Volume 18, Number 1 The Turk's Cap The Newsletter Of The Delaware Native Plant Society Spring 2015 Spring Flowers in Delaware Top, Small Jack in the Pulpit and Virginia Bluebells. Bottom, Lady Slipper shoot and Cutleaf toothwort. All photos taken April 2015 in Delaware by Ed Crawford. The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 2 Spring Flowers Spring has finally arrived in Delaware and the native f lowers are blooming or pushing up shoots. At last! In the classic children's story, "Uncle Wiggly and the May Flowers", author Howard R. Saris gives his Jack in the Pulpit an important role in the wild flower world, "Jack preaches sermons to other f lowers telling them how to be beautiful and make sweet perfume." There are two common subspecies of Jack in the Pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum) in Delaware. Small Jack in the Pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum subsp. pusillum), can be identified by a solid green or purple spathe hood. If you want to see this subspecies, walk the trail at Thompson Island Preserve in Rehoboth Beach. The Swamp Jack in the Pulpit ( Arisaema triphyllum subsp. triphyllum) has a green or green striped with purple spathe hood and its leaves are glaucous. Deer normally will not eat Jack in the Pulpits. The Cut leaf tooth wort ( Cardamine concatenate) is one of the earliest blooming native f lowers and is an important early season food source for pollinators. They can also be seen along the trail at Thompson Island Preserve. This week, my wife and I were thrilled when we saw that our Lady Slipper plants we had saved from a local construction project had sprouted. Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic (indigenous) or naturalized to a given area in geo- logic time. This includes plants that have de- veloped, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area (e.g. trees, flowers, grasses, and other plants). In North America a plant is often deemed native if it was pre- sent before colonization. Some native plants have adapted to a very limited, unusual environ- ments or very harsh climates or exceptional soil conditions. Al- though some types of plants for these reasons exist only within a very limited range (endemism), others can live in diverse areas or by adaptation to different sur- roundings (indigenous plant). Violet priceana Photo by Donna Hoyt The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 3 Winter/Spring Project Workshop Landscape Design and Conservation Landscaping The workshop held at the St. Jones Preserve on March 14, 2015, was a great success with 30 enthusiasts in attendance. President Eric Wahl gave a presentation on landscape design and Vice-President Rick Mickowski presented on Conservation Landscaping. More information on Rick's presentation can be found on page 4 of this issue. The three presenters for the Tidal Wetlands Values Survey Project were Amanda Santoni, NOAA Fellow, Bonnie Arvay, Environmental Scientist at DNREC, and Molly Ellwood, Environ- mental Scientist at DNREC Coastal Programs. They reviewed the benefits of the tidal wet- lands, including water quality, commercial fishing, ecological, recreation, carbon storage, coastal protection, visual appeal, and education. The ensuing discussions helped the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and its Coastal Programs develop a survey in order to - determine the benefits and value of tidal wetlands. Photos above by Pteri Iris. Visit us on Facebook Delaware Native Plant Society The Turk's Cap, Volume 18 Number 1 Page 4 The Benefits of Conservation Landscaping By Rick Mickowski What are the principles of conservation landscaping? One publication " Conservation Landscaping Guidelines: The Eight Essential Elements of Conservation Landscaping ” by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council gives an overview on this topic. So what is conservation landscaping? ♦ Avoid the use of and remove and replace invasive plants. ♦ Use regionally native plants. ♦ Place plants in their appropriate growing conditions. ♦ Minimize the use of supplemental water- ing. ♦ Minimize the amount of lawn. ♦ Reduce or eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. ♦ Compost to reduce yard waste and to use as a soil amendment. ♦ Reduce the use of power landscape equipment. ♦ Utilize native trees to reduce heating and cooling needs. ♦ Purify the air and water by planting na- tive trees, shrubs, and perennials. ♦ Reduce the amount of impervious sur- face and install rain gardens to recharge groundwater and reduce runoff. ♦ Reduce runoff and soil erosion and sta- bilize slopes by planting