nutmeg Edible Fissured Thick Rare, scattered SC to east TX, most in AL
Red Sweet Shaggy & Ridges Thin SE US, MO east to NY, north to ME
Shagbark Delicious Shaggy Thick Eastern US, excluding so. part of so. States
Southern Shagbark Edible Shaggy Thick Heart of Dixie, NC through MS
Sand Edible Deep furrows Thick Confederacy excluding TX, FL, so. GA & so. SC
Scrub Edible Smooth, ridges Thick Central FL
Black Edible Deep furrows Thin TX north to OK & MO
Mockernut Edible Ridges, furrows Thick So. states north to IL & PA
SECTION APOCARYA
Water Bitter Fissured, scales Thin MS River Valley & Coastal South to NC
Bitternut Very Bitter Furrowed Thin Eastern States excluding Gulf coast
Pecan Excellent Thin broken strips Thin MS River Valley west to central TX
The following tables detail some features of the hickories found in the US. It is not intended to be a definitive aid
to species identification. Most of the references cited have keys that can be used for this purpose.
Sources:
Brown, Claude and L. Katherine Kirkman 1990. Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. Portland, OR. Timber Press.
Harrar, Ellwoods and J. George Harrar, 1962. Guide to Southern Trees. New York, NY. Dover Publications.
Lance, Ron 2004. Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States, A Winter Guide. Athens, GA. The University of Georgia Press.
Little, Elbert L. 1998. National Audubon Society field Guide to North American Trees, Eastern Edition. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
10
At the March 2009 GNPS meeting, we were treated to a
presentation by Dr. Robert Fuller of the Predator Beetle
Lab at North Georgia College and State University
(NGCSU) in Dahlonega. He told us that our native
hemlocks are dying due to a spreading infestation of the
hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an aphid-like insect
native to Asia. Hope for biological control of the
infestation comes in the form of a tiny black beetle that
feeds on the adelgid. These beetles are being raised in
Dr. Fuller’s Predator Beetle Lab and at several other
labs in Georgia and throughout the eastern United
States.
Hemlocks cover thousands of acres in north Georgia,
inhabiting moist environments near rivers and streams.
The shade they cast helps moderate the temperature of
the streams, protecting water quality and making
streams habitable for species such as trout. The trees
themselves also provide habitat and food for many
wildlife species.
There are two species of native hemlock in eastern
North America, the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
and the Carolina hemlock (T. caroliniana), with the
eastern hemlock being the dominant of the two. Both
species are threatened by the HWA.
The HWA is an introduced pest that came from Asia and
was likely introduced on nursery stock. It was first seen
on the East Coast in Virginia in the early 1950s. The HWA
has been spreading at a rate of about 12 miles per year,
and it has now spread as far north as Maine and south to
northern Georgia. It is currently at least as far south in
Georgia as Lumpkin, Dawson, and Pickens Counties, and
it is sure to continue its migration south.
The HWA can cause decline and death of a tree in as
little as three years. Dr. Fuller noted that approximately
95% of the hemlocks in the Shenandoah National Park in
Virginia have already died.
Dr. Fuller described the HWA lifecycle, noting that they
are active in late fall, winter, and early spring, when
they are in their ―crawler‖ stage. The HWA is a small,
dark insect, but it can be most easily recognized on
hemlock trees by the white wool-like material that it
surrounds itself with. It damages the hemlocks by
piercing the tree and sucking out nutrients. This causes
damage to needles and buds, weakening the tree
substantially.
The crawlers move about a bit on the tree, but they can
also be shaken off a limb by wind and can blow for
hundreds of yards, infesting other trees. They are also
sticky in nature and can be picked up by birds or other
animals. Even humans hiking in the woods can get the
crawlers on their clothes and unknowingly spread the
pests.
The East Coast has no native predator of the HWA,
hence the attempt to introduce the predator beetles
(most of which come from Asia) as a control measure.
These beetles feed primarily on the HWA and are
dependent on the HWA to reproduce, so the beetles are
unlikely to have any negative impact on other species.
The Predator Beetle Lab released its first 50,000 beetles
in March of 2008. The lab has doubled its capacity since
then and is in the process of doubling capacity again. Dr.
Fuller described the laborious and exacting methods
used to raise the beetles, and he brought live specimens
for GNPS members to see.
Help for Our Native Hemlocks By Mary Tucker
NativeSCAPE July 2009
(Continued on page 11)
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Archive
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org
11
Help for Our Native Hemlocks Continued from Page 10
Beetles are released into areas that have been
designated as Hemlock Conservation Areas, which are
locations that have been determined to be critical
hemlock habitat. It is expected that the released
beetles will continue to reproduce in the wild to become
self sustaining, and that they will spread from the initial
release sites to adjoining areas.
