Rejuvenating Our Ecosystems Event

On June 15th , Watershed Stewards, Master Gardeners, Naturalists and many others attended the Environmental Summit: Rejuvenating Our Ecosystems in Gambrills, MD. The event featured distinguished scientists: Dr. Rattan Lal professor of Soil Science from Ohio State University who presented, “Addressing the Problem of Land Degradation”, and Dr. Doug Tallamy, noted entomologist and Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware who presented “Starting Conservation in Your Own Yard”. Over 50 people attended in person and over 100 more online. Dr. Lal posed the question, “The United States has both a Clean Air Act (1963) and a Clean Water Act (1972), isn’t it time we consider a Soil Health Act?” He presented many reasons why protecting our soil is vital to our health and the health of the planet. Dr. Tallamy used plain language and compelling photos to explain and illustrate the many reasons and ways for each of us to support biodiversity at home by planting native plants. The message was clear “We have a biodiversity crisis that has a grassroots solution. Each of us can support biodiversity by reducing our lawns, planting natives, and removing invasives.”

This is a message shared by Watershed Stewards as we engage with communities to create healthier, sustainable landscapes across our state.

Alison Milligan (Class 7) exhibited a Native Plant display and met with many people eager to learn more about the benefits of native plants and how they can use them in their own landscapes. Doug Tallamy visited all the displays and was pleased to see WSA and other organizations placing an emphasis on native plants, moths and keystone plants. Encouraging people to visit WSA’s site and to download and read the Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping guide provides them a way to connect and continue learning. Attending events like this provides learning opportunities, reinvigorates us and motivates us to do more.

”Moths and their caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other herbivores. A landscape without moths is a landscape without birds or many other animals.

~Dr. Doug Tallamy

Moths play an outsized role in ecological systems.”

~Jim McCormac

Botanist & author

Gardening for Moths

Latin for Gardeners: July

Latin for Gardeners

July’s Native Maryland Plant

Parthenium integrifolium L.

(par-THEE-nee-um in-teg-ree-FOH-lee-um)

Common Name: Wild Quinine, Wild feverfew

Summer is here, and with it, increasingly high temperatures and humidity – oh my! I’m looking forward to watching the many pollinators in my yard from a shady position, but I’ll avoid working in the garden during these extremely hot months – I know the heat index (the apparent temperature) will make it dangerous on some days. Fortunately, the Parthenium integrifolium planted in my wildflower garden continues to thrive in full sun, seemingly having no problem handling the heat or drought – or even the many cottontail rabbits that have taken up residence in my yard.

Wild quinine is an uncommon plant to find in residential pollinator gardens, but it shouldn’t be – it’s a magnet for many insects and a well-behaved companion plant for many other more familiar pollinator plants. This plant is easy to identify, it’s a clump-forming, native perennial with a dense corymbiform¹ inflorescence, giving it a mostly flat-topped appearance. Its alternate, generally lance to egg-shaped leaves are coarsely serrated, rough in texture and bitter in taste, making them less palatable to herbivores. The long-lasting flowers are at first densely packed and resemble cauliflower. Over time they spread out and bloom, showing off their composite flower - a disk with ray florets; the infertile disks serve as perfect landing pads for pollinators seeking the pollen and nectar within the rays. Below ground they have a fleshy tap root that gives them their drought-tolerance. They slowly spread by self- seeding or by rhizomes – my small patch has grown only slightly over 5 years.

On any given summer day, I can observe Parthenium integrifolium and the variety of mostly tiny insects that enjoy its pollen and nectar. I find the numbers a bit surprising since it’s such a small, modest flower, having only 5 (sometimes 6) fertile rays - yet it is always covered with beneficial insects, including a variety of hoverfly and beneficial wasps; skippers, butterflies and hummingbird moths are less frequent visitors but always a pleasant surprise. The diversity of bees is also notable with sweat and mining bees being the most common ones I’ve recorded.

Wild quinine has a long history as a medicinal plant. It was used as an alternate malaria treatment during World War I – helping to reduce fever (hence its common name). Native tribes and early settlers used its leaves to create a poultice to treat burns.

On a warming planet, it’s becoming more of a challenge to avoid the burning rays of the sun and overheating, especially on the hottest days of summer. It’s also challenging the native plants that fauna rely on for sustenance. As you contemplate the next plant to add to your full sun garden, consider adding a plant that can tolerate the heat and humidity, withstand drought and has high value for many pollinators. Consider adding Parthenium integrifolium, a climate-wise, garden worthy plant.

Stay safe everyone!

¹ - the flowers grow in a way that brings them all to a common level.

