Blazing Summer2016 v6 c BlazingFall08 v4nanps.org/wp-content/uploads/Blazing_Star_2016Summer.pdfdangle in loose clusters like tiny drop earrings, one to three blossoms per stalk (known

by Angelique Mori

The delicate, pendant blooms ofspotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)grace the moist, shadier corners of ournative plant garden in Hamilton,Ontario. This dainty jewel of summerappeared uninvited in our backyardand quickly became a favourite withbirds and butterflies.

Quick-in-the-hand, horns-of-plenty,touch-me-not and wild ladies’ earringsare some of the colourful monikersused to describe this common,herbaceous annual. There are twojewelweeds native to north temperateand boreal North America, the secondbeing pale jewelweed (Impatienspallida). It’s easy to distinguish the twoby flower colour: Impatiens capensis isorange with dark blotches, while I.pallida is pale yellow.

Impatiens is Latin for “impatient,”referring to the plant’s startlingmethod of seed dispersal: whentouched, the ripe pods explode(no doubt the source of thesobriquet “touch-me-not”).The species name capensismeans “of the Cape of GoodHope,” where the plant waserroneously believed to haveoriginated. Pallida means “pale” or“pallid.”

The smooth, translucent brancheshave glaucous, hollow stems. The

simple, elliptic leaves are three to 10centimetres (one to four inches) long,long-stalked with some rounded teeth.The upper leaves are alternate whilethe lower leaves are opposite.Delightful, trumpet-shaped flowersdangle in

loose clusters like tiny drop earrings,one to three blossoms per stalk(known as a pedicel). The bilaterallysymmetrical blooms have three petalsand an elegant, curving spur. The

blooms appear from summer to earlyautumn. The fruit is aribbed pod up to twocentimetres (one inch) long

containing five vegetalsprings which

build upconsiderablecompressiveforce by waterabsorption. A

gentle touch willtrigger vigorous

contortionsthat canproduce a

perceptible

S U M M E R 2016 , VO LU M E 17, IS S U E 3

A PU B L I C AT I O N O F T H E NO RT H AM E R I C A N NAT I V E PL A N T SO C I E T Y

Native Plant to Know

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Spotted JewelweedImpatiens capensis

Continued on page 15

2 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2016

The Blazing Star is . . .

The Blazing Star is published quarterly(April, August, November, February) bythe North American Native Plant Society(NANPS). Contact [email protected] editorial deadlines and for advertisingrates. The views expressed herein arethose of the authors and not necessarilythose of NANPS.The North American Native Plant Societyis dedicated to the study, conservation,cultivation and restoration of NorthAmerica’s native flora.

Summer 2016Volume 17, Issue 3ISSN 2291-8280

Editor: Irene FedunProduction: Bea PatersonProofreader: Eileen AtkinsonPrinted by: Guild Printing, Markham, Ontario

© North American Native Plant SocietyImages © the photographers and illustrators, text © the authors. All rights reserved.

North American Native Plant Society,formerly Canadian Wildflower Society,is a registered charitable society, no.130720824 RR0001. Donations to the society are tax-creditable in Canada.

NANPS Membership: CAN$25/YEAR WITHIN CANADA,US$25/YEAR OUTSIDE CANADA

Join online or send cheque or moneyorder to North American Native PlantSociety, Box 84, Stn D, Toronto, ONM9A 4X1.Telephone: (416) 631-4438. E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nanps.org.Facebook: www.facebook.com/nativeplantTwitter: @tnanps

Board of Directors:Honorary President: James A. FrenchVice-President: Adam MohamedSecretary: Miriam HenriquesTreasurer: Janice Keil Colleen CirilloBill FordAlison HowsonAlice KongMyles MackenzieMatey MatovHoward MeaddHarold Smith

The Ontario government passed into law Bill 37, the Invasive Species Act (ISA), onNovember 3, 2015. The act is intended to manage invasive plant and animalspecies threatening Ontario’s ecological biodiversity. According to Bill Mauro,Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the province’s taxpayers paymore than $90 million dollars annually to fight invasives while the annual cost toCanada’s agriculture and forestry sectors is upwards of $7.3 billion each year. TheISA also provides the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry withextraordinary monitoring and enforcement powers.

The Invasive Species Act is intendedto support “the prevention, earlydetection, rapid response anderadication of invasive species”; giveOntario the tools to ban the possessionand transportation of certain invasivespecies; allow for earlier interventionand rapid response to keep invasivespecies from spreading… and helpensure compliance throughmodernized inspection andenforcement measures.”

NANPS supports Bill 37 in principle,however specific gaps within the Actweaken its effectiveness and requirecollective action. In light of ourmission (the study, conservation,cultivation and restoration of NorthAmerica’s native flora), we believethere is a need for:

1) Immediate, proactive creation ofgovernment initiatives for keystakeholders to developinnovative resources in their collaborative fight against invasive plants.

2) Innovative investment in the talents, skills and knowledge of Ontario’sexisting conservation leaders and associations to create “tools” for the ISAtoolbox.

3) Clarity with respect to the classification and definitions of invasive plantspecies and the operationalization of the degree of risk associated with eachof these species.

4) The creation of ISA-related educational curricula and training materials forelementary and secondary schools, Ministry of Training, horticultural andlandscaping programs at colleges and universities, commercial nurseries andlandscapers, farmers and landowners, and staff of the Ministry of NaturalResources and Forestry, provincial parks and conservation authorities.

