SUMMER 2016, VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3

A PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Native Plant to Know Spotted Jewelweed Impatiens capensis by Angelique Mori simple, elliptic leaves are three to 10 loose clusters like tiny drop earrings, centimetres (one to four inches) long, one to three blossoms per stalk The delicate, pendant blooms of long-stalked with some rounded teeth. (known as a pedicel). The bilaterally spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) The upper leaves are alternate while symmetrical blooms have three petals grace the moist, shadier corners of our the lower leaves are opposite. and an elegant, curving spur. The native plant garden in Hamilton, Delightful, trumpet- blooms appear from summer to early Ontario. This dainty jewel of summer shaped flowers autumn. The fruit is a appeared uninvited in our backyard dangle in ribbed pod up to two and quickly became a favourite with centimetres (one inch) long birds and butterflies. containing five vegetal Quick-in-the-hand, horns-of-plenty, springs which touch-me-not and wild ladies’ earrings build up are some of the colourful monikers considerable used to describe this common, compressive herbaceous annual. There are two force by water jewelweeds native to north temperate absorption. A and boreal North America, the second gentle touch will ANGELIQUE MORI being pale jewelweed (Impatiens trigger vigorous pallida). It’s easy to distinguish the two contortions by flower colour: Impatiens capensis is that can ILLUSTRATION BY orange with dark blotches, while I. produce a pallida is pale yellow. perceptible Impatiens is Latin for “impatient,” referring to the plant’s startling method of seed dispersal: when touched, the ripe pods explode (no doubt the source of the sobriquet “touch-me-not”). The species name capensis means “of the Cape of Good Hope,” where the plant was erroneously believed to have originated. Pallida means “pale” or “pallid.” The smooth, translucent branches have glaucous, hollow stems. The Continued on page 15 The Blazing Star is... Editorial The Blazing Star is published quarterly (April, August, November, February) by the North American Native Plant Society The Ontario government passed into law Bill 37, the Invasive Species Act (ISA), on (NANPS). Contact [email protected] November 3, 2015. The act is intended to manage invasive plant and animal for editorial deadlines and for advertising species threatening Ontario’s ecological biodiversity. According to Bill Mauro, rates. The views expressed herein are Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the province’s taxpayers pay those of the authors and not necessarily more than $90 million dollars annually to fight invasives while the annual cost to those of NANPS. Canada’s agriculture and forestry sectors is upwards of $7.3 billion each year. The The North American Native Plant Society ISA also provides the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry with is dedicated to the study, conservation, extraordinary monitoring and enforcement powers. cultivation and restoration of North The Invasive Species Act is intended America’s native flora. to support “the prevention, early Summer 2016 detection, rapid response and Volume 17, Issue 3 eradication of invasive species”; give ISSN 2291-8280 Ontario the tools to ban the possession and transportation of certain invasive Editor: Irene Fedun species; allow for earlier intervention Production: Bea Paterson and rapid response to keep invasive Proofreader: Eileen Atkinson Printed by: Guild Printing, species from spreading… and help Markham, Ontario ensure compliance through modernized inspection and © North American Native Plant Society enforcement measures.” Images © the photographers and NANPS supports Bill 37 in principle, illustrators, text © the authors. however specific gaps within the Act All rights reserved. weaken its effectiveness and require North American Native Plant Society, collective action. In light of our

formerly Canadian Wildflower Society, mission (the study, conservation, READ LINDA is a registered charitable society, no. cultivation and restoration of North 130720824 RR0001. America’s native flora), we believe

Donations to the society are tax- HOTOGRAPH BY there is a need for: P creditable in Canada. 1) Immediate, proactive creation of Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) NANPS Membership: government initiatives for key CAN$25/YEAR WITHIN CANADA, stakeholders to develop US$25/YEAR OUTSIDE CANADA innovative resources in their collaborative fight against invasive plants. Join online or send cheque or money 2) Innovative investment in the talents, skills and knowledge of Ontario’s order to North American Native Plant existing conservation leaders and associations to create “tools” for the ISA Society, Box 84, Stn D, Toronto, ON toolbox. M9A 4X1. 3) Clarity with respect to the classification and definitions of invasive plant Telephone: (416) 631-4438. species and the operationalization of the degree of risk associated with each E-mail: [email protected] of these species. Web: www.nanps.org. 4) The creation of ISA-related educational curricula and training materials for Facebook: www.facebook.com/nativeplant Twitter: @tnanps elementary and secondary schools, Ministry of Training, horticultural and landscaping programs at colleges and universities, commercial nurseries and Board of Directors: landscapers, farmers and landowners, and staff of the Ministry of Natural Honorary President: James A. French Resources and Forestry, provincial parks and conservation authorities. Vice-President: Adam Mohamed 5) Creation of training programs for ISA inspectors, certification programs on Secretary: Miriam Henriques the identification of invasive plant species, native plants, non-native plants, Treasurer: Janice Keil species at risk (and “weeds”), cataloguing and evaluating the educational Colleen Cirillo merits of existing documentation and apps used for identification of invasive Bill Ford species. Alison Howson Alice Kong We hope to work with the Ontario government and other concerned agencies Myles Mackenzie and environmental non-profit organizations to strengthen this critical legislation. Matey Matov Howard Meadd Bill Ford Harold Smith NANPS director

2 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 Specializing in container grown NANPS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Trees & Shrubs native to Ontario Saturday, October 15, 2016 Toronto Botanical Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie Street Toronto Keynote speaker: Brendon Larson, assistant professor in the Department of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo will talk about Redefining our Relationship with Nature: The Case of Invasive Species. Mini native plant sale.