Dr. Fuller noted that ornamental hemlocks that you may
have on your property are also in danger from the HWA,
and he gave tips regarding diagnosis and treatment. The
HWA are not very visible until they have their white,
woolly coating, which they secrete in late fall;
therefore, he recommended beginning inspection of
your trees in December.
There are several insecticides that can be used, but Dr.
Fuller recommended soil injection of the chemical
imidacloprid as the most effective method. There are
treatment companies that specialize in this service, or
the homeowner can borrow a soil injector from the
Georgia Forestry Commission. The chemical lasts about
two to four years, so retreatment may be necessary.
Dormant oil or insecticidal soap may be effective if the
hemlock is small enough to be fully treated by that
method.
For more information on homeowner treatment options,
see the website of the Predator Beetle Lab:
www.ngcsu.edu/resource/EnvirLeadCenter/pindex.htm.
This site also has information on all aspects of this issue,
as well as a photo gallery, updates from the Dahlonega
beetle lab, and links to other resources.
Another useful source of information is the Lumpkin
Coalition (www.lumpkincoalition.org), a non-profit,
volunteer organization whose primary focus is saving our
hemlocks. At their website you will informative articles,
pictures to help you identify an HWA infestation,
treatment information, and progress reports from
various predator beetle labs. The Lumpkin Coalition
hosts HemlockFest every November to raise awareness
about the plight of the hemlocks and to raise money to
save them. The 2009 HemlockFest will take place
November 6-8.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Educate yourself about the HWA and monitor your
trees for infestation.
Take action to treat any infestation that you find.
Be aware of infested hemlocks that you may
encounter in the wild and avoid spreading the HWA.
Tell friends and neighbors about the HWA threat to
our hemlocks.
Donate to the NGCSU Predator Beetle Lab at this
address: NGCSU Predator Beetle Lab; c/o Dr. Robert
Fuller; Environmental Leadership Center; 106 Rogers
Hall; North Georgia College & State University;
Dahlonega, GA 30597
See the Donate section of the Lumpkin Coalition
website and support the Lumpkin Coalition with
monetary donations, gifts in kind, or by volunteering
your time.
Attend HemlockFest in November to show your
support for our hemlocks. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Lady Beetle (Sasajiscymnus tsugae) Carole Cheah, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Bugwood.org
12
About Mushrooms By Mary Woehrel, President, Mushroom Club of Georgia
NativeSCAPE July 2009
When identifying mushrooms, color is not as important as
looking to see what is under the cap. This is especially
important when sending a picture of a mushroom to be
identified.
Mushrooms don’t always ―bloom‖ every year. If conditions
aren’t right, they will skip a year or several years. There are,
however, certain seasons when mushrooms in general are
more plentiful. Morels in the spring, boletes in the late
summer and fall. However, you can’t depend on most
mushrooms to appear every year at the same spot.
Temperature, rainfall and substrate are crucial.
Mushrooms were once thought to be part of the plant
kingdom. With the introduction of DNA analysis, it was found
that they actually have more in common with animals than
with plants. It didn’t seem right to consider them animals,
however, so they were given their own kingdom.
Mushrooms have not been studied as thoroughly as plants – so
there are still many unlisted or poorly described species. It is
possible then, for someone going into the study of fungi, to
make surprising discoveries of new species or to discover
species in an area where it was thought that they did not
exist. Many of these discoveries are being made by amateur
mycologists.
Poisonous mushrooms, unlike many poisonous plants, are not
dangerous to touch or handle. You don’t have to wear gloves
for example to handle them. You may want to protect
yourself from insects or surrounding plants like poison ivy, but
it is not necessary to protect yourself from skin toxins in
mushrooms.
All mushrooms should be cooked or steamed before eating,
even the store-bought button mushrooms. Mushrooms contain
protein, minerals and medicinal polysaccharides, but they
also contain hydrazine, a volatile substance used in rocket
fuel that is carcinogenic. Cooking dissipates it completely.
Be sure to buy a good field guide such as the National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms.
Buy more than one field guide.
Learn what the deadly species look like and the symptoms of
poisoning. Then you will feel more comfortable about
studying the others.
Some mushroom species are very easy to identify (the chicken
mushroom or sulfur shelf, the giant puffball, morels, and the
chanterelle are considered so obvious that people call them
the foolproof four). Some people include the shaggy mane
mushroom instead of the chanterelle. Others are quite
difficult, especially the LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms).
Some species have poisonous look-alikes; others are quite
distinct and have no poisonous relatives. Learn a small
number of the most unmistakable species at first and then as
you become more knowledgeable, try some of the others that
are more difficult to identify.
Join a local mushroom club and go on a few walks or forays.