5) Creation of training programs for ISA inspectors, certification programs onthe identification of invasive plant species, native plants, non-native plants,species at risk (and “weeds”), cataloguing and evaluating the educationalmerits of existing documentation and apps used for identification of invasivespecies.

We hope to work with the Ontario government and other concerned agenciesand environmental non-profit organizations to strengthen this critical legislation.

Bill FordNANPS director

Editorial

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Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower)

SUMMER 2016 3NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Native Plant Species Website Blooms

NANPS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Local Scoop, having established roots strong enough towithstand droughts in the summer and ice storms in winter,has grown hardy and wants to branch out. So, the Scoop hasplanted the Native Plant Species, a website dedicated topropagating a community of enthusiasts, to share the dirt,spread the word, and pollinate each community with thebenefits of growing native plant species. Visitwww.nativeplantspecies.com.

So dig in. Share your stories, your photos, your successes,your failures, and information about native plant species inyour local area.Contribute, askthe Scoopquestions, andgive advice aboutnative plantspecies. Helpraise awareness ofnative plantspecies,pollinators andother wildlife.

An ecosystem ismore than asingle plant. Anative plantcommunityflorum is morethan a singlevoice. So let's getgrowing!

Saturday, October 15, 2016Toronto Botanical Gardens777 Lawrence Avenue East at Leslie StreetToronto

Keynote speaker: Brendon Larson, assistant professor inthe Department of Environment and Resource Studies atthe University of Waterloo will talk about Redefining ourRelationship with Nature: The Case of Invasive Species.Mini native plant sale.

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(705) [email protected]

Specializing in container grown Trees & Shrubs native to Ontario

Design & Consulting services available by OALA member


Dear Editor,

I found the Rock Elm article in thewinter 2016 issue of The Blazing Starinteresting and informative. My reasonfor writing is technical in nature, andto do with pollination biology. I hadheard that elms were wind-pollinated.Author Bill Moses notes anecdotalevidence of bees "working theflowers," but he makes a troubling off-hand comment about this validobservation.

Bill says, "I suspect now that theymust have been just gathering pollenand not playing a role in thereproductive process." To be fair, heexplicitly prefaces this as a suspicion.But it troubles me to encounter abotanist engaging in public educationwith a broad audience describing"gathering pollen" by bees as aseparate action from pollination, as ifone action precludes or takes awayfrom the other. Pollen gathering andpollination are concurrent processesfor bees in most situations. For theelm in question, if the bees weresuccessfully gathering pollen, thenbee-based pollination would verylikely have been occurring.

Bee bodies are built to acquirepollen, having evolved to takeadvantage of pollen as a proteinresource. They are typically fuzzy orcoated in branching hairs that readilytrap pollen to be "combed off " andcollected later. This strategy makesthem the perfect vector for pollentransfer because in order to collectpollen for themselves they must firstbecome coated in it and beforeconsolidating it they must visit manydifferent flowers.

Plants have evolved to produceexcess pollen for everything, includingreproduction and bee food. It is anideal mutualism. One of the few casesin which plants draw the short straw isin nectar robbing, where bees withtoo-short tongues pierce the sides oflong or hard-to-get-into flowers (suchas squirrel corn or Dicentracanadensis) to get at the nectar. But

even here, it is nectar and not pollenthat is being stolen, and these samebees have adequate tongue lengths forother flower species. Even bees that dono pollen collection themselvestypically rob, infiltrate or parasitizethe pollen resources of nests of beesthat do collect pollen, and thuspollinate by proxy.

If the bees Bill saw visiting elmflowers were collecting pollen then, byvirtue of their fuzzy bodies that brushagainst flowers, they would necessarilyhave been acting as pollinators, sincethe stamens and stigmas of elmflowers are both external, containedwithin the same flower and in veryclose proximity to each other. Elmsmay be largely reliant on wind, butperhaps there is minimal insect-related pollination.

I believe this is a crucial point sincebees are experiencing declines,especially native bees, and publicpressure to improve this situationusually comes from knowledge of thepollination benefits of bees. I amloathe to see confusion sown abouttheir value as pollinators even in aminor way.

David d'Entremont

Author Bill Moses responds:To clarify, I am not a botanist, merely akeen observer of nature, especially trees.After reading David’s letter, I did moreresearch and discovered that elm flowersdo produce pollen. However, plants thatrely on pollination by insects have stickypollen which sticks to bee hairs and ispacked around the back legs.Windblown pollen is not sticky and somust be more difficult for bees tocollect, but in desperate times they maygive it a go. This coming season I will belooking for bees on elm flowers to seewhat the "aych" they are doing.

Letter to the Editor

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Volunteers with the PollinatorsParadise Project have been busilyplanting a “pollinator corridor” ofnative plants that will provide foodand shelter for pollinators acrossHamilton, Ontario. Organized byEnvironment Hamilton and theHamilton Naturalists’ Club, withsupport from the Ontario TrilliumFoundation and Hamilton FutureFund, the ambitious project knowsno social, political or religiousboundaries. Plantings haveoccurred at Victory andCommunity Gardens, HamiltonDowntown Mosque, manyelementary and secondary schools,city parks, Hamilton City Hall and

other high-profile places. Theproject also offers a certificationprogram: anyone who meets thecriteria set out by the program forplanting a pollinator patch canregister the location athamiltonpollinatorparadise.organd it will be added to a map thatlists patches across the city. Thegoal is to create a continuous flowof native plants across Hamilton tosupport our beleagueredpollinators.

The website offers lists ofpollinator-friendly plants, blogs,links and tips on how to build abee nest box. For events designedto help you create a pollinatorparadise [email protected].

