A voice for the March | April 2017 natural landscaping a movement. Vol. 30 | No. 2 Working toward COVER PHOTO: Ed Buchs the next four decades of Shooting Star. growing native plants and 2016 photo restoring natural landscapes. contest entry JOURNAL Saving our Bees6

No-burn Prairies16

Monarchs in Winter20

Garlic Mustard Control22 9 Spring Maintenance Tips

2 Notes from the President 3 Executive Director Notes 4 Member Garden 9 Chapter Notes 2 Notes from the President 3 Executive Director Notes 5 News 10 Member Garden 11 Plant of the Year 13 Book Review 14 News 13 Counterpoint: Lurie Gardens 15 Wild Geraniums 24 Chapter News 26 Meeting Place NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Seek information to be more efficient, effective

just finished reading a several years, which of Promoting environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through Ibook detailing the your local Wild Ones the preservation, restoration, and establishment amazing success of a spy presentations and of native plant communities. ring set up by George programs have gotten the Washington in 1775. highest attendance? What NATIONAL OFFICE WILD CENTER “George Washington’s are the results of each 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road Secret Six” was written membership drive, both Neenah, WI 54956 by historians fascinated immediately and in the NATIONAL STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION by centuries of secrecy that protected following few months? Which plants sell Phone: (920) 730-3986 the six patriots who served in the Culper best at your plant sale and which need Email: [email protected] Spy Ring. Turns out Nathan Hale was more education provided so that the President the new nation’s first spy, known yet public recognizes their unique beauty? Janice Hand • 406-219-7766 today for saying, “I only regret that I Which Wild Ones educational materials [email protected] have but one life to give for my seem most valued by the public? Interim Executive Director country.” His 1776 hanging troubled Pam Wilcox I urge you to look for information on Washington greatly, but the general also 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Road what is making your chapter successful Neenah, WI 54956 recognized the Patriots’ critical need for 920-730-3986 — and do more of that. The same information on British plans. So, he tried [email protected] information will tell you what is less again, slowly gathering a group of six Vice President valued, so maybe that should be spies and protecting their identities to Sally Wencel • [email protected] changed or dropped. That’s what we (423) 847-8845 ensure their names were kept secret are doing at the national office, slowly through the war — and well beyond Secretary (and yes, at times painfully). As you Karen Syverson • [email protected] their deaths. In fact, the name of one can imagine, this isn’t a quick process Treasurer of the six still remains a mystery; it was because it must be very, very thorough Rick Sanders • [email protected] the sole female member, called “355.” (406) 219-4275 so we make the right decisions for the The network of six regular citizens, The Meeting Place Coordinator long term. Mary Paquette • 920-994-2505 among them a tavern owner, a [email protected] newspaper editor and a tailor, passed Once we have gathered and verified Seeds for Education Coordinator information in complex codes that key information on how we can run a [email protected] literally turned the tide of the war. more effective and efficient Wild Ones organization, the last piece of needed Website Coordinator My column this month isn’t really about [email protected] information will be chapters’ input. spying or American history. It’s about the In the next few months, expect to be Board Members importance of seeking information. After Janice Hand, Montana, 2020 invited to share your opinions and Sally Wencel, Tennessee, 2018 all, that’s the crux of what Washington wishes. In the meantime, please look Karen Syverson, Wisconsin, 2020 recognized 240-plus years ago and what Rick Sanders, Montana, 2020 at information at your local chapter I realized when I put down the book Nan Calvert, Wisconsin, 2020 level that you can use as background Denise Gehring, Ohio, 2020 and mulled over its contents. Jan Hunter, Ohio, 2018 for your input. Your national board is John Magee, Virginia, 2018 Over the past five months, I have been doing the same at the national level. Janis Soloman, Connecticut, 2018 startled by the number of times I’ve Laura Zigmanth, Michigan, 2018 And, speaking of information, my new made a 180-degree turn on a position Daniel Segal, New York, 2020 favorite source of chapter information is Tim Lewis, Immediate Past President, after digging out further information on the State of the Chapter Reports, all of Illinois, 2017 Wild Ones issues. Input from long-time which are now in and being compiled. Honorary Directors leaders and members, financial detail Neil Diboll, Wisconsin, Lifetime I’m personally looking forward to and program statistics have never Glenn D. Dreyer, Connecticut, 2019 reading 2016 chapter happenings and Bob Grese, Michigan, 2017 seemed so important. That’s one of the am anxious for a summary to share Karen Oberhauser, Minnesota, 2019 reasons that I value members’ messages Stephen Packard, Illinois, 2019 widely among all chapters. I cannot and ideas – more information. Lynn Steiner, Minnesota, 2017 wait to start bragging! Patricia Sutton, New Jersey 2017 Doug Tallamy, Delaware, 2017 On the chapter level, information is just Orley “Chip” Taylor, Kansas, 2019 as critical to local success. Over the past Catherine Zimmerman, Maryland, 2019

Established in 1977, Wild Ones is a national not-for-profit organization Wild Ones’ definition of a native plant: of members who teach the benefits of growing native plants A native plant is a species that occurs naturally in a particular region, and work together to grow and restore natural landscapes. ecosystem and/or habitat and was present prior to European settlement.

2 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOTES Your membership with improved chapter communication dues and coordination. are Throughout January and mid-February, we’ve had a few interesting and unusual tax deductible obstacles thrown our way. Our “last if you itemize woman standing” on staff, Kim Walbrun, slipped on the ice in January deductions on and fractured her leg, resulting in six your tax return. Pam Wilcox weeks recovery time and the necessity It’s true. Interim Executive Director to work remotely. And, we’ve suffered through “freaky Tuesdays” – five Since Wild Ones esilience. It’s the word that runs straight weeks of terrible weather on is a national Rthrough my mind as the Wild Ones Tuesdays, be it snow, sleet, ice or fog, not-for-profit natural national office regains strength after the which made just getting to the Neenah landscaping organization challenges of last year. Resilience. It’s a office a win. We are definitely looking created solely for the concept that celebrates the efforts and forward to spring! purpose of educating the public, patience of our national and chapter On the plus side, we now have a great part- its donors can deduct their leaders and members as they work time contract staff person, Administrative contributions including through the inevitable challenges facing Assistant Elaine Krizenesky, who is helping nonprofits today. Just like native plants that membership dues. keep our office running smoothly. Be sure are knocked for a loop by bad weather, our to welcome her the next time you contact Learn more about internal strengths coupled with favorable the national office. Not sure who to contact your dues conditions allow us to reemerge shining at the national headquarters for your deductibility here. brightly, sometimes in unanticipated ways. questions? See our handy chart below. Wild Ones is resilient – the major web OURNAL is full of and email problems that have plagued us Like all issues, this J since last fall and made computer usage interesting thoughts and ideas as we such an adventure are under control. wait for spring. Included is a special WILD ONES JOURNAL section that honors the names of some The move to a larger capacity server along — Editor — with added safety features means that the very special people. On behalf of our Barbara A. Schmitz Wild Ones website is more stable with board, members and staff, Janice and I [email protected] (Please indicate topic in subject line.) much faster response times. The national give deep thanks to each and every one office is back to the normal weekly of you who donated to the 2016 Annual — Contributing Writers — Appeal. The success of Wild Ones is Charlotte Adelman • Bill Bartodziej • Neil Diboll updates that refresh and keep chapter Denise Gehring • Heather Holm • Kelly Kearns member databases current. We are now only as big as the hearts and efforts of its members. By that measure, Wild Ones Tracy Lawler • Candy Sarikonda turning our attention to new member Donna VanBuecken• Maryann Whitman is blessed! and member renewal processes – how to — Design/Layout — make them more efficient and effective Deb Muraro NAME TOPICS CONTACT INFORMATION — Proofreader — Pam Denise Gehring Kim Walbrun Chapter event insurance, startups and (920) 730-3986 seedlings, JOURNAL advertisements, photo [email protected] WILD ONES JOURNAL is published regularly by Wild contest information, butterfly garden Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes. Views recognition, Seeds for Education grants, expressed are the opinions of the authors. Journal State of the Chapter reports, “What’s going content may be reproduced for non-profit educational purposes as long as the JOURNAL is credited as the on” section of the website and chapter source. Individual articles that carry a copyright are the closings property of the author and cannot be reproduced without the author’s written permission. No artwork Elaine Krizenesky Membership renewals, donations, matching (920) 730-3986 may be reproduced, except to accompany its original funds requests, database and website [email protected] companion text, without written permission of the updates and merchandise and literature illustrator or photographer. Contact editor if in doubt orders about use rights. Manuscripts and illustrations are welcome; Wild Ones does not pay for articles, photos Treasurer Rick Sanders Chapter finances, dues reimbursement, (406) 219-4275 or illustrations. For guidelines for submitting material, EOY chapter finance reports, tax questions [email protected] contact editor or see Wild Ones website. Advertisers: and vendor invoices Contact National Office for rates and schedule. Copyright © 2017 by Wild Ones. Vice President Sally Wenzel Chapter email lists, chapter websites and (423) 847-8845 WILD ONES JOURNAL – the Wild Ones website [email protected] Online version: ISSN 2472-5900 Past President Tim Lewis National website content and social media (815) 874-3468 Print version: ISSN 1551-9155 oversight and content [email protected]

