NCNPS Vol 5, No. 5

t is that time of year again when a

little surprise awaits those heading

down the trail into deciduous forests,

for Hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel)

is coming into bloom. It is one of the

few plants that flower this late in the

year, and will continue blooming as late

as December or January. You may

have to search the branches to find the

tiny, spider-like yellow flowers. Later

in the season, when all the leaves have fallen,

they shine like beacons in the forest sunlight.

Native Americans used the tree for a variety of

medicinal purposes, including the Cherokee, who

made infusions to treat periodic pain, to heal cuts

and abrasions, and to make a wash for sore eyes.

Chippewa also used infusions of the inner bark

as a healing skin lotion, to soothe sore eyes, and

as an emetic in cases of poisoning. Menominee

healers used the seeds in ceremonies to foresee

the likelihood of recovery for the ill. Other tribes

had similar use—so many that Europeans arriv-

ing here learned of its qualities and quickly

added it to their medicine chests.

The commercialization of Hamamelis virginiana

began with Thomas Newton Dickinson of Essex,

a Baptist minister ―who made his fortune in the

unholy manufacture of Civil War uniforms.

Dickinson began brewing and distributing the

witch hazel extract in Essex CT during the

1870s, beginning the association of a family

name with a particular product - almost to the

exclusion of other names - which was to last a

century and beyond.‖

It is still favored as an astringent, appearing in a

variety of personal care products. It is a steam

distillate of freshly harvested twigs with alcohol

added up to about 14% of the total product as a

preservative. The plant contains tannins, which

can cause stomach upset and in large doses taken

by mouth can damage the kidneys. Witch hazel

has FDA approval as a non-prescription astrin-

gent for external use.

The common name has little to do with witches,

being derived from the Old English wice (and

Middle English wyche) and akin to the Old Eng-

lish wican meaning to bend or give way, referring

to its pliant branches and not to wizened old

women on broomsticks. Hazel is from Old Eng-

lish hæsel (and akin to Old High German hasel,

Old Irish coll, and Old Norse hasl), relating to

small trees in the genus Corylus. The leaves of

H. virginiana

Native Plant News

S E P T - O C T B E R 2 0 0 7

Board of Directors

Tom Harville, President

Dale Suiter, Vice-President

Lynda Waldrep, Secretary

Hugh Partridge, Treasurer

Kathy Schlosser, Editor; and

Triad Chapter

Brenda Scott, Membership

Alice Zawadzki, Past Presi-

dent and Special Projects

Jean Woods, Education

Marlene Kinney, At Large

Lara Rozzell, At Large

Mark Rose, At Large

Margaret Partridge, Triangle

Chapter

Angela Haigler, Charlotte

Chapter

Dwayne Truscott, Wilming-

ton Chapter

Mitch Russell, Asheville

Chapter

V O L U M E 5 , N U M B E R 5 E L E C T O N I C

‘m sure that most of you have heard me talk

about how we need to be doing ―stuff.‖ So I

thought it was appropriate to give you an exam-

ple.

Through the combined efforts of Margaret Par-

tridge and Stefan Bloodworth, et. al., the

NCNPS has a native plant display at the NC

State Fair for the last two years. Last year it

was a crash project to get the garden planted but

this year there was a significant, no, magnificent

change. There are goldenrods blooming, the

swamp sunflower is awesome, the snakeroot is

brilliant white and the large flowered aster gives

us the hint of blue (yes I know we don‘t have

asters in North American now). Combined with

all the other ―green‖ plants, the garden presents

a very beautiful place for the harried fairgoers to

slow down and enjoy. We have had volunteers

on site to talk with visitors about the plants and

the Society. These volunteers get a parking pass

to the garden parking area which is at most 100‘

away from our display and a pass to get into the

fair. I need to point out that this effort is not

just for local members, any member can volun-

teer for a three hour block. Not a bad deal for

standing around talking about the plants we

love! And think about the number of people

that we get to increase their awareness of our

native flora!

So go on! Get out and talk about our NC na-

tives. It doesn‘t have to be at the Fair, it can be

anywhere. Each chapter has banners and can

get handout material so you can set up a booth

or display nearly anywhere. Yes it takes time

but it‘s time well spent. Have some fun, get out

there!

President’s letter Tom Harville

N A T I V E P L A N T N E W S

The NCNPS Native Plant Garden at the NC State Fair Grounds.