Pollinators ParadiseProject


by Paul O’Hara

For most folks, gardening is a springand summer affair. Winter subsidesand the rush of spring planting begins.But after the rose of Sharon hasbloomed and the kids are back inschool the garden often goes off theradar.

I love the spring and summergarden too – the first flowers on myserviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) andwoodland phlox (Phlox divaricata),wild geraniums (Geraniummaculatum) and foamflowers (Tiarella cordifolia), beardtongues(Penstemon spp.) in late spring, andthe waves of summer colour andtexture that come with my prairieforbs and grasses. But autumn is myfavourite time of year because that’swhen my gardens come alive with thepurple, white, blue and gold of astersand goldenrods.

Goldenrods and asters are familiarto most when they light up ourroadside meadows in late summer andearly fall – you know, the time whenmany people complain about their hay

fever? I know I’m preaching to thechoir and I’m tired of saying it but itneeds to be shouted frommountaintops, spray-painted on citywalls and barked on radio gardenphone-in programs until theproverbial cows come home: astersand goldenrods do not cause hay fever.

The true allergen culprit is commonragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), a native annual whose inconspicuousgreen flowers (emerging at the sametime as asters and goldenrods) liberatehuge amounts of dusty pollen that cantravel kilometres on the wind. Sowhen folks see those waving asters andgoldenrods in our meadows inSeptember they shouldn’t be thinkinghay fever, they should be thinkingPOLLINATORS!

The flowers of asters and goldenrodsare pollinated by a vast array of flyinginsects, as their pollen is too stickyand heavy to be transported on thewind. Besides brightening our naturalareas in fall, asters and goldenrods aresome of the best pollinator plants inour North American flora and they’recritical food plants for migratingmonarchs and bees preparing forwinter.

Plus, there’s a wide selection tochoose from – over 60 species inOntario alone – so you need not plantsome of the more aggressive onesadapted to disturbance such asCanada goldenrod (Solidagocanadensis), late goldenrod (Solidagoaltissima), grass-leaved goldenrod(Euthamia graminifolia), New Englandaster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae),heath aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides)and frost aster (Symphyotrichumpilosum). In my native plantlandscaping business, I don’t usuallyplant them in formal gardens (manyof them will appear in your garden oftheir own accord) but that’s not to saythat they don’t offer wildlife andecosystem benefits. Instead, I plantasters and goldenrods that are a littlemore conservative in their growthhabits.

My garden favouritesBLUE-STEMMED GOLDENROD

(SOLIDAGO CAESIA)My favourite goldenrod for the

woodland garden in areas of part sunand part shade. Produces a string ofgolden flowers on bluish, archingstems. A common forb in localwoodlands.

ZIG-ZAG GOLDENROD

(SOLIDAGO FLEXICAULIS) Another goldenrod for the

woodland garden. Zig-zag stems andyellow flowers in autumn (oftenthrough to early November.) Commonin local forests where it forms smallstands.

EARLY GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO JUNCEA) A tidy metre-high (three foot)

goldenrod of woodland edges andprairie remnants. Flowers in late Julyand August, hence the name “early.” Asuperb addition to the perennialborder in full to part sun.

GRAY GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO NEMORALIS) A knee-high goldenrod for full sun.

Prefers sandy and gravelly soils in thewild. An excellent choice for the rockgarden.

Purple, White, Blue & Gold: Gardening withAsters and Goldenrods

Continued on page 6Blue-stemmed goldenrod

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Smooth aster

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OHIO GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO OHIOENSIS) An uncommon goldenrod of coastal

marshes and wet sand dunes. A metre-high perennial with golden, flat-topped flowers. Will tolerate averagegarden soils.

STIFF GOLDENROD (SOLIDAGO RIGIDA) A rare goldenrod of remnant

prairies. Prefers dry sandy soils butwill grow well in medium moistureclays too. Grows to shoulder height inthe garden.

FLAT-TOPPED WHITE ASTER

(DOELLINGERIA UMBELLATA) A striking aster, up to two metres

(six feet) high, that grows in roadsideditches and wet meadows. A commonsight in cottage country. Toleratesmedium moisture soils. A good choicefor the perennial border in full to partsun.

UPLAND WHITE ASTER

(SOLIDAGO PTARMICOIDES) One of my favourites for the garden.

Uncommon in the wild. Grows inrocky or sandy soils, particularly inshoreline habitats. An unusualgoldenrod with flat-topped whiteflowers in late summer. Plant in partto full sun.

WHITE WOOD ASTER

(EURYBIA DIVARICATA) A Threatened species in Ontario,

largely restricted to the NiagaraPeninsula. A knee-high, white-flowered aster for the woodlandgarden.

HEART-LEAVED ASTER

(SYMPHYOTRICHUM CORDIFOLIUM)A common aster in local woodlands.

Produces masses of light blue flowerswhen planted in groups. Another greatchoice for the woodland garden inpart sun or dappled shade.

SMOOTH ASTER (SYMPHYOTRICHUM LAEVE) Common in local meadows,

particularly on clay soils. A chest-highaster with smooth-textured leaves andpretty blue flowers in early fall. Idealfor the perennial border in full to partsun.

SKY BLUE ASTER

(SYMPHYOTRICHUM

OOLENTANGIENSE) Uncommon in open oak

woodlands and sandy meadows.A thigh-high aster with rough-textured leaves and lilac blueflowers in early fall. Like smoothaster, another great choice forthe perennial border in full topart sun.