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4 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NATION Pending Trump availability of the flowers they depend on; the sale and distribution of invasive administration approval, and an extremely small population size. species. The new rules only bar the the rusty patched prohibited species from being distributed bumblebee may be DELAWARE or sold, and do not require the removal declared endangered by The city of Wilmington spent more than of the species if already planted. While the U.S. Fish & Wildlife $300,000 to restore a pond overrun by Service on March 21. the rules went into effect on Jan. 14, the thousands of goldfish that had once been prohibition of sale will not begin until PHOTO: Dan Mullen/Flickr peoples’ pets. Jan. 1, 2018. “It was an orange mass of fish,” Sean The rusty patched MISSOURI bumblebee (Bombus Duffy, water division director for the affinis) almost became Public Works Department, told The Gov. Jay Nixon announced in December the the first bee species News Journal. creation of three new state parks in southern in the continental United States to be The city drained the water and removed Missouri, which will feature some of the declared endangered after suffering a the fish and overgrown plants from the state’s most distinctive natural landscapes. dramatic population decline over the last pond, which is over an acre in area and up According to Ozarks First, the new parks 20 years. However, the day before it was to 10 feet deep, Duffy said. The fish, an include: to become official, President Donald invasive species, had to go because Trump and his administration delayed without a predator, they overwhelmed the Ozark Mountain State Park, with 1,011 its inclusion on the endangered list. ecosystem. acres, features an open, grassy, flower- filled landscape of ridges and hills. The The move is consistent with the executive Plans call for the city to refill the pond, property is located northwest of Branson order signed by Trump in January, delaying replant native plants and stock the pond along Highway 465. for 60 days all federal regulations passed with native fish, such as bluegill and under former President Barack Obama that largemouth bass, which will “prevent a Bryant Creek State Park, with 2,917 have yet to take effect, UPI reported. population explosion of goldfish if they acres, consists of thick oak and pine are ever introduced again,” he said. forests and nearly two miles of river “Delays to protecting this already vulnerable hills and bluffs along Bryant Creek. pollinator may prove catastrophic,” the ILLINOIS The property is located in Douglas Xerces Society said in a statement. A Chicago-based nonprofit is hoping to County, near the Ozark County line The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service added restore natural wildlife habitat in the approximately 22 miles southeast of Ava. the bee to its endangered species list in Chicago River by installing floating gardens this spring. Eleven Point State Park, with 4,167 January. The service’s Midwest Regional acres, includes six miles of direct river Director Tom Melius said: “Our top Urban Rivers plans to use native Illinois frontage on the Eleven Point River, a priority is to act quickly to prevent wetland and prairie plant species to nationally protected river corridor. The extinction of the rusty patched bumble provide the habitat foundation for the property is located in Oregon County bee. Listing the bee as endangered will floating islands. Each plant selected will approximately 45 miles east of West help us mobilize partners and focus fulfill a goal of bringing back wildlife to Plains, near Alton. resources on finding ways right now to the Chicago River. stop the decline.” “These new state parks ensure that we can The group started a Kickstarter campaign protect and preserve these valuable natural Once common and abundant across 28 with the goal of raising $10,000. But by landscapes for generations to come,” said states from Connecticut to South Dakota, the time the campaign ended in Nixon. “At a time when other states are the District of Columbia and two December, they had raised nearly three closing or even selling state parks or Canadian provinces, the rusty patched times that amount, allowing organizers to charging day use fees, we are expanding bumble bee has experienced a swift and eventually triple the number of floating our system of state parks to offer more dramatic decline since the late 1990s. gardens that will be installed. In late opportunities for Missourians to experience Abundance of the rusty patched bumble December, the Chicago Department of the outdoors, at no admission cost.” bee has plummeted by 87 percent, leaving Transportation granted a permit to the only a few small, scattered populations. group to implement up to 600 linear feet OHIO of floating gardens this spring. Eventually, Since 2000, rusty patched bumble bees they plan to rehabilitate an entire one- Ohio’s list of rare native plants has been have been reported in Illinois, Indiana, mile stretch of the river, which they hope updated and is now available here. Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, will turn into an urban wildlife sanctuary Six Ohio plants are also included on the Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, for fish, plants, birds, turtles and more. Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and federal list of endangered and threatened Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. Some MAINE species. Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is federally endangered. populations are so small that it is unclear The state of Maine has enacted new rules whether they still exist. Northern monkshood (Aconitum that ban the sale and distribution of 33 plants noveboracense) Lakeside daisy (Tetraneuris Causes of the decline in rusty patched that have been determined to be invasive. herbacea), small whorled pogonia (Isotria bumble bee populations are believed to be The Bangor Daily News reported the medeoloides), prairie fringed orchid loss of habitat; disease and parasites; use of new Department of Agriculture, (Platanthera leucophaea), and Appalachian pesticides that directly or indirectly kill the Conservation and Forestry rules, noting spiraea (Spiraea virginiana) are federally bees; climate change, which can affect the this is the first time the state has barred threatened. a March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 5 All text and photos by Heather Holm What about native bees? ative plant gardeners with keen observation skills have Despite the importance of native bees, they do not dominate surely noticed the increase in flower-visiting insects in the discussion of bees in the media; in fact, little is heard about their gardens. Fascinating visitation patterns emerge from the diversity or lifestyles of native bees. Native bees pollinate one growing season to the next such as the same type of many of the food crops humans consume and in many bee consistently foraging on a particular native plant. About instances, are more efficient at pollination than honey bees. 15N years ago, while installing and tending native landscapes, Native bees have coevolved with native plants forming critical I started to notice these patterns and the astounding diversity interdependent relationships, helping to pollinate and maintain of insects the native flowering plants attracted compared to diverse, thriving native plant communities. There is still much traditional gardens filled with exotic plants. Since I always work ahead to educate the public about native bees. With the had an interest in entomology, it didn’t take much for me to spotlight on honey bees, attention is diverted from native bees become enthralled with bees, to create a desire to learn more and one well-meaning, but misdirected, result is the formation about these amazing insects, and to begin a fascinating of citizen advocacy groups whose mission is to “save the bees.” journey educating others about their importance and connection to native plants. If you are on a similar journey or have an interest in learning more SAVINGOUR about bees, the good news is that North America has an outstanding number and diversity of bees. There are about 3,600 species of bees in the United States and about 740 species in Canada, including bees of varying sizes, seasonality, tongue lengths, foraging behaviors, abilities and preferred habitats. Some species are sand-obligate, nesting in sandy sites in existing or ancient dunes or shorelines; a minority are dependent on forests, foraging However, they focus on saving honey bees, and this dominant on the first delicate plants that bloom in spring or seeking message has prompted one-sided responses: nesting sites in wood cavities. Interestingly, some are pollen- n Individuals introducing a hive of honey bees in their collecting specialists (oligolectic), relyingBEES on pollen sources for backyard. their offspring from a single plant family such as Asteraceae, n Citizen groups advocating for municipalities to adopt bee- or more narrowly, a single plant genus such as Salix (willow). friendly practices while changing ordinances so residents This reliance on a narrow diet derived from native plants can keep honey bees in their backyards. is one of many reasons native plants are critical for the more n Nature centers installing hives on their property to teach than 4,300 species of native bees that occur in the U.S. the public about bees. School children on a class trip to and Canada. these nature centers learn about honey bees rather than native bees, their connection to native plants and nature. In the last five years, extensive coverage in the media has centered on the plight of pollinators, specifically the n Local, state, and federal conservation organizations joining European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Journalists have written the “plight of pollinators” bandwagon highlight honey bees much about this bee and its problems — pathogens, disease, in their literature or on their websites. pesticide exposure and other stressors that combined have n A presidential memorandum is issued with honey bees, severely impacted their immune system, health and hive monarch butterflies and pollinator habitat as its three main survival. Introduced into North America in the early 1600s, goals. humans have domesticated this industrialized bee for n Corporations or non-profit organizations allowing hives on thousands of years. With the attention solely focused on their campus or rooftops as a public relations campaign to the honey bee, it has become the template for people’s show their support for bees. understanding of how bees behave (forage), live (colonies n Bee or pollinator-friendly articles or books featuring photos or hives), contribute resources for human consumption of honey bees. (wax, honey), and provide some of the ecosystem services Contrary to reports in the media, honey bees are not at risk of (pollination) that humans depend upon. However, this one- extinction, and they don’t need saving. The most recent bee media coverage is based largely upon economic concerns estimate is that their population has increased 45 percent and not conservation concerns. Hive losses cost beekeepers money and time to replenish their stock. Our current way of worldwide in the last 50 years. Humans have distributed this growing food in large, conventional monocultures means that industrialized bee globally to every continent except Antarctica. the impact on the health and seasonal population fluctuations of honey bees will continue. Unless we change the way we grow food and provide habitat for honey bees — and native SOMEMYTHSAND bees — this trend of hive losses for beekeepers will continue.

6 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 As Sheila Colla and J. Scott MacIvor wrote in their 2016 ground in cavities. They depend on natural landscapes that article, Questioning public perception, conservation policy, and provide adequate forage and nesting opportunities. Any major recovery actions for honeybees in North America, “Honey bee disturbance in a landscape managed by humans can impact losses are not a conservation problem, but instead a existing or potential nesting sites of native bees. domesticated animal management issue.” Many of the issues Another misguided response is the recommendations put they face stem from their intense domestication and stressors forth for what plants (bee forage) to plant for bees. Many bee put upon them while being transported great distances to advocacy groups focused on “saving” the European honey pollinate monocultures of crops, being exposed to pesticides, bee promote the use of nonnative and even invasive plants or from the nutritionally poor, inadequate habitat provided because they are cited as being “good for bees.” One example for the bees. The average percentage of yearly losses of of this thinking that comes up often is that dandelions, a plant colonies is around 24 percent for commercial beekeepers introduced from Europe, are good for bees because it is the with more than 500 hives and 44 percent for backyard only plant that flowers in early spring. Native bees have beekeepers, according to the Bee Informed Partnership. The survived on this continent for thousands of years without

LEFT: A female cellophane bee, Colletes sp. perches at the A pure green entrance of her metallic nest in the ground. sweat bee, Augochlora RIGHT: A cuckoo bee, pura, forages Sphecodes sp., lays near woodlands its eggs in the nests where it nests of ground-nesting in cavities in bees rather than rotting wood. constructing or provisioning its own nest.

economically acceptable winter loss for commercial beekeepers dandelions and have found an adequate amount of forage is 15 percent, and if exceeded then investments in hive from native plants such as willows, red maple, currants and replacements are required. The contrast is that honey bee gooseberries, as well as early flowering woodland wildflowers. threats manifest as measurable monetary loss (economic), Dandelions are an attractive nectar source for bees, but the whereas native bee threats are environmental in nature pollen has a low 15 percent protein content, a nutritionally (habitat loss, climate change and pesticides) and loss is more inadequate food source for alien and native bees to provide for difficult to quantify. For bumble bees, another contributing their larvae. In contrast, pollen from native pussy willow, Salix factor believed to be responsible for the decline of four discolor, has a 40 percent protein content. Other “plant these species is pathogen spillover from commercial bumble bee for the bees” posters or memes include creeping charlie, colonies to wild populations. One of those species affected, birdsfoot trefoil, barberry and Siberian pea shrub, many of Bombus affinis, the rusty patched bumble bee, has seen its which are considered noxious weeds or invasive. Besides planting potentially invasive plants for bees, another concern historic range contract 75 percent. Hopefully, the bee will be raised about alien bee species is that they may contribute to added to the federal endangered species list in late March the pollination of existing invasive plants, some of the very 2017, pending approval from the Trump administration. plants that the introduced or alien bee coevolved with on Bombus franklini, Franklin’s bumble bee, native to the Pacific another continent. With the potential of an increase in the Northwest, is believed to be extinct since it hasn’t been pollination of invasive plants resulting in more seed produced, documented since 2006. there is an increased risk of these plants outcompeting native Secondly, because honey bees do not need to be saved from plants, putting further pressure on native bee species already extinction, these responses pose problems from a conservation, existing in highly fragmented landscapes lacking a diversity biodiversity and ecological standpoint. First, honey bees have of flowering plants. very different lifestyles compared to native bees. It’s like Lastly, there is growing evidence presented in peer-reviewed comparing a domesticated animal with a wild animal of the journals that honey bees compete for resources with native same family or genus, such as a dog vs. a wolf or a chicken bees. One hive of honey bees can contain between 10,000- vs. a chickadee. Just like these examples, there are striking 50,000 bees, and honey bees can forage 2 to 4 miles in any differences between the European honey bee and native bees. direction from a hive collecting resources over an area of land The majority of native bees do not live in colonies; most that contains many native bee nests. In contrast, native bees construct solitary nests below ground in burrows or above have limited foraging ranges, 200 yards to 1 mile. Measuring the competition for resources has been very difficult for researchers since finding nests and quantifying competition MISUNDERSTANDINGS at flowers is challenging, but one recently published paper by James Cane and Vincent Tepedino, Gauging the effect of honey

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 7 bee pollen collection on native bee communities, approached the estimate is at least one acre of flowering plants per hive — an problem from a different direction. Instead, they looked at amount that one urban or suburban backyard cannot support. the quantity of floral resources collected by one honey bee In contrast, farm animals would be provided food but these colony and compared that to the quantity of resources domesticated animals are confined to farms by fences, so collected by a solitary bee. Their results were that one they likely pose a minimal threat to wild populations of hive of honey bees in three months collects the equivalent animals or birds. Honey bees are different and unique; they quantity of forage 100,000 solitary bees would collect. The forage outside the boundaries of the farm (or backyard) to implications of these results may mean that for every hive find their food. Forgoing the responsibility of providing an introduced by well-intentioned people who want to “save adequate amount of forage for the number of bees that the bees,” the negative impact on native bee populations is are kept may put further pressure on wild populations, potentially quite significant. In urban/suburban areas there especially if numerous hives are stationed in one place for has been a significant increase in the number of hives summering. This prompts a much-needed consideration for introduced, as more municipalities are adopting bee-friendly municipalities and advocacy groups that both alien and native ordinances allowing hives in residential backyards. These bee species have enough forage available. Fortunately, with

LEFT: A female long-horned bee, Melissodes sp. visiting a compass plant, Silphium laciniatum flower.

RIGHT: A hairy banded mining bee, Andrena hirticincta is a specialist of goldenrod and aster species. built environments that include flower-rich gardens have the media covering honey bees, there are many efforts been found to be very good at supporting common, but underway to create more habitat, and many beekeeping diverse, native bee populations. So the negative impact from groups are part of this solution because they realize they need competition in habitats such as these supporting diverse to provide pesticide-free, nutritionally rich plants for their native bee populations is potentially significant. Honey bees bees. It is important to note, however, while there is overlap may not be pollinator-friendly at all if these metrics only in forage for honey bees and native bees, honey bees also represent a rough estimate of their potential to deplete need nonnative plants to meet their nutritional requirements. limited resources that native bees depend upon. The journey continues with a call to action. Education about With habitat loss being one of the main contributors to the native bees and the habitat they require is critical in order to decline of native bee species, it is more important than ever balance the current lopsided information and media to protect or restore the native landscapes that these bees coverage. The knowledge gap is wide, but Wild Ones depend upon, including habitat in agricultural fields; local, members and conservationists can help bridge this gap and state, or federal land; and other conservation land. While we ensure that the focus is environmental, supports biodiversity, can support a diversity of common bee species in our flower- and is not just based on economic concerns of one rich residential landscapes including the hopefully soon-to-be domesticated species. Let’s decrease the pressure on all bees endangered rusty patched bumble bee, Bombus affinis, it’s by advocating for, creating, restoring and enhancing habitat the large, natural parcels of land that support both rare plants for bees, first and foremost. This can be accomplished with the and bee species. Public land managers can be pressured strategic placement of hives in landscapes adequately planted by beekeepers to allow them to place their hives without to support the hives, protecting diverse native bee restrictions on these large tracts of land to forage for the populations from competition for resources in both built and summer months. This is one reason Cane and Tepedino natural landscapes, and advocating for and supporting more published their paper: “Such a metric is needed by public research of native bee populations and environmental impact land managers confronting migratory beekeeper demands assessments of landscapes before hives are introduced. for insecticide-free, convenient, resource-rich habitats for a summering.” Colla and MacIvor also raised this concern and HEATHER HOLM is a horticulturist and biologist by training expressed the need for environmental impact assessments who takes part in native bee research projects, and informs and and monitoring of native bee populations before the educates audiences in the Midwest and Northeast about the introduction of hives in large, natural areas. fascinating world of native bees and the native plants that support There is no requirement for beekeepers to provide forage them. Holm is also author of “Bees: An Identification and Native for their bees and it takes an abundance of flowering plants Plant Forage Guide,” published in February 2017, and “Pollinators to provide enough food for one hive of honey bees. One of Native Plants.” Learn more at www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com.