Native Plant Species Website Blooms

The Local Scoop, having established roots strong enough to withstand droughts in the summer and ice storms in winter, has grown hardy and wants to branch out. So, the Scoop has planted the Native Plant Species, a website dedicated to (705) 466-6290 propagating a community of enthusiasts, to share the dirt, [email protected] spread the word, and pollinate each community with the www.notsohollowfarm.ca benefits of growing native plant species. Visit www.nativeplantspecies.com. So dig in. Share your stories, your photos, your successes, Design & Consulting services available by OALA member your failures, and information about native plant species in your local area. Contribute, ask the Scoop questions, and give advice about native plant species. Help raise awareness of native plant species, pollinators and other wildlife. An ecosystem is more than a single plant. A native plant community florum is more than a single voice. So let's get growing! ADAM MOHAMED ADAM ARTOON BY C

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 3 Letter to the Editor Pollinators Paradise Project Dear Editor, even here, it is nectar and not pollen Volunteers with the Pollinators that is being stolen, and these same Paradise Project have been busily I found the Rock Elm article in the bees have adequate tongue lengths for planting a “pollinator corridor” of winter 2016 issue of The Blazing Star other flower species. Even bees that do native plants that will provide food interesting and informative. My reason no pollen collection themselves and shelter for pollinators across for writing is technical in nature, and typically rob, infiltrate or parasitize Hamilton, Ontario. Organized by to do with pollination biology. I had the pollen resources of nests of bees Environment Hamilton and the heard that elms were wind-pollinated. that do collect pollen, and thus Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, with Author Bill Moses notes anecdotal pollinate by proxy. support from the Ontario Trillium evidence of bees "working the If the bees Bill saw visiting elm Foundation and Hamilton Future flowers," but he makes a troubling flowers were collecting pollen then, by Fund, the ambitious project knows off-hand comment about this valid virtue of their fuzzy bodies that brush no social, political or religious observation. against flowers, they would necessarily boundaries. Plantings have Bill says, "I suspect now that they have been acting as pollinators, since occurred at Victory and must have been just gathering pollen the stamens and stigmas of elm Community Gardens, Hamilton and not playing a role in the flowers are both external, contained Downtown Mosque, many reproductive process." To be fair, he within the same flower and in very elementary and secondary schools, explicitly prefaces this as a suspicion. close proximity to each other. Elms city parks, Hamilton City Hall and But it troubles me to encounter a may be largely reliant on wind, but botanist engaging in public education perhaps there is minimal insect- with a broad audience describing related pollination. "gathering pollen" by bees as a I believe this is a crucial point since separate action from pollination, as if bees are experiencing declines, one action precludes or takes away especially native bees, and public from the other. Pollen gathering and pressure to improve this situation pollination are concurrent processes usually comes from knowledge of the for bees in most situations. For the pollination benefits of bees. I am elm in question, if the bees were loathe to see confusion sown about successfully gathering pollen, then their value as pollinators even in a bee-based pollination would very minor way. likely have been occurring. EKOKO BEATRICE Bee bodies are built to acquire David d'Entremont pollen, having evolved to take HOTOGRAPH BY advantage of pollen as a protein Author Bill Moses responds: P resource. They are typically fuzzy or To clarify, I am not a botanist, merely a other high-profile places. The coated in branching hairs that readily keen observer of nature, especially trees. project also offers a certification trap pollen to be "combed off" and After reading David’s letter, I did more program: anyone who meets the collected later. This strategy makes research and discovered that elm flowers criteria set out by the program for them the perfect vector for pollen do produce pollen. However, plants that planting a pollinator patch can transfer because in order to collect rely on pollination by insects have sticky register the location at pollen for themselves they must first pollen which sticks to bee hairs and is hamiltonpollinatorparadise.org become coated in it and before packed around the back legs. and it will be added to a map that consolidating it they must visit many Windblown pollen is not sticky and so lists patches across the city. The different flowers. must be more difficult for bees to goal is to create a continuous flow Plants have evolved to produce collect, but in desperate times they may of native plants across Hamilton to excess pollen for everything, including give it a go. This coming season I will be support our beleaguered reproduction and bee food. It is an looking for bees on elm flowers to see pollinators. ideal mutualism. One of the few cases what the "aych" they are doing. The website offers lists of in which plants draw the short straw is pollinator-friendly plants, blogs, in nectar robbing, where bees with links and tips on how to build a too-short tongues pierce the sides of bee nest box. For events designed long or hard-to-get-into flowers (such to help you create a pollinator as squirrel corn or Dicentra paradise contact canadensis) to get at the nectar. But [email protected].

