Volume 9, Num- THE TURK’S The Newsletter Of The Delaware Native Plant Society Spring 2006 In This Issue Page 1 Natural Quotes New Members m DNPS Vision Page 2 Thoughts From The Edge... Resources and Reviews Page 3 Feature Article Resources and Reviews Page 4 Gardening With Native Plants Resources and Reviews Page 5 ■ Gardening With Native Plants cont. ■ Feature Article continued Resources and Reviews Page 6 2006 Annual Meeting announcement Page 7 Upcoming Events Natural Quotes “Seeds, trafficked in little boxes with a plant inside and the subject of many a parable, are commonplace. Their ease is the art of nature, but seed-making in the first place involved so profound a reorgani- zation of the plant’s life cycle that its history is peculiarly botanical.” E. J. H. Corner, The Life of Plants, 1964 How Can I Get Involved? The Delaware Native Plant Society is open to everyone ranging from the novice gardener to the professional botanist. One of the primary goals of the society is to involve as many individuals as possible. The DNPS is working on some significant projects at this time. We are undertaking reforesta- tion projects at Prime Hook National Wildlife Ref- uge, at Blackbird Creek in New Castle County and Cedar Creek in Sussex County where we have in- stalled tree tubes around newly sprouted seedlings. Help is also needed at our native plant nursery at the St. Jones Reserve with the monitoring and watering of plants along with many other nursery activities. For more information, E-mail us at dnps@delawarenativeplants.org. Or visit our web- site at www.delawarenativeplants. org. Our website will have all of the past issues of The Turk ’s Cap along with a large section on native plants, as well as links to other environmental and plant related organizations. A Grassy Green Welcome To Our Newest Members January through March Susan & Timothy Human Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society Rich & Cindy Ockels The DNPS Vision T he purpose of the Delaware Native Plant Society (DNPS) is to participate in and encourage the preservation, conservation, restoration, and propagation of Delaware’s native plants and plant communities. The Society provides information to government officials, business people, educators, and the general public on the protection, management, and restoration of native plant ecosystems. The DNPS encourages the use of native plants in the landscape by homeowners, businesses, and local and state governments through an on-going distribution of information and knowledge by various means that includes periodic publications, symposia conferences, workshops, field trips, and a growing statewide membership organized by the DNPS. The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Thoughts From The Edge Of The Garden Delaware adopt-a-wetland program Page At our bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 21st, we had a great program given by Marlene Mervine and Gary Kraemer. Marlene and Gary work at the Aquatic Resources Education Center (DNREC). Marlene is the Volunteer Coordinator and manager of the Delaware Adopt- A- Wetland Program, which is a community based environmental stewardship program developed for the purposes of heightening the public's awareness of the functions and intrinsic value of wetlands and enlisting volunteers who will assist in monitoring and protecting these vital re- sources. The DNPS is looking for a site that we can adopt and manage, and we are looking for other peo- ple to take up this important environmental effort. If you know of a wetland that would be appropriate for DNPS to adopt, or would like to participate as an individual, contact our President, Bill McAvoy by email (william.mcavoy@state.de.us) for DNPS adoptions, or as an individual, contact Marlene Mervine at 302.653.2882. Plant rescue efforts When proposed development projects are reviewed by the Delaware Natural Heritage Program of the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, there will be language in the response to certain projects that will hopefully help to save native plants at these sites. The language offers developers the opportunity to contact the DNPS to have us come out and “rescue” native plants on development sites before the bull- dozers enter the property. We are hoping that we get a significant amount of replies to these offers. Peri- odically throughout the growing season, we will be sending out emails looking for volunteers to come out to sites around the state and dig up plants. The plants will then be taken back to the DNPS nursery to be used in reforestation sites or sold at our sale. Nursery update The nursery was opened up for the 2006 growing season on March 19th. We had a good turn out of volunteers and the plants looked good. We used our frost blankets again this past winter, and they worked great! We had an awfully mild, dry winter, so mor- tality was a little higher than I would have liked to seen; around 10%. The biggest problem we had this year were the mice! They decimated many of the seeds we planted back in November for