What about those aggressiveasters and goldenrods that growon our roadsides? They could beplanted in formal gardens – NewEngland aster, heath aster andfrost aster are all suitable for theperennial border in full sun –but you might want to give thema chop after they flower toprevent them from seedingthrough the garden. In myopinion, these species are bestplanted and seeded in wildersettings such as habitatrestoration and naturalizationprojects that create morepollinator habitat in our citiesand towns.

This brings me to an idea I’vehad for some time. I believe weshould be celebrating our astersand goldenrods. We celebrate therunning of the maple sap inspring. Why not celebrate theflowering of our asters andgoldenrods in autumn? It’s sucha beautiful time of year in ourroadside meadows and thickets –the yellowing elms (Ulmus spp.)and hawthorns (Crataegus spp.),the brilliant reds and oranges ofthe staghorn sumac (Rhustyphina), the marooning graydogwood (Cornus racemosa),and the purple, white, blue andgold of our asters andgoldenrods. This beauty onlycomes once a year and weshould rejoice in it. It could be anice way for kids, parents andteachers to ease back into theschool year: a North America-wide festival reveling in the

Continued from page 5


• Choose a marginal area in a city park,corporate park or school ground andget permission to plant there.

• Mark the borders and pathways of thenaturalization project with markingpaint. Get creative with the design:broad sweeping curves and wide,generous pathways to invite exploration.

• Stake out the borders to keep themowing staff on track. I use 2” by 2”wooden stakes two feet high, paintedwith fire-red Tremclad® paint. Poundthem into the ground at 10-15 footintervals; 5-10 foot intervals on curves.

• Let the turf in the naturalized areagrow. That’s right, no need to do theback-breaking work of smothering orremoving turf.

• Plant native wildflower plugs right intothe turf. Choose species that cancompete with the weedy turf grasses:black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa),evening primrose (Oenothera biennis),sweet ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides),common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca),Canada anemone (Anemonecanadensis), wild strawberry (Fragariavirginiana) and of course, asters andgoldenrods: New England aster, heathaster, frost aster, smooth aster, earlygoldenrod and gray goldenrod. Plant asmany plugs as your budget allows.

• Water new plants well for the firstcouple of weeks. Three to four gooddrenchings should do it.

• In time, thatch from the turf grasses will build up and, once scratched out,will create areas of bare soil. Target those areas with native wildflower seed.Source seed from a reputable nativeplant nursery, collect seed from a localmeadow or from the maturingwildflowers in your naturalizationproject.

• Continue to develop the meadow insuccessive years with more wildflowerplugs and seed as your budget allows.

• Enjoy the bees and butterflies!• Visit

http://www.blueoak.ca/naturalizationfor more ideas.

Paul O’Hara

Recipe for anInexpensive MeadowNaturalization Project

“We’ve been hearing a lot about themonarch population being in peril,”says Markham, Ontario CouncillorValerie Burke who is also chair ofMarkham’s Environmental andSustainability Committee, “so our citydecided to take the initiative tosupport butterflies and all pollinators.”A mayoral proclamation in Aprildeclared Markham as Canada’s firstmonarch butterfly-friendly city.

The welcome initiative is very muchin line with Markham’s GreenprintSustainability Plan. The ambitiouspollinator strategy includes launchinga public outreach campaign,collaborating with local gardening andconservation groups, creating theworld’s first municipal milkweednursery, encouraging residents to signthe David Suzuki FoundationMonarch Manifesto and addingbutterfly-friendly plantings on cityproperties to those already completed.In one initiative a few years ago,

NANPS planted native shrubs andforbs at Markham Civic Centre.

“We all need to take responsibilityfor protecting the environment,” saysCouncillor Burke. She and fellowresidents have demonstrated theircommitment through the Adopt-a-Park program where people engage inorganized clean-upsor simply pick uplitter whenever theyfind it and helprestore natural areasthrough plantings.Pomona Mills Park isa good example.Located along awildlife corridor, ithas been the site ofnative plantings,including milkweed(Asclepias spp.) in themeadow.

This year the DavidSuzuki Foundation

launched its third annual#gotmilkweed campaign thatencourages Canadians to plantmilkweed in their yards, parks andschoolyards. The campaign hasinspired over 10,000 milkweedplantings in Toronto alone. For moreinformation, visit davidsuzuki.org.

migration of the monarch, thankingthe bees for their hard workpollinating our flowers and foodcrops, and engaging incommunity plantingevents that put moreasters and goldenrodsinto the ground in ourcities and towns.

We need to changeour thinking about thefall garden. Forget aboutthe chrysanthemum.They’re purdy and allbut have you everlooked closely at achrysanthemum in fullflower? They’re a visionof perfect sterility – notan insect to be found.This year, why not tucksome asters andgoldenrods (the species,not cultivars with fancynames) into your

garden instead. Plant them once andenjoy them for years to come.

I know it’ll take a while for most

citizens to change their thinking aboutthe fall garden. Until then, I’llcontinue to celebrate the fall in my

own small way: sittingin the garden among theturning colours andtawny grasses, beer inhand, watching the beesand butterflies dine onmy asters andgoldenrods. Now, that’swhat I call a good time.

Paul O’Hara is aconsulting field botanist,landscape designer andnative plant gardeningexpert. He is theowner/operator of BlueOak Native Landscapes(www.blueoak.ca) inHamilton, Ontario.


Monarch on New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). Photographer Carol Pasternak’s book How to RaiseMonarch Butterflies: A Step-by-Step Guide for Kids is in itssecond edition. Visit monarchcrusader.com to find out moreabout it and to learn about the plight of monarchs in the wild.

