Wild Flowers -- A Better Garden

 Today's post is not about my current quilting activity (although I've been piecing every day), it's about native spring wild flowers here in Ohio.  The spring before Covid, I visited the southwest corner of Ohio to participate in a Wild Flower Pilgrimage and have wanted to return each spring since.  Finally this spring, in the company of a friend, I was able to do that. 

I think that first trip was a turning point for me and my home garden because now I just want to fill it with native wild flowers.  Their beauty has won me over and the more I learn about their importance to building a healthy natural habitat that attracts insects and birds, the more fascinated I have become.  I've spent many pleasant hours during Covid viewing webinars about the importance of native habitats and am convinced this is the right direction to go with my home garden.  

So let me show you some of the beauty I enjoyed over the past few days!  It's hard for me to resist a path that begins like this -- greeted by wild blue phlox and lured ahead by Virginia bluebells . . . . 

 . . . . . . . into a landscape created by time and natural events to see breathtaking sights -- some are grand and spectacular while others are subtle and quiet.

This is at Ohio River Bluffs Preserve managed by the Arc of Appalachia, a growing "land trust" in southwestern Ohio that is working to preserve and restore precious remnants of natural habitats.  The preserve is located west of the small town of Manchester, Ohio and overlooks the Ohio River.  It is a remnant of what is believed to have been a twenty-four mile stretch of spectacular spring wildflowers on the steep hillsides and bluffs along the north side of the river.

This is currently the star of the show -- dwarf larkspur!

At the midpoint of the trail we were walking, these striking flowers dominated the hillside as far as we could see in any direction.  This picture looks "lame" but it's the best I can do to convey this marvelous sight.

We even spotted a few light morphs of the species.

It was an new species of wildflower for me and another new one was Blue-eyed Mary (named after me?).  Apparently, this little charmer is an annual and prolific in some places but I've never seen it.

One of the aspects of the areas we visited was how the plants "create" charming little landscapes with no help from a human like this little "white garden".  I know gardeners who work so hard to accomplish this and here is a square foot of diverse plants all "coordinated" in white and green.

We also visited Miller State Nature Preserve about an hour north of the river near the small town of Bainbridge, Ohio in Ross County.  It was a different palette of flowers partly because spring moves north and so some flowers that were finished along the river were at their peak in this river gorge but the soil also influences the plants that thrive there.  Every cranny of the rock face was filled with moss,  tiny ferns, white trillium, Dutchman's breeches, and miterwort -- I defy any landscape architect to create such a dynamic scene.

We found these bellwort almost in full bloom -- the flowers always droop from the end of the stalk and I seldom see them in my area.  I hope I can find a local-to-me native plant grower with them in stock!

In the northeast corner of the state, we rarely see this "toad-shade" trillium.  Those dark red petals never spread wide open and would offer a nice contrast to the large flowered white trilliums that already grow in my garden if my soil conditions permit.

We were also delighted with the cheery blooms on the wood poppies scattered amidst the many shades of  lavender and purple flowers.  I have a small clump in my garden already but now I want more!  And Whipple State Nature Preserve east of Manchester, Ohio is awash in them right now.

One of the plants I added to my garden last year was wild blue phlox -- it was blooming down south but it will be another 10 to 14 days before mine open -- I hope they look this sweet!

Here in Ohio, the state Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife has a series of sixteen nature guides available and one of them is Spring Wildflowers of Ohio.  You can download it as a PDF online HERE, but my local park system has the print versions of them available and I picked one up recently.  Out of the 65 species included in the booklet, we saw 27 in bloom and another dozen or so not yet blooming.  

Happily, I was able to manage my back issues better than I imagined and enjoy myself -- I wasn't sure I could accomplish that.  I came home determined to "wild" up my home landscape some more because it's more beautiful and vibrant than anything I can "create" with carefully tended non-native perennials.  I also believe it will require less maintenance on my part.  The fall leaves can stay, the native shrubs and wildflowers can mingle together, the insects can pollinate the plants, and the birds can harvest the seeds.  The whole effect will be inspiring and calming for me. 

If you aren't in the habit of searching out your local spring wildflowers, I encourage you to give it a try.  You can start with your local park system to see if they have guides or better yet, guided hikes and begin to learn what would work in your garden/yard.  "Google" for wildflower guides for your state.

