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A publication of the VIRGINIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY http://www.vnps.org Conserving wild flowers and wild places Wild, wonderful West Virginia! Native plant enthusiasts team up for outdoors treat

A little bird got wind of a wildflower stands out, as does the indicator spe¬ Elizabeth next took us along the weekend scheduled for July 6 and 7, and cies, three-seeded sedge (Carex Blackwater River Trail to a magical at the last minute, eight of us from VNPS trisperma). We saw lots of alder-leaf place where the slow-moving water were able to join a group of West Vir¬ buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) and allowed for bluejoint grass ginia Native Plant Society members on my favorite, the showy glade spurge (Calamagrostis canadensis) and tus¬ a joint field trip coordinated by Shirley (Euphorbia purpurea). It turns out we sock sedge (Carex stricta) to dominate Gay. We each made private arrange¬ were walking through a chemical gra¬ the grassy riverside meadows. The ments for accommodations, staying dient, and we finished with seeing grass was soft to the touch and green, with friends or in vacation homes. Some some of the dozen or so sphagnum and the location so pristine, that we of the West Virginia folks stayed in the mosses building their own highly felt we had entered the landscape. lodge at Blackwater Falls State Park. We acidic substrate of peat. (See West Virginia, page 5) spent our first day in Canaan Valley State Park, where our guide was the sparkling Elizabeth Byers, vegetation ecologist with the West Virginia Divi¬ sion of Natural Resources. Some of you may remember her from our winter workshop three years ago when she was a presenter. We began with a walk on the Abe Run Boardwalk. We were entering a -_ globally rare (Gl) balsam fir-black ash swamp, fed by seepage water from lime¬ stone bedrock. When we first entered the woods, we noticed that the trees were almost exclusively maples, a sign of high calcium content in the soil. We were looking for the rare (G4) Jacob's ladder (Polemonium vanbruntiae), which we found, but not before being introduced to a dozen or so of the 47 Carex sp. present in the wetland. The Nancy Vehrs clambers out on Bear Rocks while on the West Virginia Native brome-like sedge (Carex bromoides) Plant Society trip. (Photo by Carol Hammer) VNPS Annual Meeting September 13-15! Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society From the president 'Garden in the Woods offers na tural inspira tion blue and white petals. White water lilies Garden in the Woods. That's the name for (Nymphaea odorata,) and tiny duckweed (Lemna,) the lovely public native plant garden of covered part of the pond's surface. the New England Wild Flower Society Other areas of interest included a small (NEWFS) that Harry and I visited in July In meadow as well as the bog garden where different addition to the garden, the NEWFS offices and species of the fascinating pitcher plants thrived. A educational center are located on the site in children's activity area featured a rock pond, Framingham, Massachusetts. Accessed from a habitat area, and a labyrinth currently under residential area, visitors drive up a one-way paved construction. The New England rare plants exhibit road through the woods to the parking area. The garden included some of our Virginia plants such bright blue blooms of Stoke’s asters (Stokesia as butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa,), sweet laevis,) greeted us at the garden entrance. The fern (Comptonia peregrine,), southern agrimony obligatory gift shop sells admission tickets to the (A. parviflora,), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), garden as well as a wonderful range of books and and creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis,). garden-themed items. Outside is a well-stocked One visit was not enough for me, so I returned native plant nursery shop. the next day to explore all of the side trails that I Tall fairy candles (Actaea racemosaj lit the had missed. Beyond the garden areas were more way along the first part of the main Curtis Path of native woods where lady's-slippers thrive in the crushed stone. The path is named for garden spring. The lovely Hop Brook was lined with lush founder Will C. Curtis who deeded his Garden in ferns and evoked the feeling of standing next to a the Woods to NEWFS in 1965. His original cottage mountain stream. If you're ever in the Boston area, can be found between the idea garden and the allow at least a few hours