As the holiday season arrives, we're always involved in compiling results of the
York/Rock Hill Christmas Bird Count, so that's the topic of the 22-28 December
2009 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond." Our final numbers weren't all
that great, but we did manage to get a few photos of birds we
observed--including an image of an adult Red-shouldered Hawk. To view the photo
essay, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091222.html and then
scroll down for our usual list of banded birds and miscellaneous notes about
bird scarcity and torrential rains.

Happy (Holiday) Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

I have one for you.  Young, Dick 1994.  "Kane County Wild Plants and Natural
Areas" Kane Co. forest Preserve Dist., Geneva, IL  Excellent illustrated
identification book for local native plants and weeds including grasses, sedges,
rishes, trees, shrubs and vines as well as wildflowers.  Also info on wehre to
see native plants in the preserved natural areas.

--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "Kathleen Partridge" <atelierk@...>
wrote:
>
> Yikes! Sounds ambitious!
>
>
>
> If I'm understanding you correctly, it sounds like you're putting together
> something along the lines of the New York Natural Heritage Program
> (website). This is a partnership between the NYS DEC and The Nature
> Conservancy. Not sure if The Nature Conservancy partners with other states
> on similar websites, but I thought I'd mention it in case you'd be
> duplicating something that might already be out there. You can see the NY
> website here: http://www.acris.nynhp.org/. The advanced search county page
> is here: http://www.acris.nynhp.org/search.php
>
>
>
> -Kathy
>
>
>
> From: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of guloguloguy
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 7:01 PM
> To: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Wild Ones] "Help"....(nothing to do with the Beatles, or the
> Beetles)
>
>
>
>
>
> Hey!, I'm SLOWLY compiling all of the data I need - to compose a
> "relational" database, (using Windows Access), of all of the (Native) plant
> species distribution map info, for Illinois, and would like to
> (ultimately)include the same type of info for all of the counties of the
> surrounding states/Prairie states. (WI,MI,MN,IA,IN,OH,MO,...?)
> For the species of Illinois, I have (a copy of) the book: "Distrubution of
> Vascular Plant Species of Illinois, by R. Mohlenbrock, an D. Ladd
>
> Are any of you aware of any similar, or otherwise useful books for the other
> states that you could recommend using- I basically need to know which
> specific Native plant species are/were originally found in each of the
> state's counties. Perhaps there is a way to get lists of species
> found/contained in the various botanical collections around the states,
> universities, etc.,....?)
> This is a tedious task to be sure- but since I'm making use of my
> "unscheduled time off" from work (aka: unemployment), and trying to learn to
> use my old computer, I guess I can poke along at my own pace.
>
> Hopefully, when I get it all done, (unless someone else beats me to it!), I
> hope to (someday) have a very useful database- from which one could search
> for a variety of info on your particular county, or several together, and
> further refine your plant search by Plant Family, Wetland-(Messic-Upland)
> preferences, as well as perhaps, (if I'm unemployed long enough) - even find
> the various moth& butterfly/caterpillar species that are specifically
> dependent on any particular plant species, or families.
> By putting it together- one could find out very quickly and easily which
> plant species Should be planted in your locale- and know which specific
> butterfly/moth species that will benefit by your researched plant list. Or,
> if you want to help out a specific buterfly that is Native to your county,
> then you could plant 'these' local plants in your Upland conditions, or
> something else- in your wetland area, or rain garden.
>
> I hope it all comes together well- but I've got a long way to go yet!
> Whew!
> That's just the description of what I am envisioning- Imagine what it's
> going to take to compile all of that data!
> Your suggestions welcomed!
> (Thank me, later!)
>

Few suggestions and supported by Denise's lists:

Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
Blazing star (Liatris spicata)

I'm not sure about cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) deer resistance but it
should be in every rain garden :)

Good luck and be sure to let us know what you plant and how they survive the
deer.
TomS

--- On Wed, 12/16/09, megbergen <mbergen@...> wrote:

From: megbergen <mbergen@...>
Subject: [Wild Ones] Rain Garden plants Deer don't like
To: wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 3:04 PM







 









       Hi. I have a challenge - I am designing a rain garden in an area that deer
frequent - they walk through there and probably drink from there - I'm looking
for any native rain garden plants for the midwest (St. Louis) that are not liked
very much by deer. I wondered if anyone had any suggestions? The client likes
prairie and native plants.