This is a project that was taken on by the Margaret Reid Chapter,

though all members are invited to help.

tree, so watch them carefully to enjoy the full

blooming season.

You can propagate the trees from seed, which

require 120 – 180 days of cold scarification.

If you have seeds that matured on the tree,

they will need 60 days of warm scarification.

Germination times can be long—as much as

18 months—and the seedlings will need to be

overwintered in a greenhouse

for the first year. Time to flowering is usu-

ally six years. Witch hazel suckers, and these

can be transplanted successfully. Layering

works as well, but may take a year. If you try

cuttings, you will need a mist system to keep

them alive. The best way to get witch hazel is

to purchase a plant from a reputable nursery.

Katherine Schlosser

Novapak Corp., Oldest brand of witch hazel seen

clearly through PET. http://www.pvcc.com/News/

Articles/T-0636WitchHazel.asp (Accessed 10-

14.2007).

have the appear-

ance and color of

elm leaves, thus

the common name

witch hazel, rather

than the European

wyche elm. Be-

cause the wood is

flexible, it has

been used for wa-

ter dousing—in

which a skilled

user walks the

ground with a

forked branch

held out straight

about waist high.

When the branch

dips sharply to-

ward the ground,

the spot is

marked and a

well is dug. It was considered a reliable method for

finding water, and is still used even in the Piedmont of

North Carolina.

The botanic name, hamamelis, is from Hippocrates, who

fashioned the name from two Greek words meaning fruit

and together, referring to the habit of the plant to bloom

at the same time that the fruits from the previous year

are maturing and dispersing. The seeds are held in a

globular capsule that pops open suddenly when mature,

ejecting the seeds with enough force that they have been

known to travel 20 feet or so, sometimes zinging unsus-

pecting passersby.

Hamamelis virginiana is a native tree growing to as

much as thirty feet tall, though usually in the 15‘ to 20‘

range. It grows as far north as zone 4 as an understory

tree in cool, moist forests with slightly acidic soil. The

simple, alternate leaves are obovate to elliptical with an

uneven base and coarsely toothed margin, from three to

six inches long. Bronze colored in spring and bright

green in summer, they turn a brilliant yellow in fall.

The yellow flowers have four narrow, crinkly petals with

a sweet, spicy fragrance that can be detected from a dis-

tance when in full bloom. Many books will tell you that

they bloom after the leaves fall, which is true. However,

they begin blooming while the leaves are still on the

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

P A G E 3

Hamamelis virginiana ….continued from page one

From The People’s Common Sense Medical

Adviser in Plain Englsih: or, Medicine Sim-

plified. R. V. Pierce, MD, 1917. see Guten-

burgbooks.com

NCNPS News

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

P A G E 4

elcome to our newest chapter in

Asheville. Mitch Russell is the orga-

nizing force for the chapter, so extend a hearty

welcome when you met him , and the Ashe-

ville members. You can reach Mitch at

mitch@ncwildflower.org

—————

he Dolly Sods photos in Tom Harville‘s

article (page seven of the last newslet-

ter) were generously submitted by NCNPS

member Bobby Ward of Raleigh.

——————

hop at Food Lion? Willing to do so once

in a while? If so, please sign up for their

community contributions program. Food Lion

has 1,200 supermarkets in eleven

Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. If

you shop at Food Lion and register

your Food Lion MVP card in their

Lion Shop and Share program, you

can designate NCNPS to receive a portion of

your shopping bill to go to NCNPS each time

you shop at Food Lion. Note that you do NOT

add anything more to your shopping bill to do

this; Food Lion just takes a small part of what

you just paid them for your shopping order

and gives it to your designated charity.

It‘s easy, it‘s free. Sign up now, even if you

are not a regular shopper.

Calendar Alert

May 9-11, 2008 Toe River Field Trip (near

Newland, NC)

——————

ust for NCNPS members: Join the NCNPS

web group to exchange photos for ID, places

to walk/hike, and just generally to create an on-

line community of native plant enthusiasts. Go

to:

www.groups.yahoo.com/group/NCNPS

———————

eginning with the next issue of the news-

letter, we will feature sources for native

plants and seeds. The NCNPS website

(www.ncwildflower.org) has a list of those nurs-

eries that comply with our strict position regard-

ing the sale of nonnative invasive plants—they

don‘t sell them. Each of these nurseries will be

featured over of the course of the next year or

so. If you know of other nurseries that might

qualify for a listing on our site, let a board mem-

ber know and we will contact the nursery.