8 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 Spring maintenance tips for your restoration

lthough occasional snow flurries are still Abeing spotted, it seems like we have Perhaps you are eager to get out into your native garden done it once again — survived winter! Birds are chirping, grass is turning green, or restoration area and do some work? trees are flowering and starting to leaf out, Below are a few valuable tips straight from our maintenance crew: and countless other indicators are pointing to another glorious spring season. Our n Conduct a survey. Do you see any bare areas? maintenance crew has started spring work This past winter was pretty mild, but that doesn’t again and here are a few of their keen mean that a few plants might not have made it observations: through the few stretches of severe cold. Now is a great time to make a list of plant species to try in 1. Native perennials are turning green your site. You can also think about observations and starting to pop out of the ground. you made last year. For example, maybe you were A few species already spotted are missing some yellow in your landscape. Fill in the pasque flower (Anemone patens), Jacob’s open, sunny spots this spring with black-eyed ladder (Polemonium reptans), bottlebrush Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), sneezeweed (Helenium grass (Hystrix patula), wild bergamot autumnale), or grey-headed coneflower (Ratibida Spring is a perfect time to conduct a survey (Monarda fistulosa), columbine (Aquilegia pinnata). of your property and see if you have any canadensis) and golden n Take on a spring cleanup. Natural Shore has re- bare areas. PHOTO: Natural Shore Technologies alexanders (Zizia aurea). evaluated its practice of “spring cleaning” a few They might be small now, times in the last several years, fine-tuning its but before we know it they approach to benefit our native pollinators. will be growing quickly and Consider leaving dried flower stalks up from last providing blooms for our year. Our native bees use the hollow stalks to pollinators and seed for our overwinter. If you mow vegetation, we suggest songbirds. you leave a good portion of it on site as a natural Aquilegia canadensis is one of the first native mulch and bee-nesting habitat. perennials to pop out of the ground. n Keep some dandelions. Do you run for your Consider leaving dried flower stalks from PHOTO: Natural Shore Technologies weeding gloves each year at the first sign of this last year in your garden since some 2. Weeds are starting to poke up already, classic yellow weed? Might it be possible for you native bees use the hollow stalks to too. A few that are taking advantage to learn to tolerate weeds like dandelions? Why? overwinter. PHOTO: Natural Shore Technologies Well, this species turns out to be one of the of the sunny days are Canada thistle earliest blooming flowers that can actually (Cirsium arvense), winter cress (Barbarea provide pollen for honey bees for brood rearing vulgaris), reed canary grass (Phalaris this time of year. While pure dandelion pollen is arundinacea), burdock deficient in all nutrients needed by bees, it’s still (Arctium lappa), and curly invaluable due to its bounty when in combination dock (Rumex crispus). If with other flower pollen. you are eager to get out n Go after the invasive weeds. In smaller areas, and garden, some of these hand digging Canada thistle, reed canary grass, weeds are ready to be burdock, and garlic mustard makes sense. Spring controlled. is a great time of year to get energetic and show Don’t dig up that dandelion! This classic Early spring is a perfect time to rid your these weeds that you are the boss. Getting an weed turns out to be an early blooming property of Arctium lappa. early start will reduce the chances of these weeds flower that can help some pollinators in PHOTO: Natural Shore Technologies growing quickly and setting seed. the spring. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons 3. We are seeing migratory wildlife making their way back to the Midwest as well. We are noticing a variety of TRACY LAWLER is maintenance coordinator and BILL BARTODZIEJ is duck species and Canada geese flying restoration ecologist/principal at Natural Shore Technologies, a design build ecological back to open lakes. We are also seeing restoration company/native plant nursery with more than a decade of experience in and hearing more songbirds in prairie creating and maintaining quality natural areas. Located in Independence, Minnesota, restorations like bluebirds, meadowlarks Natural Shore Technologies grows their own Minnesota native plants and their experience and woodcocks. These are telltale signs spans from small residential properties to sprawling city and county parklands. that spring is here. a Natural Shore Technologies has been a PAL with the Twin Cities chapter since April 2011.

By Tracy Lawler and Bill Bartodziej

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 9 By Barbara A. Schmitz “I’ve really never stopped planting im Lewis had an interest in natives anywhere I could,” Lewis says. wildflowers for a long time, but the “I had a lot of beds that were filled with more he learned about them, the nonnative perennials and each time some Tmore that interest turned into a passion perennial plants died, I saw it as an for all native plants. opportunity to replace them with natives.” Lewis says his favorite native plants in his The immediate past president Tim burned the prairie plot on the side of his house. of the national Wild Ones Board yard include prairie dropseed (Sporobolus of Directors, as well as former heterolepis), little bluestem president, board member and (Schizachyrium scoparium), gray- plant rescue coordinator of his lo- headed coneflower (Ratibida cal chapter, Rock River Valley, pinnata), monarda (Monarda Lewis says he ventured into wild- fistulosa), compass plant (Silphium flowers in 1991 when he planted a laciniatum), prairie dock (Silphium small garden bed in his backyard. terebinthinaceum), bloodroot A few years later, he took a couple (Sanguinaria canadensis), classes about wildflowers at a butterfly milkweed (Asclepias community college. tuberosa), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), common He then started gardening more milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), stiff and more with native plants. After In 1991, Tim Lewis added his first wildflower bed, goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum), showy buying a few natives at a local nursery which was planted with native plants from Prairie goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) and arrow- one day, Lewis was going out the door, Nursery. The evergreens are not native, nor are leaved aster (Symphyotrichum sagittifolium). when the owner, Anne Meyer, and an the mums behind the bed. The diversity of native plants means employee, Fran Lowman, stopped BELOW: Tim Lewis’ first wildflower bed in 2010. him and suggested he join Wild Ones. The original wildflowers were replaced with local that the Lewises get a plethora of birds wildflowers. Compare this to the 1991 picture. and insects visiting their yard. “During “I said I was not interested in joining the migration season we see a larger another ‘club,’ but one of them variety of birds that stop here for a convinced me to go to a Wild Ones day to eat and rest,” he says. But most meeting,” Lewis recalls. “I kept telling of the year their yard is home to a my wife during the meeting that ‘I was red-bellied woodpecker, a downy not joining this group,’ but the program woodpecker, black-capped chickadees, was really interesting and the description cardinals, Eastern blue jay, Carolina of the next month’s meeting sounded wren, native and nonnative sparrows, interesting too.” and mourning doves. In September 1996, Lewis joined Wild Ones, and soon he was taking part in In some years, their yard also attracts plant rescues, seed collection events and many monarchs. “But last year, I saw only seed exchanges. That same fall, he killed four and three of them were in the fall off part of their side yard and planted during their migration south,” he says. rescued natives and scattered collected “Occasionally we get a praying mantis seeds. Each year he adds to his yard. that lays her egg masses on the stems of

EDITOR’S NOTE:We’d like to feature our members’ native gardens, large or small, in upcoming issues. If you’re interested in sharing your native gar- Member den, send two or three high-resolution photos, as well as a brief description, to [email protected]. Please Garden include your contact information Tim Lewis, so we can get in touch with you. Rock River Valley Chapter

A view of the prairie plot taken toward the Lewis home.

10 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 some of the native wildflowers. Of course, we get a lot of insects, butterflies, LEFT: This was the first prairie bees, wasps, beetles and spiders.” plot that Tim Lewis added to his yard. Visible from the bedroom Lewis is excited that his yard will window, it’s one of the first be included in a native landscape views he and wife get each day. tour this July being organized by This photo was taken a week or his chapter. “I started preparing the two after he killed the lawn. yard late last summer because I had an invasion of Canada goldenrod (Solidago since some native seeds need to be canadensis) that took over about one- stratified 30 days, while others call for 60 third of my prairie plot,” he says. He’s days. “And if you don’t follow that, already removed about half of it, but it you’re going to have failure.” hasn’t been easy. “I selectively killed the plants using a bucket of Roundup When he buys plants, Lewis says he and a paint brush,” putting the solution only buys from native plant nurseries since they know where they got the seed on each stem. “It’s very time consuming Tim Lewis’ first ditch rain garden in the first year. and can confirm that they aren’t nativars. and not a lot of fun in the heat of summer. He explains, “There are a lot of annual flowers But it’s the only way to kill it...” planted here because this is in the public view and Each March, he also tries to burn about I wanted the spaces between the natives to be one-third of his prairie plots. “The Before it got too cold last fall, he planted showy. In the fall the annuals died off and the next spring the natives filled in nicely. current thinking is that you don’t want “well over” 100 plants, most of which he to burn off all your plants because that grew from seed. In fact, Lewis says he kills any insects that overwintered in propagates a lot of his plants from seed the plant or their eggs,” he explains. that he collects in the yard or gets The remaining two-thirds is enough for through the chapter seed exchange. the insects to recover. “I start growing the plants indoors under Lewis’ advice to people who are new to elaborate shelving with florescent light native landscaping is to be patient. “Start fixtures,” he says. Then, when the small, or at least manageable,” he says. weather warms up, he moves the flats to “Don’t be afraid to experiment. Lastly, his greenhouse, which he built from a kit learn from your local chapter programs a few years ago, usually growing up to and fellow members.” 400 plants. The same ditch garden two years later. While the advantages of natural “I can grow 14 flats of plants at a time,” BELOW: A year later with the garden expanded. landscaping are varied and many, it’s he says. “I have 12 plats now in the often the simple things in life that greenhouse waiting for spring to are most satisfying. come around.” Lewis says he and his wife, Janaan, While it can be difficult to get up every morning and look out propagate plants and Lewis has had their bedroom window that faces failures, he still suggests people try their prairie plot. “We like to see it. But he encourages people to what is going on there. It is always first research about what it takes to changing.” a break the dormancy of each seed

About the Yard n Lewis’s native garden started in 1991 with a small wildflower bed in his backyard, about 5-feet wide by 20-feet long. n His half-acre yard has evolved and now includes large and small prairie plots, three native shade gardens, and three native rain gardens. Native landscaping takes up about one-third of the yard. n With the exception of a few shrubs and trees, all of the plants are native to Northern Illinois. n The yard is home to native plants such as various kinds of milkweed, as well as prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata), monarda (Monarda fistulosa), compass plant (Silphium laciniatum), prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis).

A path along Tim’s large prairie plot makes it A second ditch rain garden provides color easy for visitors to see nature up close. and habitat for visiting pollinators. March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 11 ahooW TTuulip swwood Hick Bass koory Hazelnut Black Oak

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12 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 COUNTERPOINT: A different look at Lurie Gardens By Charlotte Adelman Restoring the landscape urie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium This brings us to nativars, a subject that Wild native Park calls itself a “model of responsible Ones has a very clear position. “There are just Lhorticulture, providing a healthy habitat for too many unknowns in the process of breeding a wide variety of plants and wildlife.” Lurie is nativars,” states the blog, Lawanda’s Garden, justifiably proud that it is chemical free and that citing Wild Ones in noting that nativars are not it provides some shelter to certain wildlife. But native plants. Those possible concerns include its model is missing an opportunity to promote loss of wildlife and pollinator habitat, increase in the use of native plants. allergies to pollen or other impacts on human I am a Chicago-area resident who has often health, the potential of increasing invasive visited and examined the contents of Lurie species, an unpredictable response to climate Garden, so I am knowledgeable about what change, higher maintenance costs for grows there. I also know how to identify native gardeners, and an economic loss to native Midwestern plants, and I know a fair amount species growers. about how to distinguish native species from After looking at Lurie Garden’s plant lists, it introduced species and nativars, which are appears that Lurie defines its nativars as native cultivars of native species. And, when Lurie species. Nineteen of Lurie’s perennial native Garden’s listings show single quotation marks herbaceous plants are nativars and thus not around names like ‘October Skies,’ ‘Aphrodite’ native to North America. Further, six of its alleged and ‘Purple Bush,’ to name a few, that should native grasses are nativars. Two of its “native” ring nativar alarm bells for people committed to gardening and landscaping with true, straight shoulder hedge plants are nativars. Three of its native plants. “native” Extrusion Plaza plants are nativars. One of its “native” trees is a nativar. And a new ernstseed.comeernrnsttstseedeed.c omom The public relations arm of Lurie Garden has addition is also a nativar. Assuming that Lurie’s [email protected] s@@e @ernsrnnssttsese ed.ce .com persuaded many Chicago residents that it "plays percentage of North American natives includes 800-873-332180000- 8738773-332133332121 an important role in demonstrating how Illinois natives, the math suggests that about 60 gardeners can sustainably, naturally and cost- percent of Lurie’s perennial herbaceous plant effectively maintain a beautiful native garden in species are not native to North America. the region’s climate" with native plants occupying “nearly 60 percent of the garden,” according to a Even when a plant is “native” to North America, 2012 Chicagoland blog. However, native plant when it comes from so far away that its location information varies on Lurie’s website. Its fact has nothing in common with the Midwest, sheet states Lurie holds “222 total species, there's a lot to be skeptical about. Wild Ones cultivars and selections (40.5 percent native to recommends against planting North American North America, and 26.1 percent native to plants that are from inappropriate locations. Yet, Illinois).” Yet the sustainability page of its Lurie touts Sanguisorba menziesii, commonly website states: “You will find 20 types of grasses, called Alaskan Burnet but simply called burnet by 26 types of trees and shrubs, 34 types of bulbs, Lurie Garden. This native is part of the far north's and 142 types of perennial herbaceous plants ecological world and provides little or nothing to within the borders of Lurie Garden. Ninety (40.5 the ecological world in which Chicago-area percent) of these plants are native to North plants and wildlife evolved and still live. America and 26.1 percent (58) are native to Illinois.” In addition, according to the Millennium Lurie Garden presents itself as serving a “palette Park Foundation website, which is associated of texture and color” composed of long-lasting with the garden, “Filled with more than 240 perennials and thousands of gorgeously colored varieties – all perennials – approximately 65 bulbs. What the garden ignores, however, is the percent of the Lurie Garden’s species are native to vast majority of this texture and color comes North America, some to Illinois.” from Eurasia and is alien to Midwestern wildlife. However, in terms of numbers of actual plants, Lurie Garden’s plant choices transport visitors to including each of the approximately 140,000 a designed landscape that can never be seen in individually “planted by hand” bulbs, the nature. Lurie Garden is beautiful to view; however, numbers must reach far greater percentages of it is not a healthy habitat for a wide variety of nonnative plants. native plants and wildlife. a

CHARLOTTE ADELMAN, a retired attorney, is co-author of “The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants” and the recently released “Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees, Gardening Alternatives to Nonnative Species, An Illustrated Guide.” Adelman is a lifetime member of Wild Ones with the North Park Village Nature Center Chapter. March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 13 SAVESSAAAV on Custom 32-Plant Trays! VVE PPLPLANTUPICKUP KIT CuE on C LA PI AAN IIC ust NNT CK tot o om 32-PlT K K a la KKIKIT IITT Bringing your landscape to life, since 1972 ant T Tr rraaay yyss!

