Rosebay Rhododendron Rhododendron Maximum
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SUMMER 2004, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 3 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Native Plant to Know Rosebay rhododendron Rhododendron maximum by Kevin Kavanagh Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, tucked away inside the Nantahala National Forest RANTON of North Carolina’s Appalachian G Mountains, is one of those RIGITTE North American pil- B grimages that all botanists should make at least once in ILLUSTRATION BY their lives.As a graduate student in for- est ecology, I had read about it in the scientific literature, one of the best examples of an old-growth ‘cove’ forest on the continent: massive tulip trees (Lirio- dendron tulipifera) more than 500 years old, east- ern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) rivalling their large elliptic leaves forming a delicate pat- Appalachian chain.Although hardy in eastern their west-coast tern against the bright yellows of overstorey Canadian gardens, Rhododendron maximum rainforest cousins tulip trees in peak autumn coloration.Along does not penetrate naturally into Canada. in size and age, mountain streams, the trails wove in among While there are historical accounts from and, along the expansive rhododendron thickets that in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova streams, dense under- places rose more than 10 metres (30 feet) over- Scotia, none of them, to my knowledge, have storey stands of rosebay rhododendrons head on gnarled stems (trunks!), the largest of been authenticated. (Rhododendron maximum) forming a dark which were close to 30 centimetres (one foot) In its native range, rosebay rhododendron canopy overhead. in diameter. (also known as great-laurel or great rhododen- To call it a canopy is not embellishment. I set The species range extends from New York dron) thrives along cool, moist streams in the up my tent under - not beside - a tangled grove State and New England southward to northern shade of hemlocks and a rich myriad of hard- of rosebay rhododendrons that rose close to Georgia and Alabama, principally in the woods. More rarely, it will mix with other rho- seven metres (about 20 feet) high, mountain systems that comprise the dodendron species on moist, exposed, high Continued on page 12 The Blazing Star is... From the Editor… The Blazing Star is published quarterly The North American Native Plant Society NANPS and the preservation of our native (April,August, November, February) by would like to welcome a new board member, flora by joining the Board of Directors. the North American Native Plant Society Jenn Reader, an ecologist specializing in flora Our annual plant sale was the usual great (NANPS). Contact [email protected] for identification (that could come in handy dur- success despite cool damp weather. We appre- editorial deadlines and for advertising ing field trips!) and native plant community ciate the contribution of all volunteers – thank rates. The views expressed herein are those assessment. Her impressive list of credentials you to everyone who participated and every- of the authors and not necessarily those includes volunteering as an ecological con- one who came out to shop.A special note of of NANPS. sultant in a protected dry tropical forest in gratitude to Constance Gardner who gener- The North American Native Plant Society Ecuador. ously contributed a carload of native plants to is dedicated to the study, conservation, Of course we still need more board mem- our sale. cultivation and restoration of North bers.Anyone is welcome to stand for election Monica Dennis, with the help of Donna America’s native flora. at the upcoming annual general meeting.All McGlone and many other board members, you need is enthusiasm about native plants. organized the spring tour to the Kawarthas. Spring 2004 Please consider making your contribution to Many thanks for a job well-done. Volume 5, Issue 3 Editor: Irene Fedun Production: Bea Paterson ELVEY K C © North American Native Plant Society M Images © the photographers and illustra- ARCIE D tors, text © the authors.All rights reserved. North American Native Plant Society, formerly Canadian Wildflower Society, HOTOGRAPH COURTESY is a registered charitable society, no. P 130720824. Donations to the society are tax-creditable in Canada. Shining Tree Woods and Environs Trip NANPS Membership: CAN$10/year within SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 25, 2004 lives, botanizes, birds and gardens in the vicin- Canada, US$10 year outside Canada (NANPS Members only) ity. Our tour will also include a visit to other After a wildly successful spring trip to visit a areas of interest in Norfolk County, in the Please make cheques and money orders native plant cottage garden and prairie restora- heart of Ontario's Carolinian Zone. Due to payable to North American Native Plant tion in the Kawarthas, NANPS is offering a fall the environmental sensitivity of the woods, Society and mail to P.O. Box 84, Station