Hydrangea quercifolia

NativeSCAPE
Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society

April 2011
Volume XVII, Number 2

Consider the Lilies of the Field

By Jim Smith Page 3 The homily that Sunday was based on Matthews admonition to consider the lilies of the field. I did just that and soon became immersed in horticultural reflection to the exclusion of moral meditation.

Presidents Message Plant Rescue News Chapter News Plant Focus Upcoming GNPS Events Website Update Membership Renewal

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Learning by Doing
By Ellen Honeycutt Page 4 Next month marks eleven years that Ive been involved with the native plant society in Georgia. My first activity was a plant rescue in Cobb County. I knew nothing of native plants then except they were in need of saving.

Our Favorite Books on Native Plants

By Sharon Parry Page 6 We asked our facilitators to share their personal favorites. Some are familiar to most members. Some are not. All of them are wonderful resources for native plant enthusiasts.

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 2011 by the Georgia Native Plant Society. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission of the author.

American Sycamore
By Ken Gohring Page 9 Regardless of how dreary winter gets, Nature has one plant that stands out in the dark woods. That plant is the plane tree commonly called American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis.

A Joint Venture in Carroll County

By Flo Hayes and Wendell Hoomes Page 11 On Saturday, March 19, Carroll County Master Gardeners joined the members of the West Ga. Chapter of GNPS to work on the Buffalo Creek Restoration Project.

Georgia Native Plant Society P.O. Box 422085 Atlanta, GA 30342-2085 www.gnps.org 770-343-6000 GNPS Board of Directors President Ellen Honeycutt Vice President Jacqueline McRae Secretary Kimberly Ray Treasurer Paula Reith Members-at-Large: Charles Brown Susan Hanson Pat Smith Director of Communications David Haimbach Director of Conservation Marcia Winchester Director of Education Julie Newell Director of Membership Jane Trentin
About your membership in the Georgia Native Plant Society Your membership dues and donations help support our mission which is: To promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgias native plants and their habitats By sponsoring meetings, workshops, an annual symposium, grants, scholarships, the native plant rescue program, and this newsletter utilizing an all-volunteer staff of dedicated native plant enthusiasts. We look forward to and appreciate your continued support. Membership renewal forms for 2011 can now be completed online or by completing the form on the last page of this news letter.

NativeSCAPE April 2011

Presidents Message
By Ellen Honeycutt

After an unusually winter-like winter, spring is here at last to charm us with her beautiful blooms and the lushness of green foliage! The trout lilies (Erythronium umbilicatum) have been gorgeous at my house this year, and the many other spring wildflowers are well on their way to providing food for early pollinators. Woody plants are helping too: the red maples (Acer rubrum) had the earliest flowers, and now my buckeyes (Aesculus pavia and A. sylvatica) are opening their flowers for the hummingbirds passing through. I am eagerly waiting for the Serviceberries to bloom (Amelanchier spp.). I recently learned more about how to distinguish the different species, and I am anxious to test my knowledge by examining the blooms and the young leaves. Spring is one of the busiest times for GNPS members. With our annual Symposium behind us, now it is time to prepare for our plant sale. The 2010 plant sale was a huge success, and we hope to repeat that in 2011. This sale is a big fundraiser for GNPS and helps to fund not only our activities but also gifts to other organizations. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 30th for this event. The committee works very hard to ensure we have a robust selection of plants available: perennials for sun/shade, shrubs for sun/shade, trees, vines and grasses. Bring a wagon and bring your checkbook! The very next weekend (May 7th) will be our garden tour. This members-only perk will feature five gardens this year some on the east side of the metro Atlanta area and some on the west side. You are sure to find some ideas for using native plants in your garden so please make a note of this date, too. Restoration activities are active all year, but take on renewed emphasis in the spring and summer months when we can tackle more weeds as well as take pleasure in seeing the fruits of our labor. I cannot emphasize enough what a great learning opportunity these efforts are. Let me challenge you to try participating just once this spring and see if you dont feel that it was worth it. Check our events page on our website for dates and times. Need another way to volunteer? There are many areas that could use your support: merchandise, field trips, hospitality, propagation and others. Your help would be so appreciated. Please contact any Board member if you feel that you can spare some time, and we will work with you to find a good fit for your availability and talents. Lets not forget that your membership itself is an important contribution our members are our ambassadors to new people. If each one of you teaches just one new person about the beauty and importance of native plants, we will reach over 800 new people. Give people our website address, bring new folks to meetings, lend them your books, share our newsletter with them, share your plants with them people respond to personal affirmations. Thank you for helping to get the word out, and thank YOU for being a member of GNPS.