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14 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 Healing the Earth, one yard at a time!

March/April 2017 Members support Wild Ones’ Annual Appeal Our thanks for your generous gifts and contributions Wild Ones thrives only though the heart and dedication of its amazing members. We deeply appreciate your efforts and extend our most heartfelt thanks to all who contributed so generously to the Wild Ones 2016 Annual Appeal Campaign. We proudly share your names in this supplement.

Every effort has been made to ensure that our donor the Annual Campaign period from Dec. 1, 2016, throughlists are accurateJan. 31, 2017. and reflect Should gifts there made be an during error or omission, please accept our deepest apologies; [email protected] so we can correct thecontact mistake. the national office at (920) 730-3986 or Photo by Rick Francis, “Great Spangled Fritillary on Milkweed” A list of annual appeal donations from the appeal period of Dec. 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2017. General Operating Fund $1,000 to $500 Janis Solomon Alan & Nancy Bedell

Charlotte Adelman & Sherrie & Bill Snyder Nora Bernhardt Above $1,000 Bernard Schwartz Anonymous Donor Tennessee Valley Chapter Sharon Carey Pam Holy & Ingrid Julia Vanatta Janice Hand & Rick Marilyn Case Verhulst Sanders $499 to $250 Loris & Arno Damerow Kettle Moraine Chapter Marilyn D. Jones Pamela Dewey Anne Duggan Jessica Lundeval Twin Cities Chapter Tim & Janaan Lewis David & Karen Edwards Roger Miller Becky Erickson Linda Palla Jay & Jane Evans Red Cedar Chapter Eileen Udry & Tom Fitton Dan Segal Denise Gerhing Karen Syverson Bob & Susan Grese Janine Trede Norman & Daryl Grier $249 to $100 Deborah Holloway Marti Agler Kathleen Isaacson Photo by Becky Erickson, “Escapees” Holly & Jack Bartholmai Veronica Jones Kristin L. Kauth Gae Bergman Kevin King Andrew H. Berry, D.O. Joan Gray & Nancy Carol Biesmeyer Kuhlman Vicki & Richard Bonk Robin & Stan La Bancz Gina Bonsignore Cyndi & David Le Mieux Ruth Bowell Chris Loedler Dorothy & Paul Boyer Lexington Chapter Donna Busch Peg Lockman Elizabeth Cameron Leo & Linda Lubke Kelly Cartwright Ken Luckow Maria G. Cattell Marjorie Lundy Lucy Chargot Bill & Cheryl Merrick Mary Susan Chen Deanna Morse Janice Christ Jean A. Neal Ann Cicarella James & Virginia Coburn Chapter John & Dorothy Collins Northfield Prairie Partners Oak Openings Region Peggy Coon Chapter Cheryl Corney Mary P. & John D. Paquette Nancy Deever Jerry Paulson Jan Dixon Beate Popkin Kirby & Dan Doyle Prairie Edge Chapter Anne Dugan Rip Yasinski & Trish Anne & Steve Eckhardt Quintenz Alan Eppers Photo by Ken Greshowak, “Reaction to a Pollinator” Martha F. & Jeffrey Rice Rebecca Eyer Jim & Ginny Schultz Frank & Karen Finch Kathy & Brett Smith Carolyn J. Finzer & Family Patricia J. Stephenson Donna Flippin Cindy Torrisi Linda Ford Stephanie Vrabec Fiona & Graham Fordyce Mira Lee & Howard Marilyn & John Freese Waitzkin Zaiga Freivalds Tom & Gail Walder Tom & Barb Glassel Becky Wardell Gaertner William Glazier Sally Wencel Michael Jedrzejewski & Rich & Liz Whitney Sybil Grandek David Wygmans Jennifer Hennen Laura Zigmanth Erika Heuel Photo by Donna VanBuecken, James Hinton “Volunteers Cleaning Seed at WILD Center” Under $100 Susan Hobig David Kelly Arlene Kjar Janet & John Allen Shirlee Hoffman Molly Kenny Laura Klemm Mary Ellen Barbezat Michael S. & Reva A. Dory Kimbal David Kostka Janet Battista Holmes Richard Atwell & Elizabeth Paula Kramer Lynn Hyer King Randall Kursinsky

Tee (Thelma) Bergman Kent & Kathy Lawrence Marilynn Torkelson Eileen & Paul LeFort Becky Walkington Diane Lembck Stephanie Walquist Margie Lindhorst Owen C. Waverinek Anne Lubbers Cathy Wegner Chandan Mahanta Katharine D. Widin James Mahurin Diana Wiemer Kathleen Mallen Stacey Wildberger Joelyn Malone Cheryl Willie Holley A. Wlodarczyk Mayberg Jeremy & Amy-Ann Reserve Fund Lynne Mayer Photo by Dawn Weber, “Ice Ribbons” Christine L. McCullough $1,000 to $500 Ginny McDermott Dave & Bridget Lemberg Margaret McGrath Ted Ross & Kathie Ayres Mary Ann Menck Grant

Joan Mercuri $499 to $250 Randy & Jessie Mermel Tim & Janaan Lewis Linda Mihel Nancy Mores $249 to $100 Roger Oberholzer Harry & Mary Bird Bob Olson Ray & Martha Bright John Pagel William Carroll Shirley Paris David & Karen Edwards Kathleen B. Pecis Jan Gricus Laurie Peters Michael J. Head & Mary Leslie Pilgrim L. James Linda & Jim Porter Doris Pierzchalski Sue Russell Under $100 Marnell E. Scheeper Richard Atwell & Elizabeth Edgar Schmidt King Claudia Schultz Janet Battista Dan Schutte Photo by Alistair Bradley, “Adrift in the Tallgrass Prairie” Mindy Boenning Kristina & Jason Clara Ann Bratton Shaneyfelt Elaine Brody Peter Sigman Michael Bruggink

Bernard & Cynthia Randi Starmer Christine Souris-Kosla Buchholz Theresa & Gerhard Laura Clearwater Stegemann Pamela Dewey Lorraine Steuck Christine Stier Jan Graf Joann Susachek Eileen & Paul LeFort Anne Lubbers Phyllis Tilden Roberta Talbot-Rossi Photo by Maya Sarikonda, “Golden Triplets” Diane Olson-Schmidt Photo by Michele Jasik, “Field of Trout Lilly” Photo by Michael LeValley, “Native Pollinator Garden - Morey Public School”

Kathy Packard SFE Grant Program Carol Poklacki Sharon Bloomgarden Jeanne Powley Hildy Feen Louise Quigley Denise Gehring Jon & Jackie Seymour Tom & Barb Glassel Laura Shaddak Kathleen Jones Meredith Schroeer Katharine Mauer Dan Schutte Gift Memberships Theresa & Gerhard Patricia Apicella Stegemann Laura Davies Christine Stier Linda Ford Jim & Karen Timble Travis Gresham Peter & Colleen Vachuska Pam Holy & Ingrid Cathy Wegner Verhulst Annette E. Weissbach Cecilia Johnson Corporate Matching Tim Lewis Donations Julie Long Photo by Dawn-Marie Staccia, “Prairie Eagle Nature Trail” Bernita K. Hile Ann Lubbers BMO Harris Bank Connie Munson David Nowak GE Foundation Dan Parrett Northfield Prairie Partners Walter Oberheu CW Southworth Stephanie Walquist Sherrie Snyder Mary Lou Wilm Pfizer State Farm Companies Martha Wolfe Foundation

Walter & Bev Wieckert ITW Foundation Photo by David Poweleit, “Next Generations” Some of the most common native geraniums Wild geranium: G. maculatum, sometimes referred to as spotted Go for native geraniums geranium, has small clusters of a few flowers each branching off the By Donna VanBuecken top of the plant. Flowers are 1 to 1½ inches across, five-rounded pink his wpast spring,ild fellow Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter member Kristin to lavender petals and 10 stamens with yellow tips that turn brown Kauth and I made a “wildflower tour” of the Glacier/Yellowstone/Grand with age. Occasionally you’ll see an all-white blossom. The petals are TTeton national parks. The first native plant Kristin and I recognized as streaked with darker lines along the length, and often fade to white at similar to our Wisconsin native plants was the sticky geranium (Geranium the base. The five green sepals behind the flower viscosissimum). are about half as long as the petals, and hairy. At maturity, the entire plant of the G. maculatum In the Midwest, we have the native wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), often turns a brilliant red. It is easily distinguished which looks very similar to the native sticky geranium of Montana and Wyoming from the two other Eastern/Midwestern geranium except the blossoms and leaves of the sticky geranium are substantially thicker species because it has flowers an inch or more in and quite hairy compared to the wild geranium. Also, the blooms of the sticky diameter, where the others are considerably geranium appear to have denser color than the lavender of the wild geranium. smaller. It grows throughout the U.S. I am certain the different environments caused these genetic differences. Geranium maculatum Not surprisingly, the word “sticky” refers to the carnivorous enzymes apparently PHOTO: Donna VanBuecken produced by the plant growing further northwest. Based on research, the sticky Bicknell’s cranesbill: Geranium bicknellii has two small flowers per geranium traps small insects in the sticky substance that covers its stem and cluster and its narrower, more fan-like leaf lobes have blunt or rounded foliage. Then the sticky hairs on the G. viscosissimum appear to digest and tips. Flowers are about 1/3-inch across with five oblong- to egg-shaped absorb protein. petals, slightly notched at the tip, white to pinkish There are a number of native geranium species throughout North America. They lavender with darker lines radiating from the are primarily clump-forming and shade tolerant, and dependingupon their location, base. Their sepals are oval-elliptic with a con- can thrive in a variety of conditions, including soils, moisture and sunshine. spicuous sharp awn at the tip and are hairy on One of their most unique characteristics is their long, curved, spiky seedpods the outer surface. It is predominantly found in that look like a crane’s bill. They get part of their name from the Greek word, northern boreal forests where it responds to dis- geranos, which refers to the long-beaked bird known as the crane. Another turbances in forest openings, such as lumbering unique characteristic is how they disperse seedpods. The elongated tail coils and fire. It, too, grows throughout the U.S. at maturity and then flings its pointed seed some distance, spiraling it into Geranium bicknellii the ground. So if you want to try to gather some of the seed, remove the pods PHOTO: Albert Herring, Wikimedia as soon as they begin to turn brown and definitely before they split. Make sure Carolina cranesbill: Geranium carolinianum also has two flowers per to spread the pods out to dry, but cover them to keep the seeds from flying all stalk, but they are more densely clustered at the branch tips and are over as the pods split open. nearly stalkless, creating more of a flat-topped cluster. Flowers are ¼- to 3/8-inch across with five oblong petals that are slightly notched at Other geraniums the tip and are white to pink lavender with darker lines radiating from Other natives include: the base. Sepals and stalks are both hairy with a n G. atropurpureum (southwest) n G. californicum (California only) mix of glandular and non-glandular hairs. Like the n G. caespitosum (southwest) n G. richardsonii (western states) G. maculatuum, the leaves of the G. carolinianum Nonnative geraniums that have been introduced include: turn a brilliant red at maturity. With only a few n G. columbinum n G. molle n G. pusillum n G. sanguieneum exceptions G. carolinianum is almost exclusively n G. dissectum n G. pratense n G. rotundifolium n G. sibiricum found in the western and southern prairie regions, especially in and around rock outcrops. Copycat ‘geraniums’ Geranium carolinianum Because the geranium leaves are dissected when not flowering, the native PHOTO: Flickr geranium plants may be mistaken for Canada anemone (Anemone Sticky geranium: G. viscosissimum has two to several 1- to 1½ - canadensis) in the buttercup family. The wild geranium stem leaves are inch flowers, in open clusters near the top of the stem. Petals have typically opposite, palmately lobed and lightly hairy. Canada anemone leaves reddish-purple lines rising outward from the center. The flowers have are more sharply toothed/pointed, with a single whorl of three stalkless, five sepals and five petals. Petals are long, rounded to slightly notched, mostly three-lobed leaves on the upper stem at the base of the flower stalk. pinkish-lavender to purplish and soft long-hairy at the base for The native geranium plant is one of my favorites. Since it likes light shade about one-fourth the length. Its stem, leaves to partial sunlight and can tolerate moist to slightly dry conditions, native and flower stalks are covered with sticky hairs. geraniums are a good transitional plant from woodland to prairie. They also G. Viscosissimum likes part-shade in interior have a fairly long growing season and continuously develop new flowers heat, full sun in cool summer climates and throughout the season. Plus, what’s not to love when an entire plant turns regular water. It grows primarily in western red in the fall to offset the browns, bronzes and golds of autumn’s colors. states in the Montane Forest Zone. And lastly, it means less work for me because native geraniums do a good Geranium viscosissimum, known for its thick job of self-propagating in the most perfect places! blossoms and leaves, was abundant in a small a garden area at Two Medicine Lake’s landing area DONNA VANBUECKEN was the first executive director of Wild Ones, and in in Glacier National Park, Montana. There were her retirement writes a blog on native plants and natural landscaping at beautiful native flowers everywhere, however. www.accentnatural.com. She is a member of Wild Ones Fox Valley Area. PHOTO: Donna VanBuecken MARYANN WHITMAN, a former WILD ONES JOURNAL editor, contributed to the article.