Trying to identify mushrooms from pictures in a book is
difficult and can be dangerous. It’s best to learn from a
mentor or group. Mushroom clubs are listed on the NAMA
website: www.namyco.org. Visit www.gamushroomclub.org
for information on the Mushroom Club of Georgia.
Mushrooms and Plants: A Beneficial Relationship
Mushrooms are the reproductive structures of fungi.
Underground, below ―blooming‖ mushrooms are thread-like
networks called hyphae. Some of these hyphae attach to plant
roots, creating thread-like extensions that reach far into the soil,
increasing the surface area of the plant roots exponentially. The
fungal hyphae and the plant roots working together are called
mycorrhizae (Greek for ―fungus roots‖).
The vast majority of the plant species that have been
scientifically examined are mycorrhizal. This symbiotic and
mutualistic association between a fungus and the roots of the
plant provides the fungus with access to the carbohydrates
produced by the plant during photosynthesis. The carbohydrates
are translocated from their source (usually leaves) to the root
tissues and then to the fungal partners.
In return, the plant gains the use of the very large surface area of
the mycelium (the collective group of fungal hyphae) to absorb
water and mineral nutrients from the soil, vastly improving the
absorption capabilities of the plant roots for the plant partner,
and often providing resistance to diseases, such as those caused
by microbial soil-borne pathogens. Both physical and chemical
processes contribute to this mycorrhizal relationship.
A beautiful but poisonous Amanita mushroom
Photo Credit: Sharon Parry
13
Walking with Wildflowers By Gina Strickland
Try to imagine cool wooded
valleys with winding roads
beside roaring green-blue
rivers. Broad embankments
of trillium in bloom outside
your car window as you pass.
High mountain top pull-offs
with vistas with no cities in
sight below. A place where
quiet walkways lead you into
the cove hardwood forests
and your fellow travelers are
just as crazy about
wildflowers as you are. Where is this
nirvana to be found? It’s the Spring Wildflower
Pilgrimage in April at the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park (www.nps.gov/grsm) near Gatlinburg
Tennessee.
Smoky Mountains National Park is situated between
Tennessee and North Carolina with rolling hills, wild
rivers and the ancient mountain range of the
southern Appalachians. 800 miles of hiking trails
from easy to strenuous can be found there. The park
is renowned for its biodiversity and the beautiful
wildflowers, more different kinds of which are found
there than in any other national park in North
America. The park is a sanctuary for many species
and offers a rare opportunity to view a wide range of
wildflowers within short distances. Rather than
hiking from point A to point B, I found myself walking
slowly to observe ten, twenty, or sometimes more
different kinds of plants in bloom within a few feet.
Of course the ideal time to visit and bask in the
beauty of so many wildflowers in bloom is in the
spring.
The park’s Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
(www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org) has been an
annual event for 59 years. More than 1,200 people
visit during the five days of programs usually April 21
through April 25. There is something to suit everyone
from indoor programs, short easy walks to all day
hikes. The hard part is choosing from the over 100
available programs. The
best part I find is viewing
breathtaking vistas and
native plants in bloom on
the same trail. I also
enjoy some non-
wildflower oriented
outdoor programs like the
nighttime bat walk I
attended this year.
I discovered this
wonderful encounter in
the mountains only four
years ago and I still lament having missed so many in
past years. My husband Mike and I eagerly await the
early March announcement of each year's programs.
The best programs fill up quickly so we stand-by
ready for the 9:00 registration the day the website
opens up so we are sure to get the ones we want.
Don't bother to phone us at 8:45 on registration day!
It's that nice of a vacation for wildflower enthusiasts.
This year we registered for four days, a mix of short
easy and medium level hikes during the daytime. We
selected some of our past favorites and chose a few
new hikes as well. Clicking on the following link will
take you to a web page with the actual photos taken
on the trails this year:
(http://georgianatives.net/swfp09/swfp09.html).
Day 1
Our morning hike was a Fern Walk at 'the Sinks' near
Metcalf Bottoms and Chestnut top trail. We were led
by Dr. Murray Evans, former University of Tennessee
professor and one of the world's leading authorities
on ferns, author of Ferns of the Smokies. (This book
is available at Sugarlands Visitor Center or on-line
http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/.)
There is an established trail here, but because we
were with the Pilgrimage leaders we went off trail in
a wetland area to view and learn about the ferns in
the area. Highlights included a fern glade of royal
fern (Osmunda regalis) and cinnamon fern (Osmunda
NativeSCAPE July 2009
(Continued on page 14 )
White Wake-Robin (Trillium erectum) Photo Credit: Mike Strickland
14
Walking with Wildflowers Continued from Page 13
cinnamomea), and a cove shaped hillside covered
with granite rocks that sport groupings of maidenhair
fern (Adiantum pedatum) and fancy fern (Dryopteris
intermedia aspleniaceae). Not being a fern purist, I
could not help but photograph the trilliums and Iris
cristata along the way. Mike found both toadshade
trillium (Trillium cuneatum) and Trillium luteum
growing side by side and unusual four leafed and five
leafed specimens.