4 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 Purple, White, Blue & Gold: Gardening with Asters and Goldenrods by Paul O’Hara fever? I know I’m preaching to the choir and I’m tired of saying it but it For most folks, gardening is a spring needs to be shouted from and summer affair. Winter subsides mountaintops, spray-painted on city and the rush of spring planting begins. walls and barked on radio garden But after the rose of Sharon has phone-in programs until the bloomed and the kids are back in proverbial cows come home: asters school the garden often goes off the and goldenrods do not cause hay fever. radar. The true allergen culprit is common I love the spring and summer ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), garden too – the first flowers on my a native annual whose inconspicuous serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) and green flowers (emerging at the same woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata), time as asters and goldenrods) liberate wild geraniums (Geranium huge amounts of dusty pollen that can maculatum) and foamflowers travel kilometres on the wind. So (Tiarella cordifolia), beardtongues when folks see those waving asters and (Penstemon spp.) in late spring, and goldenrods in our meadows in

the waves of summer colour and September they shouldn’t be thinking O’HARA PAUL texture that come with my prairie hay fever, they should be thinking forbs and grasses. But autumn is my POLLINATORS! HOTOGRAPH BY favourite time of year because that’s The flowers of asters and goldenrods P when my gardens come alive with the are pollinated by a vast array of flying Smooth aster purple, white, blue and gold of asters insects, as their pollen is too sticky and goldenrods. and heavy to be transported on the My garden favourites Goldenrods and asters are familiar wind. Besides brightening our natural BLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD to most when they light up our areas in fall, asters and goldenrods are (SOLIDAGO CAESIA) roadside meadows in late summer and some of the best pollinator plants in My favourite goldenrod for the early fall – you know, the time when our North American flora and they’re woodland garden in areas of part sun many people complain about their hay critical food plants for migrating and part shade. Produces a string of monarchs and bees preparing for golden flowers on bluish, arching winter. stems. A common forb in local Plus, there’s a wide selection to woodlands. choose from – over 60 species in ZIG-ZAG GOLDENROD Ontario alone – so you need not plant (SOLIDAGO FLEXICAULIS) some of the more aggressive ones Another goldenrod for the adapted to disturbance such as woodland garden. Zig-zag stems and Canada goldenrod (Solidago yellow flowers in autumn (often canadensis), late goldenrod (Solidago through to early November.) Common altissima), grass-leaved goldenrod in local forests where it forms small (Euthamia graminifolia), New England stands. aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) EARLY GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO JUNCEA) and frost aster (Symphyotrichum A tidy metre-high (three foot) pilosum). In my native plant goldenrod of woodland edges and landscaping business, I don’t usually prairie remnants. Flowers in late July plant them in formal gardens (many and August, hence the name “early.” A of them will appear in your garden of superb addition to the perennial their own accord) but that’s not to say border in full to part sun. that they don’t offer wildlife and GRAY GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO NEMORALIS) PAUL O’HARA PAUL ecosystem benefits. Instead, I plant A knee-high goldenrod for full sun. asters and goldenrods that are a little Prefers sandy and gravelly soils in the more conservative in their growth wild. An excellent choice for the rock HOTOGRAPH BY P habits. garden. Blue-stemmed goldenrod Continued on page 6

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 5 Recipe for an

Continued from page 5 Inexpensive Meadow Naturalization Project OHIO GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO OHIOENSIS) (SYMPHYOTRICHUM An uncommon goldenrod of coastal OOLENTANGIENSE) • Choose a marginal area in a city park, marshes and wet sand dunes. A metre- Uncommon in open oak corporate park or school ground and high perennial with golden, flat- woodlands and sandy meadows. get permission to plant there. topped flowers. Will tolerate average A thigh-high aster with rough- • Mark the borders and pathways of the garden soils. textured leaves and lilac blue naturalization project with marking paint. Get creative with the design: STIFF GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO RIGIDA) flowers in early fall. Like smooth A rare goldenrod of remnant aster, another great choice for broad sweeping curves and wide, prairies. Prefers dry sandy soils but the perennial border in full to generous pathways to invite exploration. will grow well in medium moisture part sun. • Stake out the borders to keep the clays too. Grows to shoulder height in mowing staff on track. I use 2” by 2” the garden. What about those aggressive wooden stakes two feet high, painted asters and goldenrods that grow with fire-red Tremclad® paint. Pound FLAT-TOPPED WHITE ASTER on our roadsides? They could be them into the ground at 10-15 foot (DOELLINGERIA UMBELLATA) planted in formal gardens – New intervals; 5-10 foot intervals on curves. A striking aster, up to two metres England aster, heath aster and • Let the turf in the naturalized area (six feet) high, that grows in roadside frost aster are all suitable for the grow. That’s right, no need to do the ditches and wet meadows. A common perennial border in full sun – back-breaking work of smothering or sight in cottage country. Tolerates but you might want to give them removing turf. medium moisture soils. A good choice a chop after they flower to • Plant native wildflower plugs right into for the perennial border in full to part prevent them from seeding the turf. Choose species that can sun. through the garden. In my compete with the weedy turf grasses: UPLAND WHITE ASTER opinion, these species are best black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), (SOLIDAGO PTARMICOIDES) planted and seeded in wilder wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), One of my favourites for the garden. settings such as habitat evening primrose (Oenothera biennis), Uncommon in the wild. Grows in restoration and naturalization sweet ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides), rocky or sandy soils, particularly in projects that create more common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), shoreline habitats. An unusual pollinator habitat in our cities Canada anemone (Anemone goldenrod with flat-topped white and towns. canadensis), wild strawberry (Fragaria flowers in late summer. Plant in part This brings me to an idea I’ve virginiana) and of course, asters and to full sun. had for some time. I believe we goldenrods: New England aster, heath WHITE WOOD ASTER should be celebrating our asters aster, frost aster, smooth aster, early (EURYBIA DIVARICATA) and goldenrods. We celebrate the goldenrod and gray goldenrod. Plant as A Threatened species in Ontario, running of the maple sap in many plugs as your budget allows. largely restricted to the Niagara spring. Why not celebrate the • Water new plants well for the first Peninsula. A knee-high, white- flowering of our asters and couple of weeks. Three to four good flowered aster for the woodland goldenrods in autumn? It’s such drenchings should do it. garden. a beautiful time of year in our • In time, thatch from the turf grasses roadside meadows and thickets – will build up and, once scratched out, HEART-LEAVEDASTER will create areas of bare soil. Target (SYMPHYOTRICHUM CORDIFOLIUM) the yellowing elms (Ulmus spp.) A common aster in local woodlands. and hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), those areas with native wildflower seed. Produces masses of light blue flowers the brilliant reds and oranges of Source seed from a reputable native when planted in groups. Another great the staghorn sumac (Rhus plant nursery, collect seed from a local choice for the woodland garden in typhina), the marooning gray meadow or from the maturing part sun or dappled shade. dogwood (Cornus racemosa), wildflowers in your naturalization and the purple, white, blue and project. SMOOTH ASTER (SYMPHYOTRICHUM LAEVE) gold of our asters and • Continue to develop the meadow in Common in local meadows, goldenrods. This beauty only successive years with more wildflower particularly on clay soils. A chest-high comes once a year and we plugs and seed as your budget allows. aster with smooth-textured leaves and should rejoice in it. It could be a • Enjoy the bees and butterflies! pretty blue flowers in early fall. Ideal nice way for kids, parents and • Visit for the perennial border in full to part teachers to ease back into the http://www.blueoak.ca/naturalization sun. school year: a North America- for more ideas. SKY BLUE ASTER wide festival reveling in the Paul O’Hara