NativeSCAPE April 2011

Consider the Lilies of the Field
by Jim Smith (Originally published in the NativeSCAPE April 1999)

The homily that Sunday was based on Matthews admonition to consider the lilies of the field. I did just that and soon became immersed in horticultural reflection to the exclusion of moral meditation. In any case, the biblical lilies of the field were probably Sternbergia, a common wildflower of the Levant and a member of the Amaryllis family. Some of our native lilies are not only worth considering, but also growing. I am propagating two that are favorites of mine. One is the Turks-cap lily (Lilium superbum). Linnaeus had it right when he named it superb. This lily grows to 8 feet tall and in August bears a pyramidal panicle of dozens of flowers. The six segments of each flower are green at the base, grading to yellow and becoming scarlet at the tip. The flower divisions are rolled back giving it the Turks-cap namesake it shares with the Martagon lily of Europe. The green stripe at the base of each segment forms a star in the throat of the flower. On his excursion by canoe to the Maine woods in 1857, Henry David Thoreau and his Penobscot Indian companion Joseph Polis observed these lilies along the east branch of the Penobscot River. Joe Polis told Thoreau the roots were good for thickening soup. After tasting one of the bulbs, Thoreau pronounced it similar to raw, green corn. Maybe so, but youll not find them in my vegetable garden. According to Jones and Foote in Gardening with Native Wildflowers, the Turks-cap is easier to grow than some of the other native lilies. It may be easy to grow, but its not easy to find in

commerce. These are reasons enough to grow some from seed even though it may be several years before they flower. The upright, loculicidal (chambered) seed pods of this and a smaller look-alike, the Carolina lily (Lilium michauxii), were collected last fall in the North Georgia mountains. The latter species usually has fewer than five blooms and is only about 18 inches tall. The flowers are similar in appearance to the Turks-cap, but they lack the green star in the throat. Both lilies have literally hundreds of wafer-like seeds in each pod. The seeds were layered in a jar with moist peat moss and held at room temperature (70 deg. F) for three months. During this time each seed developed into a small bulb and radicle. Next they were refrigerated for three months at 40 deg. F. Then, after being returned to 70 deg. F and planted, they developed a single true leaf. This is the prescription recommended by Norman Deno in Seed Germination Theory and Practice. It shortcuts a germination pattern that might extend over several seasons in its natural setting. They toil not, neither do they spin: Yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. We shall see!

NativeSCAPE April 2011

Learning by Doing
Text and Photos by Ellen Honeycutt

From the Editor: This article can be found at Ellens new blog. There are more posts for you to enjoy at: http://usinggeorgianativeplants.blogspot.com

Next month marks eleven years that Ive been involved with the native plant society in Georgia. My first activity was a plant rescue in Cobb County. I knew nothing of native plants then except they were in need of saving. I was fortunate to attend my first rescue under the instruction of Jeane Reeves. Jeane was the founder of the rescue program, and her enthusiasm knew no bounds. She was happy to teach new people about native plants and how to save them. I still have my notes from that first rescue: I rescued Magnolia macrophylla (Big Leaf magnolia), Hexastylis arifolia (Heartleaf ginger), Tipularia discolor (Cranefly orchid), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) and several other things. I remember coming back home and parking my car in the driveway so that I could use the warmer space in the garage to pot things up, carefully making labels for these plants so that I could remember their names. Here is a picture of a Hepatica nobilis var. obtuse (Roundlobe hepatica) that I rescued that first year; if it wasn't for the snow, I could probably find one of these in bloom already.
Hepatica nobilis

learning by doing is the best way for me. If thats a style that works for you, Id like to share some of the things that have helped me go from zero to here in the last few years. Repeat exposure: I have gone on dozens of plant rescues since February 2000, many of them within 50 miles of each other. Therefore, I have been seeing and rescuing some of the same plants over and over. Doing so has allowed me to see the plants in all different stages of growth, from early spring emergence to the withered foliage and bare twigs of dormancy. Here is a picture of my 157th rescued Christmas fern (just kidding, I dont keep count). Using my own plants to learn: Identifying a Polystichum acrostichoides plant in the winter forces you to look at different characteristics like the bark, the twigs, and the leaf buds. I use the plants that I already know in my own yard for study in the winter so that I can recognize them elsewhere. Here is a picture of a Viburnum acerifolium that I photographed in my yard after someone asked how they could distinguish a bloom bud from a leaf bud.