——————————

Native Plant News

Contribute! Deadline for next issue: No-

vember 15, 2007

Contact the editor:

Katherine Schlosser

kathyschlosser@triad.rr.com

P A G E 5

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Chapter News

Charlotte

The Charlotte Chapter has had a number of activities, the latest being a talk on ―Using Native Plants in the

Landscape‖ by Mary Stauble. Mary gave good, concrete advice on sensible landscaping, using native

plants along with non-invasive exotics, and ways to be good stewards of our soil and water resources.

With the terrible drought, this is great information to have. Some other recent programs were a presenta-

tion on the Wildlife Habitat Stewardship program and a ―What‘s that Plant?‖ where people brought in a

plant or a picture of plant that they wanted identified.

In September our chapter hosted a visit by the Hendersonville/Brevard Botanical Club to see the Pied-

mont Prairies. On one day we visited Latta Plantation Park to see a restored prairie, Shuffletown prairie

to see a prairie remnant, and a tour of the Wildflower Glen, a biologically diverse property, protected by

the Catawba Lands Conservancy. On the next day we went to Redlair Farm, another property protected

by the Catawba Lands Conservancy and saw a remnant prairie there that has been expanded. We enjoyed

botanizing at all the places and getting to know each other.

We will have a booth at the Herb Festival at Latta Plantation on October 27 where we will have informa-

tion on native plants to share with the public.

Jean Woods, a chapter member, was asked to give training for the Mecklenburg Master Gardener‘s class.

The class went well with lots of questions and interest in using native plants and getting rid of invasive

plants. It is heartening to see the growing interest in natives by our gardening organizations.

The NC Native Plant Society and the South Carolina Native Plant Society joined with the Museum of

York County to put on a one day workshop on Piedmont Prairies for people maintaining or expanding

prairie sites. Dr. Larry Barden of UNCC and Dr. John Schmidt of Winthrop gave the morning lectures

and in the afternoon we visited McDowell Park restoration site and Redlair Farms.

We meet at 2:30 PM, the second Sunday of each month at the Greenhouse at UNCC and have a great line

up of programs for the fall. We are always open to new members.

Triad

November 3: Ridges Mountain in the Uwharries. Roger Robbins (biologist) will lead the walk.

December 5: Nature Art Exhibit and Plant Exchange. Location TBA

January 2: Starting From Seed and Winter Sowing. Trena McNabb and Shelley Rutkin.

January 5: Salem Lake Trail walk, Winston-Salem

February 3: Lake Townsend Trail, Greensboro

February 6: A Meadowlark Sanctuary for the Triad

March 1: Bear Slide Rock, Rockingham County

March 5: Healing Plants: Native American Plant Lore. Lisa Gould

April 2: Following Geological Clues to Find Native Plants with David McCloy

April 5: South Mountain State Park and Wee Du Nursery

(All plans are subject to change. Call 336-855-8022 or email kathy-

schlos[email protected]om to confirm and for location)

Margaret Reid

The Margaret Reid Chapter (Triangle area) has been busy with the NC State Fair garden—see photos

elsewhere in this newsletter. Contact Margaret Partridge for updates on activities:

margaret@ncwildflower.org

P A G E 6

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

NCNPS Fall Botanizing Trip to Bird Island and the Green Swamp

Photos courtesy of Tom Harville

ur Saturday morning walk was on Bird Island, the

last island before you reach South Carolina http://

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_Island,_North_Carolina. Its

1286 acres are protected by the North Carolina Coastal

Land Trust. We drove to the south end of Sunset Beach

and hoofed it down the beach to the island area. I say area

because the inlet has filled in now and you can walk all the

way without wading.

We were fortunate to have Kristen Rosenfeld to lead us

into the area.

Kristen did her master‘s work on the flora of the island and was

able to get permission for us to go behind the dunes. She gave us

the ―rules‖ and a rundown on the plants we should expect to see

and there. Just behind where we were standing was the rare Sea-

beach Amaranth Amaranthus pumilus Rafinesque, tucked up on

one of the dunes.

The dunes seem so foreboding for plant life but it‘s there,

hanging on in support of the dune against the relentless

attacks by wind and sea.