for a visit to the delight¬ original woodland garden. I found the stunning ful Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Turk's-cap lily (Lilium superbum) in bloom there discover the fruits of our nation's oldest native near some green-roofed garden sheds. Some raised plant society with its origins in 1900. propagation beds are nearby and filled with Our annual meeting is upon us and I hope to trillium and lady's-slipper seedlings. see many of you in Charlottesville. The field trips The long-established woodland garden is lush offer something for all interests - native plant with layers of green vegetation this time of year. gardens, trees, a national park, wetlands, mead¬ The sweet scent of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea ows, and more. The principal illustrator for the arborescensj permeated the humid air. A stone- Flora of Virginia, Lara Gastinger, will provide a stepped side trail tumbled like a waterfall. Just window into her artistic world for the Friday night beyond, the canopy opened to reveal a woodland presentation and on Saturday evening ecologist pond surrounded by the bright colors of swamp Nancy Adamson will share her considerable milkweed (Asclepias incarnata,), queen-of-the knowledge about the importance of native plants prairie (Filipendula rubra,), and pickerelweed for pollinators. (Pontederia cordata,). Nearby was a stunning Your President, Nancy Vehrs clump of zigzag iris (I- brevicaulis,), with its bright

Zigzag iris Turk's-cap lily Stoke's aster (Stokesia laevis) (I. brevicaulis) (Liliumsuperbum) Page 2 — . . —_ AUgUSt 2013 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society 'Poison ivy' itch continues Down Under Unmistakable masses of telltale oozing red blisters, the unbearable itch¬ Toxicodendron ing, the agonizing urge to scratch, radicans urushiol-induced contact dermatitis to poison ivy the medical profession, poison ivy to Illustration by the rest of us! Urushiol being the clear Nicky Staunton liquid compound found within the sap of the plant responsible for the reaction. How many times have we heard it, "Leaves of three beware of thee/' "lea ves of three, let it be," ? We all know them, words of wisdom passed down to the youngest of scouts on his or her best of training and wisdom gained cultural career moved me from first camping trip. Unremarkable, really, from past experience cannot always Williamsburg up to Richmond where I to anyone in Virginia accustomed to the ensure one's safety! Early in my career accepted a position as horticulturist occasional walk in the woods but how I worked as a landscape gardener in with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to explain this postcard from my past the gated-communities of greater and where once again I would encoun¬ here in the tropical corner of Far North Williamsburg where poison ivy grows ter my nemesis. Wikipedia explains Queensland, Australia, well-removed to great heights reaching its full poten¬ further: "Urushiol oil can remain ac¬ from the temperate forests of Virginia. tial in the moist humid stretches along tive for several years, so handling dead From an early age the woods called the river. Huge hairy vines cling to leaves or vines can cause a reaction. In me. I spent hours exploring the small loblolly pines (Pinus taeda), and reach addition, oil transferred from the plant patch of forest behind our house, but into the very canopies of the trees. And to other objects (such as pet fur) can not without risk. It was Alexandria, yes, we all know poison ivy when we cause the rash if it comes into contact Virginia, in the 1960s and still one see it, the key part of that phrase being, with the skin. Clothing, tools, and other could find the odd patch of remnant "when we see it..." It was here that I objects that have been exposed to the forest to explore. At age six, the big yel¬ caught the worst case I have ever had. oil should be washed to prevent fur¬ low school bus pulled up and I was off As gardeners we often like the feel of the ther transmission." to attend the, recently desegregated, earth and wearing gloves, seems, well, You can see where this is going... Stonewall Jackson Elementary School a hindrance when say, pulling weeds The horticultural team at Ginter, as one where we would file in, all, black and or transplanting seedlings. And, it was, would expect, all share tools, utility ve¬ white together, under the steady gaze while weeding false strawberry hicles, etc. Colleagues, let's not name any of a larger-than-life black and white (Duchnesnea indica) from under names, would occasionally