Our afternoon hike took us to the old Roaring Fork
Motor Nature Trail that overlooks Gatlinburg. Here
there is a pioneer cabin, barn and mill raceway of
Noah 'Bud' Ogle that gives the trail its name. The
nature trail is short and easy walking except for the
last bit which is best described as a boulder field
under a canopy forest of rhododendron. Highlights
here are a large patch of geranium (Geranium
maculatum) near the trail head, showy orchis
(Galearis spectabilis), Clinton’s lily (Clintonia
umbellulata), Iris cristata, Trillium grandiflorum and
bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata).
We saw the remains of American chestnut trees still
lying on the ground as if cut a month ago instead of
more than 80 years ago, felled when killed by the
chestnut blight imported from Asia. It’s a stark
reminder of the devastating effects of accidental
pest importation on nursery stock. Just beyond the
days gone by chestnut tree logs, our guide pointed to
the damage of the woolly adelgid on the hemlock
trees, the latest introduced pest that is having a
devastating effect on the hemlock trees in the park.
The end of the trail brought our spirits back as we
crossed a log bridge over a small branch filled with
brook lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia) in full
bloom and Clinton’s lily just opening its buds.
That evening, although we were done for the day
with our formal programs, it was a warm mountain
evening with plenty of light left for photography so
we decided to visit Ash Hopper Branch, one of our
favorite trails from prior years that is a short driving
distance from Bud Ogle Trail. Here we found some
very nice specimens of maidenhair fern and doll’s
eyes (Actaea pachypoda) growing close by while a
small flock of wild turkey foraged just above us on
the hillside. The white flowered Trillium erectum
was really spectacular this year. The specimens
were particularly large on this trail. We found two
patches of Trillium vaseyi that we knew from prior
years might be in bloom, but both were only in bud.
Day 2
Our second day began with a trip to Kanati Fork Trail
located in North Carolina. We found it to be very dry
in this area of the park. Although the trail areas we
had visited the previous day seemed lush, this part of
the park was obviously still suffering from the
drought of 2008. The wildflowers seemed stunted -
the squaw-root (Conopholis americana) was
completely desiccated and the painted trillium
(Trillium undulatum) a little small in flower size. A
highlight of the trail was purple meadow parsnip
(Thaspium trifoliatum), a new flower for me. I was
sad but not surprised to hear that this area burned
about two days after our walk. Afternoon took us
past Rockefeller plaza and Clingmans Dome back
towards Gatlinburg. We could not resist stopping at
the Chimneys’ picnic area, a cove hardwood hillside
NativeSCAPE July 2009
(Continued on page 15)
Brook Lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia) Photo Credit: Mike Strickland
15
Walking with Wildflowers Continued from Page 14
overlooking a picnic area with a broad rushing creek.
It's one of our favorite spots for wildflowers and for
remembrances of eventful encounters during past
visits.
In 2005 there was a bear scare in the parking area
and it then rained so hard while on the trail we were
both completely soaked even with our rain gear on.
That year we spotted an American climbing fern
(Lygodium palmatum) at the top of the trail. But
this year it was very dry and several of the creeks in
the loop trail had no water in them. The flowers
however were still spectacular although changed
from prior wet years. There were no Jack-in-the-
pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) this year but we
enjoyed the Trillium grandiflorum, Trillium
erectum, golden Alexander (Zizia aurea), white
fringed phacelia (Phacelia fimbriata) and several
violet species that were growing together - sweet
white (Viola blanda), common blue (Viola
papilionacea), smooth yellow stemmed (Viola
pensylvanica) and Canada sweet violet (Viola
canadensis).
Day 3
We walked the Quiet Walk Way on Newfound Gap Rd
between Sugarlands and the Chimneys. This was a
new trail for us and we enjoyed the loop trail down a
rocky hillside and across an open field then back up
along a rushing stream. Highlights were a large
patch of Iris cristata in bloom in the field, paw-paw
(Asimina triloba) trees in flower, marsh violet (Viola
cucullata) blooming in the stream, Miami mist
phacelia (Phacelia pushii) and blue cohosh
(Caulophyllum thalictroides) in bloom.
Day 4
We saved the best for last. One of our favorites from
our short 4 years attending the Pilgrimage is the
walking trail called Porter's Creek, near little
Greenbriar. It's uphill but not too steep on a wide,
well maintained trail beside a rushing Porter's Creek.