Of course I dont need labels for these plants now I can recognize them all easily at 20 paces and rattle off the botanical name as fast as I can say the common names. Now its my turn to lead folks on rescues and help them learn more about native plants and how to save them. Jeane is gone now, but she left behind a veritable army of rescue leaders (facilitators) in an organized program that saves thousands of plants each year in Georgia. Eleven years of doing this and yet I still learn new things all the time. Everyone has their own learning style
Viburnum leaf bud Viburnum bloom bud
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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Learning by Doing
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notice the way the leaves of Aster patens (Symphyotrichum patens) were sessile, clasping, and auriculate. Ill have an easier time distinguishing it from other asters now in the field.
Same Azalea, in flower Azalea bud

Symphyotrichum patens

This is a picture of an azalea (Rhododendron sp.) bud that I wanted to capture the look of so that I could associate it with the bloom appearance in hopes of recognizing a particular species by the appearance of the winter buds. Looking up things I dont know: When Im introduced to a new plant, I often take that as an opportunity to learn more about it. I have a bookshelf of plant reference books that I use, and I also use the internet (use the scientific name if possible when searching). I might also ask more knowledgeable folks if I cannot find enough information. If I dont know the name of the plant, then I try to use plant keys to identify it. Workshops, field trips: Two organizations in my area offer workshops and field trips the Georgia Botanical Society and the Georgia Native Plant Society. Often these trips are available for very little cost if any at all. I have taken both the Aster and the Oak workshops offered by GBS as well as Twig Identification and Propagation workshops with GNPS. Field trips offer trips to interesting places and are guided by experienced botanists, naturalists and trip leaders. Here is a picture from a GNPS field trip in June 2010. Taking pictures of plants: I find that I June 2010 Southern Highlands Reserve notice more details Field trip when I am taking pictures of plants. Until I took pictures of it, I did not

And I never appreciated the crispy edges and dark purple inside of this native Clematis until I spent time photographing it. Growing them: In spring I find seedlings in my yard, and I let them grow until I can identify them. When I watch plants grow up, I learn to Clematis sp. recognize them when they are young. Here is an article that I wrote for the native plant society on the seedlings that I have learned about in my yard. In the summer, I see the variations in the leaves and the blooms. In the fall, I learn how to harvest seed and what kind of fall color I might expect. In the winter, I learn what the leaf buds look like. Each season brings new surprises and variations. Look at the beautiful striping on these azalea flower buds! That's how I've spent the last Rhododendron sp. eleven years. I look forward to learning more each year, making new friends and meeting new plants along the way.

NativeSCAPE April 2011

Our Favorite Books on Native Plants
By Sharon Parry

We asked our facilitators to share their personal favorites. Some are familiar to most members. Some are not. All of them are wonderful resources for native plant enthusiasts. (For more reading suggestions, refer to the societys recommended reading list published on our website.)

Books on Field Identification

Wildflowers of Tennessee, The Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians by Dennis Horn, Tavia Cathcart The current favorite on plant identification. Ed McDowell gives an excellent summary of why: By far the most widely used book (Plant ID) that I see carried on hikes into Parks and natural areas is Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians, edited by Dennis Horn, Tavia Cathcart, Tom Hemmerly, and Dave Dahl. The book contains over 1250 species in 90 plant families and 800 full-color photographs. A detailed description of each plant, including flowers, leaves, fruits, habitats, and distribution is provided along with a helpful color key for finding a flower by color and shape. Additionally, illustrated keys are included for the 12 largest plant families. The book was sponsored by the Tennessee Native Plant Society (and others) and is the official field guide of the Society. Wildflowers of Tennessee by Jack B. Carman A very close second, this book is an excellent field guide with more than 1100 species described and 780 color photographs. The flora of Tennessee is representative of the flora of the eastern United States, particularly the Southern and Central Appalachian regions, and the Tennessee, Ohio and mid-Mississippi river valleys. Newcombs Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb One of the first books used by facilitators, this book emphasizes the use of a key system: identification begins with answering standard questions on flower type, plant type and leaf type. Plant illustrations are drawings, mostly black and white.

On Propagation
Wildflowers: A guide to Growing and Propagating Native Flowers of North America by William Cullina In addition to informative introductory material, this books Encyclopedia of Plants is a valuable resource for those interested in native plant propagation. Arranged by genus, general descriptions are followed by a listing of selected species with related information on hardiness zones, soil type, distribution, size, flower color and bloom time. Information on detailed propagation techniques is provided in detail. Personal observations and beautiful descriptions help to provide fascinating reading.

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Our Favorite Books on Native Plants
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On Gardening with Native Plants

The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest by Rick Darke More than 700 beautiful photographs show plants in the wild and the effects that can be achieved with them in garden settings. Useful advice for every garden is included in the alphabetical listing of woodland plants, including native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, sedges and flowering perennials. Gardening with Native Plants of the South by Sally Wasowski Even though it may be considered a "coffee table" book, along with its beautiful photography, there are carefully researched plant descriptions with information on native range, soil preference, companion plants and the wildlife that each plant attracts. This is a very readable book, and can help readers establish a native plant and wildlife habitat in their own gardens. Native Ferns, Moss, and Grasses: From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave, Serene and Sensuous Plants for the Garden by William Cullina The author discusses the variety of textures available to the gardener who wishes to incorporate ferns or mosses into a shady, woodland setting or select grasses for a sunny meadow. These plants, Cullina says, bring to the garden a level of refinement and sophistication unmatched by any flower. For each species, he also gives the natural range, type of soil, and habitat in which the plant thrives.

