Finding plant treasures in the Foothills

Elders Revisited

2011-02-05T09:56:00.004-05:00

Never consider a native plant a weed just because you do not understand it. A book could be filled up quickly with knowledge that is known and more about what is not known about our native Elderberry.

Since ancient Egypt parts of the Elderberry plants have been used by many cultures including many native American tribes. Our native purple or black Elderberry(Sambucus nigra canadensis) is native to nearly all the eastern half of the united States from Florida to Canada. it is now considered to be a subspecies of the European elder, (Sambucus nigra). the flowers and berries are both edible.But, almost every other part of the plant is toxic in some way unless it is used properly. The berries should be cooked or dried and not eaten raw. The flowers can be dipped in batter and fried as a fritter. The berries can be made into pies, jellies, wine and almost unending cooking uses.

Elderberry has been recognized since 400BC to have anti-viral properties. Much has been written about its use for the prevention and treatment for flu and cold symptoms. As of late research is being undertaken for Elderberries ability as an HIV fighter.

There is much lore associated with Elderberries also. One such tale says that if you sat under an Elderberry on a mid summer night elves and fairies will appear. Elderberries were also believed to have the ability to drive away bad witches and evil spirits. and always ask the plants permission before you pick berries, prune or move them, I always do.

As a landscape plant the American elderberry is a good or better choice than many other deciduous flowering shrubs. with attractive foliage, beautiful white blooms and attractive berries it is far from being ordinary or boring. elderberry can grow to three meters high and they do make new canes by suckering from the roots like many native plants. If planted on the edge of a lawn the lawn grass seems to do a very good job containing the elder in its tight place. If planting in a tilled garden spot the elder may move a little more than you wish but is far from being troublesome like bamboo. If this happens simply dig up unwanted canes. Elders are very hardy. they do benefit with a good mulch to prevent drying our during a drought situation but do not have to be planted with wet feet. a good mulch and regular moisture will help promote flowering and fruiting.

As a wildlife plant they are an excellent choice. Up to 50 species of birds like the berries. it also provides some cover for wildlife as well.

Other ways Elderberries have made contributions to our lives is that the canes have been used as taps on maple trees for the gathering of maple syrup. also many native American tribes and many other cultures have used the cane wood for making flutes. You can find many of these for sale on the web right now.

Elderberry has many uses for the home landscaper, for sustainable living, for wildlife gardening and for the herbalist. It is a very useful and attractive native plant to use.

Spring is not far away

2011-01-01T15:31:00.003-05:00

Being in the nursery business all my 48 years once in a while I run across a plant that defies knowledge even logic. About fifteen years ago I received ten small seedlings of Aesculus pavia the Dwarf Red Buckeye. This little tree was new to me and I did not know what to expect.

Aesculus pavia Dwarf Red Buckeye is native from Illinois and West Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas. It is a small understory tree and under landscape conditions the height ranges from eight to fifteen feet tall. The peculiar nature of this native gem make it one of the most interesting little trees I have ever grown. Dwarf Red Buckeye is the first plant to leaf out in the nursery in the spring. Now this is a scary thought but for some reason the new leaves are not damaged by late frost or cold at all. When exposed to late frost or cold the leaves may tinge red then turn back green and continue on. I have had young plants bloom the second year in gallon pots, and nearly half of my three year old plants in three gallon pots bloom. Now you may think this is not special but when the bloom is bright red and can be up to a foot long and that on a foot tall plant it is a site to behold. When customers see these small plants blooming in the nursery they don not think they are real!

Five different buckeye's are native to the southeast in different locations throughout. Dwarf Red Buckeye is very hardy. Very cold tolerant it can be planted as far north as the Great Lakes. It is very drought tolerant as well. In the drought in North Carolina during 2006-2007 we had plants that we could not water. They defoliated but once water returned they put forth new leaves, all survived.

