Latin for Gardeners: October 2021

October’s Native Maryland Plant
Salix nigra Marsh.
(SAY-liks NY-grah)
Common Name: Black Willow

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) has designated October as the first annual ‘Riparian Buffer’ month¹; the month to raise awareness and promote the sustainable practice of riparian buffers – it could not have come at a better time.  Forested riparian buffers are one of the best ways to protect our waterways; they prevent erosion, reduce flooding, provide habitat for wildlife, create recreational opportunities, and filter pollutants. The last two ‘State of the Bay’ report cards² graded the Bay a D+ and in 2022 we’ll have our next report.  I for one am anxious that it may dip into failing grade status, it’s hard coming back from an F, and even harder to imagine what it will mean for life in the Bay.  It will take everyone’s effort to prevent this, but as Master Gardeners and Watershed Stewards, we know how to do it!  Riparian buffers will play a major role.

My plan is to engage with my community, to plant a Salix nigra and other trees, along the shores of the river closest to my home, the Severn River. I’m aware that this tree is often used in riparian buffers, ‘areas of vegetation near a stream, usually forested, that shade and protect that stream from the impact of adjacent land use.’ Salix nigra are excellent at stabilizing embankments, they provide valuable habitat and are an early pollen source for pollinators. I’ve often seen them along the Baltimore-Annapolis trail where I ride my bike, it’s nice to stop and observe the wildlife that lives there. Planting trees in the fall is a wonderful way to spend a morning and planting a keystone³ species makes it even more rewarding. 

If you’re not able to plant a riparian buffer perhaps you’ll still be able to plant a tree at home or in your community? Hopefully a canopy tree that can provide shade over an impervious surface, maybe even a keystone species that supports biodiversity in a big way.  Whichever you choose, don’t let this October go by without being a part of the solution. So much life depends on it!

’ - https://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/riparian-buffer-month/

² - https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/state-of-the-bay-report/index.html

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: September 2021

September’s Native Maryland Plant
Silphium perfoliatum L. var connatum
(SIL-fee-um per-foh-lee-AY-tum var kon-NAH-tum)
Common Name: Cup Plant

During September, historically Maryland’s wettest month, I visit the ten rain barrels in my yard frequently - removing any debris from their screens and doing my best to drain them before the next storm.   Two years ago, I planted what I thought was the straight-species Silphium perfoliatum in front of the three 65-gallon cascading barrels above; the plants were a surprise gift from my friend, a notably experienced and excellent gardener.  They were already big plants with well-established roots, so I had high confidence they’d succeed being replanted. I knew they would flower best in full sun and that they could be aggressive spreaders so I sited them where they could ‘dress up’ my rain barrels and be somewhat contained.  So far it appears this is a case of ‘Right Plant, Right Place’ as well as a case of ‘Wrong Plant, Wrong Place’.

Let me explain. The plant has flourished, its natural habitat includes road-side ditches and disturbed sites; it has also proven worthy of its common name - Cup plant. In May its meristems (young growth) are fully emerged, and the large serrated and sessile leaves have already formed a cup that captures rain and provides drinking water for bees and birds.  The hairy stems are one characteristic that set this species apart from the straight-species and how I identified this plant as var connatum. i.e. the ‘wrong plant’. I’ve read it’s native to the mid-Atlantic states, but lists disagree on whether that includes Maryland.

Silphium spp. have a long bloom period and provide an abundance of flowers for pollinators. Their seed heads are enjoyed by birds in the fall. They are highly adapted to endure extreme weather and inhospitable site conditions – as they’ve shown in my garden where they’re in a highly exposed location, susceptible to wind and disturbance.

When accepting plants from friends or neighbors I’d like to offer a note of caution. In my experience, most people give plants from their garden because they have an excess of them – they do it in good faith and in friendship, never intending to do harm. However, frequently the ‘gifted’ plants are aggressive, non-native plants that can displace native plants – in the past I’ve been offered Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) and Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria spp.), two plants I know better than to plant due to their invasive nature. I’m always hesitant to accept plants as a gift, I have limited space in my yard, I give preference to certain plants, and I try my best to only plant natives.  I’ve been impressed with this Cup plant; it’s shown itself to be adaptable and very attractive to pollinators – combined with its water-storing ability I find it the perfect blooming companion to my rain barrels.

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

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP)

aligmilligan@gmail.com

2021 Watershed Steward and Consortium Member of the Year

Each year the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy honors volunteer Master Watershed Stewards and the environmental professionals who support their action for clean water. The Master Watershed Steward of the Year is awarded to a Steward(s) who excels in engaging their community to reduce pollution. The Consortium Member of the Year is awarded to an environmental professional who makes a significant impact on projects for clean water. The 2021 Master Watershed Steward and Consortium Member of the Year Awards will be presented at WSA’s Outdoor Exploration Field Conference on September 18th.