6 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 migration of the monarch, thanking garden instead. Plant them once and citizens to change their thinking about the bees for their hard work enjoy them for years to come. the fall garden. Until then, I’ll pollinating our flowers and food I know it’ll take a while for most continue to celebrate the fall in my crops, and engaging in own small way: sitting community planting in the garden among the events that put more turning colours and asters and goldenrods tawny grasses, beer in into the ground in our hand, watching the bees cities and towns. and butterflies dine on We need to change my asters and our thinking about the goldenrods. Now, that’s fall garden. Forget about what I call a good time. the chrysanthemum. They’re purdy and all Paul O’Hara is a but have you ever consulting field botanist,

PAUL O’HARA PAUL looked closely at a landscape designer and chrysanthemum in full native plant gardening flower? They’re a vision expert. He is the HOTOGRAPH BY P of perfect sterility – not owner/operator of Blue an insect to be found. Oak Native Landscapes This year, why not tuck New England aster and arrow-leaved aster in flower at the Vale Naturalization (www.blueoak.ca) in Project, a 1.4 hectare (3.5 acre) naturalization project designed, built and Hamilton, Ontario. some asters and maintained by Blue Oak Native Landscapes on the grounds of Vale Base goldenrods (the species, Metals Technology Development in Sheridan Research Park in Mississauga. In not cultivars with fancy 2009, the grounds consisted of neatly groomed turf. Today, it is a rich, bio- names) into your diverse habitat with cultural meadows, thickets and early successional forests.

Markham Proclaimed as Canada’s First Monarch Butterfly-Friendly City

“We’ve been hearing a lot about the NANPS planted native shrubs and launched its third annual monarch population being in peril,” forbs at Markham Civic Centre. #gotmilkweed campaign that says Markham, Ontario Councillor “We all need to take responsibility encourages Canadians to plant Valerie Burke who is also chair of for protecting the environment,” says milkweed in their yards, parks and Markham’s Environmental and Councillor Burke. She and fellow schoolyards. The campaign has Sustainability Committee, “so our city residents have demonstrated their inspired over 10,000 milkweed decided to take the initiative to commitment through the Adopt-a- plantings in Toronto alone. For more support butterflies and all pollinators.” Park program where people engage in information, visit davidsuzuki.org. A mayoral proclamation in April organized clean-ups declared Markham as Canada’s first or simply pick up monarch butterfly-friendly city. litter whenever they The welcome initiative is very much find it and help in line with Markham’s Greenprint restore natural areas Sustainability Plan. The ambitious through plantings. pollinator strategy includes launching Pomona Mills Park is a public outreach campaign, a good example. collaborating with local gardening and Located along a

conservation groups, creating the wildlife corridor, it CAROL PASTERNAK world’s first municipal milkweed has been the site of nursery, encouraging residents to sign native plantings, HOTOGRAPH BY

the David Suzuki Foundation including milkweed P Monarch Manifesto and adding (Asclepias spp.) in the Monarch on New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae- butterfly-friendly plantings on city meadow. angliae). Photographer Carol Pasternak’s book How to Raise properties to those already completed. This year the David Monarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids is in its In one initiative a few years ago, Suzuki Foundation second edition. Visit monarchcrusader.com to find out more about it and to learn about the plight of monarchs in the wild.