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 15 All text and photos courtesy of Neil Diboll There are four basic management techniques that can be substituted ne of the most useful tools benefit from high temperatures to break for fire to manage prairies: available for managing native seed dormancy 1) Mowing or cutting in mid-spring, Oprairies is controlled burning. A 6) Releasing nutrients from previous years’ followed by raking to simulate the well-timed fire helps control undesirable dead vegetation, stimulating more vig- effects of fire nonnative cool-season weeds and grasses orous plant growth and prevents invasion by trees and shrubs. 2) Hand weeding However, there are also a few disadvan- 3) Applying selective herbicides Unfortunately, the use of fire is not always tages of burning that can be ameliorated an option, especially in urban settings by substituting some of the alternative 4) Applying nitrogen fertilizer to where air quality is a concern, and in management methods listed in this article disfavor perennial red clover and prairie gardens and meadows that are near or by varying the timing of the burning. white clover structures, coniferous trees and other Those disadvantages include: flammable materials. Let’s look at each method individually: 1) Regularly burning prairies in mid- Fire has beneficial effects that include: spring over a period of many years tends 1 Mowing or cutting prairie meadows 1) Reducing the vigor of newly emerged to push the balance of the prairie plant Mowing or cutting prairie meadows and cool-season grasses and weeds when community toward dominance by burning in mid-spring prior to the emer- warm-season prairie grasses at the gardens back to soil level in mid-spring gence of most prairie flowers and grasses expense of some prairie flowers. at the same time as one would burn, 2) Burning back and often killing young 2) The dormant seeds of white and yellow and then raking off the cuttings, woody plant seedlings while preventing sweet clover (Melilotus alba and M. offic- accomplishes two goals: them from developing into mature inale), two invasive nonnative legumi- •The new growth of nonnative cool- plants that can shade out the prairie nous biennial weeds, are stimulated to season weeds is removed, temporarily 3) Creating a blackened soil surface in germinate by exposure to fire and often depriving them of their photosynthetic spring that encourages rapid soil warm- appear in dense stands, blooming two capabilities during their peak growth ing, tipping the competitive balance years after a controlled burn. in spring. This weakens the plants and from cool-season weeds to warm-season However, mowing and raking can be used the mowed plants must now consume prairie flowers and grasses to simulate the effects of burning to reduce more of their root reserves to grow new 4) Creating open areas of soil where dor- these two problems. Varying the timing of leaves, putting them at a competitive mant prairie seeds can germinate and burning in any given prairie (fall, early disadvantage to prairie plants that regenerate the diversity spring, etc.) can also help remain unaffected since they were of the prairie reduce the tendency of warm- dormant or just emerging at the time 5) Scarifying seed coats of season prairie grasses to gain of mowing. dormant prairies seeds of Managing ascendance over some prairie •The soil is exposed after cutting and species that require or flowers. raking off debris so the soil warms up more rapidly than if dead vegetation remains in place. Warm-season prairie prairies species grow more rapidly under warmer soil conditions, giving them an advantage over cool-season weedy species. when It is essential that vegetation be cut down to the soil level to inflict maximum damage and remove all the new weedy growth. If the new growth is 6 inches tall and the mower only FIRE cuts to 3 inches, the effect is reduced by 50 percent. A flail mower is best because it can be set to mow at ground is not level, while rotary mowers and bush hog mowers leave 2 to 3 inches of uncut an vegetation. A string trimmer can also be used on small areas, again cutting everything down to ground level. option Raking the cut material off the site is necessary to expose the soil to the sun

TOP: The prairie of Eileen Herrling, Appleton, a former Fox Valley Chapter member of Wild Ones, after a spring burning. Generally, one-third of your prairie should be left unburned and set aside as a refuge for wildlife and seed sources.

BELOW: Rodney Sturm’s prairie adds color to his Madison, Wisconsin neighborhood.

16 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 The frequency of two short prairie remove all of the intertwined and grasses, side oats grama (Bouteloua widely spreading underground curtipendula) and little bluestem rhizomes of these weedy species. (Schizachyrium scoparium), were found to Although quackgrass and Kentucky be significantly higher on both burned bluegrass can be readily controlled with and mowed and raked plots compared controlled burning, the others noted to control plots. Much of the increase in above are only slightly discouraged or occurrence was attributed to removing a completely unaffected by either mid- thick layer of dead vegetation that had spring burning or mowing and raking. accumulated from previous years’ growth These highly invasive weeds are some Mowing a prairie can simulate the effects of fire, that was smothering the shorter grasses. as demonstrated at the University of Wisconsin- of the most vexing weed problems in Green Bay. Other studies have shown that tallgrass prairie gardens and meadows. The only prairies that are not burned, mowed or realistic method for controlling them is and raise the soil temperature rapidly. grazed regularly experience significant to completely smother the area for two This can be accomplished on large reductions in the density and vigor of consecutive years, dig everything out a prairies using a baler or tractor-driven shorter prairie flowers and grasses, and foot or more deep and replace it with chopper that blows the debris into a tend to become dominated by sod- new clean soil, or resort to the use of chopper wagon pulled behind a tractor. forming tall prairie grasses, especially selective herbicides. big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and A 1984 study performed by this author, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). In the 3 Applying selective herbicides Mowing as an Alternative to Spring Burning absence of one or more of these for Control of Cool-Season Exotic Grass in Herbicides are sometimes the only ecological disturbances, the tall prairie cost-effective method for controlling Prairie Grass Plantings, showed that a grasses tend to become dominant at the prairie burned on May 15, 1980, exhibited problem perennial weeds in prairie expense of other species, resulting in a gardens and meadows. However, surface soil temperatures that were significant loss of diversity. 18° F warmer than adjacent unburned herbicides should always be employed as a last resort for controlling only the plots just four days after burning. Hand weeding Studies by others have shown that soil 2 most intractable weed problems. temperatures on burned prairies can be Hand weeding can be used to control When you do decide to use herbicides, up to 36° F higher on burned prairies weeds in small prairie gardens, but it do your research first. Learn what is compared to unburned prairies is not time or cost-effective in larger legal and recommended in your state in mid-May. Other studies found soil prairie restorations. In addition, it is not by checking with your Department of temperatures in prairies that were raked effective in controlling rhizomatous Agriculture. Make sure you use and mowed were within 2° F of prairies weedy species such as quackgrass, appropriate personal protective that were burned in the same spring. Kentucky bluegrass, smooth bromegrass equipment and be aware of the risks (Bromus inermis), tall fescue (Festuca since some herbicides are carcinogenic. My study showed that spring burning arundinacea), crown vetch (Securigera Take into account drift, not only in your and mid-spring mowing significantly varia), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), prairie garden, but also drift onto a reduced the leaf production of cool- and field bindweed (Convolvulus neighbor’s property, which can result in season grasses. Burning reduced total arvensis). It is virtually impossible to huge fines in some states. continued cool-season biomass by 78 percent, while mowing and raking reduced it by 48 percent. This indicates that mid- spring mowing and raking is approximately 60 percent as effective as mid-spring burning in controlling the total above-ground plant production of the cool-season grasses growing on this site, including quackgrass (Elymus repens), meadow fescue (Festuca elatior) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). The biomass production of quackgrass, a highly invasive nonnative cool-season grass, was found to be significantly less on both burned and mowed and raked plots vs. those control plots left alone. However, mid-spring mowing and raking does not provide good control of Kentucky bluegrass compared to burning.

Noll Valley, an upscale development just west of Madison, Wisconsin, includes a covenant that requires homeowners to include native plants in one-third of their landscapes. March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 17 When applying herbicides in a diverse soil, as many brush-killing herbicides is below 60° F. Thus, when spraying prairie with numerous species of can readily move through the soil and in fall, it is critical to select a day flowers and grasses, great care must also kill nearby desirable dormant when the temperature will meet this be taken with the timing of the herbaceous plants. minimum threshold in order to application, the herbicide(s) used, and achieve good results. A follow-up the method of application. Herbicide Herbicides can be divided into four second spraying the following spring technique and safety training and main groups: after the surviving cool-season grasses certification is recommended through •Broad spectrum herbicides kill most emerge, and just before the warm state extension offices to learn about flowers and grasses. Glyphosate, a season prairie grasses come up, will personal protective equipment, laws, widely used broad spectrum further set back the unwanted Material Data Safety Sheets and the herbicide, is typically used to nonnative grasses. proper mixing of herbicides. eliminate weeds prior to planting a prairie garden or meadow. It is seldom For spring applications, the prairie There are four primary means of suitable for use in established should be mowed, but not raked, in applying herbicides: plantings due to the broad range of late fall of the prior year to remove •Foliar spraying, which includes spot plants that it kills. standing dead vegetation that would treatment, or in special situations, •Broadleaf herbicides affect only intercept the spray in the following general application across a large area. dicotyledonous plants whose spring. The prairie should not be Foliar spraying is generally not seedlings exhibit two cotyledons (first burned or mowed in the spring it is to recommended in prairies due to the leaves) as they emerge at the time of be treated since this will encourage risk of aerosol particle drift. germination. This includes most non- earlier emergence of the warm-season •“Glove of Death” method, in which grassy flowers and weeds, as well as grasses before the target cool-season one places a large absorbent cotton most trees and shrubs. Broadleaf grasses have developed to a stage glove over a neoprene herbicide herbicides are used widely for where maximum damage can be glove, saturates the glove with controlling weeds in lawns and grain inflicted. herbicide, and strokes the leaves of fields. These powerful chemicals •Specialty herbicides are those that the target weed. This avoids aerosol disrupt plant hormonal systems; target certain plants while not drift onto adjacent plants. This many are suspected of causing various affecting others. The herbicide method works best with two people, cancers, birth defects, tumors, etc. Imazapic (Plateau) is often used in with one person holding nearby and should be used with great caution conjunction with prairie seed mixes plants away from the weed to be and with protective gear. composed of species that are resistant treated while the other applies the •Grass selective herbicides are to its effects. It can be used as a pre- herbicide. A variant on this method is designed to affect only grasses and emergent, applied just before or at “Tongs of Death,” in which an old can be used to control nonnative cool- the time of seeding, and/or as a cotton sock is wrapped around a set of season grasses in prairies composed of post-emergent, after the seeds have tongs and saturated with herbicide to native wildflowers and warm-season germinated and developed to a apply it onto the target plants. grasses. These are applied when the stage where they are resistant to the •Cutting the plant at the ground level warm-season prairie grasses are herbicide’s effects. However, be sure and treating the cut stump dormant, in mid-fall, or in mid-spring to read the herbicide label carefully immediately with herbicide. This is before they emerge from dormancy. since Plateau can only be used as pre- most commonly used for killing emergent or as a post-emergent invasive trees, shrubs and vines, but it Fall applications are particularly application on certain prairie species. can also be employed to control effective in controlling cool-season perennial herbaceous weeds. This is grasses. To maximize the effect of the Applying nitrogen fertilizer to best done in fall and winter to kill herbicide, the prairie should be 4 woody plants, and during the height mowed down in late August to disfavor red and white clover of the growing season with stimulate new plant growth that will Two nonnative cool-season clovers, red herbaceous weeds. be more vigorous. Unfortunately, clover (Trifolium pratense) and white mowing at this time cuts back the Basal bark treatment during the clover (Trifolium repens), are common • prairie grasses and later-blooming dormant season of late fall and winter. problems in prairie restorations. Like flowers just as they are at peak This is used for controlling young many members of the legume family, activity. However, since they are woody plants. The herbicide is mixed the seeds of these two clovers can perennials, they do not experience with a crop oil or diesel fuel to help it remain viable in the soil for decades, long-term damage from this one-time penetrate the bark into the vascular and they will often germinate in newly event. tissue that carries the herbicide into seeded prairies. the roots to kill the plant. This After the warm-season prairie grasses They initiate growth in early spring, method works on most trees and have gone dormant and the leaves are getting a head start over predominantly shrubs with basal diameters less than crispy to the touch, the appropriate warm-season prairie flowers and 6 inches. Older trees have bark that is grass-selective herbicide can be grasses, and extract nitrogen from the too thick for the herbicide mixture to applied to the still-green new growth atmosphere to enhance their growth penetrate. Great care must be taken of the nonnative cool-season grasses. rates. Mid-spring controlled burning is to avoid applying excess herbicide Most foliar-applied herbicides are an effective tool to knock back these that drips down the trunk into the ineffective when the air temperature two aggressive plants that can smother