Sea oats (Uniola paniculata), Salt meadow hay (Spartina patens),

Seaside elder (Iva imbrucata), and possibly American beachgrass

(Ammophila brevigulata)

P A G E 7

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

More Botanizing on Bird Island

When you get close you can appreciate the beauty of the dune plants

As we walked past the first line of dunes we got into a marvelous field of beach plants, e.g. Carolina sea

lavender Limonium carolinianum, black needle rush Juncus roemerianus and many others. It was October

but it was very hot in the sun and if you got back into the bush areas that blocked the breeze, you suffered.

So we stayed out in the open and hoped the cloud cover would stay.

P A G E 8

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Green Swamp

Photos courtesy of Tom Harville

Sunday morning we were off to the Green Swamp http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/

northcarolina/preserves/art5606.html. Now I have been asked why would you go to there in the fall? The

answer is that it just as beautiful as in the spring!

We made our way off the road, across the boardwalk and

into an open stand of pines. There we were greeted by vista

of Pleea tenuifolia. As you can imagine in the early morn-

ing, the spider webs were more visible than later on. We got

to see plenty of Sarracenia, including and interesting hybrid,

Sarracenia ×catesbaei = S. flava × S. purpurea.

Back out of the pines and across the road the area was more open but

oh what treasures were waiting for you in the tall grass

P A G E 9

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

More Green Swamp

Photos courtesy of Tom Harville

e even managed to find Melissa before we left.

Then it was off to Boiling Spring to find the elusive

Drosera and Dionaea. Elusive? I don‘t think so! There

were so many Sundews that you could hardly step and the

red in the Flytraps—Wow!

The final stop of the day was off the beaten path where we

found Spiranthes just starting to bloom, Lobelia puberula

and Epidendrum helleborine

I hope you can just imagine that I have skimmed the plants that we saw

but I‘m sure you get the idea that we had a marvelous time out in nature.

See you next trip!

More Bird Island / Green Swamp Trip

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

P A G E 10

Common buckeye , Green Swamp

Fellow traveler in the Green

The rare and endangered seabeach amaranth, Amaran-

thus pumilus, on Bird Island

Gulf Frittilary in Bird Island

Photos courtesy RobertBreenPhotography.com Butterfly ID by Dennis Burnette, Triad Chapter

Salt marsh pink, Sabatia stellaris, on Bird Island

P A G E 11

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Bartram’s Daisy, Sabatia kennedyana: A note of history worth recording

Plant Description:

Sabatia kennedyana can form rhizomatous colonies,

with vertical, few-branched stems reaching 65 cm (25

inches) in height. Its 2 to 5 cm-long leaves are narrow

and arrayed oppositely along the stem. The flowers,

which appear from July to mid-September, are showy

and large (to 5 cm in diameter), with 9 to 11 pink pet-

als surrounding a yellow center bordered with red.

The capsules are cylindrical and measure 7 to 11 mm

in length.

Sabatia kennedyana exhibits a patchy distribution,

occurring only in Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, Rhode

Island, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

It is reportedly historic in Connecticut (but remains

unranked in that state).

Nine sites in Nova Scotia are known, encompassing

approximately 3500 plants (COSEWIC 2001). Ap-

proximately 112 occurrences in 5 counties are verified

in Massachusetts as of 1985 (MANHESP 1985), with

37 additional historic occurrences. The species is re-

ported from 4 counties in Rhode Island, 1 county in

South Carolina, and 1 county in North Carolina

(USDA 2001). The global population is problematic

to estimate, because plant numbers fluctuate widely

depending upon pond water levels, but may range to

approximately 10,000.

Photo from USDA Plants Database

abatia kennedyana is locally known as Bar-

tram‘s daisy in the Lake Waccamaw and

Brunswick County area of North Carolina. This

southern population is considered a disjunct popula-

tion from the one in Cape Cod that occurs in the

fresh marshes and near the coast in Rhode Island,

Massachusetts, and Nova Scotia. Horticulturalist

Frank Galloway of Galloway Farms and Galloway

Botanical Gardens in Bolivia NC shares his family

history of the plant which was introduced to the area

as a gift from Bartram to a family ancestor on one

of Bartram‘s trips to the Lake Waccamaw region.

The Galloways settled in the area in the early 1700s.

Bartram‘s daisy was shared among Galloway family

friends and now has naturalized in the southeast

corner of North Carolina.