The swirling waters crashing around rocks in the
creek alone is worth the trip but with the large
diversity of wildflowers in bloom especially along the
lower part of the trail, it is truly a spot that can't be
missed. Highlights of this trail are banks of false
Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa), Canada sweet
violet at the trail head, the showy orchis which
blooms in patches all along the trailside, pink lady’s
slipper orchids (Cypripedium acaule) on a side trail
just beyond the old settlers’ cemetery, and almost to
the top of the 3 mile trail just short of Fern Branch
Falls is a boulder covered with painted trillium.
Many hikers, tired by this time, turn around here like
pilgrims having made it to the shrine if you will, but
if you pause for a time just beyond Trillium Boulder,
your eyes begin to notice several more boulders just
down the path covered with lush growths of rock cap
fern (Polypodium virginianum). I like to return more
slowly than I came up to take in the flowers I may
have missed on the climb and enjoy the creek one
more time, pausing on one of several benches beside
the trail, a little sad knowing it will be another year
before I get to see it again. We can't wait for next
year. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Miami mist phacelia (Phacelia pushii) Photo Credit: Mike Strickland
16
Black's Bluff and Wolf Creek Preserve By Ed McDowell
In September of 2008, the board of directors made the
decision to contribute significant gifts from reserve funds
to two specific land management organizations – The
Nature Conservancy, Georgia Chapter, to assist with the
expansion of the Black’s Bluff Preserve in Floyd County and
the Wolf Creek Preserve in Grady County.
Black’s Bluff Preserve, now a 263 acre site, is a massive
natural rock garden consisting of a rich oak-hickory forest
growing on a steep
outcrop of 500 million
year old Conasauga
limestone. Please
read specifics about
the site at The Nature
Conservancy website
at http://
www.nature.org/
wherewework/
northamerica/states/
georgia/preserves/
art20700.html. The
Preserve is home to
many plants that
prefer calcareous soils
such as Indian pink
(Spigelia
marilandica),
showy skullcap
(Scutellaria
montana),
Hydrangea
arborescens, and
many more. The
Preserve is one
of the few open
TNC Preserves
and The Spring
Trail offers a
wonderful hike
to the top of one
of the bluffs.
The images were
taken at the GNPS field trip to Black’s Bluff on May 31,
2009. Field trips are in the planning stage for the fall of
2009 and spring of 2010.
Wolf Creek Preserve in Grady County, a 140 acre site with
4 acres of solid trout lily (Erythronium umbilicatum) plus
other interesting plants is now protected and safe. Please
see http://www.flwildflowers.com/wolfcreek/ for a
description of the site and the conservation status. A
Georgia Botanical Society field trip was conducted at Wolf
Creek in February
2009 and a GNPS
field trip will be scheduled for mid-late February 2010.
These images were taken during the February 2009 field
trip. Please watch the website and Nativescape for
announcements of future field trips. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)Photo Credit: Ed McDowell
Showy Skullcap (Scutellaria montana) Photo Credit: Ed McDowell
Trout Lily (Erythronium umbilicatum) Photo Credit: Ed McDowell
Spotted Wake-Robin (Trillium maculatum) Photo Credit: Ed McDowell
A recent update from Dan Miller, Wolf Creek Project Coordinator: “ The closing on the Wolf Creek tract was concluded today, Monday 6/15/09!!!!!! The tract was conveyed to Grady Co. with deed restrictions that prohibit, in perpetuity, any activity detrimental to the unique natural assets of the property. Tall Timbers will monitor the property for the first few years. We appreciate all your help and donation. Please convey to The GA NPS organization and members the good news. We hope to see you and them at Wolf Creek in the future.”
17
The Lullwater Conservation Garden Becomes Newest Restoration Site By Judy Keenan
The Lullwater Garden Club would like to thank the
Georgia Native Plant Society for accepting the
Lullwater Conservation Garden and Bird Sanctuary as
your newest restoration project. The garden, which
has always been open to the public, consists of a 6.5-
acre parcel of land in the center of the historic Druid
Hills neighborhood in Atlanta designed by Frederick Law
Olmstead, the father of American landscape
architecture. The Lullwater Garden Club has
maintained the
garden since 1931 and
has owned it outright
since 1964 when we
purchased it from
Emory University. It
consists of a wooded
stretch of park with
Lullwater Creek
running through it and
is part of the Peavine
Creek watershed.
Currently, most of the
park shows the effects
of an exotic species
invasion. With the
exception of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), we have
just about every invasive species you can
imagine. Rather than neglect, the misguided notion in
the 1970s of ―letting it go back to nature‖ has brought
the garden to its current state. Instead of letting it go,
our mission now is to bring it back to a natural state.
