Latin for Gardeners: August

Latin for Gardeners

August’s Native Maryland Plant

Asclepias syriaca L.

(as-KLEE-pee-as seer-ee-AY-kah)

Common Name: Common Milkweed

After reading Barbara Kingsolver’s novel, Flight Behavior last month – I can’t get the plight of monarch butterflies out of my mind; I thought it high time to feature a common plant in the genus Asclepias – one that monarchs simply can’t live without.

Tall, fragrant and robust, common milkweed is often found growing in sunny fields and along roadsides – thank goodness. Asclepias syriaca is just one of the critically important milkweed species used as a host for the monarch butterfly caterpillar. When in flower, its blooms provide many insects both nectar and pollen, but for the monarch caterpillar the plant provides much more than that - Asclepias is the only genus that will support the monarch as a caterpillar and guarantee its future survival.

Mid-August is when the last generation of eggs for the year are laid by the monarch, so it’s crucially important for the insect to locate milkweed during this time – even if it’s just along a busy road. It was along a highway that I found it also attracting traffic on a sizzling hot July afternoon. Who would have thought that a ‘weed’ could stop traffic? Well, that’s what happens when you plant Common Milkweed where people can marvel at its spectacular large blooms, teeming with life, without even leaving their cars.

A. syriaca is extremely valuable for many insects, it’s often used in restoration projects and in larger gardens where its tendency to spread is welcomed and appreciated. It’s able to spread quickly by rhizomes or by seeds, often to areas where it’s uninvited – one reason it’s not as frequently planted in home landscapes. Two other native Maryland milkweeds that are less aggressive are often preferred by gardeners: Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) – they will also attract and support the full lifecycle of a monarch, but they grow in different conditions which must be considered when planting them. NOTE: I’ve found numerous articles that suggest the monarch prefers Asclepias syriaca and Asclepias incarnata as a host plant – more monarch eggs are found on these species than other milkweeds.

After blooming and as fall approaches, it’s not uncommon to find milkweed aphids (introduced oleander aphids) or milkweed beetles on the plants – sometimes in large numbers. Their bright aposematic¹ coloring makes them easy to spot and is a warning to predators of their toxicity. These insects can be unsightly, but they generally don’t harm the plant or the monarch caterpillar and efforts to remove them will more often harm the pollinators that are visiting the plant. Interestingly, the aphids are asexual, they are born pregnant and can form large colonies amazingly fast.

As you prepare your next conservation landscaping project, consider how you can help conserve the monarch butterfly by adding Asclepias syriaca to your planting plan. Perhaps choose a highly visible sight so that others can share the joy and witness the amazing flight behavior of these incredible insects.

¹aposematic - the use of warning coloration to inform potential predators that an animal is poisonous, venomous, or otherwise dangerous.

NOTE: You can learn more and follow the monarch migration here: https://monarchjointventure.org/

Alison Milligan – MG/MN 2013

Watershed Steward Class 7/CBLP

aligmilligan@gmail.com

July's Sugg-JEFF-tion: Water is Life!

Water is Life!

Welcome to the dog days of summer. With temperatures hitting record highs over the last few weeks, I figured it was a good time to talk about watering. Anne Arundel County has received less than half the average expected rainfall over the last few months. Therefore, whether your native plants are new, or established, chances are they are looking stressed!

Hopefully you have already done your research and taken one of the most important steps when it comes to keeping your native plants thriving, which is selecting the appropriate varieties for your location and site conditions (right plant, right place!). However, even the most drought tolerant species planted in the right spot are likely taking a beating from the record heat. Here are some key things to think about to keep your native plants happy and healthy through the driest time of the year.

1. Water infrequently but deeply.

It may be all you can take to go out and water for a few minutes in this heat. However, this is the opposite of what natives like. Native roots run deep, and you want to encourage those long, deep, water-absorbing roots by watering deeply. WSA’s Restoration Coordinator, Faith Waaramaa, explains to aim for a deep soaking 1-2 times a week rather than light daily watering to ensure better absorption, especially for newly planted trees and plants. This means you need to apply 1-2 inches approximately once a week for a good, deep watering. Newly planted trees may require 5-12 gallons of water per week, ideally applied every 5-7 days, but depending on the weather and how quickly your soil drains, you may need to increase the frequency.

2. Water early in the day.

Watering early in the day before the temperatures heat up helps to prevent evaporation and allows the plants time to absorb the water to get them through the long hot day. This also allows plenty of time for the leaves to dry out, which reduces the chances for diseases and fungus. This also gets you outside before the temperatures get uncomfortable.

3. Listen to your leaves.

Plant leaves that are wilting don’t necessarily mean they need more water. Wilting is a natural survival strategy that some plants use during the hottest parts of the day to reduce water loss. Plants that are wilted during the day and into the evening may be perfectly fine, and additional water could cause issues. Waiting until the morning to see if your plants look happy is a good idea to make sure you are not overwatering. If your plants are still wilted in the morning, go ahead and water them. Just remember “Wilting leaves at night, it’s going to be all right. Wilting leaves in the morning, gardeners’ take warning.”

4. Reduce water loss with mulch or MORE plants!

Covering the soil with a natural wood mulch helps retain soil moisture and keep soil temperatures cool. Natural mulch also breaks down slowly, adding organic matter to your soil which also helps with moisture retention. You know what else helps retain moisture in the garden? MORE PLANTS! Filling in bare spots with additional plants or a 3-inch layer of mulch will help keep your soil cool and moist.

Of course, no one knows how long we’ll have to heed these extreme heat warnings. However, now you have some tips to keep your plants alive during the hottest days of summer. Be sure to take care of yourself too and stay hydrated. Drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, and rather than stand out in the heat to give your plants that deep watering they love, use this as your excuse to get a soaker hose or sprinkler to keep your plants thriving. Just a sugg-Jeff-tion!

JEFFREY POPP
DIRECTOR OF RESTORATION
JEFF@AAWSA.ORG | 301-458-6537

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