On Specific Plant Types

Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States by Claud L. Brown and L. Katherine Kirkman This manual includes the 205 species and varieties of trees native to Georgia, most of which may be found throughout the southeastern United States. Descriptions include features that may be used to distinguish similar species; summer and winter keys, and distribution maps. Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast: Landscaping Uses and Identification by Leonard E. Foote and Samuel B. Jones Jr. Both a field guide and a resource for gardeners, this book helps identify 550 species of native plants and gives suggestions for using natives in the landscape. Field Guide to the Ferns and Other Pteridophytes of Georgia by Lloyd Snyder, Jr. and James G. Bruce This books helps the reader to learn, identify and appreciate the ferns of Georgia. Included are very good line drawings of the fronds, front and back, and root structures. Trilliums in Woodland and Garden/American Treasures by Don L. Jacobs, Rob L. Jacobs This book is descriptive, easy to ready and full of photographs, information on habitat, identification, propagation, and how to grow Trilliums.

NativeSCAPE April 2011

Our Favorite Books on Native Plants
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Books About the Historical Usage of Native Plants

Native American Ethnobotany by Daniel E. Moerman A comprehensive account of the plants used by Native Americans for food, medicine and other purposes. The author, an anthropologist, documents the use of 4,029 kinds of plants, with a total of 44,691 usages. Stalking the Wild Asparagus By Euell Gibbons A fun but informative book that explains how to recognize, gather and prepare foods found growing in the wild. Part of a series of books by the famous author who grew up during the dust bowl era. The Secrets of Wildflowers: A Delightful Feast of Little-Known Facts, Folklore, and History By Jack Sanders A quiet, lovely book on wildflowers that, as suggested in the title, discusses the folklore and history of wildflowers. It's beautiful to page through and a delight to read.

On Plant Habitats and Our Environment

Bringing Nature Home By Doug Tallamy A thought provoking book that discusses the unbreakable link between native plants and native wildlife.

On Rare Plants
A Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia By Linda G. Chafin A comprehensive guide to our states rare and endangered plants. Photographs show the plants in their natural surroundings, and drawings emphasize the most distinctive part of the plants. The book provides information about the plants, as well as their habitats and management.

NativeSCAPE April 2011

American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis
By Ken Gohring

Regardless of how dreary winter gets, Nature has one plant that stands out in the dark woods. That plant is the plane tree commonly called American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis. This lovely tree exhibits a structure of creamy white upper limbs that can be distinguished from afar. I have long admired this tree and can recall how as a child I played beneath its spreading limbs when I ventured to the creek that bordered our farm. The sycamore, or buttonball tree as it is sometimes known, is a large, fast growing tree commonly found in bottomlands, creek banks and other low-lying areas. It can also be found on higher ground in areas where it can obtain adequate moisture. On both lower and higher areas it is considered a major pioneer species, which is one that appears early in the forestation of cleared or disturbed areas. The sycamore ranges across the eastern part of the US, appearing naturally in all eastern states except Minnesota. Its range includes the eastern portions of Nebraska, south to mid Texas. It is also found in the hills of northeastern Mexico. It is a large tree, recognized as one of the tallest deciduous trees in the eastern US forests. Its height ranges 80 to 120 feet with some American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) In Winter record Photo Credit: Ken Gohring trees reaching 140 plus feet. While not the tallest deciduous tree, it does have the greatest trunk diameter of such trees with some specimens reaching 6 1/2 feet in diameter. It is a long-lived tree with one specimen reported in Buffalo, NY dated to 1700. Some estimate that longer lives up to 500 years are likely. A bit of historical trivia: the NY Stock Exchange was formed in 1792 under the Buttonwood Agreement, as it was signed under a sycamore (buttonwood) tree at 68 Wall Street in New York City. Sycamore is widely planted and is said to have been part of the forests of Greenland during those times when Greenland was forested. It has been planted in Argentina in South America and several territories of southern Australia. It is used for several purposes, including rough lumber, pulp, wooden boxes, crates and furniture. It is characterized as a heavy, close-grained wood that is difficult to work because of its fibrous structure. It is used as a fuel wood but lacks the qualities found in the better firewoods such as Platanus occidentalis also known as Buttonwood Photo Credit: Ken Gohring oak and hickory.
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NativeSCAPE April 2011

American Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis
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The bark of the upper trunk of sycamores splits into patches, leaving broad areas of inner, white creamy bark exposed, giving the sycamore its beautiful appearance. The lower portion of the tree's trunk retains the brown, sometimes yellow or green coloration, which is less attractive. However, from a distance, at the tree's upper levels, truly beautiful portions of the tree are seen from significant distances. Sycamores usually do not form dense colonies. In the woods near my home in west Cobb, I frequently see numerous specimens but not large groupings. However in some areas, large groupings do form. Stands of 40 to 100 acres are found in some southeastern states. Such groupings are not usually found in the northern states. I recall a few years ago traveling from Kansas City to my hometown in central Missouri, seeing small groups of sycamore trees. That country is characterized by large fields of agricultural crops such as corn or wheat. In the drainage areas of these large fields, trees are allowed to grow adjacent to the areas where flowage takes place. In several instances, I saw pure stands of sycamores lining the Platanus occidentalis In Summer drainage streams. They were outstanding in appearance with their almost Photo Credit: Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org solid white coloration. The beauty almost rivaled that of colorful hardwoods in autumn coloration. While not all populations are as spectacular as these, where found, sycamores do stand out. The leaves of the American sycamore somewhat resemble maple leaves. The 4 to 9 inch leaves appear alternatively and are star shaped with 3 to 5 sharp pointed lobes. They are not particularly attractive in the fall. The flowers, which are rather undistinguished, appear in April and May. Sycamore is monoecious, i.e. both male and female flowers form on its branches. The fruit of the sycamore are balls about an inch in diameter. They hang from 3 to 6 inch string-like stalks. The seeds remain on the tree throughout winter. In early spring the seeds, which are tightly packed around a core or button, start to disperse. Each seed has a tuft of hair that causes the seed to float like a parachute in its descent. One company involved in the development of wind turbines is using the model of a sycamore seed in its design of a large wind turbine used to generate electricity. A British company is also said to be using similar studies in their design of a large turbine to be constructed offshore. The seeds rotate in the wind as they descend, increasing the range of the dispersal of the seeds.

While the sycamore is widely planted, it is not recommended as a tree that one would plant in a yard. It does grow rapidly, reaching a height of 25 feet in ten years. It is frequently planted as a street tree and used to reclaim strip mining areas. It is not considered a good plant for wildlife, although its seeds are eaten by some birds and wildlife such as squirrels. Many times older trees develop hollow trunks, which provide shelter for wildlife. The American sycamore has been crossed with a similar tree, Platanus orientalis, which is a sycamore native to Asia Minor and areas east to Iran. This cross, known as the London Plane Tree, is planted extensively in Europe and the US. It has better disease resistance and tolerance of air pollution than the native American tree. Regardless of its shortcomings as a lawn tree, it is nevertheless a beautiful tree worthy of cultivation in selected areas.

Platanus occidentalis Leaves & Fruit Photo Credit: Allen Bridgman, S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources,

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

A Joint Venture in Carroll County
By Flo Hayes and Wendell Hoomes (Photos: Frank Bennett)

On Saturday, March 19, Carroll County Master Gardeners joined the members of the West Ga. Chapter of GNPS to work on the Buffalo Creek Restoration Project. With almost twenty folks participating, we were able to accomplish quite a bit of our "to-do" list. One group spread mulch on the trail and repaired some washed out areas. At least three crews pulled privet and honeysuckle from the upper trail area. (Those Weed Wrenches and Polar Pullers are our back savers!)

Organizing the work groups

Planting natives

One crew planted some rescued plants along the trail and in an island area designed by Gina Strickland. Plantings included Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum), Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata), Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), Heartleaf Ginger (Hexastylis arifolia), Southern Wood Violet (Viola hirsutula), Pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculata), Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosa), Aster (Aster sp.), and Mouse Ear Coreopsis (Coreopsis auriculata).

Another crew continued work on the demonstration bed by building a trellis for climbers, which will help provide some dappled shade for the shade-loving plants. Wendell Hoomes teamed up with a group and put up three bluebird houses he had built for the trail. We enjoyed the drinks and snacks provided by the Master Gardeners, and we especially enjoyed working with them on this joint effort. We all agreed, "Things are looking so much better."

The newly installed trellis

The Master Gardeners are planning an open house in the demonstration garden in June, and we are planning to have our native plant demo bed ready for that event.

