Friends have been busy in the Woods planting more native plants to enhance the dining options for our pollinator friends. Look for wood hyacinth in our wildflower patch south of the meditational circle. We planted 3 trays of seedlings south of the SE bridge of big-leaved asters and blue stemmed goldenrod that Mary grew from seeds.
Big Leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus) is perfect for shady areas with less than perfect soil. Drought tolerant, it thrives in both dry sand and heavy clay soils that possess a modicum of organic matter. Big Leaf Aster is often planted for its large, heart-shaped basal foliage which forms a nice ground cover. Upright stems emerge from the base in late summer, bearing clusters of delicate, bluish-white rayed flowers, from August thru September. Great for stabilizing shaded hillsides and slopes, it spreads by rhizomes to form a ground cover. Aster macrophyllus is a host plant for the Pearl Crescent Butterfly.
Blue Stemmed Goldenrod does not spread as aggressively as some goldenrods. This Wisconsin endangered plant features graceful arching stems covered with hundreds of small yellow flowers. The distinct stems are purplish in color. Native to rich woodlands in the Eastern half of the U.S. it prefers light shade, but will tolerate full sun. A mature clump has great presence and texture – brightening any semi-shade garden late in the season.
Solidago caesia is an interesting goldenrod for a variety of garden styles: open woodland garden, border, cottage or butterfly garden. As with all goldenrods, it is a desirable source of late-season pollen. Other common names include Wreath Goldenrod.In mid to late August, you may find Brown Hooded Owlet Moth (Cucullia convexipennis) caterpillars feeding on the foliage. (From PraireNursery.com)
Wild Hyacinth, also called Atlantic Camas, is the only eastern species of its genus, which is in the Lily family and characterized by squat bulbs, similar to those of small tulips in size and shape. Its pale blue-violet flowers begin to bloom from the bottom, progressing toward the top of the spike-like raceme at the end of the plant’s central stalk. It will thrive in full sun, but also open shade such as a woodland edge. It likes rich, acidic soils, but can tolerate clay soils with adequate moisture, especially when it is in flower. The bulbs are edible and were a major food source for some Native American tribes and early European Settlers, but they are very hard to distinguish from Zigadenus elegans bulbs which are deadly poisonous
Attractive to a number of insects seeking nectar and pollen, Camassia scilloides re-seeds itself and, though slow to establish, is fairly long-lived. By mid-summer, the basal leaves turn yellow and wither away and the plant remains dormant for the rest of the year (from PrarieMoonNursery.com)
The woods is approaching a naturalized state, so will not appear like a botanical garden. It’s been delightful to watch the preschool children have their school pictures taken in the meditational circle and families from the neighborhood come to learn about trees and plants. They like finding some of the trees from the Woods map that Krishan Coffman created.
Come spend some time in the Woods, listen for the birds and see what’s blooming right now.