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Markham Proclaimed as Canada’s First Monarch Butterfly-Friendly City

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New England aster and arrow-leaved aster in flower at the Vale NaturalizationProject, a 1.4 hectare (3.5 acre) naturalization project designed, built andmaintained by Blue Oak Native Landscapes on the grounds of Vale BaseMetals Technology Development in Sheridan Research Park in Mississauga. In2009, the grounds consisted of neatly groomed turf. Today, it is a rich, bio-diverse habitat with cultural meadows, thickets and early successional forests.

This illustration, scaled down to fitthis page, shows a late goldenrod(Solidago altissima) ramet (anindividual in a group of clones) ineach season. Sprinkled throughoutthe grouping are 50 species ofinsects and other organisms, somemore easily seen than others. At somepoint in their lives, all of them utilizeor depend on goldenrod.

The three similar members of theCanada goldenrod complex (Solidagocanadensis, S. gigantea and S.altissima) are sometimes reviledbecause of their tendency to dominatea garden. They can spread quickly viatough, hard-to-dig-up rhizomes, so it’strue that you probably shouldn’t plantthem in your garden (unless perhapsthey’re in pots and you cut off theinflorescence before seeds disperse.)However, these beautiful native plantsare valuable to wildlife because theysupport the bottom of the food chain.When you see them alongside a roador in a field, appreciate them as“biodiversity superheroes.” They are tobe treasured, notdismissed as worthlessweeds or inaccuratelymaligned for causingallergies.

Emily S. Damstra is a natural scienceillustrator in Guelph,Ontario. The life-size painting isthe result ofa year-longresearchprojectpartiallyfunded by agrant from the AccessCopyright Foundation.Emily plans to continuestudying and illustratinggoldenrod and the fauna it supports. Her work may be seen atwww.emilydamstra.com.


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Late goldenrod


Spring

1. Wasp, Eurytoma obtusiventris

2. Leaf beetle larva, Trirhabda sp.

3. Warty leaf beetle larva, Exema canadensis

4. Goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis

5. Ground crab spider, Xysticus sp., with leaf miningbeetle, Microrhopala vittata

6. Grasshopper nymph, Melanoplus sp.

7. Leaf mining beetle, Microrhopala vittata

8. Scudder’s epiblema moth, Epiblema scudderiana

9. Leafhopper, Neokolla hieroglyphica

10. Spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius

11. Leaf galls from midge, Asteromyia carbonifera,with fungus, Botryosphaeria dothidea

12. Chrysanthemum lace bug, Corythucha marmorata

13. Leaf piercing/sucking bug, Publilia concava, with tending ant, Formica sp.

14. Leaf folded by caterpillar, Dichomeris sp.

15. Long-legged fly, Condylostylus sp.

Summer

1. Flower gall from Schizomyia racemicola

2. Goldenrod soldier beetles, Chauliognathuspensylvanicus

3. Hairy-banded andrena (mining bee), Andrenahirticincta

4. Syrphid fly, Helophilus sp.

5. Goldenrod hooded owlet, Cuculia asteroides

6. Pure green augochlora bee, Augochlora pura

7. Goldenrod crab spider, Misumena vatia

8. Ambush bugs, Phymata sp.

9. Paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus

10. Locust borer, Megacyllene robiniae

11. Wide-footed tree hopper, Campylenchia latipes

12. Eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens

13. Polished lady beetle, Cycloneda munda

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by Irene Fedun

Water is the defining feature on theBeaver Valley property of Bill andLouise Ford. The Fords learned thisthe hard way when their driveway andbasement flooded the first spring afterthey bought the abandoned farm nearCollingwood, Ontario in 2007. Billhad always wanted a country propertywith a large pond or small lake – abody of water where family memberscould swim, with a small beach wherethe kids could play or he and his dogcould sit quietly contemplating thesetting sun or watching the barnswallows dip and swoop for insects.This property, however, did not comewith a water body – unless you countthe giant elongated pool that formedfrom snow melt and spring rain.

Bill was undeterred. First theinundated driveway problem had to besolved and that was done withbackhoes and bulldozers and otherlarge machinery. Then the interestingwork began.

The Fords’ 20 hectares (50 acres)slope southward, with the farmhouseset well back from the road abouthalfway down the hill. The land hadonce been naturally hilly – more thana century ago – before farmers

appeared on the sceneand wrestled it intogrudging submission,filling in the wetlandand subduing thenatural curves of thelandscape to create flatworkable fields.

But the flow of watercould not be stopped.Springs would bubbleout of the hills andmeander down to thestream that drained outof the lower reaches ofthe property.Uncontrolled surfacerun-off from the upperfields and recent changesto elevation of theadjacent road resulted inwater flowing throughthe outbuildings anddisused cattle yard, theninto the stream. This ledto concerns about thepurity of the water. Poor

drainage and seasonal floodingrendered portions of their fieldsinaccessible into early summer.

Something had to be done. First theFords attended an EnvironmentalFarm Plan workshop and learned allthey could about what was possibleand how it might be funded. TheOntario Ministry of NaturalResources’ Species at Risk FarmIncentive Program (SARFIP), incombination with the Canada-OntarioFarm Stewardship Program (COFSP),provide 100% of funding for wetlandrestoration. Through SARFIP, theOntario government works withfarmers to ensure that agriculturallands provide habitat for wildlife,especially species at risk, and maintainbiodiversity. To be eligible for funding,landowners must prove that the landto be restored was once a wetland. Aspecialist from Ducks UnlimitedCanada inspected the Fords’ property,identifying peaty soils and vegetationcommunities indicative of soils thatare wet most of the year. Farmingactivities over the years had degradedthe wetland through nutrientoverload, soil compaction andpremature sedimentation of the basin.