Blooming bright red in spring with tubular shaped flowers makes this little tree an excellent nectar source for early season Hummingbirds and other pollinators. This is a must addition to any Hummingbird and Butterfly garden. The only drawback of this plant is with an early spring start brings an early fall exit. The species seldom has good fall color unless it is subject to a very wet late summer. Easy to care for, beautiful red spring blooms. The seed is the good luck charm I carry with me in my pocket wherever I go. Dwarf Red Buckeye is a must for the native plant lover

Woolly Menace

2010-09-05T16:55:00.003-04:00

Driving in the summer on the Blue Ridge parkway around the Boone North Carolina area has always been a very pleasant and refreshing experience. The North Carolina mountains have a way of giving a persons spirits rebirth. This past summer a Sunday afternoon ride on that beautiful road was no exception. However I kept noticing all the dead big evergreen tress, our native Canadian Hemlock. All through the North Carolina and Appalachian mountains you see the new skeletal remains of our former evergreen giants, some newly dead, many near death thanks to an unwanted invasive exotic non native pest the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Brought in to the Northwestern United States from Asia in the 1920's probably with exotic nursery stock, and found in the Northeastern Unites States in the 1950's the Woolly Adelgid has found its way to our beautiful state killing almost every hemlock that cannot readible be sprayed or maintained.

This really hit home with me as only a few days from our ride to the mountains I was working in one of our oldest customers yards and I discovered three old Canadian Hemlocks infested with the Woolly pest. These were the first documented case in Iredell County. This was verified by our county Horticultural extension agent Amanda Taylor. My father had sold and probably planted the three infected trees many years before to this long time customer. Like the American Chestnut our native Canadian and Carolina Hemlocks have fallen victims to something non native to which they have no built in defense. There are many reasons to landscape with native plants, they are big keys to our environment and us. Yes many non native exotic species of all biological types are no harm to any part of our native environment, but many are. Be careful when using non natives in your landscape you might not always know what you are getting. And when you can plant native.

Holly Jolly

2009-12-18T11:46:00.010-05:00

This time of year makes us reflect on the happenings and our blessings from the past year. This year I entered social media on Twitter and on Facebook and I have met online and or in person some wonderful people in the horticulture field. A couple of which I want to mention is Anna (Flowergardengirl) Looper who is a joy of a person and Sheri Lee Pierce who was one is not the first person I followed on Twitter. Sheri Lee is formulater and owner of Paradise City Herbal in Northampton MA. She helped cultivate my interest in my newest favorite native plant the American Elderberry. And also Jackie Cross late of the state of Florida but native to TN who is an excellent garden writer, blogger and friend. and last but not least Michelle Tune (The Raw juice girl who coached me over the internet one day and saved my my burned hand, thank you for being there Michelle.

The plant that really drove my interest in natives back in 1993 was the yellow berried American Holly(Ilex opaca).Of course my interest in this plant was due not only to the odd but cheerful berry color but to the fact that I love winter interest plants probably more than others because they brighten up our winter landscape. One day back in 1993 a friend and myself drove an 8 hour round trip just to obtain a yellow berried American Holly from the then President of the American Holly society Hal Elmore in Knoxville TN. Hal didn't think we were crazy since he was a holly nut himself. The yellow berried form of American holly is rare and is mostly found in parts of North Carolina, Virginia and other southeastern states. Several specimens have been registered and named by the American Holly society. Some of the more famous ones and better ones to grow are Longwood(original tree at Longwood Gardens) Morgan Gold and Canary. Longwood was my first purchase and is my favorite. Yellow berried American hollies are identical in growth habit and looks to the red berried forms we are most familiar with except that the yellow ones in my experience may be a little slower than the red although that may not always be the case. Either way don't ever turn up your nose at this gem because it is a different color for they do stand out.

Last while I have this opportunity I want to thank all of my family and friends for being supportive to me in this year full of changes and moves. And especially my daughters and for Donna, who gave me a breathe of life again and showed me that I was maybe not quiet as crazy as I thought I was and for putting up with me pulling over on the side of the road to take a picture or to ask for seeds for some plant that I see. Happy Holidays everyone and thank you for reading.