Meg

Hey!, I'm SLOWLY compiling all of the data I need - to compose a "relational"
database, (using Windows Access), of all of the (Native) plant species
distribution map info, for Illinois, and would like to (ultimately)include the
same type of info for all of the counties of the surrounding states/Prairie
states.  (WI,MI,MN,IA,IN,OH,MO,...?)
For the species of Illinois, I have (a copy of) the book: "Distrubution of
Vascular Plant Species of Illinois, by R. Mohlenbrock, an D. Ladd

Are any of you aware of any similar, or otherwise useful books for the other
states that you could recommend using- I basically need to know which specific
Native plant species are/were originally found in each of the state's counties. 
Perhaps there is a way to get lists of species found/contained in the various
botanical collections around the states, universities, etc.,....?)
This is a tedious task to be sure- but since I'm making use of my "unscheduled
time off" from work (aka: unemployment), and trying to learn to use my old
computer, I guess I can poke along at my own pace.

Hopefully, when I get it all done, (unless someone else beats me to it!), I hope
to (someday) have a very useful database- from which one could search for a
variety of info on your particular county, or several together, and further
refine your plant search by Plant Family, Wetland-(Messic-Upland) preferences,
as well as perhaps, (if I'm unemployed long enough) - even find the various
moth& butterfly/caterpillar species that are specifically dependent on any
particular plant species, or families.
By putting it together- one could find out very quickly and easily which plant
species Should be planted in your locale- and know which specific butterfly/moth
species that will benefit by your researched plant list.  Or, if you want to
help out a specific buterfly that is Native to your county, then you could plant
'these' local plants in your Upland conditions, or something else- in your
wetland area, or rain garden.

I hope it all comes together well- but I've got a long way to go yet!
Whew!
That's just the description of what I am envisioning- Imagine what it's going to
take to compile all of that data!
Your suggestions welcomed!
(Thank me, later!)

Here is a list of native plant nurseries in Michigan.
http://www.wildlifegardeners.org/forum/north-american-native-plants/180-north-am\
erican-native-plant-nurseries-united-states-m-z.html

I did not check each nursery, but it's very likely that at least one of these
nurseries carry Ilex verticillata.


--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "Natives.Tim" <natives.tim@...>
wrote:
>
> I am forwarding the email below from Sally in the Ann Arbor area. She is
> looking for a source of Michigan Holly.
>
>
>
> Tim
>
> List owner
>
>
>
> From: Sally Rutzky [mailto:sr@...]
> Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 1:07 PM
> To: Wild Ones Ann Arbor Chapter
> Subject: [wild.ones] Michigan Holly
>
>
>
> http://www.scottarboretum.org/seasons/winter/07-big.jpg
> <http://www.scottarboretum.org/seasons/winter/07-big.jpg>
> http://www.scottarboretum.org/seasons/winter/07-big.jpg
>
> Ilex verticillata, or Michigan Holly is a glorious sight on a winter day.
> <http://www.hope.edu/academic/biology/naturepreserve/Shrubs/Ilever.htm>
> http://www.hope.edu/academic/biology/naturepreserve/Shrubs/Ilever.htm  It is
> also called black alder and common winterberry.  I should have said, a
> female plant is a glorious sight, as you will need at least one of each.
>
>
>
> This shrub can grow up to 10' tall and 10' wide in sandy, loam and clay and
> in acid, neutral and alkaline soils.  It grows in sun or semi-shade.
> <http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ilex+verticillata>
> http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ilex+verticillata  (This UK web site
> gets a gold star because it recommends growing native species and not
> cultivars!)
>
>
>
> The berries are eaten by 49 species of birds.  Because they are low in fat
> content they may be eaten later in the winter when they become an important
> emergency food in the winter for common flicker, American crow, American
> robin, raccoons, squirrels and mice.
> <http://www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2571.htm>
> http://www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2571.htm  This site gets
> 5 gold stars for saying:
>
> "Non-native invasive plants pose a serious threat to Maine's biodiversity.
> Plants such as Japanese barberry, shrubby honeysuckle, and Asiatic
> bittersweet, originally introduced for their ornamental features, have
> escaped from our landscapes, colonizing natural areas and displacing native
> plants and animals.  By landscaping with native plants, we can create
> vegetation corridors that link fragmented wild areas, providing food and
> shelter for the native wildlife that is an integral part of our ecosystem.
> Your landscaping choices can have an impact on the environment that goes far
> beyond your property lines."
>
> However, Michigan Holly does not transplant easily, and is not easy to grow
> from seed.  Does anyone have a source for this versatile plant?
>
>
>
> Sally Rutzky
>
> sr@...
>
> Sally Rutzky & Naomi J. Woloshin
>
> 330 East Liberty, Suite 3D
>
> Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
>
> (734)668-1523 ext 111
>
> (734)761-8814 fax
>