During the summer of 2009, Billexcavated the degraded wetland to a


Going with the Flow

Blue vervain

Cup plant

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variable depth of one metre plus (fourfeet) with a shoreline configurationdesigned to enhance wildlife habitat.Within weeks, springs beneath thewetland and upstream drainageentering through the riparian bufferhad filled the pond and continue toprovide the water supply to this day.The wetland flows out into theadjacent stream through a simplecontrol structure designed to stabilise

water levels.“We intend to experiment with

indigenous wild rice in the wetland,for our own use and as a wildlife foodsource,” says Bill. The riparian bufferfeeding the wetland was seeded withherbaceous species native to the area,such as swamp milkweed (Asclepiasincarnata), Joe Pye-weed (Eupatoriummaculatum), blue vervain (Verbenahastata) – all three very popular with

butterflies and bees – greatblue lobelia (Lobeliasyphilitica), grasses such asVirginia wild rye (Elymusvirginicus) and sedges.Shrub plantings of blackelderberry (Sambucusnigra), red osier dogwood(Cornus stolonifera) andstaghorn sumac (Rhustyphina) line the bufferedges.

Although the floodplainhad been drained forfarming, the peat belowthat had been laid downover centuries remained.Many native plants, whoseseeds had long languishedin this rich soil awaitingtheir chance to regenerate,appeared spontaneously:sedges (Carex spp.) on the

swales, several asters (Symphyotrichumspp. and other genuses) in the fieldsand hedgerows, and both commonand narrow-leaved cattails (Typhalatifolia and T. angustifolia) around thepond. Cup plants (Silphiumperfoliatum), whose wrap-around-the-stalk leaves hold dew and rainproviding a drink for thirsty birds andinsects, were planted along with richlycoloured cardinal flower (Lobeliacardinalis), willows (Salix spp.) andfall-blooming New England asters(Symphyotrichum novae-angliae). “It’sbreathtaking looking at the colours,”says Bill, who demonstrates his lovefor the abundant nature that hassprung up all around him withunbridled enthusiasm.

Around the water sediment controlbasin, also known as Frog Pond, Billand Louise planted sweetgrass(Hierochloe odorata), which lovesmoist conditions and full sun.

Several more ponds were added overthe years or the saturated areas weresimply encouraged to remain so.Towards the bottom end of theproperty, the bright green shoots ofperennial grasses appear in the spring.The tiny needle clusters on tamaracktrees (Larix laricina) – notable forbeing North America’s only genus of


Continued on page 12Big bluestem tagged for seed collection

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AUGUST 19-21, 2016Wild Ones Annual ConferenceWild Ones Wild CenterNeenah, WisconsinWorkshops include Having aSuccessful Plant Sale, Pollinator Walkwith Heather Holm, Build Your OwnBee House and much more. Visitwww.wildones.org for details.

AUGUST 27, 2016Irvine Nature Center Native PlantSeminar And SaleOwings Mills, MarylandIrvine Nature Center’s 25thAnniversary Native Plant Night will be

held on the Friday night, August 26.Contact Kimberly Godack at 443-738-9220 for more information.

OCTOBER 2, OCTOBER 15,OCTOBER 27, NOVEMBER 6, 2016Introductory Workshop OnGardening With Drought-ResistantNative PlantsCapital Regional District, Vancouver,British ColumbiaThis free three-hour workshopincludes native plant identification,benefits of native plants, how to createnatural habitats such as meadows,thickets and woodlands, and more.

Visit www.crd.bc.ca/education/natural-gardening/native-plant-gardening-workshop.

OCTOBER 14-15, 2016Society For Ecological Restoration –New England Chapter 2016Conference Durham, New HampshireThe annual SER-NE conference’stheme will be Ecological Restorationin a Changing Climate: Ecosystems,Adaptation, Infrastructure andResiliency. Visit www.ser.org/eventsfor details.

Calendar of Events

deciduous conifers – pop out as well.Later in the season, commonmilkweeds (Asclepias syriaca) maketheir appearance in time to provideessential food and shelter for monarchbutterfly larvae.

Underground streams are poppingup on the south side of the property.At the bottom of the property there isan artesian well that becomes a littlegeyser in spring. It forms when theoverflow from the pond and the openwetland seeps into a deep, boulder-filled area to the west where it buildsup and escapes through a deep hole inthe ground near the stream. It lasts fora month during the thaw period.Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum),named for its reputed medicinalproperties, Joe Pye-weed and delicate,tangerine-flowered jewelweed(Impatiens capensis) have colonizedthe southern creek area.

As far as Louise and Bill areconcerned, the invaluable benefit ofrecreating natural water flows and re-establishing native plant communitiesis that wild animals quickly find thisparadise and move in. On tours of theproperty (and Bill has given many tolocal agricultural groups and others),he points out where turtles come andsun themselves on a stand of split rails

that he built. Egrets, mallards andmany songbirds find nesting spots andsinging perches. The pond is now fullof perch and minnows that were notdeliberately introduced. Dozens ofbarn swallows swoop down onto theformer farm and stay for a couple ofmonths, working hard to keep peskyinsect populations to a minimum inlate spring/early summer. A muskratden is hidden among the cattails,possibly one of many. In fact, it seemsthat muskrats have tipped the balancein their favour, at least in the shortterm. Although they feel a bitconflicted about “managing” thewildlife, the Fords want their propertyto be a haven for biodiversity so alocal trapper comes in the fall toforestall a muskrat populationexplosion. These “aquatic voles” canhave up to three litters a year. Thetrapper will keep muskrat numbers incheck until minks and fishers (theonly natural enemies of muskrats)harvest more of the large rodents andre-establish the normal predator-preybalance.