18 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 young prairie plants in the first few clover over taller plants by removing years after seeding, if left uncontrolled. the top growth of its competitors. White LEARN MORE clover is difficult to control without fire; The ability of clovers to efficiently n Prairie Nursery’s website has a variety of burning eliminates its leaves down to resources and guides available. obtain nitrogen from the air gives them the soil level. a significant advantage over most prairie n Book: “The Tallgrass Prairie Center Guide to species. This can be counteracted, The application of nitrogen fertilizer Prairie Restoration in the Upper Midwest” by although not halted, by the judicious in mid-spring after burning or close Daryl Smith, Dave Williams, Greg Housel and application of slow-release nitrogen mowing and raking has been shown Kirk Henderson, University of Iowa Press, 2010. fertilizers that contain no phosphorous. to be effective in favoring many prairie n Tallgrass Prairie Center Resources for species. As the prairie matures and plants It is rare that one would apply fertilizers Practitioners gain in height, taller native species of any type to a prairie, especially n Herbicide safety training and certification will tend to shade out the white clover nitrogen, which tends to grow bigger is recommended through your state over time, although not completely weeds faster. However, the addition of extension offices to learn about personal eliminate it. nitrogen essentially levels the playing protective equipment, related laws, field for non-leguminous prairie plants Material Data Safety Sheets and the proper by neutralizing the nitrogen-fixing Conclusion: Prevent weeds techniques including how to mix up advantage of the clovers. Fertilizers that before planting is best herbicides, and drift reduction. Training contain a combination of nitrogen and The most effective method of preventing example: Ohio State University Extension potassium can also be used as long as weed problems when establishing prairie n Phone apps for pesticide use they do not contain any phosphorus, meadows and gardens is to select a which favors the growth of legumes. site that does not have a history of Apply the fertilizer at one-third to one- weed infestation, and then eliminate half the rate recommended for lawns. all perennial weeds on the site prior to For maximum effect, the prairie should planting. Smothering small areas of 1,000 be mowed to ground level in mid- square feet or less with cardboard or old spring after the clovers have put on rugs for one full growing season (April significant new growth, and then the through October) will eliminate practically mowed material should be raked off. all perennial weeds, with the exception This cuts back their new growth, of pernicious rhizomatous species like depriving them of their foliage and Canada thistle, field bindweed and crown weakening their root systems. vetch, which require two consecutive Immediately after mowing and raking, years of smothering. apply nitrogen fertilizer. The clovers If a problem weed is spotted in a planting, will re-grow, and are often an ongoing it should be dispatched immediately, problem, but at least the prairie plants before it spreads. Although prairie gardens will have more of a fighting chance and meadows are low maintenance, they against them. are not no maintenance. With a modest Red clover is a short-lived perennial that amount of pre-emptive effort early on, reaches its maximum development in larger weed problems can be avoided the first three or four years of prairie with a little timely intervention. a seeding, and then gradually fades away. The first few years after seeding are the NEIL DIBOLL is a consulting ecologist and most critical for the development of the president of Prairie Nursery, Inc., in Westfield, slow-growing prairie seedlings, and red Wisconsin. Recognized internationally as an clover must be controlled to prevent it expert in ecological and natural landscape from smothering them during this time. design, Diboll is also a lifetime honorary Steve Hull walks through his prairie, then seven Mowing at a height of six inches every national director of the Wild Ones. years old, in Winchester, Wisconsin. month or so during the first two growing seasons will help prevent red clover from shading out the young prairie plants. White clover is a longer-lived perennial that grows about 3-6 inches tall and creeps rapidly by rhizomes to form a mat that can smother other plants. Mowing will not control white clover, as it does not grow tall enough to be damaged by cutting. In fact, regular mowing at 2 to 6 inches favors white

Colorful flowers make up the prairie garden of Fay Lentz, of Harrisville, Wisconsin.

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 19 By Candy Sarikonda n late December 2016, I journeyed to California to visit Lighthouse Field State Monarchs, Beach and Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary, two of the monarch overwintering sites along the California coast that usually host large numbers of monarchs. ILighthouse Field in Santa Cruz has been hosting monarchs each winter for rainbows years in a grove near Pelton Avenue and West Cliff Drive. On the day of my visit, AND I found about 8,000 monarchs at the site, tucked in native cypress trees in the southeast corner of the grove. Some were on the perimeter of the grove, roosting and basking in the sun. But the majority were tucked in the U-shaped nook, also predatory catching the afternoon sun as they basked and nectared on nearby eucalyptus blossoms and ice plant, an alien and fast-growing succulent. I always enjoy seeing how the monarchs could pack themselves so tightly into the cypress branches, but the strong glare made it challenging to observe them. At first, it appeared that squirrels there were only a few thousand monarchs. But looking through my camera lens, I could zoom in and see many more monarchs tucked deeper into the cypress Visiting branches. It was stunning. overwintering sites I then journeyed to the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. in California This grove, a small mature forest located in the city of Pacific Grove, contains a mix of nonnative eucalyptus and native pine and cypress trees. Monarchs tend to cluster in the south/southeast perimeter section of this grove, taking advantage of the sun’s path to warm them throughout the day. In the line of eucalyptus trees bordering the southern edge of the grove, monarchs can often be observed following the sun as the day progresses. A number of trees in the grove shield monarchs from prevailing northwest winds. But as weather worsens and storms move in, strong storms dominated by southerly winds will lead monarchs to take shelter in the interior of the grove to help shield them from these strong winds. In recent years, the grove has been experiencing some decline as aging eucalyptus trees lose branches and native pines and cypress battle pitch canker disease. The recent loss of trees has opened up the interior of the grove, allowing northwest winds to penetrate deeper. The eucalyptus on the south side of the grove are old, and new adjacent plantings suffer a bit from drought stress and the shade created by the adjacent older eucalyptus trees. The grove certainly has its restoration challenges, but neighbors’ trees help provide the microclimate needs that monarchs seek, and the grove continues to attract a good number of monarchs each winter. On Dec. 31, 2016, I joined staff and volunteers from Pacific Grove Museum of Monarchs gather in a neighbor’s Natural History to conduct a count of the monarch butterflies overwintering at the pine tree to Pacific Grove sanctuary. The sanctuary has long been a preferred overwintering bask in the sun. site in California, one of about 200 sites located along the California coast. Each PHOTO: Candy Sarikonda. year, during a three-week period around Thanksgiving Day and again around New Year's Day, researchers and volunteers visit overwintering sites to conduct a count of the monarchs spending the winter at these locations. The Western Monarch numbers Thanksgiving Count is coordinated by Mia Monroe and the Xerces Society, up slightly from 2015 and has been conducted annually for 20 years. The 2016 Western Monarch Thanksgiving This winter, the monarch butterflies at PGMS spent much of their time clustered Count found 298,464 western overwin- in trees on the neighbors' properties. But Pacific Grove, known as Butterfly Town, tering monarchs across the California U.S.A., is a town that loves its monarch butterflies, and we were graciously invited coast. These results show an increase of by a neighbor to observe and count the monarchs from her yard. Nick Stong, 26,540 butterflies compared to the 2015 education programs manager for the museum, was leading the count, along with count, but the number is a fraction of the seasoned volunteers Stephanie Turcotte Edenholm and Connie Masotti. A soft 1.2 million reported in the late 1990s. drizzle started just as we reached the neighbor's yard. Undeterred, the team Although the number of reported western counted the number of butterflies in each cluster, located high in a nearby mature monarchs increased this year, the pine tree. At first, the butterflies appeared like dead leaves gathered tightly difference is likely due to a large increase in together at the tips of the tree branches. Their closed wings displayed the darker monitoring efforts. About 100 volunteers grays and browns of the undersides of their wings, providing a perfect camouflage. monitored a record-breaking 253 sites. But as the sun pierced the rain, some butterflies began to open their wings, View the final count here. 20 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 revealing their brilliant orange like pieces of stained glass adorning the branches. A rainbow graced the clusters from above, a precious gift on a chilly 45-degree morning. Researchers pinpoint birthplaces We completed the count from the neighbor's yard, and returned to the grove of migratory monarchs entrance as the rain came to an end. Finally, for the first time this season, some Researchers analyzing “chemical fingerprints” in the monarchs had moved from the neighbors' yards and clustered inside the grove in wings of more than 1,000 butterflies collected as far good numbers. They had formed clusters midway up in the old eucalyptus trees back as the mid-1970s have pinpointed the lining the grove's southern edge near the entrance. The team began counting the birthplaces of migratory monarch butterflies that overwinter in Mexico. monarchs in these clusters. They started by selecting a large cluster in a single tree. They each counted the monarchs in the cluster, and then compared their findings. Not surprisingly, the largest percentage of monarchs They then counted all the other clusters in that tree, agreeing on a final count migrated to Mexico from the Midwest. But the numbers before moving on to the next tree that contained monarchs. They made note of the were far fewer than previously thought, according to tree species the monarchs were found in, as well as the height at which the clusters the research published in Global Change Biology in January 2017. were located. “We expected the vast majority of monarch butterflies We walked further down the path and located a few additional clusters about 45 to be found in the Midwestern states,” Tyler Flockhart, feet up in Monterey pine trees overhanging the path, and counted these as well. lead author and Liber Ero postdoctoral fellow at the From this point in the grove, we could peer through the eucalyptus trees and see University of Guelph told Science Daily. “However, just the neighbor’s pine tree where we had counted the monarchs earlier. While the 38 percent come from that part of the USA. If we just grove was still quite shady, the neighbor’s pine tree was in the direct morning sun, focus conservation activities on this area, this research though completely exposed to any wind. I wondered aloud why they had picked shows we will be missing a large number of butterflies that particular tree. Could it be the morning sun? Stong wondered as well. He said born elsewhere in North America.” it had been a very cold winter and the grove's interior had reached near freezing In fact, the researchers found that 12 percent of the temperatures at times. He and his team wondered if some of the monarchs were insects were born in the Northwestern U.S. and sacrificing a windbreak in favor of a location in the direct sun. Canadian prairies, 17 percent in the North Central states and Ontario, 15 percent in the Northeastern U.S. We decided to move deeper into the interior of the grove, following trails carved out and the Maritimes, 11 percent in South Central U.S. by the resident deer population. As we walked, we discussed predation of monarchs and 8 percent in the Southeastern states. by squirrels in the grove. Masotti reported finding 192 monarchs alive on the ground Researchers also discovered a variation in the with their abdomens missing and their wings and thorax still intact. Another 30 proportion of monarchs from each region varied with monarchs were already dead, their abdomens also missing. Stong described how the climate. In addition, they determined that while abdomens had been removed with near-surgical precision, conservation efforts on the breeding grounds focused leaving some monarchs attempting to fly despite the absence on the Midwest region will likely have the greatest of their abdomens. The team recalled how they had thought benefit to eastern North American migratory monarchs, this might be due to attacks by wasps — until they witnessed that the population would also likely remain sensitive squirrels preying on the monarchs. Masotti captured photos to regional and stochastic weather patterns. of a squirrel consuming the monarchs, a highly unusual Guelph University researchers worked with collabora- behavior given that monarchs have some protection from tors at Western University in London, Ontario, the Uni- predation due to their toxicity and bitter taste. Clearly, at least versity of Georgia, Sweet Briar College in Virginia, one squirrel in the grove is undeterred by the monarchs’ toxicity. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Environ- ment Canada and the International Atomic Energy A squirrel eats the abdomen of a monarch at the Pacific Grove Monarch Agency. In addition, Lincoln Brower of Sweet Brian Sanctuary. It is a highly unusual behavior given that monarchs have some College, who has studied monarchs for more than 50 protection from predation due to their toxicity and bitter taste. years, collected most of the older monarch samples. PHOTO: Connie Masotti After two hours, we had completed our count; our final tally for the day was 4,520 monarchs. Like the eastern population, the western population of monarchs has experienced a significant decline over the past two decades, dropping 81 percent since the late 1990s. Many monarch enthusiasts are aware that most monarchs east of the Rockies spend the winter in Mexico. But far fewer people are aware that most monarchs west of the Rockies spend the winter in California. Bringing public awareness to the plight of the western monarch population is a mission currently being undertaken by many Monarch Joint Venture partners. Research efforts in the west have led to a greater understanding of monarch breeding, migratory and overwintering behavior, as well as the creation and restoration of breeding and overwintering habitat. If you would like to learn more about the western monarch population, visit the Western Monarch Count Resource Center. Consider volunteering with one of the organizations involved in western monarch conservation. Opportunities abound, and your help is greatly needed! a CANDY SARIKONDA is a Monarch Watch conservation specialist and serves on the national “Wild for Monarchs” committee. A member of the Oak Openings, Ohio chapter of Monarchs cluster in a eucalyptus tree in the Wild Ones, she enjoys monarch research, habitat restoration, writing and photography, and Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. The number hopes to use those interests to leave this world a better, healthier place for generations to come. of overwintering monarchs is down this year. For more information, go to http://monarchwatch.org/cs/. PHOTO: Candy Sarikonda

