Latin for Gardeners: April 2021

Aprils’s Native Maryland Plant
Betula nigra
(BET-yoo-luh NY-gruh)
Common Name: River Birch

The 2020 State of the Bay report¹ rated the Chesapeake Bay a 32 (D+), down one point from the last report in 2018.  Many factors played a role in contributing to this grade, but stormwater pollution continues to be a significant one. 

Bay-Wise² teaches us that most Marylanders live within ½ mile of a storm drain – the basic channel that sends all runoff to the Bay or its tributaries.  For homeowners wanting to do their part to protect this irreplaceable natural and national treasure, planting trees - especially canopy trees - on their property is an excellent way to contribute.  Trees that create a dense canopy will intercept and slow down rain, reducing the erosion that carries sediment, nitrogen (from fertilizer), and other chemicals into our waterways.  The shade they produce cools adjacent impervious surfaces, thereby reducing the temperature of any eventual runoff – this is particularly important if we are to protect the Bay’s fish species.

For those of us who have perpetually wet areas in our landscapes, one of the best choices for a tree may be a Betula nigra – an adaptable tree that also happens to be a keystone species³.

River birch prefer wet sites, are fast growers, and thrive in full sun to part shade. They are naturally found in riverbanks where they tolerate extended periods of flood conditions. The dry riverbed in my yard is flanked by river birch that have four-season interest and play a major role in supporting the food web necessary for birds to breed and attracting them to my yard.

For those of us working on community projects, River birch are excellent choices for bioretention or raingardens where they readily soak up water.  Pruning them, if desired, is best done in late summer or fall when the plant enters its dormant season and sap is not flowing.

Restoring the Bay requires a team effort. Why not be a key player and plant a hard-working keystone species? Oh, I almost forgot to mention, Betula nigra, is also deer-resistant – even more reason to plant one!

¹ -https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/state-of-the-bay-report/index.html

² – https://extension.umd.edu/baywise

³ - A genera that ‘form the backbone of local ecosystems’ – Doug Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope

~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: February 2021

February’s Native Maryland Plant
Monarda bradburiana
(mo-NAR-da brad-bur-ee-AH-nuh)
Common Name: Eastern Bee Balm or Bradbury’s Bee Balm

Monarda species are found throughout a large portion of the U.S. because of their ability to grow in a variety of conditions both wet and dry, and soil types (even clay!) They tolerate black walnut and most importantly for many of us, they are resistant to deer, rabbit, and other mammals.  The Monarda bradburiana growing in my garden was planted there specifically because its aromatic showy flowers bloom in early summer and attract hordes of long-tongued bees, as well as the occasional butterfly.

This species is easily identified by its large distinctive flowers and the spotted purple dots on the lower lip of the corolla; the outer surface of the upper lip is often finely pubescent as seen below (right).

Because of its many uses as a medicinal plant bee balm is associated with good health along with protection from illness.  And that is what I wish for all of you, as we begin 2021 and continue to sustain ourselves and each other through this coronavirus pandemic.  

~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: December 2020

December’s Native Maryland Plant

All of them!

Hello Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists and Master Watershed Stewards!

I hope you are all well and are staying safe.  This year of coronavirus has been challenging in so many ways; it has limited our ability to work, socialize and educate the public, but we have adapted and learned new ways to communicate, learn, shop and work. With more time spent at home, many people turned to home gardening as a way to work off stress, enjoy the natural world, spend quality time with their children and in some cases add native plants to their landscapes.  I have spent a lot of my time gardening as well - and reading.  I recommend E. O. Wilson’s, ‘The Diversity of Life’ and Doug Tallamy’s ‘Nature’s Best Hope’.

For those of you who have been reading Latin for Gardeners, it’s now time to test your knowledge of the scientific names of the nine native plants that have been featured this year. It’s always best to use the Latin names of plants when you recommend them to friends and the public – there’s only one Latin name for a plant so it avoids confusion and ensures people select the right plant when shopping at nurseries.

As a reminder, the common names of the plants (in alphabetical order, not how they are shown below) are: Dense St. John’s Wort, Eastern White Pine, Green and Gold, Maple-leaved Viburnum, Marsh Marigold, Monkey Flower, Seersucker Sedge, Shrubby St. John’s Wort, Willow Oak.

The first group of photos shows the plants during their bloom time. The second group of photos shows them in their winter dress. Can you still recognize them?  Do you think you can tell a Dense St. John’s Wort from a Shrubby one? I’ve given you a few hints but don’t feel bad if you can’t place them all – Latin is not an easy language.  Good luck, or as they say in Latin, “Fortuna!”

Match the number of each plant to the letter of each plant in its winter form (answers at the bottom).

 ~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: November 2020

November’s Native Maryland Plant
Quercus phellos
(KWURK-us FELL-us) L.
Common Name: Willow Oak

As master gardeners, naturalists and watershed stewards we are often asked to recommend trees suitable for a yard, community planting or restoration project.  When this happens, we often turn to our Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping manual for guidance.  The list of native trees is diverse, but the number of native Quercus species listed is twice that of the second most populace species, Pinus.  It should come as no surprise then, that in the mid-Atlantic states much of our forest is defined by the Quercus (Oak) genus.

In fact, Quercus species are highly valued for the vast ecosystem services they provide and are considered ‘keystone’ species for the inherent value they bring to an environment.  Across the nation ‘Oaks are ranked either number one or number two in their support of the food web in 84% of all U.S. counties in which they occur.¹

I frequently recommend Oaks on projects because of their ecological value and because there is an oak to fit most any site condition. Quercus phellos is commonly planted as an ornamental tree; planted in a ‘good’ site it has moderate to rapid growth, it’s able to withstand sun and part-shade, is salt and wind-tolerant (once established) and has easily compostable willow-like leaves. Like all oaks, Quercus phellos is an excellent shade tree that casts a long shadow that can shade a home or paved area; it is a suitable street tree if there are no overhead wires.

When using trees in a landscape it is always important to discuss maintenance.  A tree needs its requisite sun, water, and room to grow, but it also needs to be protected from invasive species that may climb its trunk and smother its branches.   To thrive, routine maintenance should include identifying and removing invasive species from around its trunk and beneath its branches. 

If you want to increase biodiversity, help protect your watershed, and improve air quality, look for places where you can plant this keystone species - you should not have to go far. 

¹ Nature’s Best Hope, Doug Tallamy (Narango, Tallamy and Shropshire 2018)

~ Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com