WINTER 2003, VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Native Plant to Know Wild Savory Calamintha arkansana by Charles Kinsley The word savory evokes images of warm, steamy dishes, comforting thoughts of home and hearth. These associations are direct, unambiguous. Ambiguity is a word easily applied to the plant wild savory, however. More than most of its savage peers, Calamintha arkansana has had a checkered career – at least with regards to our understanding of where it fits in. WILD SAVORY aka Arkansas Mint Calamint Limestone Calamint Limestone Savory Low Calamint Niagara Thyme Ozark Calamint Those of us with more than a passing inter- est in the natural world are used to a certain level of debate and uncertainty regarding taxo- nomic placement or nomenclature of plant and animal species. So Hepatica americana RANTON becomes Anemone americana even though it’s G still "commonly" a hepatica. Felis concolor RIGITTE (cougar, mountain lion) morphs into Puma B concolor (or vice versa). To add confusion, different experts don’t always agree on the ILLUSTRATION BY Continued on page 12 Wild Savory (Calamintha arkansana) WINTER 2003 1 The Blazing Star is... From the Editor… The Blazing Star is published quarterly (April,August, November, February) by As the new editor of The Blazing Star I’m work and activist commitments, Trish Murphy the North American Native Plant Society thrilled (perhaps foolishly, judging by the for her deft handling of the Seed Exchange and (NANPS). Contact [email protected] for workload) with this great opportunity to learn Deb Dale for patiently shepherding me and the editorial deadlines and for advertising and contribute. There are several people I rest of the board through all the challenges a rates. would particularly like to thank: Lorraine volunteer organization faces. To all the other The views expressed herein are those of the Johnson for helping so generously to get me directors, writers, illustrators, photographers authors and not necessarily those of going on this first issue, Brigitte Granton for and plant growers, past and present, thank you NANPS. her gorgeous illustrations, Bea Paterson for on behalf of native plant enthusiasts every- pulling it all together, Doug Counter for con- where – you do an amazing job. The North American Native Plant Society tinuing to offer his time and expertise despite is dedicated to the study, conservation, Irene Fedun cultivation and restoration of North America’s native flora. A NOTE OF GRATITUDE Winter 2003 A belated but heartfelt thanks to Margaret Nodwell for her generous bequest of $1000 to the Volume 4, Issue 1 North American Native Plant Society.We will miss you, Margaret. Editor: Irene Fedun Production: Bea Paterson NANPS Notice Board © North American Native Plant Society Images © the photographers and illustra- CANADA BLOOMS – Volunteers needed to help CLEAR CREEK FOREST AND ORFORD RIDGES tors, text © the authors.All rights reserved. staff the NANPS booth at Canada Blooms NATIVE PLANTS NURSERY TOUR – This is from Wednesday, March 12 – Sunday, March exciting news for NANPS members! Plans are North American Native Plant Society, 16, 2003 at the Metro Toronto Convention in the works for a field trip to the old growth formerly Canadian Wildflower Society, Centre. Free admission to the show to those forest of Clear Creek (notable for its Cucum- is a registered charitable society, no. NANPS members who help out. Botanical ber Magnolia trees!) followed by a visit to 130720824. Donations to the society are knowledge not required – just a friendly Orford Ridges Native Plants Nursery. Join us tax deductible in Canada. smile! as we explore the majesty of 350-year-old E-mail [email protected] or leave a voice mail oaks, beeches and maples that stretch 100 feet NANPS Membership: CAN$10/year within message at 416-631-4438. into the sky. Touch the soil, breathe the air, see Canada, US$10 year outside Canada the place these trees have called home for cen- turies. Experience a healthy forest ecosystem. Please make cheques and money orders This trip is for NANPS members only. payable to North American Native Plant CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – Nominations for Seating will be limited.Watch our website Society and mail to P.O. Box 84, Station D, the Paul McGaw Memorial Conservation www.nanps.org for complete details and tick- Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 4X1. Award are now being accepted. Deadline: et information, or e-mail your desire to par- Telephone: (416) 680-6280. E-mail: April 1st, 2003. The award will be presented at ticipate to [email protected] or leave a voice [email protected]: www.nanps.org. NANPS fall annual general meeting. See web- site www.nanps.org for details. mail message at 416-631-4438. Board of Directors: Honorary President: James A. French President: Deborah Dale NANPS Plant Sale Vice President: Darcie McKelvey Treasurer: Kathy Edgar Secretary: Bill Kilburn SATURDAY,MAY 10, 2003, 10AM – 4PM Catherine Crockett Civic Garden Centre Grif Cunningham 777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie) Irene Fedun Toronto, Ontario Martin Field Feng Gao Visit NANPS highly anticipated annual plant sale! Scott Guthrie thousands of native plants including perennials, shrubs, trees, ferns and grasses Howard Meadd hundreds of gardening books and magazines for beginners and experts Cornelius Sommer plants grouped by habitat for easy selection Erika Thimm NANPS team of experts on hand to answer questions and offer guidance Richard Woolger Book signing by noted Canadian environmental author Lorraine Johnson from 10:30 – 12:30. Advance ordering is available exclusively to NANPS members. See www.nanps.org for details. 2NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Sowing the Seed by Jo Nelson when we bought the house but they’ve thrived A large moist, acidic planter with New York and spread since. I’ve had little luck with ferns (Thelypteris noveboracensis) and blue Ten years ago when we moved into our vintage native grasses so far but I keep trying. flag (Iris versicolor) stands in a sunnier loca- Toronto house our lawn was so tiny I couldn’t The backyard has presented different chal- tion. I have the NANPS spring plant sale to see buying a lawnmower. The first year, to the lenges. It’s shaded by a huge old oak (which thank for many of these wonderful plants. chuckles of my neighbours, I cut the grass conveniently provides fall mulch for the gar- One of my neighbours – another native with scissors. The second year I decided to dens). I designed a gently curving bed along plant enthusiast – has gradually transformed turn it into a herb and native plant garden. the north side and built a flagstone pathway his backyard into a small forest. In 2000 both The garden has evolved slowly, as I found leading to a small patio. The prize specimen he and I received ecological garden awards the time, bringing butterflies and beneficial there is a red osier dogwood (Cornus from the Friends of the Don East.A distinct insects back to our street and – finally – smiles stolonifera) purchased from LEAF (an urban plus as I continue to promote native plant to the faces of my skeptical neighbours. The forestry group whose mandate is to restore gardening to my less-enthusiastic neighbours. first couple of years involved lots of hands-on Toronto’s forest canopy and understorey by (I even hauled out one of Lorraine Johnson’s work digging up the grass, double-digging selling native trees and shrubs to homeowners books to reassure one worried passerby that compost, composted manure and peat moss at subsidized rates). Sweetgrass (Hierochloe goldenrod does not cause hayfever.) Still, into the clay sub-soil, raising the beds and put- odorata) continues to grow near the fence they’ve gradually become more interested and ting in a curved path. although it prefers more moisture than it gets make it a point to compliment the blooms, In my sunny front yard I sowed herbs and and goes dormant in the hot dry days of July while I work hard to keep the plants from native plant seeds obtained from the NANPS and August. Butterflyweed (Asclepias becoming too exuberant and taking over the sidewalk. Slowly, my garden and my enthusi- asm are making an impact as the boring front lawns in my neighbourhood start to disap- pear. The Blazing Star welcomes stories from members across the continent whose native gardening experiences have made a difference in their lives and the community at large. Send your articles to [email protected]. In the News Ontario wilderness faces a new threat under the proposed Recreation Reserve Act. If passed, this legislation will guarantee motor- ELSON N O J ized access into the Kawartha Highlands Sig- nature Site, one of the last vast tracts of wilderness in southern Ontario.While Kawartha is the initial site, the Ministry of Natural Resources appears poised to use the HOTOGRAPH COURTESY P "recreation reserve" designation for other Echinacea purpurea protected areas including the Algoma High- lands, the Spanish River Valley and Killarney Provincial Park.Allowing high-impact Seed Exchange. Purple coneflower (Echinacea tuberosa) blooms, though not profusely, in a motorized recreation and associated com- purpurea) was one of the first and it’s grown less-than-ideal spot with three-four hours of mercial development in areas apparently pro- into a glorious stand. Beebalm (Monarda sun and a couple more of dappled shade. tected under the Ontario Living Legacy didyma) has also done well along with a host Nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum) gets program would result in species loss and of herbs which, although alien, still bring out early spring sun but is deeply shaded once the ecosystem degradation. the butterflies. Later in the season come gold- oak and raspberries leaf out.