Bliss

2009-09-13T14:52:00.008-04:00

Defeat and rejection are some of the challenges of life to overcome. Only when we have experienced some of these disappointments then and only then can we truly appreciate when we succeed or our goal has been achieved or the lost love we have secretly kept hidden in our heart returns. People want that feeling in there lives but only certain moments in life usually do they get to experience that feeling. Drugs, illegal and legal, have been searched out through time to give us that feeling that we wish for so much when we cannot find that feeling through experiences or feelings on our own.

I have recently been moving my nursery to a new location and while overlooking the property we were out walking to see if we could discover any unusual plant features in the property. What we found were an unusual amount of Sassafras trees on the old fence line. Sassafras albidum is one of the oldest species of trees in the world according to the fossil record and is native to the eastern United States. It is unusual for other reasons as well. A single tree can have three distinct types of leaves on it. The tree is usually small but they tend to live for a very long, long, time. They have excellent fall color and can be anything from yellow to bright scarlet red. I have even saw two trees side by side with different color extremes on them. Native Americans and early settlers used the bark of the roots of the Sassafras to make a tonic. This tonic which gave root beer its claim to fame was rumored to be a cure all to what ails the body for that feeling of euphoria if you will, to lift the spirits. It was deemed as a stimulant for tired and weary souls as well as an herb to fight off any other illness. There is an old story that near the coast of the new world with Columbus's crew near mutiny the odor of Sassafras permeated the air and quietened down the crew and land was shortly sited. The national champion tree of the United States is in Owensboro, Kentucky and was saved from a road crew by a lady with a shotgun. The governor pardoned the tree and her. Besides used as a tonic or stimulant the ground and dried leaves of the Sassafras tree is the File in File Gumbo, used in it as seasoning and as a thickener.

While the Sassafras tree does not contain the fountain of youth or the key to happiness the tonic of will never replace the feeling of mutual love, the long awaited kiss, victory or achievement it is a beautiful and very interesting tree and has been on this earth a long, long, time.

Elders Among Us

2009-07-18T23:55:00.006-04:00

It has been a while since I last posted. Times are challenging, going through a divorce makes you question many things in life. Through my 46 years growing up and living the nursery industry I have been through many phases and many changes in this business. The nursery industry originally started as a fruit and vegetable plant industry in its early days. In those days most people did not have disposable income to spend just on plant beauty as they were concerned more with just living and trying to survive. As our society prospered after World War 2 and our parents and grand parents struggled to make a better society and a better world they became more concerned during the baby boom of dressing up their landscape with beautiful flowers and green hedges, and less about what kind of food they would try to grow themselves, after all the had the money to just go down to the new chain grocery store to pick up whatever they needed, because it was there and could be bought cheaper than they could grow it.

Today times are changing again with the collapse of our financial system and many American companies failing, with high unemployment and the uncertainty of our future has many thinking about growing more of what they need to eat themselves. A return to the land and of sustainable living is found almost everywhere these days. Not only in topics on the internet through articles and blogs but with crowds and conversations at the local Farmers Market and even the local convenience store and local gas station.

One plant that has come up in many articles and conversations that seems to fit suistainable living to the highest point is our native American Elderberry(Sambuscus Canadensis). Native to the lower eastern half of the United States it has been overlooked as a landscape plant and somewhat forgotten as a fruit crop at least for family and individual use. I am no Elderberry expert but I am learning also. With one purchase of Elderberry jelly from one of my neighbor vendors at my local farmers market I was hooked. Herbalist friends on Twitter and Facebook taught the herbal, nutritional and health uses of the Elders fruit. It has many benefits and have even more nutritional value than blueberries. It is a great looking plant as well. Perhaps when we face hard times perhaps we should go back and listen to those who have lived through hard times and listen to them instead of thinking we know better, and yes as corny as it sounds respect our Elders. In the photo is my friend 90 year old Mrs Billie Daniels of Harmony North Carolina and her native Elderberry on her property.

Magnolia and Hydrangea Update

2009-05-12T22:26:00.003-04:00

I finally got a chance today to visit the Cucumber magnolias again. I was tipped off by my cousin Jonathon Campbell that they were in bloom. We have had much recent rain and that clearly has taken its toll on the blooms. I am still waiting for how successful we were on the tissue culture propagation. time will tell. The handful of younger trees I was able to move from the site are doing wonderful and they say hello.