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 7 Late goldenrod

This illustration, scaled down to fit this page, shows a late goldenrod (Solidago altissima) ramet (an individual in a group of clones) in each season. Sprinkled throughout the grouping are 50 species of insects and other organisms, some more easily seen than others. At some point in their lives, all of them utilize or depend on goldenrod. The three similar members of the Canada goldenrod complex (Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea and S. altissima) are sometimes reviled because of their tendency to dominate a garden. They can spread quickly via tough, hard-to-dig-up rhizomes, so it’s true that you probably shouldn’t plant them in your garden (unless perhaps they’re in pots and you cut off the inflorescence before seeds disperse.) However, these beautiful native plants are valuable to wildlife because they support the bottom of the food chain. When you see them alongside a road or in a field, appreciate them as “biodiversity superheroes.” They are to be treasured, not dismissed as worthless weeds or inaccurately maligned for causing allergies.

Emily S. Damstra is a natural science illustrator in Guelph, Ontario. The life- size painting is the result of a year-long research project partially funded by a

grant from the Access DAMSTRA S. © EMILY Copyright Foundation. Emily plans to continue ILLUSTRATION studying and illustrating goldenrod and the fauna it supports. Her work may be seen at www.emilydamstra.com.

8 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 1 Spring 2 3 4 1. Wasp, Eurytoma obtusiventris 2. Leaf beetle larva, Trirhabda sp.

© EMILY S. DAMSTRA S. © EMILY 3. Warty leaf beetle larva, Exema canadensis 5 4. Goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis

ILLUSTRATION 5. Ground crab spider, Xysticus sp., with leaf mining beetle, Microrhopala vittata

8 6. Grasshopper nymph, Melanoplus sp. 7. Leaf mining beetle, Microrhopala vittata 9 14 6 8. Scudder’s epiblema moth, Epiblema scudderiana 7 10 9. Leafhopper, Neokolla hieroglyphica 10. Spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius 11 11. Leaf galls from midge, Asteromyia carbonifera, 12 13 with fungus, Botryosphaeria dothidea 12. Chrysanthemum lace bug, Corythucha marmorata 15 13. Leaf piercing/sucking bug, Publilia concava, with tending ant, Formica sp. 14. Leaf folded by caterpillar, Dichomeris sp. 15. Long-legged fly, Condylostylus sp.

1

3 2

Summer

4 1. Flower gall from Schizomyia racemicola 2. Goldenrod soldier beetles, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus 8 6 3. Hairy-banded andrena (mining bee), Andrena hirticincta 5

4. Syrphid fly, Helophilus sp. 9 7 5. Goldenrod hooded owlet, Cuculia asteroides 6. Pure green augochlora bee, Augochlora pura

7. Goldenrod crab spider, Misumena vatia 10 8. Ambush bugs, Phymata sp.

9. Paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus 11 10. Locust borer, Megacyllene robiniae 11. Wide-footed tree hopper, Campylenchia latipes 12. Eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens 13. Polished lady beetle, Cycloneda munda 12

13 DAMSTRA S. © EMILY ILLUSTRATION

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 9 Going with the Flow

by Irene Fedun

Water is the defining feature on the Beaver Valley property of Bill and Louise Ford. The Fords learned this the hard way when their driveway and basement flooded the first spring after they bought the abandoned farm near Collingwood, Ontario in 2007. Bill had always wanted a country property with a large pond or small lake – a body of water where family members could swim, with a small beach where the kids could play or he and his dog could sit quietly contemplating the setting sun or watching the barn BILL FORD swallows dip and swoop for insects. This property, however, did not come

with a water body – unless you count HOTOGRAPH BY P the giant elongated pool that formed Cup plant from snow melt and spring rain. Bill was undeterred. First the The Fords’ 20 hectares (50 acres) drainage and seasonal flooding inundated driveway problem had to be slope southward, with the farmhouse rendered portions of their fields solved and that was done with set well back from the road about inaccessible into early summer. backhoes and bulldozers and other halfway down the hill. The land had Something had to be done. First the large machinery. Then the interesting once been naturally hilly – more than Fords attended an Environmental work began. a century ago – before farmers Farm Plan workshop and learned all appeared on the scene they could about what was possible and wrestled it into and how it might be funded. The grudging submission, Ontario Ministry of Natural filling in the wetland Resources’ Species at Risk Farm and subduing the Incentive Program (SARFIP), in natural curves of the combination with the Canada-Ontario landscape to create flat Farm Stewardship Program (COFSP), workable fields. provide 100% of funding for wetland But the flow of water restoration. Through SARFIP, the could not be stopped. Ontario government works with Springs would bubble farmers to ensure that agricultural out of the hills and lands provide habitat for wildlife, meander down to the especially species at risk, and maintain stream that drained out biodiversity. To be eligible for funding, of the lower reaches of landowners must prove that the land the property. to be restored was once a wetland. A Uncontrolled surface specialist from Ducks Unlimited run-off from the upper Canada inspected the Fords’ property, fields and recent changes identifying peaty soils and vegetation to elevation of the communities indicative of soils that adjacent road resulted in are wet most of the year. Farming water flowing through activities over the years had degraded

BILL FORD the outbuildings and the wetland through nutrient disused cattle yard, then overload, soil compaction and into the stream. This led premature sedimentation of the basin. HOTOGRAPH BY P to concerns about the During the summer of 2009, Bill Blue vervain purity of the water. Poor excavated the degraded wetland to a