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 21 Alliaria petiolata is an invasive species that can The leaves of Alliaria petiolata are starting to shrivel two spread quickly and displace native plants. PHOTO: WDNR weeks after being treated with herbicides. PHOTO: WDNR

By Kelly Kearns your area and learn about those likely to invade ost native plant gardeners are all too familiar your yard so you will catch them before they with garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This spread. Take photos or collect samples of invasive species from Eurasia can spread unknown plants and get them identified ASAP, M especially if they seem to be expanding rapidly. quickly, displacing native plants. Landowners are encouraged to assess their site and determine The size of your site and the garlic mustard the best long-term approach to control. population, as well as the resources you have Garlic mustard is easily identified in the spring. available, will determine what control methods It is a biennial and lives through the winter as you should use. Unless you have a crew of a a low green rosette. As soon as warm weather dozen volunteers or a great deal of time to hits, the plant sends up a typically 2-3-foot tall devote to this, hand pulling alone is a huge flowering stalk. It bears many small four-petaled challenge for populations of an acre or more in white flowers that produce numerous slender size. Herbicides may be considered when sites approximately 2-inch seed pods called siliques. are too large to hand pull. Fire, either with a One plant can produce several thousand dark, propane torch or as a controlled burn, may be shiny seeds. Identification is easy — all parts a better option for some sites. of the plant smell like garlic when crushed. Regardless of the control method used, it is Its scientific name, Alliaria, means garlic-like necessary to continue the effort every year and it has been used as a food seasoning. because there are usually seeds in soil or nearby Garlic mustard can significantly alter the populations of garlic mustard. Seeds are likely to composition of entire forests. When this species stay viable for 7-10 years. Eradicating the plant enters a woodland, it quickly spreads and can will take an on-going and annual commitment. If dominate the forest floor. Garlic mustard often you can’t commit to long-term control, you should displaces native wildflowers, ferns and many reconsider if it is feasible to work on the site. tree seedlings. It can also affect wildlife by New or small populations of garlic mustard must reducing the number of native plants on which be dealt with correctly, completely and annually they depend for survival. It can even have a to get it under control. Control efforts should be negative impact on mature trees since chemicals conducted in spring before the plants flower, or produced by the garlic mustard may kill early in their flowering stage. This is generally beneficial mycorrhizal fungi that tree roots done by hand pulling, spraying or a combination need to absorb nutrients. of the two. Mark the site well and come back Preventing the introduction of garlic mustard each spring to remove all flowering plants. seeds and regular scouting for first plants are key Hand pulling is the easiest and most effective to keeping woodlands free of garlic mustard or way to control new or small populations. Always other invasive plants. Always clean your boots, try to pull the entire root up. If the root is broken tools and muddy dogs after being in infested sites. TOP: In the mustard family, the Alliaria off, the plant will send up more flowering stalks When there’s work like logging done on your petiolata flower is white with four petals. to replace the single one you broke off. Plants land, ask that the equipment is properly cleaned PHOTO: WDNR that are pulled before they flower can be bagged before it comes to your site. Be cautious when MIDDLE: Once pollinated, Alliaria or spread out to dry. But, any pulled plants left in accepting gifts of plants from the yards of well- petiolata’s flowers develop into slender piles may stay moist and continue to grow and meaning friends. They may come with unseen seed pods called siliques. PHOTO: WDNR develop flowers, then seeds. invasive seeds, roots or even nonnative worms. LOWER: Alliaria petiolata seedlings develop If the plants are already in flower, the flowering Regularly walk your land to look for any new into rosettes the first growing season. parts must be bagged up and carefully disposed plants. Learn to identify the invasive plants in PHOTO: WDNR of. Return to the site within a few weeks to find

22 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 Nursery-grown NATIVE PLANTS OF THE MIDWEST for prairie, woodland or natural garden.

Alliaria petiolata can spread quickly and impact the ground flora and regeneration of trees. PHOTO: WDNR and pull all the plants missed, or ones that re-sprouted or released since the first pull. At many fine Careful application of herbicide may be used to control large populations. Garlic mustard rosettes can be sprayed as soon as garden centers in: they start growing early in the spring. When possible, time SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN your application to be finished before the plants begin to flower. You will need less herbicide and reduce the likelihood of seed CENTRAL WISCONSIN developing. If sprayed in the mid- to late-flowering stage, plants NORTHERN ILLINOIS may still produce seed prior to dying. When glyphosate is used on garlic mustard, it may take up to 2 weeks for the plants to die. Find them at When treating large plants, some of the smaller plants nearby may WWW.NORTHERNSUNSET.COM. be shielded by the larger leaves and go untreated. Return to do follow-up control when possible. For quicker control of garlic mustard, it is best to remove or treat the rosettes in the fall. Anyone applying herbicide should be very careful to avoid drift onto adjacent, non-target native plants. In small sites, you may use something like a piece of cardboard to shield the nearby native put garlic mustard plants from the spray. Remember, it is critical to read all safety Finally, labels and wear personal protective equipment. It is important to be trained to safely use any herbicide. Training and certification where it belongs — programs are available in all states. Fire can also be a useful tool to knock back young garlic mustard on our T-shir ts! plants. It is especially effective on seedlings before they have developed Wear your very own message a large taproot. Only a trained crew about the horrors of garlic mustard. with proper equipment and burn Buy the “garlic mustard spreads” permits should conduct a prescribed T-shirt at the Wild Store. s fire. On smaller sites, a propane torch with a long wand can be an efficient way to quickly kill patches of seedlings. This is best done on a damp day, when the chance of fire spreading can be minimized. Be aware that the disturbed soil created by fire, hand-pulling or herbicide may encourage more seeds to germinate. This may be a good thing, potentially depleting the seed bank more quickly. If you run across an area with a large amount of garlic mustard, $15 closeout includes shipping and handling plan your long-term approach to determine if control is feasible before calling in volunteers. Start first with reading the many This colorful shirt was designed by cartoonist and resources available on websites and publications, such as the Wild Ones member John Klossner. Comes complete UW-Extension, to help you identify garlic mustard and plan with Kathy Kudla’s garlic mustard spread recipe. your on-going management strategy. a Only 2 large and 1 medium available. Act now! KELLY KEARNS is the invasive plant coordinator for the Natural Heritage Conservation Program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 23 CHAPTER NEWS

Tennessee Valley Chapter, Tennessee, is sponsoring a Certificate in Native Plants class in March. The CNP class, “Ferns & Mosses,” is open for registration, but there is limited capacity. Registration is also open for the chapter’s Plant Natives 2017! Symposium on March 18. The symposium features four speakers, including Claudia West, author of “Planting in a Post-Wild World.” For more information about the annual symposium and to register, as well as the CNP class, visit the chapter’s website. You can also learn about a new workshop for landscape designers and installers, government and corporate landscape planners and experienced native plant gardeners on March 17 there. Join the Oak Openings Chapter, Ohio, on April 20 for an Earth Day Special Event: Hometown Habitat at 6:45-9 p.m. at the Maumee Indoor Theater, 601 Conant St., Maumee. Co-sponsored with the Black Swamp Conservancy, this is a free public screening of the 90- minute documentary by award-winning filmmaker and Wild Ones Honorary Director Catherine Zimmerman. Zimmerman will be on hand to introduce the film and Oak Openings Wild Ones members and friends built a Native Bee participate in a panel Hotel made from recycled materials and planted a host plant and discussion following. For nectar garden for pollinators at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in information and updates, Ohio in 2013. Both serve as educational resources for fairgoers and see http://OakOpenings. 4-H members. WildOnes.org The Greater Cincinnati Chapter, Ohio, invites you to “Hike Caesar Creek Gorge” from 1:30-3:30 p.m. April 23. For the past nine years, the chapter has organized volunteers to remove nonnative invasive Amur honeysuckle on Give Back Day. Spring ephemerals have rebounded and should be in their full glory so you can now view and admire the results of their efforts. For information, contact Chris McCullough at [email protected] Northfield Prairie Partners, Minnesota, is planning a bus tour in July. “Gardening for Pollinators,” led by the Red Wing members, will leave Northfield at 2 p.m. and arrive in Red Wing at 3 p.m. For more information contact Arlene Kjar at [email protected]. The Kettle Moraine Wild Ones, Wisconsin, has a new library available for its members. Books on all aspects of natural landscaping, natural history, birds, plants, butterflies and other pollinators are available. Member Judy Wildermuth is the chapter librarian. Larry and Emily Scheunemann and Mariette Nowak donated the books for the library. Wildermuth will bring the books to the chapter’s indoor meetings and members are free to check out books for a month. For information, contact Wildermuth at [email protected] and reference “Wild Ones Library” in the subject line. The Fox Valley Area Chapter, Wisconsin, is holding a spring plant sale and pre- orders are due March 20. Plants will be available for pick up in early May. Contact Sharon Rainmann at [email protected] or 920-410-6935. More information and order forms are available here. a 24 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017 Business, Affiliate Members and Professional Educators NEW BUSINESS MEMBERS Sparrow Landscaping LLC Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum Iron Oaks Landscapes Jennifer Baker P.O. Box 626 Shannon Godby W8181 County Road E South Haven, MI 49090-9173 9042 E. 200 North Oxford, WI 53952 www.libertyhydebailey.org Mill Creek, IN 46365 www.sparrowlandplanning.com [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Kalamazoo Area Gibson Woods Madison Oak Brook Park District Wild Bird Unlimited of Canal True Nature Design, LLC 1450 Forest Gate Road Winchester, Ohio Roxanne Stuhr Oak Brook, IL 60523-2159 LouAnn White 4055 25th Ave. South www.obparks.org 5475 Dexter Falls Road Minneapolis, MN 55406 [email protected] Columbus, OH 43221 [email protected] Greater DuPage Twin Cities [email protected] Tomahawk Archers Columbus W & E Radtke Inc./Northern Sunset P.O. Box 512 RENEWING BUSINESS Perennials Temperance, MI 48182 MEMBERS W168 N12276 Century Lane http://tomahawkarchers.com Germantown, WI 53022-1906 [email protected] Bluestem Farm www.northernsunset.com Oak Openings Region Martha Barrett www.weradtke.com S5920 Lehman Road [email protected] RENEWING PROFESSIONAL Baraboo, WI 53913 Menomonee River Area www.bluestemfarm.com EDUCATORS [email protected] RENEWING AFFILIATE MEMBERS Elisabeth A. Raleigh Madison Calumet College of St Joseph 32 Barton St. Door Landscape & Nursery Gene Kessler Somerville, MA 02144-1508 Clifford Orsted 2400 New York Ave. [email protected] 6329 State Highway 42 Whiting, IN 46394 Partner-at-Large Egg Harbor, WI 54209-9138 [email protected] Blossom Home Child Care www.doorlandscape.com Gibson Woods Jeannine Palms [email protected] Douglas-Hart Nature Center 2656 Easy St. Door County Marissa Grant Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6528 Mystic Natives Horticultural 2204 DeWitt Ave. East www.wetmeadow.org Services Mattoon, IL 61938 [email protected] Charles Boos www.dhnature.org Ann Arbor 67 Farmstead Ave. www.dhnature.org Mystic, CT 6355 [email protected] Good Natured Landscapes [email protected] Illinois Prairie Denise Sandoval & Frank Oboikovitz Mountain Laurel 30 W. 145 Allister Lane Friends of the Cumberland Trail Northern Native Plantscapes Naperville, IL 60563-1811 Sally Wencel www.goodnaturedlandscapes.com Sarah R. Boles 1909 Windy Oaks Lane 25350 S. Garden Ave. [email protected] Hixson, TN 37343 Greater DuPage Cable, WI 54821 www.friendsofthecumberlandtrail.org [email protected] [email protected] Oasis Ecological Services Partner-at-Large Tennessee Valley Darlene Walder Pierce Cedar Creek Institute Kickapoo Mud Creek Nature P.O. Box 243 Jen Howell Signal Mountain, TN 37377 701 W. Cloverdale Road Conservancy Kent & Kathy Lawrence [email protected] Hastings, MI 49058 Tennessee Valley [email protected] 1919 N. Limekiln Road Kalamazoo Area Oregon, IL 61061-0038 Principals-LandServe LLC www.kickapoomudcreek.org John & Marie Mariani Possibility Place Nursery [email protected] 2056 Knob Road Connor Shaw Rock River Valley 7548 W. Monee Manhattan Rd. Burlington, WI 53105-8604 Monee, IL 60449-9676 Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden [email protected] www.possibilityplace.com Daniel S. Riggs Kettle Moraine [email protected] 2715 S. Main St. Rockford, IL 61102 NEW PROFESSIONAL Will County EDUCATORS Red Buffalo Nursery [email protected] Jack L. Kaskel Rock River Valley Living Sculpture Trees 10502 Seaman Road Lemkin House Inc. Jim Nayes Hebron, IL 60034-8822 P.O. Box 51334 5900 Zehnder Road www.redbuffalonursery.com Kalamazoo, MI 49005 Sunfish Lake, WI 55077 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Rock River Valley Kalamazoo Area St. Croix Oak Savanna Permaculture Design Consultant Anne Tobey-Garcia LIFETIME MEMBERS 1S141 Pine Lane Tori S. Trauscht, Lake-To-Prairie Lombard, IL 60148 Janice Hand & Rick Sanders, Partner-at-Large [email protected] Jessica Miller, Twin Cities Greater DuPage