cold stratifi- cation. And two big announcements for the nursery are that we are finally getting our own dedicated water line installed! This has been one of our most profound deficiencies in the nursery. Some volunteers and I will be assisting Reserve staff with installing PVC pipe with two hydrant heads that will make life a lot easier! And we also have another intern this Spring. Lauren Lyles is a Junior at Poly tech High School and will be working with us until June or so. Call for a nominating committee We are looking for three DNPS members to serve on a Nominating Committee. The Committee's duties shall be to prepare a slate of one or more candidates for the office of President and Secretary. This slate will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting on May 6. Call for potential candidates for office We are looking for members willing to serve as of- ficers of the DNPS. At this year’s annual meeting, a President and Secretary are to be nominated for elec- tion. Those elected shall serve two-year terms. r Resources & Reviews Fern Finder: A Guide to Native Ferns of Central and Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada ( Nature Study Guides) Authored by Anne C. Hallowell. A pocket guide to identifying native ferns that grow in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, and eastern Canada. Like other plant guides in the "Finders" series, "Fern Finder" is a dichotomous key, which leads the user step-by-step through a series of choices to the species being identified. Heavily illus- trated with line drawings. The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page Resources & Reviews Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky Authored by Thomas G. Barnes. This non-technical guide — featuring more than five hundred dazzling full-color photo- graphs by award-winning photographer Thomas G. Barnes — is the indispensable guide to the most common species of wildflowers and ferns in the Commonwealth. This guide references more than six hundred fifty species of flowers. High quality photographs and illustrations accompany each plant’s common and scientific name, plant family, habitat, fre- quency, and distribution throughout Kentucky. Organized by flowering season, color, and habitat, Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky is an essential addition to the library or field pack of the botanist and all nature enthusiasts. Feature Article Planting a native fern garden ( Editor's note: This is an excerpt of two articles from the Ver- mont Cooperative Extension, and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Reprinted with permission ). One of the pleasures of native fern gardening is propagating the plants and getting them estab- lished. Plants for a small, home fernery may be suc- cessfully transplanted from their native site, but only if they will be destroyed by development and you have permission to move them. It is better to share plants from a friend's fern garden or purchase ones that have been grown commercially. Never attempt to transplant rare species. There is too great a chance of losing them. Such species generally may be propa- gated by spores without damaging the plant. Instead of growing from seed like most flowering plants, ferns come from a single spore that develops into the sporophyte. The fern, as we know it, is the sexless or sporophyte generation. Spores are born in a spore case. The case contains many individual spores and is usually found on the underside of a leaf (frond) or on separate stalks. Usually, gardeners and green- house producers don't reproduce indoor ferns from spores. Most indoor ferns are separated into several pieces by root division. Ferns that develop slender rhizomes with leaves at frequent intervals usually can be increased by dividing the rhizome into sections with a few leaves to a section. When planted in the proper place and kept well watered and protected, each division should become established and thrive. Ferns that form a dense crown usually can be increased by division, which is taking portions of a less-spreading type of rhizome. Care and thoughtful handling are essential. It is especially important in transplanting or dividing ferns to be careful that the roots do not become the least bit dry or unduly ex- posed. The transplanted plant or plant part should be placed in the soil at the same depth at which it was growing. The soil should be kept well watered and generously supplied with leaf mold. This prevents undue drying of the roots, helps control moisture, and keeps the soil cool. Do not mix an excess of leafy material into the soil — this causes the soil to be too open. The fern roots should be in mineral soil containing enough rotted and finely divided leaf material to keep from packing and to increase the water-holding capacity. Leaf mulch should be put on top of this soil to check evaporation and to keep the soil cool around the roots. The bladder fern may be propagated from the dark bulblets that develop on the lower sides of the leaves. Under natural conditions, fully