take on clear¬ photograph of the Confederate war someone's astilbes that I must have got¬ ing out a patch of poison ivy, usually in hero. Not the easiest of times for a small, ten into the roots of a monster poison some out-of-the-way comer of the gar¬ glasses-wearing, always last-to-be- ivy vine that was not in immediate sight. den. And, very sensibly, wear gloves and picked-for-kickball kid, who wanted A day or two later my hands erupted protective clothing but then promptly nothing more than to disappear into into a continuous layer of blisters that handle garden tools or perhaps the steer¬ the background. And then it would resembled something one might come ing wheels of work vehicles - the same come, under the "You're not sick across in a medical journal - photo¬ tools that we all shared! Days later... and enough to stay home," mantra of my graphs of second or third degree burn miles away from any plant, again the mother, out the door and off to face the wounds. It was the first time I consid¬ blisters would appear; this time it was world or at least Stonewall Jackson El¬ ered seeking medical help. People have happening just too often and I did go to ementary, hands and face covered in in fact died from exposure to poison ivy, see the doctor. Cortisone cream became a chalky-pink calamine lotion, looking workers burning brush have unwit¬ mainstay of the medicine chest. At this whiter and pinker than ever - a result tingly inhaled smoke from burning Toxi¬ point, it might be helpful to note that of my woodland adventures. The codendron radicans which, when com¬ many people, old boy scouts, seem to love trauma, I mean memories..., all come ing into contact, has a similar effect on to perpetuate the old folklore that jewel- flooding back, poison ivy! the respiratory system. weed (Impatiens capensis) is a natural This love of nature and the forests According to Wikipedia, "Most remedy for poison ivy. How many times of Virginia ultimately led to a career in people will become sensitized with re¬ do we have to hear this wishful think¬ horticulture where I would once again peated or more concentrated exposure ing? Believe me, I have had ample op¬ confront my old adversary. Clearly an to urushiol" What's new? By now, all I portunity to test this out and can say occupational hazard. Toxicodendron needed to do was to simply look at the that, at least for me, it doesn't help and radicans should be up there with as¬ plant to break out in a rash. My horti¬ (See Skin irritation, page 6) bestos for horticulturists where even the August 2013 Page 3 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society Pocahontas SPoffers floral wonders to explore Named for a larger than life pro¬ one sagged during midlife and now has tagonist in one of the most iconic epi¬ an attractive tilted "S" shape in old age. sodes from Virginia's history, Another area may have a grove of red Pocahontas State Park is a green gem maples (Acer rubrum) that are replac¬ in the heart of a growing metropolis. ing pines and also indicating wet soil. As a Virginia-bred naturalist. I've In autumn these maples turn a brilliant been drawn to the park time and again red that seems to catch fire when struck and still haven't had opportunities by sunlight. enough to explore all of it. At nearly Another tree that came to the park's 8,000 acres, a complete floral survey once open fields was tulip tree would be quite an undertaking. How¬ (Liriodendron tiilipifera). All tulip trees ever, in my limited time, I have seen there are 80 eighty feet tall, sentinels many of its floral wonders. only able to recruit if and when another One of my favorite areas of the park major tree falls. The best opportunity is a grove of American beech (Fagus to see its tulip-like flower is when a grandiflora). American beech, once squirrel nips one off and it drops to the common in the east and now scattered forest floor. and rare, seems to retain its majesty In the presence of the aforemen¬ here. The grove is fetching at any sea¬ tioned canopy trees including several son but my favorite is in the autumn oak species such as northern red Pink lady's-slipper when the golden leaves and pale trunks (Quercus rubra), willow oak (Quercus Cypripedium acaule stand in bold contrast to a blue sky. This phellos), understory trees begin to colo¬ is also when a carpet of golden leaves nize, creating a subcanopy. In wet areas sometimes-close associate Indian cu¬ covers the ground and reflects the rays I have found non-flowering sweet bay cumber root (Medeola virginica). But of sunlight. In addition, this is also the (.Magnolia virginiana) and beautifully there are some open meadows in bright best time to see American beech's at¬ flowering pinxter flower (Rhododen¬ shade that support different flora. One tendant parasite, beech drops dron periclymenoides). At moist forest favorite is the beautiful but diminutive (Epifagus virginianus). In a propitious edges I once found a flowering fringe bluets (Houstonia caerulea) that are sunfleck you may see the purple brown tree (Chionanthus virginicus). In flower, generally hidden among grasses until stems and the brown-purple striped fringe tree takes on the appearance of the tiny powder blue cross flowers ap¬ flowers of beechdrops in stark contrast an arrested snowstorm. Other moist for¬ pear. Then you may see a bluet floral to the golden beech leaves. So incul¬ est edges have become thickets of red continuum creating a mist-blue carpet. cated is this beech grove that I have even chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) An orchid sporadically venturing into seen it in a dream. On drier forest edges I've seen spo- grassy meadows and sometimes ac¬ A wander on any park trail will radic flowering dogwood (Cornus companying bluets is southern slen¬ show visitors the history of the region. florida) whose floral subtending bracts der ladies'-tresses orchid (Spiranthes One area has a cluster of 70-foot tall assume bends and curls making them lacera var. gracilis) ranging from an loblolly pines indicating they were the appear as frothy waves at sea. A sad easily missed six inches to a fairly first to colonize open ground many sight on drier forest edges is an Ameri¬ majestic foot and a half. A large and years ago. One pine makes an interest¬ can chestnut (Castaena dentata) distinctive grass of the forest edge is ing landmark as unlike all others this robbed of its canopy status by chestnut bottlebrush grass (Hystrix patula or blight and now struggling Elymus hystrix) with long and starkly to remain an intermittent spiked awns. Other forest edge species member somewhere be¬ are far bolder than bluets and lady's- neath the subcanopy. tresses. In wetter lowlands, hoary tick Then there is the herb trefoil (Desmodium canescens) with its layer on the forest floor. perfectly Velcro-covered fragmenting Because much of the area fruits can restitch your shirttails, pant occurs on acidic sub¬ legs and socks into unpleasant new strates, you can expect an constricted arrangements. In drier up¬ acidophilus ground flora. lands tick trefoil (Desmodium The most magnificent paniculatum) provides the same ser¬ member of this flora is the vice. Grabbing your attention rather pink lady's-slipper (Cypri- than your clothes is the widespread Bluets, Houstonia caerulea pedium acaule) and a (See Pocahontas, page 8)

Page 4 August 2013 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society West Virginia Our last stop was at a seep along sundew (Drosera rotundifolia var. (Continued from page 1) Back Hollow Slope where we entered rotundifolia) and the introduced Another trail led us through a into an intense discussion about the Drosera intermedia. A first for me was meadow, then woods and then to the differences between southern and oceanorus (Zigadenus leimanthoides, edge of a swamp where we found a northern lady fern. It has to do with now Stenanthium leimanthoides), grow¬ surprising population of several dozen pointed toes, and no hairs on her legs, ing among vast stands of lushly bloom¬ Small's twayblade (Listera smallii). and where the lady is broad. ing mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). I The West Virginia folks knew that this Sunday was spent in Dolly Sods was dazzled. We also saw a small, rare orchid was there, but they had never with Brian Streets, staff ecologist with pitch pine (Pinus rigida) community at seen it in such abundance. the West Virginia Natural Heritage Pro¬ the edge of the bog. Some of the West gram. We met at the Division of Natu¬ Virginia members are active in the ral Resources' Laneville cabin at the be¬ Brooks Bird Club, and after lunch, they ginning of the Red Creek Trail, and from took us to a banding site where they ex¬ there drove north on a gravel road for plained their protocols for netting and much of the day. At the Dolly Sods Over¬ banding birds beginning in mid-Au¬ look, Brian explained that we were gust. We continued our drive north in standing on the Allegheny Front, the the rain and by the time we got to the highest massif in West Virginia, at the open heathland of Bear Rocks, the rain juncture of the intensely folded ridge had stopped, and the wind had