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: June

Latin for Gardeners

June’s Native Maryland Plant

Liatris spicata (L.) Willd.

(LY-uh-tris spi-KAY-tuh)

Common Name: Blazing Star, Gayfeather

The genus name Liatris is of unknown origin. Specific epithet spicata, is a Latin word meaning ‘with spikes’, and refers to its flower form.

June is National Pollinator Month, a time to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefit and need to protect and support pollinators – wherever you live. While there are many appealing native plant options to add to a pollinator garden, choosing ones that supply both pollen and nectar, have a long bloom period, are host plants for both butterflies, moths, and bees while also attracting other beneficial insects, should be top considerations in your selection – especially if you have only a small garden.

Liatris spicata is a standout native as a valuable pollinator plant; it provides both pollen and nectar, is host to numerous butterflies and two specialist bees¹ , its blooms (small florets) open over a period of multiple weeks, and in the fall and winter, its seeds (achenes) provide food for birds - especially chickadees and goldfinches.

Liatris sp. can also be considered a four-season interest, ornamental plant - its tall stems covered in leaves resembling a feather duster provide an interesting textural element well before the vibrant- colored blooms appear; the dry flower stalks are attractive in a winter garden.

Liatris spicata, providing pollinator habitat while adding vibrant color to a parking lot island.
Note: surrounded by ‘Gro-low’ sumac (Rhus aromatica)

Liatris are in the Asteraceae family of plants, but unlike most asters that feature daisy-like flowers, this plant has flowers that appear as star-like blossoms, hence its common name – Blazing Star. This species is unusual in that it blooms from the top down - its flower heads, full of clusters of small, individual florets are especially attractive to native bees and butterflies.

There are numerous species of Liatris native to Maryland – Liatris spicata is the one most widely cultivated and readily sold. This perennial grows best in full sun, it tolerates poor soils that are well-drained, and due to its tall, flowering spikes, it takes up just a small space in a garden. Another advantage of this plant: Liatris spicata roots are bulb-like corms, they help this plant withstand summer drought conditions. The corms increase in size each year and can eventually be divided – usually after 4-5 years, yielding many more plants and supporting even more pollinators! Celebrate pollinators while making your garden stand out – plant Liatris spicata, a truly standout pollinator plant.

¹ Melissodes coloradensis and Melissodes vernoniae (Johnson and Colla, 2023).

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP

aligmilligan@gmail.com

Latin for Gardeners: May

Latin for Gardeners

May’s Native Maryland Plant

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C.Presl

(os-mun-DAS-trum sin-uh-MOH-mee-um)

Common Name: Cinnamon Fern

Ferns may not be the first plant that comes to mind when designing a native garden; they’re not a food source for pollinators or other fauna, they generally grow in shade and offer little color, and most of them are deciduous. However, as a long-lived groundcover, to add texture and to provide protection for ground foraging birds and amphibians (especially toads and frogs), you can’t go wrong with ferns. In addition, ferns are one plant that deer are known to avoid which may be one of the best reasons to plant them.

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum is an exceptional fern for several reasons. This fern has two visually distinctive kinds of fronds aka dimorphic fronds, which are used in its identification. The fertile fronds (leaves with packets of spores known as sporangia) and sterile fronds (leaves without sporangia) add to its overall attractiveness. In spring its sterile woolly fiddleheads emerge and quickly grow to cover a large area, up to 5’ tall and wide; in April the fertile fronds emerge in the center of the clump of sterile fronds. As the spores on the frond mature, they are released from the sporangia and the reproductive frond becomes a bare, brittle stalk that withers and decomposes; the remainder of the plant will turn yellow in the fall and remain until early winter before dying back and going dormant.

This is a very versatile fern, able to tolerate full sun to full shade, the former if planted where it’s provided consistent moisture, in shade it can be quite drought tolerant. Cinnamon ferns are found on poorly-drained sites in swamps, marshes, and wet forests – they’ll do especially well in yards with reliable moisture, often at the bottom of slopes.

Interestingly, this plant has been identified in the geologic record as far back as 75 million years ago – it is considered a living fossil. If you have moist areas in your landscape, consider using this fern as a companion to native perennials like Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum) or Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) as shown above left. Cinnamon ferns can slowly form colonies in undisturbed moist sites.

NOTE: Scientific names of plants may change based on genetic and morphological findings. This plant was previously classified as Osmunda cinnamomea but was recently reclassified as Osmundastrum cinnamomeum; it is the only living species in the genus. The newer categorization has been adopted by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System that provides information on the taxonomy of biological species.

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP

aligmilligan@gmail.com