The hedgerows along the westernedges of the property harbournannyberries (Viburnum lentago), alarge shrub with sweet-scented whiteflowers, mountain ashes (Sorbus spp.)

whose orange-red berries are afavourite with waxwings, enormousbasswoods (Tilia americana), elms(Ulmus spp.), some still alive, somenot, having succumbed to Dutch elmdisease, and other native trees such asblack cherry (Prunus serotina) andironwood (Ostrya virginiana).

Near the house and barns, there isthe requisite vegetable garden (chockfull of heritage varieties.) The latestadditions to the garden are four raisedbeds complete with hoops. In them,Bill has planted colonies of bigbluestem (Andropogon gerardii), moreswamp milkweed and other natives.He says that this allows him to get agood jump start on spring planting.

In the spirit of encouraging nativetree growth even around their house,the Fords transplanted three blackwalnuts (Juglans nigra) from the valleyonto their lawn to keep the mature,heavily producing walnut company. Torestore the deciduous and coniferousforests, provide shade for the creekand wetlands and enhance waterquality for fish and other wildlife,Louise and Bill planted 1,800 trees –so far. Financial incentives through taxbreaks came from the OntarioMinistry of Natural Resources 50Million Tree Program run by TreesOntario (treesontario.on.ca or 1-877-646-1193). Through this program theFords received help choosing andplanting their trees from the GreySauble Conservation Authority.

In less than a decade, Louise andBill Ford – with help from MotherNature – have transformed a derelictcattle farm into productive wildlifehabitat using an integrated waterstrategy to control flooding andredirect field run-off throughpermanent water passages, sedimentbasins, riparian strips and an openwetland, and planting native species offorbs, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees.The work continues but the joys anddelights are priceless.

Irene Fedun is the editor of The BlazingStar.


Continued from page 11

Common milkweed in the former cattle yard

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To a bee or butterfly itdoesn’t matter whether youplant a meadow, a rooftopgarden or a window boxwith nectar and pollen-richnative plants. Whether youhave acres of land or just asmall space, consider thepollinators that may benefitfrom your gardening effortsand put in plants thatappeal to you and to them.That’s the message theUnited States Departmentof Agriculture (USDA), thePollinator Partnership andthe Animal and PlantInspection Service aresending out with the Plant aWindowbox for Pollinatorsonline tool available atpollinator.org/ windowbox.

The interactive toolallows people to determinewhich plants will providepollinator forage based ontheir ZIP code or postalcode for Canadians. Thesite includes a virtualwindow box game and thelive USDA “bee cam” whichbroadcasts honeybeeactivity on the roof of theUSDA’s building inWashington.

It explains how to buildpollinator habitat byselecting the right site,using native plants forcontinuous bloom andlimiting or eliminatingpesticide use. Ecoregionalplanting guides cover theUnited States and Canada.The site also includes theBeesmart® PollinatorGardener app and theBeesmart® School GardenKit. It’s well worth abrowse, providing usefulinformation for anyonewanting to put inpollinator-friendly plants,not just pocket gardeners.


Plant a Window Box for Pollinators

The City of Toronto has released thelatest books in its growing BiodiversityBook Series. The titles are Mushroomsof Toronto, Bees of Toronto, and Trees,Shrubs & Vines of Toronto. There arenow nine published books in theseries.

The Biodiversity Book Series isintended to raise awareness of nature,create opportunities for explorationand enjoyment, and cultivate a senseof stewardship for the plants andanimals found in Toronto. Over 100

volunteers committed theirtime, expertise and passionto the project. Thanks totheir efforts, the city iscompiling a comprehensiveinventory of species foundin Toronto.

Each book is available atToronto Public Librarybranches for members ofthe public to pick up andkeep for their personal use.

The Biodiversity Book

The Vascular Plants of the BrucePeninsula Ontario Written and published by Joe JohnsonISBN 0-9951535-0-9297 pages, 5 pages of colourmaps, 12 pages of colour photos(approx. 100 species).Price: $39 + 6.49 shipping fromAmazon. $28 picked up from thepublisher for cash. Shipping is around$13 within Ontario. Email:[email protected].

Joe Johnson first conceived the idea of writing a book about the vascularplants of the Bruce Peninsula in themid-1980’s. Soon it became commonknowledge within the local naturalistcommunity that Joe was writing abook and, as soon as it was finished,he would be moving back to hisboyhood home in Nova Scotia. Duringthe succeeding decades, he appearedless often at naturalist outings and thestory was that he was working on hisbook.

As time went on, some people beganto scoff, some rolled their eyes, butmany more were sympathetic andcheering for Joe. When the book didarrive, reactions ranged from slack-jawed incredulity to "Wow!" It wasworth the wait. The Vascular Plants ofthe Bruce Peninsula Ontario will beseen as a benchmark in the history of

botany onthe Bruce, aplace thathas beendescribed asOntario’smost famousbotanicaldestination.