We have already succeeded in clearing a half-acre
portion of the park from the plethora of invasive
species that have taken over. With the help of a
Georgia Garden Club ―Let’s Go Native‖ grant we have
installed a native garden, designed by Theresa Schrum,
which demonstrates the use of native species in the
landscape.
Recently we further cleared a large area of privet
(Ligustrum sinense) and mahonia (Mahonia bealei).
Although English ivy (Hedera helix) and liriope (Liriope
muscari) still blanket the terrain, we have seen the
reemergence of many toadshade trillium (Trillium
cuneatum), vast swaths of mayapple (Podophyllum
peltatum), some bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
and even a great white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).
Since this parcel of land has never been developed, you
also can find many old-growth trees, including an
award-winning tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera),
some of the largest ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana) you
can imagine and countless Carolina silverbells (Halesia
carolina).
Since the opening of the
new native garden, the
garden club has seen a
marked increase in
people strolling through
the park and in children
exploring the creek. In
fact, it is becoming the
kind of place that
Frederick Law Olmstead
intended—a refuge from
the stresses of urban
life. Ask anyone in the
garden club and they
will tell you that they
dream of the day when
the entire park looks as
inviting as the native
garden. Now with your help, we have taken a step
closer to achieving that goal.
We invite you to come see the garden and to join us in
our bi-monthly clean-ups and ivy pulls which will start
up again in the Fall. Dates and times will be listed at
http://www.gnps.org/geninfo/Calendar.html and at
www.lullwatergardenclub.com. The Lullwater
Conservation Garden and Bird Sanctuary is located on
Lullwater Road north off Ponce de Leon. We look
forward to our collaboration with our fellow
conservation-minded friends.
For more information about this or other GNPS
restoration projects or if you are interested in
becoming a restoration site, please contact David
Zaparanick at [email protected]. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Entrance to Lullwater Conservation Garden
Photo Credit: Judy Keenan
18
Native Plant Rescue News By Lynn Almand
Rescue schedule
The plant rescue season is winding down as I write this in mid-May. We are planning rescues for June,
and after that, we’ll only have pop-up rescues in July and August—if the rain and temperatures allow.
Summer is the worst time to try to transplant anything, and it is generally just too hot to be out there
for any length of time to rescue plants. We can come in and cool off, take a shower and recuperate.
The plants can’t.
We’ve had a great year so far for rescues: a
total of 36 rescues from February through
May. How was this possible? They were all
compliments of your rescue facilitators—
without them, rescues just would not
happen. While it may take a lot out of you to
drive to the rescue, dig plants, plant them in your garden or project—take
a minute to think about what the facilitators have done to make this
happen. They scout rescue sites, plan and communicate the rescue info,
keep track of all requests, conduct the rescue, help everyone learn about
natives, and complete follow-up tasks after each rescue. Many times, they
are so busy they don’t have time to rescue any plants for themselves. And
they do it over and over again. Yes, they are a terrific group of dedicated
members. Come September, give them a big hug or a giant thanks on your
next rescue. They do it out of the love for the native plants we are saving
from destruction, and the desire to instill that love to everyone who
participates on a rescue. Thank you, facilitators. You are the face and
voice of GNPS to many of our members, and certainly for many new
members, the first person they meet.
Plant Rescue Committee
We welcome Andrea Greco to our rescue committee as the site procurement coordinator for the east and south areas of Atlanta.
Please let her know about any potential sites at [email protected] or by phone at 404-606-3654. The west/north coordinator
is Russell Brannon at [email protected] or by phone at 678-493-7229.
Spiders, snakes, chiggers, and ticks, oh my!
I’ve had lots of reports of chiggers and ticks lately from facilitators. Chiggers remind me of blackberry picking as a child—only my
Mother’s blackberry cobbler and jam made it worth the trips we made. We relied on the nail polish remedy. It didn’t work, but if you
used enough bright red polish, you could pretend you had contracted an exotic disease, and that almost helped take your mind off
the itching a little.
I guess the most potentially dangerous critter that finds us on rescues is the tick. It never fails to give me nightmares when I find one
after being in the woods on a rescue or in my own woods, and it sends me into an unnecessary panic. I won’t go any further than
that, but here are two links on how to deal with them. They can sometimes cause serious problems, so while they shouldn’t keep you
out of the woods, it is important to know what to do. The links are http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rmsf/Q&A.htm#tick AND
http://cipm.ncsu.edu/ent/southern_region/ripm/chap8/ticks/tickmain.htm
The other potentially dangerous things listed above are best dealt with by avoiding them. If you sit down in the woods, the likelihood
that you will get chiggers increases significantly. Wear gloves and other protective clothing, use insect repellant, watch where you
step, wash your clothes and yourself as soon as you get home, and don’t let any of this prevent you from getting out there and doing
what we love to do—save those wonderful plants from the bulldozer.