developed bulblets fall onto the moist soil and develop into plants. If bulblets are placed on moist soil in flower pots or other suitable places, plants can be grown under artificial conditions. The bulblets may be planted where desired, as long as proper conditions are maintained. The bulblets should not be buried, but should be pushed carefully into the moist surface and moisture maintained. The walking fern propagates readily by root- ing the slender, leaf tip. Plantlets that have started this way may be found in natural-growing colonies and can be transplanted into suitable locations. The hay-scented fern, bracken, New York fern, and, to a lesser extent, sensitive fern have the tendency to spread in the garden once they become established. The sensitive fern is the most attractive of the group and is less likely to become invasive. Even though most ferns used for indoor cul- ture are native to the tropics or subtropics, they for the most part prefer a cool temperature and a high level of moisture in the ah (humidity). In the wood- lands or tropics, ferns are found under rather dense canopies of trees or large woody plants. Some species are native to rather dry climates that have periods of heavy rainfall. Usually these periods of Continued on page 5 The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page GARDENING With Native Plants ranging from acid to alkaline and will thrive with Beach plum (prunus maritima) little to moderate amounts of moisture. Give it plenty of room, for it will grow quickly and has a tendency NATURAL HISTORY to sucker and thus will spread providing a dense Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where hedge with a springtime floral display that is them flowers iz? Well, take a walk along the beach unmatched for its abundant, showy blossoms, in late April to early May and you will surely know. It is in the early spring before the leaves appear, that PROPAGATION AND CARE the beach plum or Primus maritima smothers itself Beach plum plants grown in the wild will transplant with clusters of small white mildly fragrant flowers very poorly, therefore propagation is best accom- to the delight of coastal visitors. The beach plum is plished from either seed or rooted cuttings. From common among coastal dunes from the coast of New seed, pick fruits as soon as they ripen and clean ripe Brunswick to northern coastal Virginia, often plums of all pulp. Plant the seed in flats or small appearing in dense, seemingly well-pruned clusters community pots, 1/2 inch deep in a mixture of sand up to 8 feet wide and often reaching 6 feet or more in and peatmoss. Cover the flat/pot with a fine mesh height. The beach plum is perhaps the perfect shrub screen to protect from mice, and place in a cold for attracting wildlife. In spring its early flowers are frame out of direct sunlight as soon as possible. Dur- a magnet for small bees, butterflies, and other insects ing prolonged dry spells, the seeds may require occa- that rely on its nectar. As leaves appear, the dense sional watering. The seeds require a minimum two to low growth is a favorite nesting site for numerous three months cold stratification and can be rather birds and in fall as the rich blue-black fruits begin to slow to germinate, sometime taking up to 18 months ripen, grosbeaks, jays, cardinals and other birds, before sprouting. Scarifying the seeds lightly before raccoons, rabbits, and foxes relish them for their planting may improve germination. Once the seed- nourishing pulpy flesh. In winter, though the leaves lings have developed four leaves gently pull them of the beach plum have long disappeared, the dense out of the flat and plant into individual pots. Grow woody growth is extremely popular for sparrows, them in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first cardinals, finches and other birds seeking shelter winter and plant them out in late spring or early sum- from the strong coastal winds. Of course human mer of the following year. Mid-July is the best time hunter-gatherers also seek out the prized fruits for to take stem cuttings for propagation. Take cuttings use in jellies, jams, pies and libations! of half ripe wood and treat with Roottone and place in a mixture of sand and peatmoss. Cuttings will do WHERE TO GROW best if placed under mist or in a closed plastic bag The beach plum is a wonderful seaside shrub that is placed in a location where it will receive good light tolerant of both salt spray and sandy soils. So if you but not direct sunlight. The bag should be opened live near the beach, the beach plum is a natural for occasionally to allow air circulation. When cuttings your landscape. Not only does it provide year around have developed a good root system, transplant them interest, it is also valued as a good sand binder and into three- to four-inch pots to grow on. The beach for it’s erosion preventive qualities. However, you plum has hermaphroditic flowers, so there is no need don’t need a beachfront home to enjoy the beach for male and female plants to produce fruit, plum