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Native Plant Rescue News
By Lynn Almand

Facilitator Spotlight John Little is a long-time member, rescue facilitator, and an ardent admirer of native plants. He volunteers at the Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Garden where he is responsible for the shrub garden, rare plants, and helps in the shade garden. He also likes to visit and hike in localities where he can see native plants in their indigenous habitats. In December, I asked the facilitators to share information about their favorite rescue plants. Here's what John had to say:
One favorite is umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetala). This understory tree is found occasionally on rescues, but not often, and this Piedmont native adds a "tropical" look to the deciduous woodland or woods edge. The name describes the appearance well, as the uncommonly large leaves, radiating from the tips of the branches, form leaf umbrellas that add a little extra shade for the under-plantings. When digging, it is not unusual to find very few feeder roots. The main root often seems to angle into the soil so it would be wise to check for the direction by probing around the stem (trunk) a little before going deeper. Smaller trees are the better choice for digging, so root damage is minimized. I have found that transplants can be successful without taking a big root-ball (even bare-root can work as long as it is not allowed to dry). If some feeder roots are found, success is more likely. Even if it seems to die back within the next year or two, often it will re-sprout from the base, so one should not count it out just because the original sprout dies back. In fact, one may see that happening at the rescue site to indigenous trees as tall as 10 - 15', or taller. In one area in my woods, underneath a rescued umbrella Magnolia, is a second favorite rescue plant, Dolls Eyes (Actaea pachypoda). One reason it is a favorite is its scarcity - found in only one or two of the many dozens of sites I have visited. It is easy to dig and transplant with a root-ball that would fit a one -gallon pot. Another reason it is a favorite are the spikes of mature fruit, which are the source of the common name. The berries resemble the eyes of old-fashioned china dolls. The small spherical white berries with single black dots (eyes) are very unusual among the many wildflowers I have seen on rescues. They are attached to the flower stem (peduncle) which turns red as the berries turn white. They follow racemes of white flowers, with each flower individually having a starburst appearance, due to the numerous stamens that shoot out at multiple angles. The foliage is attractive though not Actaea pachypoda in bloom and with berries. Photos: Sharon Parry remarkably so, but it fits in well with other companion plants. I have it surrounded with bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), trout lilies (Erythronium americanum), southern nodding trillium (Trillium rugelii), lemon or yellow trillium (Trillium luteum), lady ferns (Athyrium filix-femina) with a few other specimens mixed in, like yellow mandarin (Prosartes maculata) and halberd-leaved violets (Viola hastata). The group forms sort of a menagerie of three colors: green, yellow, and white. Throw in some Trillium cuneatum and red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) to add red/burgundy accents. Put all these, including an umbrella Magnolia, next to a large mature tulip tree and you will be able to picture a favorite spot in my woodland.

Remember, never dig native plants on public property, or on private property without the permission of the owner, and ONLY if the plants will be lost to development. Join a GNPS rescue instead and help us save the plants legally with other people who love native plants.

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Chapter News
By Flo Hayes, President, West Georgia Chapter

The folks of the West Ga. Chapter of GNPS really enjoyed the program for our February 2011 meeting. We were treated to a talk and pictures on the spring Wildflower Pilgrimage at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Mike and Gina Strickland presented. We were all encouraged to make plans to attend this event at least once in our lifetime. We continue to work on the Buffalo Creek Restoration project. We are making good progress removing invasive plants, planting rescued plants and planning for additional work. On March 19th we were joined by the Carroll County Master Gardeners for a workday at the trail. We really enjoyed this cooperative workday. The Master Gardeners invited us to build a native plant demonstration bed in their demo area. To prepare for the workday, we outlined the bed and made it ready for the addition of soil. We look forward to having a garden of rescued natives that will be viewed by visitors to the gardens. This area is often used for weddings and other functions and should be seen and enjoyed by a lot of folks. The Buffalo Creek Trail also winds its way up to this garden area, so even the casual visitors will have a chance to see natives plants in a garden setting.

Gina and Frank working on the initial layout of the new demonstration bed Mike and Flo lending a hand

To learn more about the West Georgia Chapter and our programs and projects, please visit WWW.wgawildflowers.org.

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Plant Focus: Fairy Wand (Chamaelirium luteum)
By Denise Hartline