My little Oak Leaf hydrangeas are all sprouting. they are so tiny and handling of those little seed is a problem. Sowing amounts of the seed properly, not getting too many close together is a problem. I will try to get a picture later .

Cucumber Tree Magnolia

2009-03-09T20:29:00.005-04:00

Magnolia macrophylla known by the common names of Bigleaf Magnolia and cucumber tree was first shown to me at an early age by my father while we were near a creek one summers day. My father wanted me to know something was indeed special about the tree, however it was several years later that I realized what he was talking about.

The Bigleaf Magnolia was discovered in the wild in what is now Gaston county here in North Carolina by French naturalist and plant explorer Andre Michaux in 1789. It is listed now present in 13 states by the USDA and only found in 5 counties in North Carolina. It is found as an understory tree although it can reach heights up to 50 feet tall mostly near water sources such as creeks and streams. It is listed as imperiled in North Carolina and is listed as endangered in the wild in a few of the states it is known to be present.

The Bigleaf Magnolias title is no small matter. It carries the largest simple leaf and the largest bloom of any tree on the North American continent(did everyone get that). The leaves are between 18 and 36 inches long and generally between 9 to 12 inches wide. The flowers are 6 to 14 inches across. It is becoming rare to see them and that is one reason I had forgotten about them for a while. This past summer while nature walking my brother and I along with a friend noticed about 3 specimens larger than 30 feet tall as well as about a dozen smaller trees of assorted sizes in a very isolated area of Northern Iredell County. We found out later that the future of these trees may be in danger because of a land settlement between two family members. I carefully scoped out possible seed pods on the trees to collect seeds when ripe but when the time came the seed just did not make at all in a very productive seed year for almost everything else. After panicking that the lineage of these trees would be lost I contacted Donna Riddle a horticulture instructor at nearby Wilkes Community College. Wilkes Community College has been able through a grant to put in a plant tissue culture lab. Basically without getting too technical they take dormant leaf buds and with a solution of hormones and growth regulators you can produce new plants. This propagation technique has been invaluable for nurseries to get new plant varieties on the market quickly without using up too much plant material in the process. This of course can also be used to keep endangered or rare plant species going. Just this morning Donna came down to meet us and collected the material she needed to see if this propagation type will work on these trees. We will update this story later when Donna notifies me of her progress and success. One other reason that I wanted to preserve the lineage of these Magnolias is that the land on which they reside was part of an original land grant in the late 1770s to one of our families ancestors. So today and if Donna reads this I am happy that we are trying, trying to save not only a part of my families heritage but our nations as well. The picture is of one of the trees in which material for tissue culture propagation was collected. The trees also have very interesting bark as well. We will update this and share pictures of the leaves and blooms this summer.

Oak-Leaf Hydrangea seed collecting

2009-03-02T13:21:00.005-05:00

I thought I would follow my last post with another about this wonderful plant. I have never collected seed for this plant before this year. After reading what I could on the internet from native plant sources and Michael Dirr I proceeded with a plan. The picture is of a dried Oakleaf Hydrangea bloom head and the specks are the seed. I have been catching them in paper bags as the capsules on the bloom head releases them. I will keep you informed to their progress when I sow them. Everyone pray for no wind on that day OK! They are not to be covered when sown just watered in. Hopefully a couple of weeks later they will emerge.