See if there is a regional native wildflower society -- we have one in Northeast Ohio which conducts a series of six spring wildflower walks beginning this week.  

Wild Ones is a national organization  with local groups that is very active in educating and promoting wilder landscapes and a source of lots of information.  You may have a local "watershed" group or "soil and water" office that can point you to educational opportunities like invasive species removal projects.  I've become a chronic garlic mustard puller over the past few years and come out of every park all spring with as much of it as I can carry as a result of getting educated about the damage it does in native habitats.  I can't get it all but I can make a dent!!

Here is a YouTube link to my local Western Reserve Land Conservancy's videos and there is a series of five titled "Inviting Biodiversity Into Our Gardens" that explains this movement to "wildness at home".  It has been an inspiration this winter along with the series from the Ohio State University Bee Lab programming -- you can find that series and lots of links to useful information HERE.  I was so delighted to see dozens of queen bumble bees foraging this past week looking for nesting sites to start this year's colonies.  I haven't seen any up "north" yet, but am hoping to enjoy that sight in my own garden very soon.

The more I engage with the wild spaces around me, the more I appreciate their beauty and the importance of reestablishing a landscape dominated by native species.  Inspiring my neighbors will likely be the biggest challenge but it's worth spreading the word where ever possible.

I hope you will join me this spring and enjoy the awakening of your local wild spaces and be inspired to invite it into your own home space.

Mary

A Day Out With Botany Nerds

Mostly I bird -- but I also enjoy hanging out with "botany nerds".  Their obsession with plants and inclination to ask questions and focus on details feels comfortable!!

Tuesday, I joined a group of ONAPA members for a trip to a Northwest Ohio.

(Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association)

Our first stop was at the Castalia Prairie in the Resthaven Wildlife Area west of Castalia, Ohio!

This 60 acre prairie is commonly regarded as one of the best prairie remnants in the state harboring a number of rare plant species.  It was burned over this spring for the first time in several years -- if you aren't familiar with prairie management, a burn is good.  It knocks back woody species and maintains the open health of the habitat.

It was immediately obvious that the wildflowers in bloom were nothing with which I am familiar (no prairies on my side of the state).

The Star-Flowered Solomon's Seal was new to me and a charming little plant!

This was our main quarry -- the Showy White Lady Slipper orchid!  They were obviously enjoying the after burn of the prairie!

I was delighted to also spot a Yellow-breasted Chat!!

(That's a bird.)

Look how small this orchid is!?! 

This is a hybrid that also occurs in small numbers as a result of a population in the near-by woods of a yellow lady's slipper.  It is identified by it's maroon upper petals.

Then we were off for the ferry to Kelley's Island.  There are a number of islands in the western Lake Erie basin and Kelley's is the largest at just around 4 square miles.  It has been inhabited since the early 1800's and was the site of several quarrying operations and some winemaking. 

Today, the main attraction is relaxing and visiting one of the best preserved glacial grooves in the world. 

My first visit to the island was 1963 with my birding mentor, Gretta.  We rented bikes for the day and rode around the island birding (first orchard oriole sighting of my life) and visiting the sights.

Since then, there have been many trips to share a pleasant day with friends or family.

Basically, the island is a huge hunk of limestone (thus all the quarrying).

Unbeknownst to many in Ohio, a group of botanists have been working since 1989 to establish a viable population of the Lakeside Daisy to protect it from extinction as it is threatened on the mainland by development and quarrying. 

This is an old quarry site littered with limestone gravel and stone.

At first, you wonder "what's all the fuss about?"

Then you look down and see this plant thriving in what appears to be a completely inhospitable habitat.

There are now thousands of plants spread over 4 sights on the island and they are spreading outside the protected locations -- a good sign! 

It was exciting to see a success story!

So often, attempts to preserve a habitat or a species are thwarted on every side, but these tough little flowers have responded to the attention of a devoted group of botanists and their efforts are inspiring -- both the plants and the botanists!!

There is an accessible daisy preserve on the mainland in Marblehead, Ohio!  Even after the daisies have finished blooming, there are other uncommon and interesting plants to be seen such as Stiff Goldenrod and Dense Blazing Star.

Today, I'm staying home -- a little tidying up, some grocery shopping, blocking a quilt, some weeding in the gardens -- but it's back to the woods tomorrow for more birding!!

I just love spring!!

Mary