Hi. I have a challenge - I am designing a rain garden in an area that deer
frequent - they walk through there and probably drink from there - I'm looking
for any native rain garden plants for the midwest (St. Louis) that are not liked
very much by deer. I wondered if anyone had any suggestions? The client likes
prairie and native plants.

Meg

We were delighted today to travel to Moore SC, where we captured a very colorful
Rufous Hummingbird--only our second adult male in 18 years of banding vagrant
hummers. We've devoted the 1-11 December 2009 installment of "This Week at
Hilton Pond" to this little bird who's far from where we might expect him to be
as winter approaches. To view the photo essay, please visit
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091201.html . While there, scroll down for a
list of birds banded or recaptured locally, as well as some miscellaneous nature
notes.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

No matter where we live, wetlands are and watersheds are important to understand
and protect. That's one reason we've been working with a "sister center" in West
Virginia as it tries an innovative way for people, business, and nature to live
in harmony. To view our photo essay about flora, fauna, and habitats of the New
River Birding & Nature Center, please visit our 22-30 November 2009 installment
of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091122.html

While on the page, don't forget to scroll down for our usual list of birds
banded or recaptured during the period, including a rather old White-throated
Sparrow from up north somewhere.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

Did your Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrive slowly in 2009? Did you think you
might have your worst year ever for hosting these little balls of fluff at
backyard feeders? Did ruby-throats finally arrive with a vengeance in late
summer? If so, you had something in common with our banding efforts in the
Carolina Piedmont, where things started extremely slow and finished
exceptionally fast. To read about the downs and ups of our unusual 2009
hummingbird season, please visit the 18-21 November 2009 edition of "This Week
at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091118.html . We include
some hummer photos you may find of interest.

Happy (Thanksgiving) Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

Hey!,  Relax..., I'm not springing a surprize Math test on anyone- , but I will
recommend that by doing as I suggest below, you may have a real opportunity to
do something "Scientific"- which will "Qualify" the ECOlogical "quality" of your
Native Gardening efforts.

Gather all of your old plant/seed catalogs, plant books/field guides, old plant
sales receipts - (if they itemize what you've bought), get a pad of graph paper,
(or other?), and pencil, and calculator.
You'll need to have a book like the "Native Plants of the Chicago Region", (by
Swink, and Wilhelm).  It lists the "Coefficient of Conservatism"= ["CC"#],= (a
number ranging between 0, and 10), which represents what we could call = "the
inverse of it's weedy-ness", for each Native species.  [Non-Native species do
not get such a number, and are not counted, or considered in our calculations]. 
A very weedy species might get a number of 0,or 1, while a very rare species
that reluctantly reproduces except in the best habitats, gets a number of 9, or
10.
Most Natives get a number of 5 or higher, and there will be some numbers which
seem poorly assigned = Your opinion may differ, but lets apply a consistent
standard so that your calculations will be a fair comparison to someone else's-
or to your later calculations, years away.
...Now, get your eager kids or grand kids to do the legwork/number-crunching! -
they can even look-up, & copy down the Names of the Plants, etc., as you read
them off, or work on your own spelling skills, and memory abilities.
Make three collumns: List the "Scientific/Latin Name", then the corresponding
"Common Name",
and finally, the "CC"#

Now, just fill in the tedious details!  "Viola!"
So: First; Add up all of the "CC"#s.
Then, divide that Total by the number of Native species in the list = "N".
[This is now the "Average CC" Value - (considering all of the species in your
list-(&, presumably, ON your property!))