Anytime

2009-02-26T23:21:00.007-05:00

The Oakleaf Hydrangea(Hydrangea Quercifolia) is truly a plant for all seasons. Native to portions of the southeastern United States it gets it's common name from the almost red oak like leaves that grace its branches.. It is a beautiful shrub at anytime of the year. I first noticed the Oakleaf Hydrangea growing up on my families nursery. I have always had a fondness for plants that shine in the fall and winter, and we need more of that to get us through some of those drab days. With the best burgundy fall color of arguably any shrub on its distinctive leaves it gives a boldness that lasts long into winter. Another winter interest of the plant which is special to me is the peeling bark of older plants that is reminds one of of River Birch. Not a slack for blooms either they are a glorious white and on some plants and cultivars nearly a foot long. And, for those who love to dry flowers this is one of the best. It is an easy plant to grow although in most locations it needs some shade especially in the south. It is cultivated well north of its native range these days and is a great ambassador of southern hospitality. While I love its fall and winter appeal the picture is of a specimen I planted this past year while in bloom. One interesting herbal curiosity of the plant is that it along with some of its cousins is that its roots contain compounds that help treat kidney stones!This I have not tried but must remember the next time I am rolling on the ground in agony from one of those things. It seems this part of North Carolina is famous for the pain and torture kidney stones can inflict. But whatever time of year the Oakleaf Hydrangea will grace your landscape with class and interest.

Purple Pizazz The American Beautyberry

2009-02-17T20:53:00.004-05:00

Up until a couple years ago I completely neglected the American Beautyberry. I am an avid wildlife conservationist especially for our Bobwhite Quail. When thinking of native plants with berries my attention has always been turned to Hollies. But when you look at the perfect shrub for attracting birds of all kinds that is also beautiful and very hardy(winter hardy to at least zone 7 maybe farther north), very dought tolerant once established you should look no farther than Callicarpa Americana. It is a native deciduous shrub which has tiny lavender blooms in the summer with usual loads of pinkish-lavender-purple berries in autumn that last for beauty and food for wildlife through mid winter. It can reach heights of 8to 10 feet but generally in our area 6to 7 seems to be tops behaving much like forsythia but on a slightly smaller scale. Other imortant attributes of this plant are that researchers at the University of Mississippi have proven the old wives tales that chemicals in the beautyberries leaves when crushed and rubbed on the skin work as a mosquito repellent. The berries can also be used to make a tasty jam. I can think of no other native shrub to the south that has so much to offer, good fall leaf and berry color, beneficial to wildlife and man alike. To those who don't like purple there is a white berried form. Plant them in early spring so they will get a good foot hold and put on a show this fall.

Virginia Spiderwort

2009-02-10T23:07:00.008-05:00

As a life long nurseryman many friends and customers have shared cuttings, seed and divisions of plants in their landscapes with me. You might often find me early in the morning searching a friend or customers yard for the above mentioned items as well as a cup of coffee or a fresh muffin from the oven. About 21 years ago when I set out in the nursery business on my own the first person to share items from her yard with me was a lady named Lucy Hayes of Houstonville North Carolina. Mrs Hayes was going to make sure that I had a start of everything that she had. She was an avid lover of perennial flowers. My favorite plant that came from her was the Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia Virginiana). Mrs Hayes was in her seventies when she bagan to share plants with me and her mother and her grandmother had grown Virginia Spiderwort in their gardens.

Virginia Spiderwort is a native perennial. It has beautiful bluish to lavender flowers. It prefers some sun and does best if it has constant moisture. Late in the summer the plant can suffer during dry spells but if cut back hard can return to form on towards summer's end. The plants individual flowers only last a day or so and they open up in the morning and close up toward the end of the afternoon. It will continually open flowers each day for long periods in the summer. Virginia Spiderwort spreads or clumps by underground stems and takes to division very easily. It makes an excellent plant for the front of the border. Native Americans would crush the fleshy stems and leaves and put the juice on insect bites and to relieve other skin problems as well. Virginia Spiderwort is easily grown and its colorful three sided flowers are a joy to see when walking early on a summers morning.

Queen of the meadow

2009-02-02T23:07:00.006-05:00

Here in the middle of winter I thought I would bring a little taste of summer in to the blog with a wonderful and underused native plant.

Queen of the meadow, Gravel or Kidney root, Purple or Tall Boneset , Joe Pye weed are all common names of this famous perennial wildflower of the eastern United States. It's most famous common name Joe Pye weed refers to a Native American healer who used the plant to treat Massachusetts Bay colonists with typhus. The plant was also used to treat bladder and kidney infections including kidney stones, hence some of its other common names. The plant is mostly found in low moist areas and according to the species can reach heights to ten feet tall. It is not particular to the type of soil although a little extra moisture would not hurt. The taller varieties may need staking or some wind protection if placed in an area in in which the top heavy blooming plants could tumble over. It makes an excellent background plant for the cottage garden. Bloom colors vary from nearly white to pinkish purple. It is an excellent butterfly magnet and is a good native replacemant for non native varieties such as butterfly bush.