I hope to see you in the fall or at least know that you’ve registered for a rescue with one of our wonderful facilitators. Keep up the
good work you are doing, and let’s keep Jeane Reeves’ dream alive.
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Scouts: Bob Boushell, Sheri George, Marcia Winchester, Murrel Creekmore, Paul Shivers, Michelle Eifert, Lynn Almand
19
West Georgia Chapter Meeting By Flo Hayes
Members and guests of the West Georgia Chapter of the
Georgia Native Plant Society met for a nature walk on
Saturday, June 20, 2009, at Buffalo Creek Trail adjacent
to the Carroll County Agriculture Center. The purpose of
the walk was to identify some native plants of interest in
their natural habitat. Gina and Mike Strickland,
facilitators for GNPS and amateur native plant
enthusiasts, had previously identified many plants along
the trail and prepared handouts as well as identified
them as we walked. The group also spotted some
additional plants not on the list. The group observed
rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta), phlox (Phlox glaberrima),
red stemmed lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), netted
chain fern (Woodwardia areolata), hawthorn (Crataegus
sp.), viburnum (Viburnum sp.), and many more. Wendell
Hoomes, also a facilitator, helped with questions and
identification. There were some particularly nice plants
and shrubs observed.
The WGC-GNPS offers an opportunity for folks in the West
Georgia area to participate in GNPS activities such as
plant rescues, restoration, outdoor walks and education
about native plants, shrubs and trees. Membership is
open to anyone interested in native plants. The next
meeting is planned for August 18, 2009 at McIntosh
Preserve; the public is invited. A small parking fee is
charged for vehicles from outside of Carroll county. It
will include a potluck picnic and a nature walk of the
trails led by local native plant experts. If you would like
to be associated with WGC-GNPS or simply want more
information please contact us at:
[email protected] or write to WGC-GNPS at
PO Box 635, Carrollton, GA 30112. N
NativeSCAPE July 2009
Meeting Attendees Ready for a Hike Photo: Mike Strickland
Wendell Hoomes points out Whorled Coreopsis (Coreopsis major) Photo: Carol Hight
Mike Strickland talks about Alder (Alnus serrulata) Photo: Carol Hight
20
Upcoming GNPS Events
NativeSCAPE July 2009
July 14: Member Meeting
The July 14th member meeting will be in a different location. This change in location is for this meeting only and is in response to the member survey comments about varying the location of the meeting to increase attendance. Based on response to this meeting (and the September one which will be held elsewhere and on a different day of the week), we will evaluate whether these changes offer more members a chance to participate and should be continued in 2010. The November meeting, which is our annual business meeting, will be held at ABG as usual. Details for the July 14th meeting (still a Tuesday evening): Topic: Native Edible and Medicinals Speaker: Jerry Hightower, Environmental Education Coordinator, National Parks Service Chattahoochee River Environmental Education Center 8615 Barnwell Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 Please note this facility is NOT the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Meeting schedule: 6:30-7:15 Social time 7:15-7:30 Announcements 7:30-8:30 Presentation
August 18: West Georgia Chapter Meeting
The next meeting is planned for August 18, 2009 at
McIntosh Preserve; the public is invited. A small parking
fee is charged for vehicles from outside of Carroll
county. It will include a potluck picnic and a nature walk
of the trails led by local native plant experts.
If you would like to be associated with WGC-GNPS or
simply want more information please contact us at:
[email protected] or write to WGC-GNPS at
PO Box 635, Carrollton, GA 30112.
GNPS 2010 Garden Tour
On a sunny Sunday in April, five gardens abundant with
native Georgia plants were open for GNPS members to tour.
The only problem was that there was too much to see in the
eight hours allotted for the tour! Many people certainly
spent many hours rescuing and planting many of the plants
that looked so happy in the natural settings of the tour
gardens. Thanks to the Kohlbachers, the Taylors, Eco
Addendum, Heritage Park and McFarlane Park for
participating in this year's GNPS Garden Tour. And thanks to
the photographers who kindly provided photos of the
gardens they visited.
Now that we are once again getting good rains, I am hoping
for more people to agree to have their gardens on the 2010
tour! If any members would like to nominate a garden they
saw and liked this Spring to be on next year's tour, please
notify Jane Trentin at [email protected].
GNPS Annual Plant Sale Coming in April 2010
The drought is over and it is time to get our beloved natives
back into the gardens of the community! Please begin
potting up native seedlings and divisions from your garden
and when the rescues begin again in the fall, dig extra for
the plant sale.