trees, shrubs, and perennial groundcovers and in severe cases, stabilize with rock or bio- engineering techniques. ♦ Provide for wildlife habitat. ♦ Mulch to conserve water, suppress weeds, improve soil structure, and to lessen erosion. ♦ Learn to appreciate nature and tolerate some imperfection in the garden. ♦ Protect existing natural areas and the watershed's "sense of place". ♦ Maintain native plant gardens and plan for the long term. Some selected resources on this topic are: Conservation landscaping guidelines at www.chesapeakelandscape.org . Demonstration conservation house and land- scape at www.delaf leur.com. Livable Delaware booklets at www.extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/ commercial-horticulture/landscape/ Landscape for Life at www.landscapeforlife.org . Audubon at Home at www.audubonathome.org . Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Pro- gram fact sheets at www.delawareestuary.org. There is a very informative booklet "A Homeowner's Guide to Storm water Management". Ecological Landscaping Association at www.ecolandscaping.org . Alliance for the Bay Livable Delaware Booklet The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 5 Message from the President: Happy spring to all our members. After much longing for warmer weather, it appears that mother nature has finally sprung into action. Maybe our winter/spring event on March 14th helped her along. Our recent event attracted a vibrant and diverse audience with approximately 30 people attending. This year's theme was landscape design and conservation landscaping. Speakers, Eric Wahl and Rick Mick- owski, talked extensively about design elements and the native plants that are suited to our home land- scape. In addition, representatives from DNREC were also there to help foster discussion on the bene- fits of tidal wetlands. The data they collected will help to form a public survey that will be distributed to Delaware residents regarding tidal wetlands. The Delaware Native Plant Society has been active in a number of charitable ways. DNPS recently donated $ 1,500 in support to the Meadow Project (http://themeadowproject.com). This project promotes the principles of conservation landscaping throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, and will result in a 90 minute educational documentary focused on showing how native plants are crucial to local ecosystems. Our donation will help their cause and when complete, DNPS will host a viewing of this documentary at one of our quarterly events. In addition, DNPS recently assisted the Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy in conceptualizing a new parcel of land near Seaford. This parcel will eventually include trails, new native plantings, access to Chapel Creek, public parking, gathering areas, and possibly a living amphitheater. Check out the concept on page 8. . The Delmarva Restoration Branch of the American Chestnut Foundation has also planted American Chestnut seedlings on this parcel. Thank you to all our members that continue to support and actively engage with DNPS and our planned activities. Stay tuned for additional meetings and events throughout the year. As with all similar organizations like ours, DNPS is only as strong as our membership. Please consider renewing yours today and spreading our mission to your friends and colleagues. Eric W. Wahl The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 6 Calendar of Events Delaware Native Plant Society Native Plant Sale on May 2-3: www.delawarenaturesociety.orq/nativeplantsale Delaware Center for the Inland Bays Native Plant Sale at the James Farm Ecological Preserve on May 2: www.inlandbays.orq/events/native-plant/ Tyler Arboretum Native Plant Sale in Media, Pa on May 2: www.tylerarboretum.org/2015-plant-sale/ Brandywine Conservancy native wildf lower, plants, and seed sale on May 9-10: www.brandywinemuseum.orq/qardens.html/#sale Bowman's Hill Wildf lower Preserve Native Plant Sale on May 9: www.bhwp.org Mi I lersvi I le 2015 Native Plants in the Landscape Conference June 4-6: www.millersvillenativeplants.org DNPS June member's event as part of National Trails Day and annual meeting on June 6. More details to come. Looking Ahead "Turning A New Leaf" conference in Townson, Maryland on November 13 th . Learn how to create landscapes that work with our natural resources. Information can be found at www.chesapeakelandscape.orq/ourproqrams/turninq-a-new-leaf-conference/ Chcsatxvilic C i.irtkumj; & 1 -itkIhc.i pi I HI IlsSlM IAL GREEN GLIDE LVirtura \V Ellit Check out this new book by Barbara W. Ellis entitled "Chesapeake Gardening and