10 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 variable depth of one metre plus (four water levels. swales, several asters (Symphyotrichum feet) with a shoreline configuration “We intend to experiment with spp. and other genuses) in the fields designed to enhance wildlife habitat. indigenous wild rice in the wetland, and hedgerows, and both common Within weeks, springs beneath the for our own use and as a wildlife food and narrow-leaved cattails (Typha wetland and upstream drainage source,” says Bill. The riparian buffer latifolia and T. angustifolia) around the entering through the riparian buffer feeding the wetland was seeded with pond. Cup plants (Silphium had filled the pond and continue to herbaceous species native to the area, perfoliatum), whose wrap-around-the- provide the water supply to this day. such as swamp milkweed (Asclepias stalk leaves hold dew and rain The wetland flows out into the incarnata), Joe Pye-weed (Eupatorium providing a drink for thirsty birds and adjacent stream through a simple maculatum), blue vervain (Verbena insects, were planted along with richly control structure designed to stabilise hastata) – all three very popular with coloured cardinal flower (Lobelia butterflies and bees – great cardinalis), willows (Salix spp.) and blue lobelia (Lobelia fall-blooming New England asters syphilitica), grasses such as (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). “It’s Virginia wild rye (Elymus breathtaking looking at the colours,” virginicus) and sedges. says Bill, who demonstrates his love Shrub plantings of black for the abundant nature that has elderberry (Sambucus sprung up all around him with nigra), red osier dogwood unbridled enthusiasm. (Cornus stolonifera) and Around the water sediment control staghorn sumac (Rhus basin, also known as Frog Pond, Bill typhina) line the buffer and Louise planted sweetgrass edges. (Hierochloe odorata), which loves Although the floodplain moist conditions and full sun. had been drained for Several more ponds were added over farming, the peat below the years or the saturated areas were that had been laid down simply encouraged to remain so. over centuries remained. Towards the bottom end of the Many native plants, whose property, the bright green shoots of

BILL FORD seeds had long languished perennial grasses appear in the spring. in this rich soil awaiting The tiny needle clusters on tamarack their chance to regenerate, trees (Larix laricina) – notable for HOTOGRAPH BY P appeared spontaneously: being North America’s only genus of Big bluestem tagged for seed collection sedges (Carex spp.) on the Continued on page 12

Calendar of Events

AUGUST 19-21, 2016 held on the Friday night, August 26. Visit www.crd.bc.ca/education/natural- Wild Ones Annual Conference Contact Kimberly Godack at gardening/native-plant-gardening- Wild Ones Wild Center 443-738-9220 for more information. workshop. Neenah, Wisconsin Workshops include Having a OCTOBER 2, OCTOBER 15, OCTOBER 14-15, 2016 Successful Plant Sale, Pollinator Walk OCTOBER 27, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 Society For Ecological Restoration – with Heather Holm, Build Your Own Introductory Workshop On New England Chapter 2016 Bee House and much more. Visit Gardening With Drought-Resistant Conference www.wildones.org for details. Native Plants Durham, New Hampshire Capital Regional District, Vancouver, The annual SER-NE conference’s AUGUST 27, 2016 British Columbia theme will be Ecological Restoration Irvine Nature Center Native Plant This free three-hour workshop in a Changing Climate: Ecosystems, Seminar And Sale includes native plant identification, Adaptation, Infrastructure and Owings Mills, Maryland benefits of native plants, how to create Resiliency. Visit www.ser.org/events Irvine Nature Center’s 25th natural habitats such as meadows, for details. Anniversary Native Plant Night will be thickets and woodlands, and more.

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 11 Continued from page 11

deciduous conifers – pop out as well. that he built. Egrets, mallards and whose orange-red berries are a Later in the season, common many songbirds find nesting spots and favourite with waxwings, enormous milkweeds (Asclepias syriaca) make singing perches. The pond is now full basswoods (Tilia americana), elms their appearance in time to provide of perch and minnows that were not (Ulmus spp.), some still alive, some essential food and shelter for monarch deliberately introduced. Dozens of not, having succumbed to Dutch elm butterfly larvae. barn swallows swoop down onto the disease, and other native trees such as Underground streams are popping former farm and stay for a couple of black cherry (Prunus serotina) and up on the south side of the property. months, working hard to keep pesky ironwood (Ostrya virginiana). At the bottom of the property there is insect populations to a minimum in Near the house and barns, there is an artesian well that becomes a little late spring/early summer. A muskrat the requisite vegetable garden (chock geyser in spring. It forms when the den is hidden among the cattails, full of heritage varieties.) The latest overflow from the pond and the open possibly one of many. In fact, it seems additions to the garden are four raised wetland seeps into a deep, boulder- that muskrats have tipped the balance beds complete with hoops. In them, filled area to the west where it builds in their favour, at least in the short Bill has planted colonies of big up and escapes through a deep hole in term. Although they feel a bit bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), more the ground near the stream. It lasts for conflicted about “managing” the swamp milkweed and other natives. a month during the thaw period. wildlife, the Fords want their property He says that this allows him to get a Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), to be a haven for biodiversity so a good jump start on spring planting. named for its reputed medicinal local trapper comes in the fall to In the spirit of encouraging native properties, Joe Pye-weed and delicate, forestall a muskrat population tree growth even around their house, tangerine-flowered jewelweed explosion. These “aquatic voles” can the Fords transplanted three black (Impatiens capensis) have colonized have up to three litters a year. The walnuts (Juglans nigra) from the valley the southern creek area. trapper will keep muskrat numbers in onto their lawn to keep the mature, As far as Louise and Bill are check until minks and fishers (the heavily producing walnut company. To concerned, the invaluable benefit of only natural enemies of muskrats) restore the deciduous and coniferous recreating natural water flows and re- harvest more of the large rodents and forests, provide shade for the creek establishing native plant communities re-establish the normal predator-prey and wetlands and enhance water is that wild animals quickly find this balance. quality for fish and other wildlife, paradise and move in. On tours of the The hedgerows along the western Louise and Bill planted 1,800 trees – property (and Bill has given many to edges of the property harbour so far. Financial incentives through tax local agricultural groups and others), nannyberries (Viburnum lentago), a breaks came from the Ontario he points out where turtles come and large shrub with sweet-scented white Ministry of Natural Resources 50 sun themselves on a stand of split rails flowers, mountain ashes (Sorbus spp.) Million Tree Program run by Trees Ontario (treesontario.on.ca or 1-877- 646-1193). Through this program the Fords received help choosing and planting their trees from the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority. In less than a decade, Louise and Bill Ford – with help from Mother Nature – have transformed a derelict cattle farm into productive wildlife habitat using an integrated water strategy to control flooding and redirect field run-off through permanent water passages, sediment basins, riparian strips and an open wetland, and planting native species of forbs, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees.