Where? McFarlane Nature Park. The Master Gardener
Volunteers of Cobb County, with donations from the GNPS
Rescue Program, have turned the area surrounding this
1940's farmhouse into a native plant showcase. The park is
conveniently located, has lots of parking, plenty of space to
sell our sun and shade plants, and easy access to water.
(Check out the GNPS Garden Tour page on the web site to
see a glimpse of what McFarlane Nature Park has to offer.)
We will have more details at a later date, but for now, just
know we need everyone's talent and help to make the GNPS
Plant Sale a success!
-Sheri George, GNPS Plant Sale Chair
(Oh, my goodness...is it too late to change my mind?)
21
Recycling in the Garden By Bill Bellknap
I have been composting for over 30 years, and after trying
several different methods, have settled on two: sheet
composting and the bin method.
Sheet composting is done by putting organic matter in
contact with the soil to decompose it into compost fairly
rapidly. I use this method in my vegetable garden which I
till once a year in the spring. Basically, I use wide rows for
planting vegetables which minimizes space for paths. In
order to increase the depth and richness of the soil, I dig
the paths out and spread the compost I’ve removed onto
the planting beds. After digging out the path I am left with
a trench about 10 to 14 inches deep. This I fill with organic
matter. Some of the matter I get from removing the organic
matter from the beds that did not decompose over the
winter, usually just the top couple of inches. To this I add
all the organic debris collected from removing annuals,
from trimming, from removing the dead material from
perennials, and from weeding.
I put very few leaves in the paths not because they do not
make good compost, but because I use the leaves for
composting in bins, which I'll describe later. Over the
spring, summer and fall all organic matter except leaves,
twigs and branches is put on the paths. This year I have
added organic matter from kitchen scraps. The result does
not make for a very pretty vegetable garden, but it does
provide excellent humus and I do not compact the soil in
the beds. It is amazing to me how fast the piles of organic
matter decompose, usually taking only two to three weeks.
In the spring I also collect grass clippings. The grass piled
in the rows also helps neaten things up a bit. Having done
this all spring, summer and fall I am left with a path of
organic matter for next year. The following spring, I till the
garden to mix in the new compost with the soil and then re-
dig the paths and start over.
This has significantly improved the garden soil every year,
and, therefore, improved the productivity of the garden
and its ability to retain moisture. I also mulch the garden
well and the mulch is also tilled into the garden soil. It is
not necessary to till the garden, however. Next year, I plan
to remove the top couple of inches of organic matter from
the planting beds that has not decomposed and add the
organic matter from the paths on top. This will, I believe,
actually aid decomposition since all the worms and other
critters will not be killed by the tiller.
The other method I use for composting is the bin method.
To make a bin that minimizes loss through the sides I use
1/2‖ hardware cloth. To reduce the effort of getting the
compost from the bin I use 3' high hardware cloth. I
purchase 25' rolls and cut them into two pieces, making two
bins about 4' in diameter. I use five to six small pieces of
insulated solid copper wire (12 or 14 gauge) which I twist to
hold the hardware cloth in place overlapping about three
inches. This is a very fast, inexpensive way to make the
bins.
There is one secret for getting good compost from bins:
reduce the size of the organic matter. In the fall, I spread
several bags of leaves on my driveway and then run the
mulching mower over them several times. This reduces the
size of the material significantly and allows the pile to
contain a significant amount of air. In addition to going
over the leaves with a mower, I also use a chipper-shredder
which makes for a still finer and more even particle size.
The mulched leaves can then be put into bins to make
compost in about 8 to 12 months. (It is not necessary to use
―green‖ and ―brown‖ ingredients, although using both
together speeds up the process.) I remove the compost
when the height of the compost is about one-third of the
original height.
The chipper-shredder also allows me to shred fallen or
pruned branches from trees and shrubs to about 1/4‖
particles or less. In general I keep this material separate
from the autumn leaf matter in order to provide two kinds
of compost. The leaf compost is rich and almost like loam,
while the compost from the branches has both a fine
texture and some less fine particles from the wood which
has not completely broken down. The latter I find helps
aerate the soil in addition to providing humus.
Since there is not easy access to the pile, it is difficult to
turn the pile in these bins so I do not. During dry conditions
I try to have the material around the edges of the bins
slightly higher than the rest. This allows the bin to collect
rainwater. Water is a very necessary ingredient, so if
necessary, I water occasionally to aid decomposition. I
have also found it is a good practice to put a layer of leaves
on the pile. This helps to insure that all the debris breaks
down, even at the very top of the pile and helps to retain
moisture.
By using both of these composting methods, I retain almost
all of the organic matter in my yard. But I also enjoy the
benefits this ―recycling program‖ provides. Good luck with
either of the techniques. Happy composting! N
NativeSCAPE July 2009