D, trip to celebrate our 20th Anniversary. numbers will be limited. Book early to reserve Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 4X1. Join us for the first-ever public tour of your your spot! Telephone: (416) 631-4438. E-mail: society's remarkable and fragile nature reserve We will be leaving by chartered bus (large, [email protected]: www.nanps.org. in Norfolk County. Through the generosity of with water closet) from the parking lot of the an anonymous donor, the society purchased Toronto Botanical Garden, at the southwest Board of Directors: the land in 1994, to preserve its rare Carolin- corner of Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue Honorary President: James A. French ian species including Canada's only indige- East in Toronto. The bus leaves at 8 AM sharp. President: Deborah Dale nous magnolia - the "Cucumber Tree", For further information, e-mail excur- Vice President: Darcie McKelvey (Magnolia acuminata). [email protected]. Tom Atkinson will answer Treasurer: Kathy Edgar The tour leader will be Mark Bacro who your inquiries. Please be brief and specific. Secretary: Barb O’Malley Grif Cunningham Irene Fedun NANPS 20th Anniversary AGM Martin Field Feng Gao SATURDAY,OCTOBER 2, 2004 – 10AM – 4PM Memorial Conservation Awards, our fall plant Miriam Henriques Markham Civic Centre sale, seminars and speakers, including former Howard Meadd Highway 7 and Warden president Larry Lamb.A limited number of Jenn Reader Markham, Ontario $40 tickets for a special luncheon in honour Cornelius Sommer The North American Native Plant Society of the society’s founders are now available. (formerly the Canadian Wildflower Society) Reserve your seat by contacting will be celebrating its 20th Anniversary start- [email protected] please bring ing this fall. Join us for a special event to be your extra native plants to sell. held in Markham where it all began. High- Join us to celebrate two decades of lights include presentation of the Paul McGaw commitment to native plant conservation. 2NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2004 Sowing the Seed by Irene Fedun bricks around the outside shelf, added clay a sharp-shinned hawk bathing in the pond, a as a low-nutrient substrate and finally, fox drinking from it and fireflies hovering Although developers are continually seeking dumped sand along the sides and bottom as around it at night. new ways to carve up the wilderness around a growing medium for marginal and aquatic A bird-watcher and butterfly-gazer since him, Howard Meadd quietly goes about the plants. Apart from the few ornamental grass- childhood, Howard’s reasons for growing work of preserving his own wild haven in es Howard put in early on and now wants to native plants are two-fold. He loves the Scarborough, Ontario. remove, his pond is home to a constantly plants and the whole process of watching On 1/10 of a hectare (1/4 acre) just min- changing palette of native flowering plants: them grow from seed. But he also loves the utes from Highway 401, Howard grows over bright yellow marsh marigold (Calthra wildlife native vegetation attracts. He reports 250 native plant species, many of them start- palustris), blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), great having observed 30 different species of but- ed from seed. Though he deplores the devel- blue lobelia (Lobelia syphilitica), hairy wil- terflies in his yard and 80 species of birds. opment – the kind of short-sighted thinking low-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), Joe-pye- Not to mention the dragonflies and other that decimated nearby Collins Woods to weed (Eupatorium maculatum), the low- insects. build Collins Woods Homes – Howard res- growing shrub sweet gale (Myrica gale) and The animals recognize Howard’s efforts to cues as many plants as he can before the white water lily (Nymphaea odorata). The make his property as friendly as possible and bulldozers move in. only disappointment so far has been cardinal they reciprocate. In his early days there, He takes pleasure in the wild areas that flower (Lobelia cardinalis) which did not sur- Howard would watch birds alight upon a seem secure for now, like the woodlot across vive the winter. dead elm tree (Ulmus sp.) left standing in his the street where toothworts (Dentaria spp.), Howard will continue to add plants and backyard and deposit their droppings full of red baneberries (Actaea rubra) and purple make modifications to the pond. The origi- seeds into the bed below. Thanks to the birds trilliums (Trillium erectum) grow. In his nal waterfall is no longer functioning he now has American mountain ash (Sorbus neighbourhood he carefully collects seeds to because he had to lower the water level. He’d americana), hobblebush (Viburnum lan- give away (the NANPS Seed Exchange is one love to reinstate the little falls since song- tanoides), alternate-leaved dogwood (Cornus lucky recipient) or start in pots for future birds (even the migrants) liked to shower in alternifolia), choke cherries (Prunus virgini- outplanting into his garden.