From ahistorical

perspective, P.V. Krotkov was the firstperson to conduct an intensivebotanical survey of the BrucePeninsula, spending four summersthere, from 1936 to 1939. Over theensuing decades, numerous plant listshave been compiled and updated. Joe,who has lived for 45 years in Wiarton,about a third of the way up the Bruce,was recognized early on as the plantexpert for the area, collecting databased on personal observation. His,some would say, obsessive attention todetail is reflected in his book. Hethoroughly reviewed all the botanicalinformation ever published about theBruce, even his own work. Heaccepted or rejected all speciespreviously reported on the peninsulaand provided his reasoning for hisdecisions.

This is not a book about identifyingplants, but when used in conjunctionwith other botanical books it offers aregionally unique discussion of every

plant growing in the wild on the BrucePeninsula. It answers the pressingquestion, “Hey, what do you knowabout this plant?” The answer given ineach case gives enough non-technicalcontent to assist anyone, rank amateuror long-time professional, wanting toknow more.

My involvement included providingthe computer support and non-botanical expertise for thedevelopment of the book. Since Joewas a stickler for detail and constantlychanging his mind about things, theprocess took longer than might havebeen expected but, in the end, we wereable to present a camera-ready file tothe printer and, three weeks later, wehad a book. In the last few months ofthis work, Joe’s dream of returning toNova Scotia was in sight. He remindedme of a horse at the end of a long daysuddenly energized by the sight of thebarn and the anticipation of thecomforts within. Without the dreamof returning to Nova Scotia, this bookmight never have been completed!

The Vascular Plants of the BrucePeninsula Ontario has been praised byacademics and lay people alike. Joeimbued many of them with a love ofnature. Only one question remains:will Joe now return to Nova Scotiaand, if so, when?

Review by Bill Moses


New & Noted

Toronto’s Biodiversity Series


Continued from page 1 – Spotted Jewelweed

popping sound. You can feel a tiny,forceful curling between your fingerslike a squirming creature in your hand– a diverting outdoor activity. Seedscan be discharged up to five metres(16 feet) from the parent plant.Individual plants can produce 800greenish-black seeds providing a feastfor game birds, white-footed mice andnorthern short-tailed shrews. White-

tailed deer also browse the foliage.Jewelweed prefers riparian habitats

such as stream banks, moist woodlandopenings, wet meadows and ditches. Itcan adapt its size to the availability ofmoisture and the richness of habitat. Indryer conditions it can be under 30

centimetres (one foot) tall but as largeas 150 centimetres (five feet) in idealsites. Unlike most wetland plants, thisspecies will tolerate some disturbance,although it doesn’t transplant well, nordo the seeds keep well. It will growreadily, however, from self-seeding orimmediate sowing. If you intend tocollect seeds, close a small paper bagaround ripe pods to capture darting fly-

aways.Jewelweed hasa tendency toroam andsome considerit a bit weedybut its weak,shallow rootsare easilypulled. It is afineornamental ina wet, partshade garden,downspoutgarden or bio-swale wherewater iscaptured. Itwill toleratefull sun in wet,organic soil.

An unusual reproductive featuremakes jewelweed interesting toscientific research. Some flowers neveropen, producing seeds through self-pollination (cleistogamous flowers),while others open for cross-pollination (chasmogamous flowers).

It is thought closed flowers provideassurance against unsuccessful cross-pollination but the seedlings producedare less vigorous. Small or long-tongued insects are most successfulpollinating the tubular flowers and, ofcourse, it is a favourite of ruby-throated hummingbirds. A singleflower can produce up to two and ahalf millilitres of nectar per day, highlyattractive to burgling bumble bees thatdodge their pollinating duties to stealnectar by chewing holes near the spurof the flower… which may account forthe cleistogamous flowers!

Historically, jewelweed was used byFirst Nations people for its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies haveconfirmed fungicidal properties in thestem’s juices that provide relief forexternal skin irritations such asitching/burning due to poison ivy,stinging nettles, cuts, burns, and insectbites and stings. I can vouch for itsremarkable effectiveness in soothingthe discomfort of stinging nettles.That attribute alone makes it abeneficial addition to any homegarden.

Angelique Mori won a NANPS GardenAward in 2014. Her property is certifiedas a Wildlife Friendly Habitat by theCanadian Wildlife Federation and as aButterfly and Pollinator Habitat by theNorth American Butterfly Association.Her urban sanctuary welcomes anythingthat crawls, hops, slithers, slinks, foragesor flies.

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Impatiens pallida (pale touch-me-not)

Series is an initiative of theEnvironmental Planning section of theCity of Toronto's City Planningdivision. The initiative is supported bythe Environment and Energy divisionand the Parks, Forestry & Recreationdivision. You can learn more aboutthis series and the otherenvironmental initiatives athttp://bit.ly/1sLzquA.

Please collect seeds from native plants for our annual SeedExchange and deliver them to the NANPS AGM on October 15,2016 or send them, separated by species and identified with thesource/parentage, to NANPS, Box 84, Stn. D, Toronto, ON, M9A 4X1. If you have any questions, contact [email protected] ecosystems, pollinators and native fauna thank you!

WANTED: Seed Donors

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NAT I V E PL A N T SO C I E T Y

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Send this completed form along with your cheque to:

NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY PO Box 84, Station D Toronto, Ontario, CanadaM9A 4X1

The North American Native Plant Society treats allinformation we receive as confidential. We do notrent, sell or provide this information to third parties.

SUMMER 2016

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Blazing Summer2016 v6 c BlazingFall08 v4nanps.org/wp-content/uploads/Blazing_Star_2016Summer.pdfdangle in loose clusters like tiny drop earrings, one to three blossoms per stalk (known