From the Center for Plant Conservation comes the

following description:

Sabatia kennedyana is a perennial, herbaceous plant

bearing gorgeous, pink, daisy-like flowers on tall

stems. It forms colonies along the shores of coastal

plain ponds from Nova Scotia south to South Caro-

lina. The population densities and reproduction of

this species are tightly tied to fluctuating water lev-

els in these ponds, and as such, are affected by wa-

ter quality and quantity in these ponds. Populations

of Sabatia kennedyana are at risk throughout its

range, as humans increasingly encroach on these

ponds, pollute their shores, and withdraw water.

Research and Management Summary:

A number of individuals and institutions have stud-

ied this species. Management activities are also un-

derway to help protect and preserve Sabatia ken-

nedyana.

Alice Zawadzki first brought this plant to my attention in 2003.

P A G E 12

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Exploring a Piedmont Cliff Community Kathy Schlosser

Photos courtesy of Mimi Westervelt

The opposite, southwest facing bank

has deep, rich soil and a plant commu-

nity that includes Euonymus ameri-

cana, Smilax spp., Aplectrum hy-

menale, Botrychium virginianum, Chi-

maphila maculata, Geranium macula-

tum, Goodyera pubescens, Hepatica

americana, Sanguinaria canadensis,

and Uvularia perfoliata.

Primarily a beech-maple-hickory for-

est, there are also tulip poplar, paw-

paw, and spicebush. This site was

first inventoried ten years ago by the

Natural Heritage Program. Since that

time, the canopy has closed a bit, and

this fall the area is very dry. Ordinar-

ily, there is a small stream at the foot

of the cliff that keeps the liverworts

happy—on our most recent visit, they

were gasping for water.

Recent studies of cliff sites have re-

vealed that some trees growing on

cliffs are surprisingly ancient, some

hundreds of years old. Intact natural

communities, even those in the midst

of developed urban areas, can still be

found and are fascinating sites to

study. We need only take a little

time to look for them.

A complete plant list is available. If

interested, contact the editor.

n the Piedmont of North Carolina are

scattered acidic cliff plant communi-

ties, often defined by moss covered

boulders and an open tree canopy. Ac-

cording to Schafale and Weakley (1990),

acidic cliffs are ―very steep to vertical

slopes [greater than 60 degrees] on

acidic rock or saprolite…[slopes] steep,

rocky, or dry enough to prevent forma-

tion of a closed tree canopy.‖

Rock cliff communities can be acidic,

circumneutral, or calcareous (alkaline).

Acidic rock cliff communities are the

least diverse of the group, and have the

fewest specialized plant species. The

bedrock yields little or no calcium and is

acidic in reaction. They support species

of dry, low nutrient plants from the sur-

rounding forests, such as Virginia

creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),

and common polypody (Polypodium

virginianum),

Members of the Triad Chapter have

been watching such a site, visiting at

different times of the year. This particu-

lar cliff is a narrow ravine with granite

boulders on the northeast facing wall

reaching about twenty feet in height.

The steep wall supports a community of

Actea racemosa, Heuchera americana,

Adiantum pedatum, Dennstaedtia puncti-

lobula, and Polystichum acrostichoides.

Hydrangea arborescens grows in abun-

dance. The bottom two to three feet of

the cliff is moist and supports a large

colony of mosses and liverworts.

P A G E 13

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Quest of the Orchis

I felt the chill of the meadow underfoot,

But the sun o‘erhead;

And snatches of verse and song of scenes like this

I sung or said.

I skirted the margin alders for miles and miles

In a sweeping line;

The day was the day by every flower that blooms

But I saw no sign.

Yet further I went before the scythes should come,

For the grass was high;

Till I saw the path where the slender fox had come

And gone panting by.

Then at last and following that I found—

In the very hour

When the color flushed to the petals, it must have been—

The far-sought flower.

There stood the purple spires, with no breath of air

Or headlong bee

To disturb their perfect poise the livelong day

‗Neath the aldertree.

I only knelt and, putting the boughs aside,

Looked, or at most

Counted them all to the buds in the copse‘s depth,

Pale as ghost.

Then I arose and silent wandered home,

And I for one

Said that the fall might come and whirl of leaves,

For summer was done.

Robert Frost, 1901

Platanthera grandiflora (purple fringed

orchid) grows in all but one county in

New Hampshire—home of Robert

Frost. Could this be the late bloom-

ing plant he describes as marking the

end of summer and the beginning of

fall? The poem was first published as

“The Quest of the Orchis” in 1901,

and after minor textual revisions he

eventually published it as “The Quest

of the Purple Fringed” in 1942.