BILL FORD BILL The work continues but the joys and

delights are priceless. HOTOGRAPH BY

P Irene Fedun is the editor of The Blazing Common milkweed in the former cattle yard Star.

12 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 Plant a Window Box for Pollinators

To a bee or butterfly it doesn’t matter whether you plant a meadow, a rooftop garden or a window box with nectar and pollen-rich native plants. Whether you have acres of land or just a small space, consider the pollinators that may benefit from your gardening efforts and put in plants that appeal to you and to them. That’s the message the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Pollinator Partnership and the Animal and Plant Inspection Service are sending out with the Plant a Windowbox for Pollinators online tool available at pollinator.org/ windowbox. The interactive tool allows people to determine which plants will provide pollinator forage based on their ZIP code or postal code for Canadians. The site includes a virtual window box game and the live USDA “bee cam” which broadcasts honeybee activity on the roof of the USDA’s building in Washington. It explains how to build pollinator habitat by selecting the right site, using native plants for continuous bloom and limiting or eliminating pesticide use. Ecoregional planting guides cover the United States and Canada. The site also includes the Beesmart® Pollinator Gardener app and the Beesmart® School Garden Kit. It’s well worth a browse, providing useful information for anyone wanting to put in pollinator-friendly plants, not just pocket gardeners.

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 13 New & Noted

The Vascular Plants of the Bruce botany on plant growing in the wild on the Bruce Peninsula Ontario the Bruce, a Peninsula. It answers the pressing Written and published place that question, “Hey, what do you know by Joe Johnson has been about this plant?” The answer given in ISBN 0-9951535-0-9 described as each case gives enough non-technical 297 pages, 5 pages of colour Ontario’s content to assist anyone, rank amateur maps, 12 pages of colour photos most famous or long-time professional, wanting to (approx. 100 species). botanical know more. Price: $39 + 6.49 shipping from destination. My involvement included providing Amazon. $28 picked up from the From a the computer support and non- publisher for cash. Shipping is around historical botanical expertise for the $13 within Ontario. Email: perspective, P.V. Krotkov was the first development of the book. Since Joe [email protected]. person to conduct an intensive was a stickler for detail and constantly botanical survey of the Bruce changing his mind about things, the Joe Johnson first conceived the idea Peninsula, spending four summers process took longer than might have of writing a book about the vascular there, from 1936 to 1939. Over the been expected but, in the end, we were plants of the Bruce Peninsula in the ensuing decades, numerous plant lists able to present a camera-ready file to mid-1980’s. Soon it became common have been compiled and updated. Joe, the printer and, three weeks later, we knowledge within the local naturalist who has lived for 45 years in Wiarton, had a book. In the last few months of community that Joe was writing a about a third of the way up the Bruce, this work, Joe’s dream of returning to book and, as soon as it was finished, was recognized early on as the plant Nova Scotia was in sight. He reminded he would be moving back to his expert for the area, collecting data me of a horse at the end of a long day boyhood home in Nova Scotia. During based on personal observation. His, suddenly energized by the sight of the the succeeding decades, he appeared some would say, obsessive attention to barn and the anticipation of the less often at naturalist outings and the detail is reflected in his book. He comforts within. Without the dream story was that he was working on his thoroughly reviewed all the botanical of returning to Nova Scotia, this book book. information ever published about the might never have been completed! As time went on, some people began Bruce, even his own work. He The Vascular Plants of the Bruce to scoff, some rolled their eyes, but accepted or rejected all species Peninsula Ontario has been praised by many more were sympathetic and previously reported on the peninsula academics and lay people alike. Joe cheering for Joe. When the book did and provided his reasoning for his imbued many of them with a love of arrive, reactions ranged from slack- decisions. nature. Only one question remains: jawed incredulity to "Wow!" It was This is not a book about identifying will Joe now return to Nova Scotia worth the wait. The Vascular Plants of plants, but when used in conjunction and, if so, when? the Bruce Peninsula Ontario will be with other botanical books it offers a seen as a benchmark in the history of regionally unique discussion of every Review by Bill Moses