picked and valley geologic strata and the gen¬ up. It was fitting weather to cap our day. tler Alleghenies. He described the steep When Thomas Lewis surveyed this area hike up North Fork Mountain to the in 1743, he noted the cranberry bog and east, with its reputed "best view in the the ridge top free of timber. Something is state." He clearly piqued my interest to keeping this bald open and the shrubs return and tackle the climb later. We saw low. The wind may well play a role. We a variety of heath shrubs including the climbed over rocks to great views to the minniebush (.Menziesia pilosa), as well north and east and descended to go our as wild holly (Nemopanthus separate ways, exchanging addresses mucronatus), both distinctive for their and vowing to join the West Virginia mucronate leaves. enthusiasts again. And, in fact, VNPS is The Northland Loop Trail to Alder already planning an extended field trip Run Bog took us through a natural to West Virginia in the summer of 2014. open peatland. Here we saw the native Marjorie Prochaska, Piedmont Chapter

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August 2013 Page 5 . .—Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society •$K1N IRRITATION (Continued from page 3) : w actually made the thing itch more as I recall. There are some products that if applied soon after contact may help prevent the outbreak of the rash but C S I RO you need to be aware that you have Ecosystem Sciences been exposed. Atherton Laboratories The icing on the cake came during one Christmas season at Ginter. Gardenfest of Lights they call it, a time of the winter solstice when the trees Indonesia-Pacific Field Division are bare and the days at their shortest. J In early November the horticultural staff would be pressed into arts and New place of employment (left), but the same old itch for Michael Sawyer. crafts duty to turn out the hallmark bo- This time it is cashew (Semecarpus australiensis Engl.) causing the problem. tanically-inspired holiday decorations (Pho tos by Micha el Sa wyer) that Richmonders have come to know In 20021 left Ginter to take up a po¬ were, exactly the same oozing red blis¬ and expect; dried plants, fresh pine, sition as senior horticulturist with the ters but how, surely it couldn't holly all being used to adorn the visi¬ Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. Finally, be.. .POISON IVY, here? I thought back, tors center, the Japanese Tea House, and 4,000 miles and an ocean away I what had I been doing, what plants had Bloemendaal House. Each gardener is thought, at least I won't have any more we been working with the last days that given a specific area to decorate and poison ivy to contend with or so you may have set this off? I asked Fiona, a competition for the best dried flowers, would think. Europeans are avid col¬ compact, resilient little woman, raised branches and twigs becomes fierce. The lectors; they have a long history of on a cattle farm, never without her sig¬ coveted bittersweet (Celastrus scouring the earth looking for new dis¬ nature cowboy hat, what could it be? scandens), with its lovely two-tone or¬ coveries, botanic and otherwise, and We had all been packing a shipment of ange berries having long been claimed there it was, in one of the overly mani¬ native trees destined for a rainforest re¬ by other staff members, veterans of the cured display beds, a large, six-foot- vegetation project in the Daintree a few holiday decoration brigade, I went on high shrubby specimen of Toxicoden¬ days earlier. Fiona was in charge of our the hunt for something new to use in dron radicansl Naturally, it was right native plant propagation and produc¬ some ikebana-inspired table decora¬ in the middle of my area of the gar¬ tion, “Oh yeah," she said, “I've seen tions I was putting together for the Japa¬ den! Thankfully, there was an older that before, that'd be Semecarus nese Tea House that year. volunteer, a Dutch woman of excep¬ australiensis—native cashew. The In a moment of clearly artistic in¬ tional intestinal fortitude, who said whole thing is poisonous you know, sanity, I came across some unusual that she had been in the area many you're not meant to touch it." gray berries hanging in clusters from times and had never been affected by “Well no, Fiona, actually I didn't trees down by the lake. “Well that's the plant. Well maybe it was true, that know that." something new," I thought, so I gath¬ they, the Dutch, having not been ex¬ Another web search later and ered up a bunch and set myself to mak¬ posed to the plant previously had not again courtesy