Now, Find the Square-root of the Number of species in your list.(that is: the
[Sq.root of "N"]
(For example, If you had 25 species, then the square root would be 5.
If you had 36 species, your sq.root would be 6.
If you had 49 species, you'd get 7.
If you had 64 species, then it'd be 8.
If you had 81 species, then that'd be = 9.
If you had 100 species, then you'd get 10. and so on.
[Using a good calculator can save a lot of your hair!!!]

Now, multiply that sq.root number, times the "Average CC"#!
....This final calculated Number is referred to as the "Index if Floristic
Quality"

      = "I"#,

...Write this number down somewhere for safe keeping!
Whew!, wipe the sweat from your brow!  Have a cool one! &un-cross your eyes! 
You've just done some real science!

This number should, hopefully, be over at least 25.  If it's less, then you've
got a LOT of additional plant species to buy next spring!
If you're calculated "I"# is above 40, You're doing great- but beware!- Unless
all of  you're species can sustain themselves year after year,, (through
reseeding, (etc.) then your list will probably dwindle-over the years, (as
species are lost from the property).  That will lower the "N"#, and probably too
the "Avg. CC"#, Thereby lowering the "I"#!!-In that case, you'll have to buy and
try to introduce many more species- to bring up your property's ecological
"Quality"
--------
Proudly show your calculations to all of your fellow "Wild Ones members, Fellow
Gardeners, neighbors, co-workers, even unsuspecting strangers who look
interested in your intellectual demeanor!

Now, for some real fun - talk about your "Math lesson" over your Thanksgiving
Dinner/Holiday!!!
Now, IF you have it all on paper- and can show us your homework!- then, You can
justly prove that your Hard-working brain deserves an extra piece of Pie!
That ought to get you busy!!
GO!!!

Does anyone have experience growing natives in containers -I'm in northeast
Wisconsin?
Next summer, our chapter may "adopt" some containers in the downtown area - very
visible, lots of traffic. One of the locations uses quite low, shallow
containers - depth may be around 12inches or a little more.
We wouldn't expect these to winter over and would remove the plant material and
hopefully replant it in someone's garden.
I'm thankful for my tough but terrific prairie plants - and all I've learned
about natives/natural landscaping from Wild Ones! Keep planting.