2021 Master Watershed Steward of the Year

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Jessie Bradley adding to a pile of pulled invasive material at Sandy Point State Park. From January to July 2021, Jessie cleared more than 35,000 sq ft of invasives from the state park.

Class 9 Watershed Steward Jessie Bradley was honored for her dedication to eradicating invasive species at Sandy Point State Park and planting native trees. For the last two and a half years, Jessie has spent 2-3 hours nearly every day wrangling and removing stilt grass, multiflora rose, English ivy, and more, rescuing native trees and shrubs. Each month, she clears out the equivalent of two tennis courts worth of invasive vines/growth at Sandy Point! In 2020, Jessie trained as a Tree Trooper and planted 90 native trees at the state park, which she cares for alongside Ann Fleer, fellow Tree Trooper, and Class 9 Steward.

In addition to her restoration efforts, Jessie was integral in revamping how Stewards report their action, providing essential feedback while testing the state-wide WSA reporting system through UMD.

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As part of his capstone project in November 2019, Phil and volunteers planted over 250 natives to refresh and restore an existing rain garden. Today, his committed team of congregants and Stewards maintains the projects year-round.

Phil Colbert, Class 11 Watershed Steward, received the Steward of the Year Award for his dedication to caring for an existing project at Mt. Moriah AME Church in Annapolis. In summer 2018, Mt. Moriah’s original Steward, Betty Powell, requested help caring for her capstone project, installed in 2016 as part of the RiverWise Program. With no prior experience with restoration work or caring for native plants, Phil’s desire to do something good for the environment and strong calling to be of service to his congregation propelled him to take the Certification Course and manage the projects at Mt. Moriah. Phil added new natives to the original project and replaced plants in patches where most of the original native growth had died off as part of his capstone project. 

Phil continues to mobilize his congregation to care for their projects. With support from Betty Powell and Congregational Steward Dr. James (Jim) Johnson, Phil partners with the Maintenance Corps for project clean-ups and continues to grow in his maintenance of the projects with a core group of volunteers. Under his care, the gardens are flourishing—a great example of a Steward caring for creation.

2021 Consortium Member of the year

Johanna Doty was awarded Consortium Member of the Year for her work connecting Stewards and WSA with the Anne Arundel County Public Library. As a result of Johanna’s connections, we are reaching a greater number of residents across Anne Arundel County than ever before, developing ways to engage new audiences through bilingual and family programming, and supporting branches struggling to manage stormwater runoff. Because of her efforts, three librarians have trained as Watershed Stewards, representing the Crofton, Severn, and Maryland City branches. In 2020 and 2021, Stewards led programs and projects, including environmental literacy sessions, stream clean-ups, and tree maintenance at seven library branches. Additionally, Johanna increased WSA’s opportunities to create programming that reaches a broad audience and shines a light on environmental justice and social equity issues. In November, WSA and AACPL will partner to host an Environmental Justice panel, accommodating 1,000 participants across the state of Maryland.

2021 Ron Bowen Environmental Legacy Award

The Ron Bowen Environmental Legacy Award honors the impact of WSA co-founder, Ron Bowen by recognizing an individual who has made a unique contribution to environmental stewardship in Anne Arundel County by connecting government or institutional resources with private sector investments to generate significant environmental actions.

This year, we recognize Bud Reaves with the Ron Bowen Environmental Legacy Award. As an Anne Arundel County Forester, Bud’s passion for planting and protecting trees has made him a valuable resource to WSA over the years. With his knowledge of invasive plants and critical areas, Bud plays an instrumental role in many Steward projects, including identifying invasive species and suggesting native plants and trees to replace them. Additionally, Bud is a go-to resource for Stewards and Staff alike when it comes to identifying trees.

Bud founded the Anne Arundel Weed Resistance, a volunteer organization that removes invasive plants throughout Anne Arundel County. Through a series of trainings, volunteers learn to identify and remove invasive species like English Ivy and multiflora rose. Across the county, “Weed Warriors” implement their knowledge to eradicate destructive species on private and public lands. 

“Bud has been an essential part of almost all of my Steward projects. Since 2010, with our first reforestation project together, Bud has offered countless hours planting, teaching, advising, identifying, coordinating, and just showing up with a machete, in support of my work as a Steward. Bud’s branches of knowledge are wide and he is so eager to share his information and time with Stewards, students and the public to advance forestry and conservation projects. He has patiently taught me everything I know about invasive plants and management techniques through the development of the Weed Warriors program. Bud encouraged me to pursue a forestry stewardship plan for my neighborhood, helped me to develop multiple site reforestation and planting plans, and has been a team lead in my weed warrior actions in my neighborhood, and adjoining natural areas. I know he has helped countless other stewards move from ideas to environmental action. Rooted in information, and with a genuine passion for his work as a forester, Bud is a giant in the canopy of environmental action.”

— Lara Mulvaney, Class 1 Watershed Steward

Bud discusses tree planting and invasive removal funding with a WSA conference attendee.

Bud leading a Tree ID walk at WSA’s annual conference