Saturday October 20, 2018 Fern Society & NPG

If you are familiar with previous posts, you know that the New York Fern Society, which met at the NYBG for 42 years, was threatened with dissolution because our two world famous fern experts, John Mickel and Robbin Moran, were unable to continue leadership.  Even someone as unknowledgeable about ferns as I am could send out reminders or collect dues.  But who could have the contacts in the fern world to get speakers for meetings?  That seems to be our roadblock.

Nevertheless, a Fern Society reunion was planned for this date, to meet in the lobby of the Watson Building, and be led by Michael Penziner and Ed Impara in the Garden.  Sixteen people showed up, which shows there is still interest and love of the organization that usually attracted fifty people to meet in that small room allotted to us.  We would have to admit that food was a major attraction, amazing variety of delicious offerings brought by the members. But friendliness, humor, interesting information especially were major attractions.

Carol & John Mickel 2nd and 3rd from left

a selfie for me to get in the picture

A forest tour led by Michael focussed pretty much on trees. Of trees with alternate compound leaves, only four are native, all hickories.  yellow bud is bitternut; Mockernut with a hard nut; shagbark you can guess it's the shaggy bark; pignut has narrow leaves.  Maple (red) has a v-shaped sinus. On an oak, if the sinus is less than halfway down the leaf, it is a red oak.  Did I get that right, Michael?

Michael educating us.

I left to check out the Native Plant Garden.

  NPG See blog of six days ago and the report can just read "Ditto." Nothing left, nothing new arrived, nothing different.   

It took me 15 minutes to remember the name of these appealing leaves: Skullcap.

Several of you asked what this was, at the corner of the plantings across from the Gertrude (we're on a first name basis) plaque.  It is Aster laevis seedling.  Thanks to Michael Hagen.

The delicate tops of the wild grasses will be what we will be admiring in the near future as the season hides the flowering plants.

See you then.

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Sunday, October 14, 2018 NPG

NPG Sunday, October 14, 2018
I chose to be at the NYBG because Joel was leading two tours of the Native Plant Garden and it was my opportunity to visit with him. He has many talents, photography among them, and I'm sure his photos taken today will be better than mine.  If he sends me the one of Monarch Butterfly, I will share it; all the ones I took are fuzzy. My impatience gets the better of me.  May I mention he also makes soap, and my favorite, a replica of the lotus seedhead, is my current partner in the shower.

Joel and a visitor at the NPG approach

Monarch on Doelliringia umbellata
Flat-top Aster
photo by Joel

Before I launch into the plants of today, I followed up on Sue Leffler's suggestion to include book reviews related to horticulture in this blog and took the opportunity to throw it back at her.  Here is her review:

Review by Sue  Leffler, Tour Guide

If you love trees, both familiar and exotic, and want to learn more about them, and if you are also a lover of crisp writing and exquisite illustrations, then AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 TREES is the perfect book for you!

No sooner had I bought my copy of Jonathan Drori’s Around the World in 80 Trees, than I knew I’d be buying several more as ideal gifts for friends who fall into one of the following categories: those who crave little-known information about trees, carefully researched by Jonathan, and those who appreciate quality books filled with the beautiful  hand-drawn illustrations of French designer, Lucille Clerc.

Jonathan, a world-renowned expert on trees and on many other areas of science and botany, spoke to us, under the auspices of the Humanities Institute at the NYBG, on Friday, September 28^thin the Ross Auditorium.  Those who were lucky enough to catch Jonathan’s entertaining and informative slide-lecture will recognize the same concise, knowledgeable, and witty descriptions of trees within the book.

Here are two samples I chose at random from his description of European Boxwood:

Boxwood grows at a snail’s pace, and is the heaviest of European timbers.  Its annual rings are so closely laid that the delicately yellow wood is uniform, finely textured and hard as nails.

Boxflowers are nondescript, but their scent polarizes opinion; for some it is headily reminiscent of resin and country childhood, while others sense mainly the whiff of cat pee.

Jonathan’s description of Buxus sempervirens is a scant four paragraphs, but every paragraph contains fascinating and little-known information about this wonderful little tree, present in our Herb Garden.

Buy the book! Carry it with you!  And when life’s irritants strike, lose yourself in the excellent prose and sumptuous illustrations that make this volume unique. I guarantee that you will gain a greater appreciation of Life, and of Nature’s miracles. 

Several people responded to my commenting on American Eden and it would be interesting to hear whether this inclusion of related books is of interest to you. I am reading for my non-fiction book club The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben and now I don't know if I will be able to trim the Pin Oak in my yard.

NPG

 Asters galore of course at this season.  'Maria Wolkonsky's dark purple not as lovely as ericoides  in the approach garden. Wild Bleeding Heart, Phlox, Goldenrod, Sneezeweed, Hibiscus also in the approach garden. Turning right onto the Gravel-lok, the field is full of asters as it is full of Virginia Bluebells in the early spring.

golden leaves of Bluestar

fall Blueberry leaves
I was downhearted when I was told there was to be no White Snakeroot planted in the "new" (2013) NPG, but encouraged to know that it would show itself.  On today's walk, it was in many places, not overwhelming, at least not yet.  I would volunteer to cut it back before it goes to seed, as long as we continued to have enough samples to talk about it causing the death of Lincoln's mother.

White Snakeroot

When you get to the Collinsonia which has spread considerably, don't mind there being too much, just rub and sniff--I love that lemony smell. I hope Thoreau liked it when he rubbed it on his sweaty horse. Hope the horse liked it, too.