This very Fairy Wand (Chamaelirium luteum) stopped us dead in our tracks the first time we saw it in bloom! My husband and I were hiking on the Benton MacKaye Trail in north Georgia one day in May. We came to an opening in the woods and WHOA! There it was, presiding gracefully over the clearing with its long, white, attentiongetting bloom. We saw only that one single plant, but it was the highlight of our day. I snapped this photo (left), and once we got home to our wildflower books it was easy to identify this plant as Fairy Wand. Fairy Wand is in the lily family, and is the only species in its genus. It has a short stout rhizome, a basal rosette of elliptic or oblong leaves, and, if the plant is happy in its location, a flowering stalk (raceme) that is 1 to 4 feet tall. C. luteum is a dioecious plant, which means that it has either male or female flowers on one plant. Its scientific name comes from the Greek words chamai (meaning close to the ground) and lirion (meaning lily), and the Latin word luteus (meaning yellow). Some other common names for Fairy Wand include Devils Bit, Blazing Star, Drooping Starwort, Squirrel Fairy Wand (Chamaelirium luteum) Tails, and False Unicorn. Historically, the rhizome and roots of C. Photo: Denise Hartline luteum were used to treat a wide variety of afflictions, including expulsion of intestinal worms and numerous ailments of the reproductive systems of both women and men. Allegedly, it was given the name Devils Bit because some said the devil was envious of its many supposed curative powers, so he bit off a chunk of its rhizome to make it short for eternity so that humans would have less of it. By the way, the plant is known to cause vomiting and also contains a cardiac toxin. Fairy Wand generally grows on slopes where the soil is rich, moist, and acid, but it will also grow in wet meadows. It needs sun in order to bloom, and morning sun is preferable. If its located in an area that is too shady the basal rosette will grow and persist for years, but the plant wont bloom. The differences that exist between female and male plants are interesting. Check out the following table and photo. See if you can tell how many of each sex are in the photo that follows the table.

Chamaelirium luteum Some Differences Between Female & Male Plants

Have taller, more erect racemes Flowers are white Racemes may persist for up to three years after flowering Racemes disappear soon after flowering Flower less frequently Have a higher mortality rate Less common in populations

Female Plants

Male Plants

Have shorter racemes that curve or droop

Flowers are tinged with yellow from stamens

Flower more frequently

Have a lower mortality rate

More common in populations

(Continued on next page)

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Plant Focus: Fairy Wand (Chamaelirium luteum)
(Continued from Previous Page)

If you guessed that there are one female plant and six male plants in the photo, you are correct. The female bloom is more erect, has fewer flowers per raceme, and is outnumbered by males. It can be difficult to tell female from male plants unless plants of both sexes, which have flowered at approximately the same time, are close enough for comparison. Its not possible to tell which sex a plant is by the basal rosette alone, so if you rescue some Fairy Wand that is not in bloom, odds are that you may have more male plants than females. If you would like to have seeds for propagation, you will need both male and female plants. To increase your chances of rescuing a female plant, try rescuing from different clusters of plants. Male plants will generally cluster with other males, and female plants will generally cluster with other females.

Photo by Ellen Hornig, Seneca Hill Perennials

Chamaelirium luteums basal rosette in winter. Photo: Mike Strickland

The basal rosette of Fairy Wand remains semi-evergreen here in the southeastern United States, so its possible for us to find Fairy Wand on winter rescues in Georgia. At any time of year, look for the leaves of the basal rosettes peeking out from leaf litter. C. luteum plants dont always bloom every year, so its not often that youll encounter a bloom unless you are lucky. Fairy Wands basal rosettes resemble rosettes of other lilies such as Clintonia borealis (bluebead lily), but the Clintonia rosette leaves are larger, fleshier, and darker green. Fairy Wands rosette can also look like the rosette of a number of composites and other woodland plants, but Fairy Wands leaves will have five to seven parallel veins and smaller veins that may be subtly netted (unusual in a monocots/lilies).

Fairy Wand looks best in the garden when its grouped in clusters, and some suggested companion plants are small ferns, heartleaf ginger, Iris cristata, Hepatica, Euonymus americanus, and Solomons Seal. Because the plant has a short rhizome and not many roots, it may heave above ground when the soil freezes. This happened to several of mine. Its a good idea to tuck them in for the winter by tossing a couple of handfuls of shredded leaves on them before it gets too cold. Other than needing moisture and some sun, Fairy Wand is a forgiving and easy plant to grow. Just remember to water it during dry spells. To propagate, collect seed from the seed capsules on the female plant when they begin to turn brown. Let them dry until they split and you can shake the seeds free. Cold stratify (at 40 deg. F) the seeds in a moist medium for 90 days, after which you should move them to 70 deg. F. The seeds need light to germinate. You could also plant them outside in December and cover them with coarse sand. Keep the seeds moist. The first season the rosettes will be quite small (1/4), so leave them alone until next season, when you can move them to individual pots. They take about 3 years to bloom from seed. Healthy older plants will form offsets that you can separate in the spring.

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Upcoming Events
April 30th (Saturday): GNPS Annual Spring Plant Sale
The 2011 Spring Plant Sale is almost here, and I dont know about you, butIm so excited! I just cant hide it! And I know I know I know I know I know I want you! (Insert Pointer Sisters song in your head now.) The Spring Plant Sale is not only our largest fund raising event of the year, but it is the best opportunity for all of us to come together, catch up with old friends, meet new friends, learn from each other and share our native plant knowledge with the public. Friday, April 29th is Set-up Day Saturday, April 30th is Sale Day We will have food, drinks and a special volunteer Plant of the Year: Mapleleaf Viburnum T-shirt for participating in the fun. Let's get excited, where we just can't hide itVolunteer now at GNPS.org and go to Plant Sale Page! -Sheri George GNPS Plant Sale Chair Please note: We cant have a native plant sale without your donations of rescued plants and those that need thinning out, have made their way onto your paths or need more shade/sun. (Please dont wait until the last few weeks as the earlier they are potted up, the better they will look for the plant sale.) Check the Plant Sale Page closer to April for drop off sites if you cannot make it to Set Up Day. Thanks!