of Wikipedia, I found ing the ikebana arrangements. I'll give developed the same sensitivity to it? this information: "People who are sen¬ the veterans a run for their money this Or could it be that in fact, 15 to 30 per¬ sitive to poison ivy can also experience year and the arrangements were indeed, cent of the population really suffers a similar rash from mangoes. Mangoes interesting but well, you know, hey, it no effect from the plant? So I sent Inge are in the same family (Anacardiaceae) was winter, no leaves to be seen and I'd in to tame the beast when it started to as poison ivy; the sap of the mango never actually intentionally gotten close encroach on our display of delicate tree and skin of mangoes have a chemi¬ enough to Toxicodendron radicans to spring-flowering galanthus. Inge had cal compound similar to urushiol. A really examine the berries. This time is survived the Nazi occupation of The related allergenic compound is present wasn't another tube of cortisone cream Netherlands and the devastatingl953 in the raw shells of cashews..." but a course of cortisone tablets from Flood that breached the dikes in the There it was, cashews. Who knew? the doctor! Very amusing for the horti¬ south so I figured she could take on I guess you never stop learning. cultural staff. By this time I had estab¬ the poison ivy. And indeed she Michael Sawyer, former first vice presi¬ lished a fairly firm reputation as Mr. emerged, every time, unscathed. dent of VNPS, now lives and works in Native Plant around the garden. I never But now here, even further away tropical north Queensland, Australia, as a heard how that all went over in the Tea from Virginia, working for Yuruga (Aus¬ researcher in the new crop development unit of Clonal Solutions Australia, a divi¬ House. I suppose people aren't meant tralian) Native Plant Nursery in tropi¬ sion of Yuruga Native Plant Nursery. to touch the decorations anyway. cal Queensland and still, there they Page 6 August 2013 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society 3 51 85 345 7189 Nicky Staunton sends out 'thanks' for opportunities Recently a copy of the Flora of VNPS friendships over the years state line, I hauled out Manual of Virginia was presented to the have provided me special botanical North Carolina Flora that contained Simpson Library of the University of experiences. One memorable event its description, Bartonia verna, last Mary Washington in my honor. Giv¬ occurred on a VNPS trip to False reported in the 1700s by Frederick ing it the reunion week of my 1953 Cape State Park with Vickie Shufer Pursch. A drawing of it included in graduating class is grand timing. I on an introduction to wild plant for¬ our Bulletin spurred Allen Belden to am grateful and thank each of you aging when an unidentified plant contact me to share that revelation. for this honor. challenged us to learn its name. Us¬ Johnny Townsend went to False Cape The Prince William Wildflower ing keys of flora manuals of the and documented the colonies of Society, Piedmont, Shenandoah, and northeast did not match our plant. Bartonia verna living there. Now, I'm South Hampton Roads Chapter and Several weeks later, remembering we alert for any plant I do not know and Marion Lobstein have also given were on the North Carolina-Virginia have my Flora of Virginia to shorten copies of the Flora in my my search. honor. I do appreciate the I've served as the Vir¬ honor and thank you. ginia Native Plant Society VNPS chapters have representative on the origi¬ been very generous placing nal Floral of Virginia Project volumes of the Flora in Foundation Board since schools, and nature cen¬ 2001. Leading our members ters, also. Each Flora will to support this once-in-a-life- encourage students of time publication 250 years botany to know Virginia's after Virginia's first, Flora rich biodiversity and will Virginica, has been a distinct help to fulfill the VNPS mis¬ honor and pleasure. I some¬ sion to learn, educate and what regret listening to the protect Virginia's native wise side of my brain, but plants and communities. have resigned my VNPS di¬ Virginia Native Plant rectorship on the FOVPF Society members and our board and at the same time, VNPS President Nancy Vehrs, Past VNPS President Sally native plants have been my am happy to announce that Anderson, and Flora editor Bland Crowder present a copy of companions for 31 years our VNPS immediate past- the Flora of Virginia to Mary Washington University Simpson and every day has pro¬ (See Memories, page 8) Library reference librarian in honor of Nicky Staunton. vided new gifts.