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 25

Chapter Anniversaries The Meeting Place 25 years — Milwaukee-Southwest/ Wehr, Wis. 25 years — Greater DuPage, Ill. 16 years — Twin Cities, Minn. 15 years — Red Cedar, Mich. COLORADO Wild Ones of Will County Chapter ─ New 13 years — Wolf River Wis. Front Range Chapter ─ Denver Area Lenox, Will County Area 11 years — Mid-Mitten, Mich. http://frontrange.wildones.org/ http://willcounty.wildones.org/ 10 years — Oak Openings Region, Linda Hellow [email protected] Fran Beck [email protected] Ohio [email protected] www.facebook.com/WillCountyWildOnes 6 years — Kettle Moraine, Wis. 6 years — Northfield Prairie Part- CONNECTICUT INDIANA ners, Minn. Mountain Laurel Chapter ─ New London Area Gibson Woods Chapter ─ Hammond Area http://wildones.org/chapters/ct/ http://www.gw-wildones.org/ Janis Solomon [email protected] Pat Rosenwinkel [email protected] Mark Your Allen Gauthier [email protected] www.facebook.com/groups/77221323530/ KENTUCKY Calendars Lexington Chapter ─ Lexington, Danville Area ILLINOIS http://lexington.wildones.org/ March 16-19 Beate Popkin [email protected] Lansing Home & Garden Show Greater DuPage Chapter ─ Naperville Area Michigan State University Pavilion http://dupage.wildones.org/ Louisville Chapter (Seedling) — 4301 Farm Lane, East Lansing, MI Pat Clancy 630-964-0448 Hart Hagan [email protected] [email protected] MICHIGAN March 18 Illinois Prairie Chapter ─ Bloomington, Normal Area Ann Arbor Chapter ─ Ann Arbor Area Designing for Nature http://illinoisprairie.wildones.org/ http://annarbor.wildones.org/ Native Plant Symposium Janet Rasmussen Andrea Matthies 734-604-4674 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. [email protected] [email protected] UTC University Center www.facebook.com/ILPrairieWildOnes/ Tennessee Valley Chapter Central Upper Peninsula Chapter ─ Lake-To-Prairie Chapter ─ Mundelein Area Gladstone Area April 27 http://laketoprairie.wildones.org/ http://wildones.org/chapters/centralup/ Earth Day Sandra Miller 847-546-4198 Laurie Johnsons 906-428-4358 [email protected] April 28 [email protected] Arbor Day North Park Chapter ─ Chicago Area Grand Traverse Chapter (Seedling) ─ http://northparkvillage.wildones.org/ Traverse City Area May 1-7 Wilma McCallister [email protected] Philip Jarvi [email protected] National Wildflower Week Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Northern Kane County ─ Elgin Area Kalamazoo Area Chapter ─ Kalamazoo Area http://northernkanecounty.wildones.org/ http://www.kalamazoowildones.org/ May Steve Rice [email protected] Neil Sikora [email protected] American Wetlands Month www.facebook.com/NKWildOnes Mid-Mitten Chapter ─ Midland, Bay, Saginaw, http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/topics/ Rock River Valley Chapter ─ Rockford Area Isabella Area wetlands/wetlandsMonth.htm http://wildonesrrvc.org/ http://wildones.org/chapters/midland/ Ginnie Watson [email protected] Robert Maxwell 989-708-4884 www.facebook.com/wil- Constance McCarthy [email protected] [email protected] dones.nativeplants.natural- Chapter phone: 815-627-0344 North Oakland Chapter ─ Clarkston Area landscapes www.facebook.com/wildonesrockrivervalley http://northoakland.wildones.org/ Jane Giblin 248-877-1434 https://twitter.com/Wil- Tupelo Chapter ─ Murphysboro, Carbondale, [email protected] dOnesNatives Carterville Area ─ Northern Detroit Area Ruth Kelley [email protected] Oakland Chapter http://wildones.org/chapters/oakland/ pinterest.com/wonational/ www.facebook.com/Tupelo-Wild-Ones- Maryann Whitman 248-652-4004 1047873265232189/ www.linkedin.com/compa- [email protected] ny/wild-ones-native-plants- West Cook Chapter ─ West Cook County, ─ Lansing Area natural-landscapes Oak Park Area Red Cedar Chapter http://www.wildoneslansing.org/ http://westcook.wildones.org/ www.youtube.com/user/ [email protected] Pamela Todd [email protected] WildOnesNPNL Betty Seagull 517-349-1373

For information about starting a chapter in your area: www.wildones.org/connect/chapter-start-up-information/

26 www.wildones.org | Wild Ones Journal | March/April 2017

River City–Grand Rapids Area Chapter ─ NEW YORK Door Peninsula Chapter ─ Door County Grand Rapids Area Habitat Gardening in Central New York ─ http://wildones.org/chapters/doorcounty/ http://rivercitywildones.org/ Syracuse Area Dale and Mary Goodner Maribeth Bolt 616-450-3001 http://wildones.org/chapters/centralny/ [email protected] [email protected] Janet Allen 315-487-5742 [email protected] Driftless Area (Seedling) — [email protected] www.facebook.com/hgcny Joyce Cielecki [email protected] Southeast Michigan Chapter ─ Warren Area OHIO ─ Appleton, http://wildones.org/chapters/semich/ Fox Valley Area Chapter Columbus Chapter ─ Columbus Area Fond du Lac Area Fred Kaluza 586-939-2470 http://columbus.wildones.org/ http://foxvalleyarea.wildones.org/ [email protected] Cecelia Jokerst [email protected] Tim McKeag MINNESOTA Dayton Area Chapter ─ Dayton Area [email protected] Arrowhead Chapter ─ Duluth Area Janet Lasley, [email protected] Kristin Kauth 920-766-2292 [email protected] http://arrowhead.wildones.org/ Greater Cincinnati Chapter ─ Cincinnati Area Carol Andrews 218-529-8204 http://www.cincinnatiwildones.org/ Green Bay Chapter ─ Green Bay Area [email protected] Chris McCullough 513-860-4959 http://wildonesgreenbay.blogspot.com/ Big River Big Woods Chapter ─ St Paul, [email protected] Justin Kroening 920-716-2879 [email protected] East Metro Area North East Ohio Chapter (Seedling) ─ http://bigriverbigwoods.wildones.org/ Cuyahoga and Lake Counties Kettle Moraine Chapter ─ East Troy Area Eva Ekola [email protected] Ronda Leffel [email protected] http://wildones.org/chapters/kettle/ www.facebook.com/Wild-Ones-Big- www.facebook.com/WildOnesNEO16 Mariette Nowak 262-642-2352 River-Big-Woods-1650671815222644 [email protected] Oak Openings Region Chapter ─ Toledo Area Northfield Prairie Partners Chapter ─ http://oakopenings.wildones.org/ Madison Chapter ─ Madison Area Cannon Valley, Northfield Area Hal Mann 419-874-6965 http://wildones.org/chapters/madison/ http://northfield.wildones.org/ [email protected] Barb Glassel 608-819-0087 Arlene Kjar 507-645-8903 www.facebook.com/wildonesoak [email protected] [email protected] openings Sue Reindollar 608-233-9383 Prairie Edge Chapter ─ Chanhassen Area OREGON Menomonee River Area Chapter ─ http://prairieedge.wildones.org/ Monarch Butterfly Alliance Chapter Menomonee Falls Area Marilynn Torkelson 952-906-1482 (seedling) ─ Westside Village Magnet http://menomoneeriverarea.wildones.org/ [email protected] School, Bend Lisa Oddis 414-303-3028 www.facebook.com/wildonesprairie Wendy Winchel [email protected] edge [email protected] Milwaukee North Chapter ─ Bayside Area St. Cloud Chapter ─ St Cloud Area http://wildones.org/chapters/milnorth/ http://wildones.org/chapters/stcloud/ TENNESSEE ─ Kodak Area Message Center: 414-299-9888 x1 Greg Shirley [email protected] Smoky Mountains Chapter Leo Lubke 865-932-9862 Milwaukee Southwest-Wehr St. Croix Oak Savanna Chapter ─ [email protected] Chapter ─ Franklin Area Stillwater Area www.facebook.com/Wild-Ones-Smoky- http://wildones.org/chapters/milswest/ http://stcroixoaksavanna.wildones.org/ Mountains-Chapter-935207423166640/ Message Center: 414-299-9888 x2 Kathy Widin 651-338-3651 Tennessee Valley Chapter ─ Chattanooga www.facebook.com/Wehr-Wild-Ones- [email protected] Area Southwest-Milwaukee-Wisconsin-Chap- Roger Miller [email protected] http://tennesseevalley.wildones.org/ ter-231520990255238/ www.facebook.com/WildOnesSt- Lisa Lemza CroixOakSavanna Root River Area Chapter ─ Racine Area [email protected] http://rootriverarea.wildones.org/ Twin Cities Chapter ─ Minneapolis Area www.facebook.com/wildonestennessee Chris Russin (608) 408-7082 c-russin@ http://www.wildonestwincities.org/ valleychapter/ northwestern.edu Julia Vanatta 612-722-6371 http://twitter.com/TN_WildOnes www.facebook.com/Wild-Ones-Root- [email protected] VIRGINIA River-Chapter-247197058747160/ MISSOURI Blue Ridge Chapter ─ Winchester Area Wolf River Chapter ─ Shawano Area Mid-Missouri Chapter ─ Columbia Area http://blueridge.wildones.org/ http://wildones.org/chapters/wolfriver/ http://midmissouri.wildones.org/ Donna Stekli [email protected] Bob Dumke 715-924-3117 Laura Hillman [email protected] [email protected] WISCONSIN Central Wisconsin Chapter ─ Stevens St. Louis Chapter ─ St Louis Area Point Area http://stlwildones.org/ http://www.bigbluestempress.com/wild/ Marsha Gebhardt 314-303-8309 wild.htm [email protected] Pete Arntsen 715-297-374 www.stlwildones.org [email protected]

March/April 2017 | Wild Ones Journal | www.wildones.org 27 PHOTO: Jacki Kossik How about a gift for: • Neighbors who are redoing their landscaping • Local aldermen who consider landscaping ordinances • Local inspectors who decide what is/isn’t a “weed” Better yet, how about: Volunteers wanted to • Neighborhood school classrooms help at the WILD Center. Help get them in tune with the environment We need help with: and inspire them to learn the •Weeding demonstration gardens importance of gardening for life. •Removing buckthorn (year round) Wild Ones Three membership levels •Restoring woodland understory and overstory Gift Memberships • Helping on First Thursdays (every month) All memberships include a variety of benefits including the WILD ONES JOURNAL. We are also in need of the following items: We’ll also send them a special acknowledgement • Crock pots letter along with the link to the top 18 JOURNAL •Silverware and serving utensils– used, but in good condition articles – a how-to-do-it sampling for all new and renewing members. •Sealer for wood deck •Living room furniture – used, but in good condition Go to: http://www.wildones.org/product/ •Outside deck furniture – used, but in good condition membership/gift-membership/ • Native trees (6-8 feet) – basswood and maple Send your •Native shrubs – witchhazel • Woodland plants – grasses, ephemerals, ferns, etc gift(s) today!

Wild Ones recommends that you patronize businesses that support Helping save the Earth our policies regarding species provenance and habitat preservation. has never been so easy. The appearance of advertising in the Journal does not constitute an endorsement by Wild Ones of any organization or product. What does national do for your chapter? ld O n Wi nes i Go to .. A lot. o www.wildones.org/join-the-movement/ . J Pick the membership level that’s right for you. Here is just one thing we do for you: Prefer to send a check? Whether Mail your membership fee to: you’re Wild Ones joining National enables large chapters to 2285 Butte des Morts Beach Rd. apply for reduced postal rates. Neenah, WI 54956 for the (Bulk mailings and non-profit rate) first time, or renewing for the YOU KN ID OW umpteenth D time... it’s easy 3rd in a series to do. PHOTO: Laura Hedien