Latin for Gardeners: November 2024

Latin for Gardeners

November’s Native Maryland Plant

Osmunda spectabilis Willd.

(os-MUN-duh speck-TAB-ih-liss)

Common Name: Royal Fern, Flowering Fern

Osmunda spectabilis, is a large fern that can be used to great effect in a moist to wet area of a garden. Its leaves emerge in early April, and given time, a mature plant can appear more like a shrub than a fern. This plant stores food in its rhizomatous underground stems allowing it to survive in often difficult conditions such as the over 30-day drought that Maryland is currently experiencing; it can also thrive in full sun if provided enough moisture. Its vertical, above ground root stalk is thick, and overtime it will be wrapped in a tuft of fibrous roots – you may recognize these, as they are often used as a potting medium for orchids.

Royal ferns are dimorphic, they have two distinct fronds: one fertile and the other infertile. The fertile chlorophyll-bearing fronds first appear as dark green. As they mature and split to release their spores, they turn a rusty brown. The infertile fronds are numerous and provide excellent cover for many amphibians and other wildlife. In winter, both fronds will die back and disappear, leaving only a small number of hollow, stiff stalks protruding from a raised clump – if you’re not careful you can easily trip over them!

The royal fern is an excellent companion for many other wet-loving native plants like Soft Rush (Juncus effusus) or Wild hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) – see below. Its bold-textured leaves and flowering fronds add interest and color to a green woodland garden.

Osmunda spectabilis is a member of the royal fern family, Osmundaceae. Like the familiar Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) O. spectabilis has recently undergone a name change based on genetic studies. Previously known as Osmunda regalis or Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis, this fern has been recategorized and is now its own species. O. regalis is restricted to Asia, Africa, and Europe.

NOTE: iNaturalist has made this name change but not all nurseries have recognized the reclassification on their websites or other media.

Royal fern, once established, is a tough plant that can survive prolonged drought. Birds, however, need our help during these long dry spells. Providing a clean water source during fall and winter attracts them to your garden and improves their survival. You’ll find them seeking shade under Osmunda spectabilis in the spring.

Alison Milligan - MG/MN 2013
Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP
aligmilligan@gmail.com

Best Wishes, Ginger Ellis

Please join me in thanking WSA co-founder, Ginger Ellis, for 47 years of leadership and commitment to restoring our local waterways. This month, Ginger retires from her position as Environmental Planning Administrator for Anne Arundel County’s Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration. 

I first met Ginger in the Dining Hall of Arlington Echo in 2005 as she, Ron Bowen and Steve Barry were discussing how to better serve communities with stormwater problems. What followed was 3 years of discussion that eventually resulted in the Watershed Steward Academy. Ginger was truly the centering force amid the many ideas and opinions of the 4 founders. Her long term commitment to WSA has helped to ensure the organization’s continued growth and deep partnership with Anne Arundel County.   

After so many years of commitment to the environment, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ginger wish her all the best for a vibrant retirement. 

You can read more about Ginger’s amazing career here.

Cheers!

Suzanne Etgen

With Gratitude for their Service to WSA

WSA is extremely grateful for the service of its departing Board Members, Kevin Green, Steve Russo, and Ron Snyder

Kevin Green joined WSA during our very first certification course in 2009 and has truly been a part of growing the organization since then. Kevin’s incredible leadership as a Steward has made his community projects in Hillsmere a favorite stop on WSA’s restoration tours. On the Board, Kevin has not only represented the perspective of the communities we serve, but has also been committed fundraising partner, connected many donors to support WSA’s mission.

Steve Russo has served as WSA’s treasurer for nearly 8 years, during which time, our organization’s budget and financial sophistication has grown tremendously. He has guided us through our first formal financial reviews and helped the organization prepare for upcoming audits. We are grateful for Steve’s steady and consistent guidance over the last several years.

I first met Ron Snyder at the Stormwater Workgroup convened by Anne Arundel County in an effort to better support communities with environmental site design practices required after Maryland’s Stormwater Management Act of 2007. As a developer, Ron’s commitment to helping HOAs successfully understand and maintain stormwater practices led him to partner with WSA and Steward Steve Miller to create our Stormwater Success course(link). Thank you Ron for lending your unique perspective to help WSA support communities with stormwater facilities! Registration for our next Stormwater Success course is current open. Click here for more information and to register.

With gratitude,

Suzanne Etgen

Latin for Gardeners: October 2024

Latin for Gardeners

 

October’s Native Maryland Plant

Juncus effusus L.

(JUN-kus eff-YOO-sus)

Common Name: Soft Rush

October is Riparian Buffer month¹ – a time to reflect on the waterways that surround us and how we can each play a part in maintaining their health, for ourselves and for all the life that lives in, on and around our shorelines. The word riparian is from the Latin word ripa, meaning "bank" or "shore”, the Latin noun for river is riparius.  Riparian refers to the land that borders a river or body of water – including forests, floodplains or the outskirts of wetlands. Buffers are things that form a barrier to protect against or moderate the impact of other incompatible things. Riparian buffers are vegetated areas that safeguard streams and aquatic ecosystems from harmful things like stormwater pollution (pesticide, fertilizer, …), animal waste and sediment while also creating habitat and providing cooling shade to rivers. Raising awareness of the benefits and need for riparian buffers is one way we can all help preserve the health of the waterways we enjoy.

Juncus effusus is a plant often found in riparian buffers. Its fibrous roots help stabilize embankments and uptake nutrients - a major contributor to algal blooms. Its seeds are eaten by waterfowl while its long arching stems provide them protective habitat.

Many animals eat the seeds of Juncus effusus, including rabbits, songbirds, and waterfowl. Rushes provide habitat for amphibians and spawning areas for fish. Herons feed on the rootstalks of soft rush, and various wetland wading birds find shelter among the stems.

Juncus effusus can be an aggressive plant, its rhizomes weave together to provide excellent erosion control and to suppress weeds.  Because of its ability to tolerate total inundation and drought stress, Juncus effusus is especially useful in rain gardens or landscapes with fluctuating hydrology, a common feature in Maryland residential properties.

Our riparian areas can’t wait to be buffered from the increasing harm of stormwater pollution.  This fall we should all rush to find ways to use Soft Rush (or other native plants), in our own landscapes or communities, to help protect our streams and to provide habitat for the fauna that we love.  

¹ https://www.chesapeakelandscape.org/riparian-buffer-month/

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP

aligmilligan@gmail.com