Purchasing Plants for Preservation

A hushed “awww” was just audible when the senior botanist pointed to the image of the baby.

A baby Asplenium rhizophyllum.

You know you’re in company of true plant lovers when the crowd “coos” at an image of a baby walking fern, born on a rocky cliff in Pennsylvania.

The senior botanist was Dr. Ann Rhoads of the Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania, and author of “Trees of Pennsylvania.” Manada conservancy members were treated to a talk by Rhoads, during their native plant sale members night at Meadowood Nursery, Friday. She explained ways of identifying plant communities in our forests.

Why Native? Here's why

Sitting down to write something about native plants feels like trying to write something about plants.

It’s far too broad a subject. And one, on which, I have a lot to learn. Luckily, I’ve had the pleasure to get to know a few native plant enthusiasts and I want to share some about what I’ve learned about native plants so far.

Many of us know that plants native to a specific area grow particularly well, because they are genetically suited to the specific growing conditions having evolved over centuries to prosper in that specific climate. It is right plant, right place cubed. We’ve heard the arguments that natives are easier to grow.

We also know that because native plants naturally prosper, they require no chemicals to thrive. Good arguments for natives can be made on a purely economical basis. Native plants cost less over time because they don’t require chemicals or, once established, as much or any watering.

Why Native? Here's why

Native shrubs can also benefit birds. “Spicebush is a Mcdonalds for birds”, said Judy Bono, a York County Native plant expert during a talk at Penn State Master Gardeners “Garden Wise” seminar. Spicebush is also a host plant for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

Butterflies and other insects search out only select plants – known as host plants- to lay their eggs. The monarch butterfly only lays in milkweed.

Bottom line is, fewer native plants, mean fewer insects, which means fewer species of birds.

It is a complex system. Luckily, Doug Tallamy is in town to explain. Tallamy, author of “Bringing Nature home” will be at the Manada Conservancy’s Native Plant sale hosted by Meadowood Nursery. The sale is Saturday, May 2, 2009, free and open to the public. There is a Friday night event at the Nursery for members.

For more information on the sale and directions: http://www.manada.org/nativeplantsale.html

More on starting with Native Plants and Doug Tallamy to come.

Tuned into Nature

Doyle’s evolution to native plant grower has been a curvy path through the woods illuminated by those tuned-into-nature moments of clarity. She has an extensive horticulture background and has meandered through growing organic vegetables and herbs for sale at farm markets, to finally setting up her nursery at her home.

“I like to do as nature does.” said Jackie. Describing herself as a gardener’s gardener, she hopes to share her experience with others. “ The idea is to bring more people into Natives,” said Doyle.

Explaining that she wouldn’t advocate tearing out all non-native plants, she tells her customers, “ wouldn’t it be nice to provide a host plant for a butterfly while planting a beautiful plant?” A host plant is a place where a butterfly or other species lay their eggs. Native species can only use specific native plants for hosts.

Doyle’s gardens demonstrate another of her observations from nature. Noticing how trees and shrubs regenerate themselves in woods, Doyle said a light bulb went off in her head and she came to understand what she calls, “mother planting.”

Nurturing Native Plants

Nurturing Natives

Locating Locally Grown Plants

There is comfort in that tall stack of mail order plant catalogs we’ve accumulated since fall. During the time our gardens slumber, flipping through glossy pages filled with images of flowers in full bloom sustains many a gardener.

Those catalogs are well traveled at a cost to the environment. As are the intensely packaged plants that will arrive on your doorstep at proper planting time if you buy via mail order. With a little of your gardener’s patience, you can reduce your carbon footprint and support local growers by waiting for spring and finding those interesting plants grown locally.

A great place to start is, “The Gardener of the Owl Valley.” A short scenic drive from either York or Lancaster takes you to a quaint cottage surrounded by native plant gardens. Visitors are treated to a good selection of locally grown Pennsylvania native plants and access to proprietor Judy Bono’s expertise.

As well as garden items, gifts and plants, “The Gardener of the Owl Valley” offers two services certainly not found in a catalogue. Judy will find plants for you and will come to your home and help design a native garden. She periodically offers tours of her lovingly tended acre of shaded gardens along the banks of Kreutz Creek. For more information go to: www.gardeneroftheowlvalley.com.

If you’d like to find locally grown plants at your favorite garden center, Erica Beadle, Nursery Manager at Highland Gardens in Camp Hill, PA, suggests just asking. Erica buys a significant percent of their perennials and annuals regionally, using suppliers in Sunbury, Mechanicsburg and Dillsburg. Her preference for local comes from concern about the environment and the practical interest in keeping freight cost low. If you’re looking for shrubs or trees, Highland Gardens sells stock from Pennsylvania Pride. These plants are identifiable by their distinctive purple pots.

Some growers offer retail. Meadowood Native Plant Nursery started out serving the non-profit sector but quickly saw the need to supply natives plants to home gardners. Meadowood propagates their own plants, grows with native seed sources on site, while sticking with all regionally produced plant material. Meadowood hosts plant sales in the spring and is open to the public by appointment. Call 717-566-9875 or visit www.meadowoodnursery.com.

For locally grown bedding plants, Tim Bijold with Tim’s Plants and Greenhouses near Mechanicsburg, grows his own stock for retail. As with many growers, Bijold starts with tiny plants, pots them, then grows them to an appealing size for your garden. He chooses local sources for starter plants as often as possible.

Since you can’t get out and dig just yet and you may need a little comfort from the cold, try flipping through a few of the above sites online. If you’d like to see more local nurseries or nurseries out of the central PA region, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania Preferred program allows you to search for participating nurseries or garden centers. www.agric.state.pa.us/papreferred.

From there, you can go directly to the nurseries’ website and locate visual respite found in images from the growing season.