Cohosh

Some of the Cohosh has gone, yet some is still in full bloom. Small bits of Golden Alexanders here and there, and fuzzy Blue Mist.  Near the Franklin Tree (the bigger one) and still in full bloom are the Closed Gentian and near Gertrude's plaque Great Blue Lobelia surprised me.

Great Blue Lobelia (photo by Joel)

Closed Gentian

Turning toward the water feature, a lotta Ladies Tresses,  still Pickerel Weed, and learning from my mistake (where there's life, there's hope), Meadow Beauty.

Ladies Tresses

Heading toward Split Rock, Rudbeckia triloba on that side of the path and in the Meadow, Yellow Coneflower and Evening Primrose.

We love color.  It will soon be gone and then we will notice the delicate tops of the grasses..

Winterberry Ilex verticillata

Nothing that you all don't easily recognize.  

Next photo: Oh, yes, not so much the Yellow flowers but these leaves strike a familiar chord: I remember exactly where this plant was (always a helpful clue) in the old Native Plant Garden, now popping up in the meadow: Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasiculata.

Golden Alexander leaves

Expect another NPG blog in a few days because a Fern Society reunion is scheduled for this coming weekend.

Native Plant Garden and Volunteer Luncheon 9/27/2018

September 27.  🎵"It's been a long, long time."  Should have musical notes if I knew how to find them on the computer.  (I just did.) I am referring to the last time I visited the Native Plant Garden which I boycott, so to speak, in the hot, hot weather.  It was the scheduled annual NYBG Volunteers Luncheon that brought me back to the NPG (which was still pretty warm in the mid-afternoon).  So first, some photos from the luncheon, and seeing them, I realize my impatience to wait for the focus shows itself in fuzzy pictures.

Volunteer Luncheon

Life is short, eat dessert first. I was proud of my restraint, no dessert.

If you have ever tried to talk to the new CEO/President or the Chairman of the Board,  Carrie Barratt and Maureen Chilton, you have found them to be available, friendly, helpful, smart, you might even say lovable.  How lucky we are.

President and Ellen

Chairman of the Board

James and Brian Boom, whom I told he was acknowledged in Victoria Johnson's American Eden, which I mentioned in a previous blog, and which is now the subject of an NYBG seminar.  Also acknowledged were Gregory Long and Todd Forrest, and also one of my own mentors, Nancy Slowik.

Know who's a jazzy dresser?*

Looks like all the boys sat at their own table.

NPG

It was inspiring and delightful to be here today.  Many old friends blooming, and interesting people to chat with.

I usually feel hurried to get out a blog when unknown plants might be helpful to have identified for anyone who will be doing a tour.  Today there were more than twenty blooming plants, yet I think I was able to identify all of them.  So you will, too, so no rush.

Approaching the NPG, it was more colorful than usual.

Phlox and goldenrod, sneezeweed and sunflowers.

There was Plymouth Rose Gentian Sabatia, Horsebalm Collinsonia (interesting discussion of the plant and Peter Collinson in American Eden). Cohosh, Pitcher Plants, Mistflower, Vernonia Ironweed, Hibiscus, Closed Gentian, Rudbeckia triloba, Mint dry with strong aroma, Wild Bleeding Heart.

Many Asters: New England, small white, Short's Symphotrichus shortii, Bluewood buds not open yet;  St. Johnswort, Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia syphlitica, LOOK UP TO SEE THE BLOOMS ON THE FRANKLIN TREE Franklinia altamaha, a little Spigelia left, Turtlehead Chelone alba.
Ladies Tresses,Pickerelweed, Cardinal Flower.


DRAMA
Photo here of a praying mantis on the Pickerel Weed.   It kept moving, approaching the back of a Snapping Turtle which was half under the boardwalk.  Hyla, a young and pretty veterinarian  and her friendly mother Marsha joined me in watching. Then it was on the back of the Turtle. Then it was out of sight.  Then behind us, a blue jay was struggling with something in its beak.  It was the praying mantis.  We moved closer, the blue jay dropped the mantis.  Hyla gathered the mantis, not moving but not visibly damaged, and deposited it in a safe place.  Hyla's photo was better than mine, if I can even get it to stay on the blog in the right place, but I did not receive it.







There were also chipmunks, a black squirrel, a cowbird screeching at me by the magnolias, Butterfly Weed bugs and I think a swallowtail caterpillar on the Butterfly Weed, by the Vernonia.

Rose hips, blue berries on Solomon's Seal, yellow Bluestar leaves, red Beardtongue leaves, red berries on Plume Solomon's Seal. Lots of color.



When I attempt to add a caption to a photo, the photo jumps into the Volunteer Lunch section. Next time let's invite the plants to lunch.

My idea of chatting with visitors rather than scheduling a timed tour seemed to work well today.  A lot of people in the NPG, and I got to show them the flowers up on the Franklin Tree, told my favorite White Snakeroot story, pointed out many plants to a man from Freiborg, Germany, and chatted with two young mothers while Gabriela crawled on the rough Gravel Lok.


Where the boardwalk turns left, this dense, small leaved Aster was one I couldn't specify.  My hero, Michael Hagen will come to the rescue....
He did.  It is Aster ericoides ‘Esther’

On a personal note, today's email brought these.




Twins making my friend Betsy a Grandma, baby girl #2 for Grandparents Beejay and Bruce, and my New Orleans cousins Dylan and his twin brothers Max and Brody.

*CRB


Closed Gentian near the Franklin Tree  
   

Meadow Beauty




Don't forget to rub and smell the Horsebalm Collinsonia