Keep up the good work, and get the word out that Burning Bush and Japanese
barberry are invasive weeds.  Upsets me every time I see them planted en masse
in the home or commercial landscape.  People just love them!
--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "guloguloguy" <guysmith99@...>
wrote:
>
> Hey!,  Lately, since I've been unemployed, and have some time to 'donate',
I've been going out to our local wetland preserve-(Nygren Wetland Preserve, just
west of Rockton, Il,), a property owned and managed by the Natural Land
Institute, (here in North central Illinois).  I wish I could say I just 'went
exploring'- but more importantly, I've been regularly joining a small crew of
hard-working , dedicated individuals, and we go about our duties of maintaining
the property- through a wide variety of methods- hand digging/pulling, cutting &
herbiciding, marking unwanted trees for saw-cutting later in the winter months,
transplanting plugs of prairie cord-grass, etc.
> In case you wonder- Yes, this relatively "wild" land, (of about 710 acres), is
just as endangered as other regional p[arks and preserves- by ever encroaching
invasive Alien weed species!  There is a lot of Tartarian Honeysuckle, and
common Buckthorn, and a lot of "Burning Bush"(Euonymus alata).
>   There's a huge lower wetland patch of Reed-Canary grass, that we're hoping
to replace with other more desire species.
> Our work crew has found these species, and others,("Japanese Barberry") on
other NLI properties, too.
> We've been clearing brush, and preparing the perimeters of their fire-lanes -
so that these acres can be more safely burned, (when and if the weather
permits).  We did manage a successful small burn (last week), but other acres
didn't cooperate. Perhaps we'll try again sometime.
> I promptly lost a nice pair of my own loppers- {in case anyone finds a nice
"camo-green" pair near/(in the woods east of) the lookout at Nygren Wetlands)-
[I'd like to get them back sometime!]  I guess that will give me a reason to
return again and again- (to search for them!- at least.)  There's a lot of
"Wildlife out there- We've seen a large pair of Bald Eagles (up close, as we
went by), Sandhill, and Whooping cranes, swans, ducks, geese, coots, etc., many
hawks, and other things- frogs-, warblers, etc.
> We've spent a few days collecting lots of varied seeds off of thre prairies,
and then cleaned, sorted, and weighed, and stored much of it for replanting
later.
>     It's amazing to be involved in such a great operation!  I sure am going to
miss this labor of love - when and If the economy pulls me away - but, I'll then
have some cash to donate to help them in that way!
>    (I "hope" that the employment situation "changes"!)- (for all of those
Americans that are unemployed!)
>
>    If any of you are up for a tough/fun/and different sort of challenge/
volunteer work opportunity - please find a local group that can put you to the
tasks at hand!  There isn't a whole love of "Wilderness" left in the prairie
states- but it is constantly in need of some serious TLC!
> Perhaps, instead of running off to some exotic foreign land and joining the
"Peace Corps", you could "get fired up" and join a local Prairie
burning/"Weed-Squad".
> {I've found that the "work" aspect helps me stay in better 'condition' to
return to work - I can feel the effects-in my hands, feet and legs - it's much
better than sitting at home every day playing "freecell", or "minesweeper", or
herding cats!
> One way or another- Man-hours is Man-hours!
>

Hey!, I don't often get to see much TV, (I don't have, or want one) but am
watching one at a friend's: I found a great episode of "Future Earth"- with
(Eco-hero) Jeff Corwin.
It's a shocking presentation about the plight of many of the world's most
endangered species- and state of the related law-enforcement, and conservation
efforts to stop the insane human-caused threats (to them).
This is What ought to be on your schedule to watch, or "TVO".
I hope you all get to view it soon - (and with your kids/grandkids).
--------
"Be the change- you want to see in the world"

....GO!!!

Hey!,  Lately, since I've been unemployed, and have some time to 'donate', I've
been going out to our local wetland preserve-(Nygren Wetland Preserve, just west
of Rockton, Il,), a property owned and managed by the Natural Land Institute,
(here in North central Illinois).  I wish I could say I just 'went exploring'-
but more importantly, I've been regularly joining a small crew of hard-working ,
dedicated individuals, and we go about our duties of maintaining the property-
through a wide variety of methods- hand digging/pulling, cutting & herbiciding,
marking unwanted trees for saw-cutting later in the winter months, transplanting
plugs of prairie cord-grass, etc.
In case you wonder- Yes, this relatively "wild" land, (of about 710 acres), is
just as endangered as other regional p[arks and preserves- by ever encroaching
invasive Alien weed species!  There is a lot of Tartarian Honeysuckle, and
common Buckthorn, and a lot of "Burning Bush"(Euonymus alata).
   There's a huge lower wetland patch of Reed-Canary grass, that we're hoping to
replace with other more desire species.
Our work crew has found these species, and others,("Japanese Barberry") on other
NLI properties, too.
We've been clearing brush, and preparing the perimeters of their fire-lanes - so
that these acres can be more safely burned, (when and if the weather permits). 
We did manage a successful small burn (last week), but other acres didn't
cooperate. Perhaps we'll try again sometime.
I promptly lost a nice pair of my own loppers- {in case anyone finds a nice
"camo-green" pair near/(in the woods east of) the lookout at Nygren Wetlands)-
[I'd like to get them back sometime!]  I guess that will give me a reason to
return again and again- (to search for them!- at least.)  There's a lot of
"Wildlife out there- We've seen a large pair of Bald Eagles (up close, as we
went by), Sandhill, and Whooping cranes, swans, ducks, geese, coots, etc., many
hawks, and other things- frogs-, warblers, etc.
We've spent a few days collecting lots of varied seeds off of thre prairies, and
then cleaned, sorted, and weighed, and stored much of it for replanting later.
     It's amazing to be involved in such a great operation!  I sure am going to
miss this labor of love - when and If the economy pulls me away - but, I'll then
have some cash to donate to help them in that way!
    (I "hope" that the employment situation "changes"!)- (for all of those
Americans that are unemployed!)