prefers many types of soil with a pH Resources & Reviews A Field Guide to Ferns and their related families : Northeastern and Central North America Authored by Boughton Cobb et al. A Peterson Field Guide Series book with more than 500 species of north- eastern and central North American ferns that are described and illustrated, with helpful details such as color, leaf shapes, measurements, and root forms. An illustrated key aids in quick identification. The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page Resources & Reviews American Fern Society The American Fern Society is over 100 years old. With over 900 members worldwide, it is one of the largest international fern clubs in the world. It was established in 1893 with the objective of fostering interest in ferns and fern allies. To this end it encourages correspondence and the exchange of information and specimens be- tween members via its newsletter the Fiddlehead Forum, and through field trips. They also publish the Ameri- can Fern Journal. Information can be found at their website: http://amerfernsoc.org. LORE The beach plum was used by Native Americans for its fruit either eaten fresh or dried for later use during the winter months and dyes were made from both the leaves and fruits. Today fruits are collected both from wild and cultivated stocks. The size and quality of fruits may vary widely and people zealously pro- tect their ‘secret spots’ for collecting this treasured fruit Bob Edelen, DNPS Member USDA Plants Database Feature Article Continued from page 3 rainfall occur during hot weather, thus providing a cooling effect. When ferns are grown outdoors dur- ing summer, they should be located in the cooler are- as of the garden, usually in deep shade or on the north side of the house or a garden structure. Never expose ferns to full sun in summer. When you pot, remember that a small fern in a large container looks out of place and will be more subject to problems because of moisture excesses, etc. Start small ferns in small pots. Shift them to the next size pots as they become crowded. Inexperienced gardeners repot ferns just as the pots seem to be three-fourths full. However, you should wait until the plant seems to be spilling out of the pot before repotting. Remember that some ferns grow rapidly, while others are extremely slow. In time, you will learn the growth characteristics of the ferns you enjoy. Regardless of the pot you use, you will be more successful if the containers have drainage holes. In potting, place an inch of gravel or clean pieces of broken pots in the bottom of your contain- er. This keeps the drainage holes from clogging. To know when to water ferns and all other plants, you must develop a sense of feel of the soil. This is the only way to determine when to water. There are no hard and fast rules. The basics of growing ferns in the landscape are the same as growing them in pots. Site selection in terms of drainage and light exposure is critical to production of high-quality ferns. Ferns require well- drained soil. Sandy soils or humus soils with good surface drainage are preferred. Heavy clay soils or soils with a shallow clay pan should be avoided or amended to provide good aeration and drainage. Ele- vated beds with amended media are excellent sites in the landscape because they ensure good aeration un- der most conditions. Growing mediums vary consid- erably. However, all good mixtures have several things in common. They are well drained because of different components like coarse sand, gravel and charcoal. Most mixtures contain considerable organic matter also. Light intensity is another key factor in site selection for plantings of ferns. Ferns either prefer or require indirect light for production of high-quality fronds (leaves). They are excellent plants for shady areas where other plants will not grow well. Avoid direct exposure to afternoon sun. Outdoor planted ferns can be divided by separating clump or cutting off established runners. The best time for dividing outdoor ferns is after the first frost through November. This gives the transplants plenty of time to regenerate roots. C The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page 2006 DNPS Annual When: Saturday, 6 May 2006, 10 AM to approximately 2 PM Where: Smyrna Opera House, on the corner of Main Street and South Street in Smyrna. Main Street is one block West of US Route 13 (see map & directions below). Agenda: 10:00 to 10:15 AM: Opening remarks, Bill McAvoy, President, Delaware Native Plant Society 10:15 to 11:00 AM: Presentation on the Blackbird Millington Conservation Corridor by Roger Jones, Director of the Delaware Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 11:00 to 11:15 AM: Break 11:15 to 12:00 noon: Annual Meeting of the Delaware Native Plant Society (Presentation of the Keith Clancy Habitat Restoration Award, Presentation on Featured Project, Report of the Nominat- ing Committee, Election of Officers, Other Business) 12:00 to 1:00 PM: Lunch - Lunch is by reservation only. Please call 302.653.6449 for more details, and/or to order lunch. 