May 7th (Saturday): Members Garden Tour

We have five gardens featured on this year's tour. In Cherokee County, past GNPS President, Marcia Winchester, says we may see her many native ferns as well as mayapples and other Spring ephemerals at this time of year. Also in Cherokee County is Debbie Meadows' nine acre garden. It is home to many rescued as well as indigenous native plants and includes several water features as well. In Tucker, inspired by Douglas Tallamy's talks and book, Karen Lindauer's garden has undergone many changes to create more habitat using native plants wherever possible. The 7 acres Woodlands Garden in Decatur has also added more native plants and is home to several record holding native trees. Finally, The Falls, 5 acres with 2/3rd mile of nature trails and a 120' cascading waterfall at the historic Durand Mill site situated in Druid Hills, will be on tour. There we can learn more about the history of our city and see how an intown garden can be home to plants native to the Piedmont of Georgia. Plan on spending the day touring these fine gardens! Tour gardens will be open from 10 - 6. Please contact Jane Trentin if you have any questions.

And a reminder to members:

Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit our state parks. Georgians can go to their library and "check out" a state parks pass so they can go to a park for free. Visit this link for more info: http://www.gastateparks.org/ ThingsToKnow

Please refer to our website for current information on project workdays and times. Thank you!

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NativeSCAPE April 2011

Website Update
By Mike Strickland

A new form has been added that allows visitors to provide information about potential rescue sites. Hopefully, visitors will use this form to provide the Rescue Committee with information on properties that are about to be developed, so they can try to obtain permission to rescue them before the destruction takes place. You may have noticed, on the Plant Sale Announcement, a link takes you to a map of the area around McFarlane Nature Park. This map utility is new to the website and can be used for any location. It utilizes a feature of Google Maps that produces the information needed to imbed a map into a webpage. For some time now, there have been some photo pages, like those for Heritage Park workdays, which display the caption for the photo, when viewing the large version of the picture, and some which didn't. That has been remedied. Photos have now been converted to display the caption with the large photo. Recently, we have started on a project to update the Plant Charts for the different seasons. The way the pages were set up, it would have been difficult. The pages have been reworked to make it easy to add/edit plants that appear in the list. Now, when the information is provided, it will be much easier to make changes. Due to site reorganization, you may have noticed some broken bookmarks related to pages with lists of links on them. The pages are still there - they've just been relocated to a common directory. Such reorganization is a part of how much the site has grown in the past few years. I'm sure that there will be other such changes, from time to time, in the future, but you'll still be able to get to the pages via links on the website and change your bookmarks to match. A Facebook link has been added to our main page. And lastly, The Website Committee has issued a special request: Please share your photos of your native plants and gardens in the Discussion Forums. The Garden Shots forum has been set up just for you to show off your natives. We'd also like to remind folks that there are forums set up for identification of that mystery plant and to share your propagation methods. We hope that you take advantage of this great resource to learn and share your native photos and knowledge. If you have any difficulty logging on, please contact me.

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Georgia Native Plant Society Membership & Renewal

Memberships are effective for one calendar year, beginning January 1st. Hydrangea quercifolia

Choose membership level: (Select one) ___Individual/Family ($20) ___Full-Time Student ($15) ___Lifetime Individual/Family ($250) ___Senior, 55 and older ($15) ___Corporate/Commercial/Educational ($50)

Affiliation: ___No Chapter Affiliation ___West Georgia Chapter

___Check here if in addition to my membership renewal, I have included ______ to be distributed as follows: ___Education ___Jeane Reeves Memorial Grants and Scholarship Program Total Enclosed: ____________ ___Conservation/Propagation/Restoration ___Unrestricted Check # _______________

Trade Name (if applicable):

_______________________________________________________________________

First Name: ______________________ Middle Initial: ____ Last Name: __________________________________ If Family, list additional names: ____________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ___________________________________ Work Phone: ____________________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ (Email address is required if you wish to receive the Listserv and/or Electronic Newsletter.)

___ Check here if you prefer NOT to receive emails from our list server which contain information about meetings, plant rescues, work parties and other items of interest to the membership.

The full-color newsletter will be sent electronically. If you require a print version, which will be black and white, check here: ___

Please mail completed renewal form to the following address: GNPS, PO Box 422085, Atlanta, GA 30342-2085