    If any of you are up for a tough/fun/and different sort of challenge/
volunteer work opportunity - please find a local group that can put you to the
tasks at hand!  There isn't a whole love of "Wilderness" left in the prairie
states- but it is constantly in need of some serious TLC!
Perhaps, instead of running off to some exotic foreign land and joining the
"Peace Corps", you could "get fired up" and join a local Prairie
burning/"Weed-Squad".
{I've found that the "work" aspect helps me stay in better 'condition' to return
to work - I can feel the effects-in my hands, feet and legs - it's much better
than sitting at home every day playing "freecell", or "minesweeper", or herding
cats!
One way or another- Man-hours is Man-hours!

We don't know anyone who doesn't like Cedar Waxwings, so we're pleased "This
Week at Hilton Pond" to be able to share our photo essay about these "elegant"
berry-eating birds. For some truly up-close looks at waxwings, please visit the
installment for 11-17 November at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091111.html

Don't forget to scroll down for a list of banded birds and recaptures, including
a wily Eastern Towhee that has been around Hilton Pond a long time.

REMINDER: the final deadline for our 2010 midwinter Neotropical Hummingbird
Expeditions is 24 November 2009, so you still have time to join us for an
unforgettable experience in countries that in January and February are warm,
sunny, and filled with exotic flora and fauna. Trip info is at a link from the
top of the photo essay.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

I'm still reworking my front yard somewhat to
bring down the height of it all so it doesn't
look too "wild" for all my voraciously-mowing
neighbors... Some plants I like NY and New
England Asters I'm going to start lopping down so
they'll grow half as high (and therefore get more blooms, too).

Tall plants first:

Wild Senna (cassia hebecarpa) is spectacular in a
front yard. Mine, planted 4 years ago, gets about
4-5' tall and wide and blooms yellow at the end
of the season, covered with quantities of
pollinators. Many senna seedlings have been
shared with many friends. I especially love the
"architectural" seed pods which look like skinny
pea pods blowing in the breeze.

Balancing that out I have False Indigo (baptisia
australis), which blooms so beautifully purple
earlier in the season. My neighbors liked so much
they had me get some for them from The Plantsmen
(in Ithaca, NY) since there were no offspring to
offer them. This is one I wish would self-propagate.

My milkweeds (asclepias incarnata and tuberosa) get 4-5' tall, too.

Medium-sized plants:

Around all these I have plants like amsonia and
northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium),
liatris, geranium maculatum, and prairie smoke
(geum triflorum). I used prairie dropseed
(sporobolus) as the border, hanging over the brick edging.

-Hope

At 11:19 PM 11/6/2009, you wrote:


>Mike,
>Thanks for starting this thread!  I'm going to
>steal some of these ideas for my own place.  :-)
>
>This was my first year with a new front-yard
>flowerbed.  While it had its beautiful periods,
>overall it was too messy and floppy for its
>setting, so I need to make changes.
>
>If anyone else will be updating a
>front-and-center bed, there are some nice tips
>and photos in the most recent WO journal article
>"Small Urban Landscaping With Native Species
>Common Pitfalls (What Goes Wrong)".
>
>~j
>
>--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com,
>"pajamaavenue" <zelienople@...> wrote:
> >
> > I did some rearranging in the front yard
> garden this weekend, moving the Asters and
> Goldenrods to the back yard. So now I have some
> empty spots that I would like to fill with
> showy small and medium-sized species that don't
> flop. I'm considering planting Wild Senna in a
> large spot that was previously inhabited by a
> gigantic, sprawling Goldenrod. Is this a good
> plant for such a spot? Any other suggestions for medium-sized, upright plants?
> > My other considerations for the areas that I
> want short species are Little Bluestem,
> Butterfly Milkweed and New Jersey Tea. Anything
> else? The Natural Garden has a big sale going
> on so I want to take advantage, but I'm sure
> the selection might be picked over by now so I'll need a lot of alternatives.
> >
> > thanks,
> > Mike, Chicago
> >
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Wild Ones® Natural Landscapers, Ltd. has
>established this discussion group for members to
>post questions, share information about natural
>landscaping, related subjects and encourage the exchange of good ideas.
>
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope E. Kuniholm
"Subverting suburbia - one lawn at a time."