1:00 to 2:00 PM: Optional field trips to either the Blackbird Millington Conservation Corridor Ar- ea, or Big Oak County Park (site of the Habitat Restoration Award Project) Directions from the North: exit from Rt.l at the North Smyrna exit and take Rt. 13 South to Commerce St (Rt 6), turn right on to Commerce St. continue to Main Street and take a left on to Main St. - the Opera House is on the right at the intersection of South Street and Main Street. Directions from the South: exit from Rt.l at the South Smyrna exit and take Rt. 13 North, take a left on to Main Street, continue on Main St, the Opera House will be on the left at the intersection of Main St. and South Street. SVnjmo Municipal Park r 1 Xi £ L’J ... mm ■£ ■s ■Soo;, , * 'V \ * % % C \ > ✓ Spruance City & -» 4^ Smyrna Thomp! — i3U0rn Mfir Crwlt & © 2 C 06 MapQuest, Jnc ©3006 NAVTEQ The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page Upcoming Events ' Saturday, 29 April 2006 — Ag day at Univeristy of Delaware in Newark, de. From 10 AM to 4 PM — " ON THE GROUNDS OF TOWNSEND HALL ON S. COLLEGE AVE. ON THE WEB AT http://AG.UDEL.EDU/EXTENSION ~ FOR MORE INFORMATION. — — r « Saturday, 6 May 2006 — Delaware native plant society annual meeting. Details on page 6. — Saturday, 6 May 2006 — Adkins Arboretum spring native plant sale from 9 AM to 1 PM. On the web ~ ~ AT WWW.ADKINSARBORETUM.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. Saturday & Sunday, 6 & 7 May 2006 — Delaware Nature Society Annual native plant sale at Cov- ’ erdale Farm in Greenville, DE. Features over 275 rare, unusual, and favorite varieties of native WILDFLOWERS, TREES, SHRUBS, FERNS AND AQUATIC PLANTS. ON THE WEB AT HTTP:// WWW.DELAWARENATURESOCIETY.ORG/NPS.HTML FOR MORE INFORMATION. __ Friday, 19 May 2006 — Arboretum Spring Garden Symposium from 9 AM to 4 PM. Guest speakers are ' ’ Dr. Allan Armitage on “Native Plants for American Gardens” a new book coming being released in 2006 by Timber Press, and Julie Moir Messervy, acclaimed landscape designer, author, lecturer „ ON OUTDOOR SANCTUARIES THAT FEED THE SPIRIT. HER NEW BOOK IS “OUTSIDE THE NOT SO BIG HOUSE”. ON THE WEB AT WWW.ADKINSARBORETUM.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. “ Saturday, 20 May 2006— Field Trip to Flintwoods Preserve. Hosted by Bill Haldeman and led by — Janet Ebert and Jack Holt. Flintwoods Preserve, located in Centreville, Delaware, is a spectacu- — LAR RESOURCE THAT PROVIDES HABITAT FOR NEO-TROPICAL SONGBIRDS AND RARE WILDFLOWERS AMONG TOW- ERING, MATURE TREES. THE CANOPY OF GIANT TREES INCLUDES OAK, HICKORY, BEECH, AND TULIPTREES AND TOWERS OVER MOUNTAIN LAUREL, SPICEBUSH, AND NATIVE AZALEA. SEVENTEEN SPECIES OF FERNS HAVE BEEN “ IDENTIFIED INCLUDING UNCOMMON MAIDENHAIR AND POLYPODY FERNS AS WELL AS NUMEROUS SPECIES OF — WILDFLOWERS INCLUDING THE SHOWY ORCHIS, BLUE COHOSH AND TAWNY IRONWEED. - — 1-3 June 2006 — Native Plants in the Landscape Plant Conference and Sale at Millersville University. On the web at www.millersvillenativeplants.org for more information. — Saturday, 17 June 2006 — Softwood Propagation of Native Plants workshop. Learn how to prop a- — - GATE PLANTS FROM SOFTWOOD CUTTINGS USING ROOTING HORMONE AND THE CORRECT TECHNIQUES. FROM 9:30 __ AM to 12 Noon at the Mt. Cuba Center at 3120 Barley Mill Rd., Hockessin, DE, 19807. Limited to 20 ’ PARTICIPANTS- MEMBERS OF DELAWARE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY (RESERVATIONS REQUIRED). $15.00 FEE FOR “ MATERIALS. MORE DETAILS TO COME AT A LATER DATE. CALL 302.653.6449 FOR MORE DETAILS AND TO — — REGISTER. — July 2006 — the DNPS July event will be announced at a later date. — Sunday, 23 September 2006 — Field Trip to a Serpentine Barren in Nottingham County Park, Ches- ™ ter County, Pennsylvania. Trip is from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and will be led by Jack Holt and Janet — _ Ebert - Picnic dinner provided. Reservations required. Call 302.653.6449 for more details and to REGISTER. ^ ’ DNPS Bi-monthly meetings for 2006 — are currently scheduled for 17 JANUARY, 21 March, 6 May — (annual meeting), 18 July, 19 September, 4 November (not a meeting, but the annual plant sale). — - _ All meetings are on the third Tuesday of every other month at the St. Jones Reserve at 7 PM, un- The Turk’s Cap, Volume 9, Number 1 Page Membership Application g L ». ». ». ». _ , Member Information Delaware native Plant Society Name: Business Name or Organization: Address: City and Zip Code: Telephone (home/work): E-mail address: " Full-time Student $10.00 " Individual $15.00 " Family or Household $18.00 " Contributing $50.00 " Business $100.00 " Lifetime $500.00 " Donations are also welcome $_ Membership benefits include: * The DNPS quarterly newsletter, The Turk’s Cap * Native plant gardening and landscaping information * Speakers, field trips, native plant nursery and sales Total Amount Enclosed: $ Make check payable to: DE Native Plant Society P.O. Box 369, Dover, DE 19903 Delaware Native Plant Society P.O. Box 369 Dover, Delaware 19903 Complimentary Copy