Landscaping: The Essential Green Guide". The book covers important information about conservation landscaping practices and techniques The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 7 Classic Book Review The classic book, Rural Hours, by Susan Fenimore Cooper is a personal journal that contemporaneously describes her life in Cooperstown, New York and surrounding Oswego County in the mid-1800, which only 50 years earlier was the edge of the American frontier. By the time Miss Cooper lived there, the area was rapidly changing as settlers moved Westward. First published in 1850 when she was 37, and updated and condensed in 1887, it is a sophisticated narrative concerning the native plants, birds, and other wildlife that she encounters on her almost daily peregrinations, and the changing face of the land. She laments the rapid and waste- ful clearing of the old first growth trees and sets forth an elegant argument for saving stands of old growth timber that is practical, inspirational, and timeless. Although she touches on many subjects, it is clear that her true love and inspiration were the wildf low- ers, and her beautiful writing style and passion made her an instant commercial success, despite the initial doubts of her famous father, James Fenimore Cooper, who did not see the public demand for anything other than frontier action stories. In the following passage she describes why wild flowers are superior to garden f lowers: "How beautiful is this exquisite native grace of the f lowers, seen in all their habits and positions! They know nothing of vanity, its trivial toils and triumphs! In unconscious, spontaneous beauty, they live their joy-giving lives, and yet how all but impossible for man to add to their perfection in a single point!" Her sense of humor and wide ranging knowledge shine through in her objection to the recently em- braced practice of creating plant names using Latinized science, instead of the colorful and descriptive appellations created by country people. She asks, "Why should a strange tongue sputter its uncouth, compound syllables upon the simple weeds by the wayside?" She follows with an interesting and amus- ing history, explanation, and defense of the old way of naming f lowers such as bachelor's buttons, cowslip, monkshood, and morning glory, to name a few. Rural Hours is highly recommended to anyone with a an interest in ecological history, social history, and the flora and fauna of the vast Eastern wilderness that once dominated our landscape. Rural Hours /^available as a book from University of Syracuse Press, and free of charge through the following link: Rural Hours RURAL HOURS Ed Crawford coastalcoaster@gmail.com The Turk's Cap, Volume 18, Number 1 Page 8 POTENTIAL CONNECTION TO ADJACENT TRAILS EXISTING A6K WALL GROVE ENTRY DRIVE THROUGH NATIVE WILDFLOWER AND GRASS MEADOW - PARKINS LOT PLANTINGS TO BE WATER 0AK/ST6AM0RE FOR SHADE TREES AND' REDBUDS FOR ORNAMENTAL TREES - • PROPOSED EDUCATION KIOSK INDICATE NATIVE SPECIES (EXAMPLES IN PARKINS LOT AND AROUND PAVILION; \ AND HAVE VISITORS FIND THOSE \SPECIES ALONG TRAILS a jr- PROPOSED WOODLAND RESORATION ,(LOBLOLLY PINE, AMERICAN HOLLY, EASTERN WHITE PINE, SYCAMORE, WATER OAK AND BALDCYPRESS) — —-J i / FWKIROE ■' , L> - RESTORATION PROJECT (LOBLOLLY PINE, AMERICAN HOLLY EASTERN WHITE PINE, AND SYCAMORE; - PROPOSE^ l-EADOW (NATIVE WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES;-- SUPPLEMENT WOODLAND EDGE WITH UNDERSTORY TREES AND SHRUBS (HAZLENUT, INDIGO, REDBUD, AND CHERRY; L J A ^'trails TO BE nap located' ^ PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR BALDCYPRES5 ALONG WETLAND EDGES AND POTENTIAL CANOE « KAYAK LAUNCHES - PROVIDE PLANTINGS ALONG SLOPE AND AROUND AMPHITHEATER MIX OF SHADE, EVERGREEN, AND ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHR1B5 NANTICOKE RIVER WATERSHED CONSERVANCY CHAPEL BRANCH NATURE AREA CONCEPTUAL TRAIL AND CATHERIN6 AREA DELAWARE Native Plant Society The Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy is a citizen-based land conservation organiza- tion dedicated to preserving the natural qualities of the Nanticoke River watershed. The Chapel Branch Nature Preserve is its latest acquisition. For more info, contact President Marlene Mervine at mhmervine@aol.com. Concept above by Eric W. Whal. Membership Information Please join the Delaware Native Plants Society by mailing a check, payable to DE Native Plant Society, to Delaware Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 369, Dover, Delaware 19903. • Full-time student-$ 10.00 • Individual^ 15.00 • Family or Household-$18.00 • Business-$100,00 • Lifetime-$500.00