By late October and early November, nature is getting downright serious about
preparing for winter. For a sampling of phenological happenings that occur in
late autumn, please see our "This Week at Hilton Pond" photo essay for 1-10
November at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091101.html . There's something
for almost everyone--Songbirds, hawks, pollinators, wildflowers, and info about
this year's abundant mast crop.

There's also a bonus photo and story about a Great Egret that's a long way from
where it was originally captured--plus our usual list of birds banded and
recaptured during the period--so please don't forget to scroll down the entire
page.

And as a reminder, the final deadline for our 2010 midwinter Neotropical
Hummingbird Expeditions is 24 November 2009, so you still have time to join us
for an unforgettable experience in countries that in January and February are
warm, sunny, and filled with exotic flora and fauna.

Happy Nature Watching!

BILL

=====

EDUCATION PROGRAM
BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
(803) 684-5852

The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to conserve
plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Piedmont Region
of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and
education for students of all ages.od (details on Web site).

=======

http://www.americanmeadows.com/QuickGuideToWildflowers.aspx

It may be the group that is partnered with the National Wildlife Foundation, or
maybe just someplace I've purchased bulbs from (I can't remember that far back) 
But I did see this link on the email and thought I would share.

Just so you know I don't just come around looking for plant ID/s :)

Denise,
Long Island, NY
Former Oak-dominated Forest in Suburbia

sorry about double posting the picture !
Denise,
Long Island, NY

--- In wildonesnativeplants@yahoogroups.com, "denisemeehan1" <denise.meehan@...>
wrote:
>
> I'm back, recovering from a particularly unhealthy Summer/Fall.
>
> I noticed this growing in the back corner of my yard where one Mountain Laurel
died.  The Mr. took this picture:
>
> <a
href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v55/nybelle/?action=view&current=nibblep\
lant.jpg" target="_blank"><img
src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/nybelle/nibbleplant.jpg" border="0"
alt="What am I ?"></a>
>
> Now we are trying to decide if there are replacement Laurels growing, or if
this is  a baby wintergreen.
>
> http://www.wildflower.org/gallery/result.php?id_image=3845
>
>
> Not only did we remove the dead Mountain Laurel, we also put in a Doggie
Dooley which required some very deep digging near where these sprouted.... 
apparantly, they like what the Dooley  does to the soil.
>
>
> I guess I can wait till Spring to see what we have.  I've fenced it off so no
mulching mower can get it.   Though something enjoyed it.  The rabbits I guess ?
>
>
> And in other observations, our weather will be Springlike today.
> I have a transplanted in May Cone Flower trying to bloom.  And I have some
exotics still outdoors and blooming.(yes, I know.. the Mr. likes tibouchinas..
what can I say ?)
>
> I did not see one Monarch this Summer, but I also could not go outside due to
an invasion of yellow jacket wasps.   I know they are here for some purpose, but
I am deathly allergic to them.  They and my health really cramped (literally) my
gardening style. Any suggestions on how to keep them Out of my yard ?
>
> If anyone on Long Island wants to take any samples from my yard to transplant
they are welcome to contact me.  I am unable to drive so I'm usually here.  With
this crazy weather, I'm confident that transplanting will succeed. But I only
got out in the garden again yesterday.
>
> Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving !
> Denise
>