See the address label for your membership expiration date VNPS Membership/Renewal Form The Bulletin ISSN 1085-9632 Name(s)___ is published five times a year Address_ (Feb., April, June, August, Nov.) City_State_Zip_ by the _Individual $30 _Student $15 _Family $40 _Associate (groups) $40* Virginia Native Plant Society _Patron $50 _Sustaining $100 Blandy Experimental Farm _Life $500 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2 *Please designate one person as delegate for Associate membership Boyce, VA 22620 To give a gift membership or join additional chapters: Enclose dues, name, address, and (540) 837-1600 chapter (non-voting memberships in any other than your primary chapter are $5) [email protected] www.vnps.org I wish to make an additional contribution to_VNPS or_Chapter in the amount of_$10_$25_$50_$100_$(Other)_ Nancy Vehrs, President _Check if you do not wish your name to be exchanged with similar organizations Nancy Sorrells, Editor _Check if you do not wish your name to be listed in a chapter directory Original material contained in the Bulletin may be Which chapter do you wish to join? (See www.vnps.org)_ Paying by credit card?_MC_Visa Discover Exp. date_ reprinted, provided credit is given to VNPS and the author, if named. Readers are invited to send letters, Card #_Security code_Signature_ news items, or original articles for the editor's con¬ Make check payable to VNPS and mail to: sideration. Items should be typed, on disk in Microsoft VNPS Membership Chair, Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Word or e-mailed to: Editor, 3419 Cold Springs Rd., Boyce, VA 22620 Greenville, VA24440, or [email protected] Membership dues are tax deductible in the amount they exceed $5. Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations. The deadline for the next issue is October 15,2013.

August 2013 Page 7 Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

•Pocahontas — • Memories green brier (Smilax laurifolia) and (Continued from page 7) ——- (Continued from page 4) sawbrier (Smilax glauca). Then there is Virginia spiderwort (Tradescatia president, Sally Anderson, will carry the weak and unarmed vine, whose rela¬ virginiana) with flowers usually lav¬ that "torch" in the future as the Flora tives have great horticultural interest ender but occasionally blue. is digitized, reprinted and a second but here are so small as to be overlooked, An easy-to-miss member of the edition prepared. Bland Crowder yellow passion vine (Passsiflora lutea). park's flora is more physiologically will be the executive director of the I have not, as yet, found one showing interesting than showy. Variously Flora's future. More will be an¬ its classically intricate but tiny flowers. called elephant's foot or more bizarrely nounced soon. While the park has some large rec¬ devil's grandmother, Elephantopus A biology class with Miss Kemp reational lakes, smaller wetlands are tomentosus, places its densely hairy in high school introduced me to strewn throughout. While pushing and felt-like leaves so close to the botany. Later in the 1980s Marion through vegetation I came to one tiny ground that it inhabits a ground zone Lobstein's classes strengthened that wetland completely encircled by rich in carbon dioxide and humidity. knowledge where I learned to iden¬ lizard's tail (Sururus cernuus). I felt This strategy allows it to keep its sto¬ tify a plant by using a key. Both lucky to find the lizard's tail in flower. mata open to take up a relatively rich women have brought me to enjoy¬ Other wetland margins were enveloped and continuous supply of carbon di¬ ment of identifying and illustrating in shade loving but non-flowering oxide for photosynthesis while losing our native plants. rushes and sedges. very little water. Helping those who walk by The treks that led me to this sub¬ Where canopy densities are higher plants with unseeing eyes, to actu¬ set of the park's flora took hours to and light levels on the forest floor con¬ ally look at them, appreciate them, accomplish yet revealed so little. But sequently lower, few if any herbs are love them and want to protect them other callings took my time and even¬ found. These habitats are better oppor¬ in the natural world is a mission tually took me away. It's rewarding to tunities for vines. Yes, the typical vine never completed. New generations know that the park is still there await¬ one may think of, poison ivy, is there keep coming onto botanical paths. ing my return. along with one confused for poison ivy, I appreciate your honoring me for Stephen Johnson is a freelance plant Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus doing what I love to do, which is ad¬ ecologist originally from Virginia and vocate for our native plants and their quinquefolia) but wider wandering no vs living in Iowa. He enjoys sharing space on earth. may lead you to natural barbed wire plant memories from the Old Dominion with his fellow VNPSers. Nicky Sta un ton fences, briers such as laurel leaved VNPS 1st Vice President

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