Liberty Tree

2009-01-23T23:36:00.000-05:00

During this presidential inauguration week many Americans are feeling very good about their country. I have saw many speak and write about how proud they are of our flag. This reminded me of our countries quest for liberty and how our first patriots chose as the emblem on their flag the White Pine. The tallest tree in eastern North America has been, and still is very valuable for timber. It seems that in colonial times the British navy were in need of very straight tall trees for the ships masts. White Pines in those days could be found in heights over 200 feet tall. Many of these trees were claimed and marked by the British. Colonists could not harvest them, even on their own land. So as a symbol of defiance these original patriots seeking their freedom used an emblem of the White Pine to stir up the cause of liberty, fight, and die for.

In Iredell county we are on the very southern tip of the White Pines native range. They are rare here in their native state, and many landowners and homeowners alike do not plant them anymore. They do not like wet feet, prefering to be on a slope with well drained (aka) rocky soil around them. White pines are very well behaved and one of our most beautiful and valuable trees if given the right conditions to thrive. White Pine's are very beneficial to wildlife also for a source of evergreen cover as well as the seed being a food source for birds and mammals. They are the only 5 needle pine native to North America. This tree is on the property of Joe Mullis and is as defiant as its ancestors.

There is a purpose for everything

2009-01-17T19:57:00.000-05:00

The American Sweet Gum is a very well loved but also a very maligned tree. The tree itself is very adaptable and very persistent. It furnishes shade with beautiful fall colors of burgundy, purple, and gold on its 5 sided pointed leaves. But those that love it also hate it for the mess that it makes. The sticky almost ping-pong ball sized seed pods are very rough on feet, and are quite messy. But alas God has a plan for everything. It has recently been discovered those menacing seed pods contain a chemical called Shikimic acid. This chemical is the starting material used to produce the main antiviral agent in the much heralded drug to combat the bird flu. Also used in the drug used to combat most flu strands called Tamiflu. This chemical was previosly only found in a plant called Star Anise only found in China. This large speciman belongs to our friend and fellow plant nut Sue Tomlin of Harmony. The tree was born in what was once a cotton field and was cut back to die but persevered and became multi-stemmed. Anyone still believe that plants do not contain the keys to health and wellness!

TREE OF KNOWLEDGE

2009-01-08T23:07:00.000-05:00

Not the tree of knowledge from the Bible, but the word Beech is from where the word book is derived. Early book manuscripts in Europe used the thin bark of the European Beech as writing paper. In America our native American Beech graces our forests. The same thin smooth bark has called many to carve their initials, or love, or hunting stories such as one Daniel Boone in many of these trees. The outline of older trees look as though they are cast out of molten pewter. The leaves after changing colors to finally a pleasing tan can hold on until the next set appears in the spring giving even more character to these trees. They are found in many places but seem to prefer a hillside to grace us with their imposing structures. The tree in the picture is one of the two largest I have found in Northern Iredell county and is on the property of our good friend Mabel Stack.

ANCIENT LAUREL

2009-01-08T06:21:00.000-05:00

Kalmia Latifolia,(Mountain Laurel) indiginous to all of the original 13 colonies is one of our most beautiful native plants. And, in my opinion should be the national flower of the United States. This particular laurel resides in Northern Iredell County in an isolated place near an old wagon road along Liberty Branch. Before our ancestors renamed this place it was guarding the stream. Witnessing Native Americans, settlers,Union Calvary and modern machinery the stories it could tell. My pocket knife in the photo measures open from blade point to end of handle eight and one quarter inche's. The official measurements of the laurel have not been made as of yet but where my knife rests is four feet above the ground. I have taken friends to visit my ancient friend and hope to take a few more. Resting above a stream in a little shade is where after all where we all want to be.