Toronto’s Biodiversity Series

The City of Toronto has released the volunteers committed their latest books in its growing Biodiversity time, expertise and passion Book Series. The titles are Mushrooms to the project. Thanks to of Toronto, Bees of Toronto, and Trees, their efforts, the city is Shrubs & Vines of Toronto. There are compiling a comprehensive now nine published books in the inventory of species found series. in Toronto. The Biodiversity Book Series is Each book is available at intended to raise awareness of nature, Toronto Public Library create opportunities for exploration branches for members of and enjoyment, and cultivate a sense the public to pick up and of stewardship for the plants and keep for their personal use. animals found in Toronto. Over 100 The Biodiversity Book

14 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 Series is an initiative of the Environmental Planning section of the WANTED: Seed Donors City of Toronto's City Planning division. The initiative is supported by Please collect seeds from native plants for our annual Seed the Environment and Energy division and the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Exchange and deliver them to the NANPS AGM on October 15, division. You can learn more about 2016 or send them, separated by species and identified with the this series and the other source/parentage, to NANPS, Box 84, Stn. D, Toronto, ON, environmental initiatives at M9A 4X1. If you have any questions, contact [email protected]. http://bit.ly/1sLzquA. Our ecosystems, pollinators and native fauna thank you!

Continued from page 1 – Spotted Jewelweed

popping sound. You can feel a tiny, centimetres (one foot) tall but as large It is thought closed flowers provide forceful curling between your fingers as 150 centimetres (five feet) in ideal assurance against unsuccessful cross- like a squirming creature in your hand sites. Unlike most wetland plants, this pollination but the seedlings produced – a diverting outdoor activity. Seeds species will tolerate some disturbance, are less vigorous. Small or long- can be discharged up to five metres although it doesn’t transplant well, nor tongued insects are most successful (16 feet) from the parent plant. do the seeds keep well. It will grow pollinating the tubular flowers and, of Individual plants can produce 800 readily, however, from self-seeding or course, it is a favourite of ruby- greenish-black seeds providing a feast immediate sowing. If you intend to throated hummingbirds. A single for game birds, white-footed mice and collect seeds, close a small paper bag flower can produce up to two and a northern short-tailed shrews. White- around ripe pods to capture darting fly- half millilitres of nectar per day, highly aways. attractive to burgling bumble bees that Jewelweed has dodge their pollinating duties to steal a tendency to nectar by chewing holes near the spur roam and of the flower… which may account for some consider the cleistogamous flowers! it a bit weedy Historically, jewelweed was used by but its weak, First Nations people for its anti- shallow roots inflammatory properties. Studies have are easily confirmed fungicidal properties in the pulled. It is a stem’s juices that provide relief for fine external skin irritations such as ornamental in itching/burning due to poison ivy, a wet, part stinging nettles, cuts, burns, and insect shade garden, bites and stings. I can vouch for its downspout remarkable effectiveness in soothing

LINDA READ LINDA garden or bio- the discomfort of stinging nettles. swale where That attribute alone makes it a water is beneficial addition to any home HOTOGRAPH BY P captured. It garden. Impatiens pallida (pale touch-me-not) will tolerate full sun in wet, Angelique Mori won a NANPS Garden organic soil. Award in 2014. Her property is certified tailed deer also browse the foliage. An unusual reproductive feature as a Wildlife Friendly Habitat by the Jewelweed prefers riparian habitats makes jewelweed interesting to Canadian Wildlife Federation and as a such as stream banks, moist woodland scientific research. Some flowers never Butterfly and Pollinator Habitat by the openings, wet meadows and ditches. It open, producing seeds through self- North American Butterfly Association. can adapt its size to the availability of pollination (cleistogamous flowers), Her urban sanctuary welcomes anything moisture and the richness of habitat. In while others open for cross- that crawls, hops, slithers, slinks, forages dryer conditions it can be under 30 pollination (chasmogamous flowers). or flies.

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016 15 SUMMER 2016 DATE ______NAME ______ADDRESS ______NANPS MEMBERSHIP CITY ______New membership Renewal PROVINCE/STATE ______Change of Address Gift POSTAL/ZIP CODE ______PHONE (optional) ______Digital Blazing Star Paper Blazing Star (Includes mailing costs) *EMAIL ______1-year regular membership: $25 $30 Required for digital copies of The Blazing Star ______2-year regular membership: $40 $50 To receive The Local Scoop, please sign up at ______3-year regular membership: $60 $75 www.thelocalscoop.org/subscribe ______5-year sustaining membership: $200 $225 I am interested in volunteering with NANPS. (includes $100 tax receipt) Please contact me. ______Full-time student membership: $10 Digital Only Send this completed form along with your cheque to: Name of institution ______NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY ______Donation (Canadian tax receipts are issued for donations PO Box 84, Station D of $20 or more. Canadian registered charity Toronto, Ontario, Canada #130720824 RR0001) M9A 4X1 ______Total ___ cheque (payable to NANPS) The North American Native Plant Society treats all For online applications with credit card go to www.nanps.org information we receive as confidential. We do not rent, sell or provide this information to third parties.

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