P A G E 14

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

any of us have heard our esteemed leader, Tom,

say ―it‘s like herding cats‖ when trying to get

groups of us all moving in the same direction. Seems

ants have an answer to his problem. This Science

Daily report is dedicated to Tom:

Science Daily — Chemicals on ants' feet tranquilise

and subdue colonies of aphids, keeping them close-by

as a ready source of food, says new research. The study

throws new light on the complex relationship between

ants and the colonies of aphids whose sugary secre-

tions the ants eat.

Scientists had previously established that certain types

of aphids live in colonies where they are used as a food

source by a neighbouring colony of ants. The ants have

been known to bite the wings off the aphids in order to

stop them from getting away and depriving the ants of

one of their staple foods: the sugar-rich sticky honey-

dew which is excreted by aphids when they eat plants.

Chemicals produced in the glands of ants can also

sabotage the growth of aphid wings. The new study

shows, for the first time, that ants' chemical footprints -

- which are already known to be used by ants to mark

out their territory - also play a key role in manipulating

the aphid colony, and keeping it nearby.

The research, which was carried out by a

team from Imperial College London, Royal

Holloway University of London, and the University of

Reading and published October 10, used a digital cam-

era and specially modified software to measure the

walking speed of aphids when they were placed on

filter paper that had previously been walked over by

ants. The data showed that the aphids' movement was

much slower when they were on paper that had been

walked on by ants, than on plain paper.

Furthermore, when placed on a dead leaf, where the

aphid's instinct is to walk off in search of healthy

leaves for food, the scientists found that the presence

of ants significantly slowed the aphids' dispersal from

the leaf. Lead author of the article published October

10, Tom Oliver from Imperial's Department of Life

Sciences, explains how ants could use this manipula-

tion in a real-life scenario:

"We believe that ants could use the tranquillising chemicals

in their footprints to maintain a populous 'farm' of aphids

close their colony, to provide honeydew on tap. Ants have

even been known to occasionally eat some of the aphids

themselves, so subduing them in this way is obviously a

great way to keep renewable honeydew and prey easily

available."

However, Tom points out that the relationship between the

ants and the aphids might not be that straightforward:

"There are some definite advantages for aphids being

'farmed' like this by ants for their honeydew. Ants have

been documented attacking and fighting off ladybirds and

other predators that have tried to eat their aphids. It's possi-

ble that the aphids are using this chemical footprint as a

way of staying within the protection of the ants."

Professor Vincent Jansen of Royal Holloway's School of

Biological Sciences, concludes: "Although both parties

benefit from the interaction, this research shows is that all

is not well in the world of aphids and ants. The aphids are

manipulated to their disadvantage: for aphids the ants are a

dangerous liaison."

Note: This story has been adapted from material provided

by Imperial College London

http://www.sciencedaily.com/

releases/2007/10/071009212548.htm

If any of you are miss-

ing wings, check with

Tom!

Herding Aphids: How 'Farmer' Ants Keep

Control Of Their Food

P A G E 15

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Save Energy and Money this Fall with Free Workshops

id you know that the typical American family spends

nearly $2,000 a year on energy expenses? And that

much of this energy is wasted through leaky windows,

drafty doors and inefficient lighting?

You can learn how to significantly cut your energy bills

through simple no-and low-cost measures, putting money

back into your pockets where it belongs, by attending one

of the free local workshops ―Reducing Energy Expenses at

Your Home and Business.‖

The workshops, sponsored by North Carolina Cooperative

Extension and the State Energy Office of the N.C. Depart-

ment of Administration, will be divided into two sectors to

better serve local consumers.

The morning workshops will offer a commercially-focused

program for local businesses and nonprofit agencies, while

the evening workshops will be geared toward residential

consumers. Both will be held at local county extension

offices throughout the state.

The workshops are part of a month-long, statewide series in

October to assist North Carolina consumers with saving on

their energy costs and consumption. The workshops coin-

cide with the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of

North Carolina‘s recognition of October as Energy Awareness

Month.

October has been recognized by these entities as Energy

Awareness Month for several years in acknowledgement of

the critical role energy plays in the state‘s economic prosper-

ity, quality of life and environmental stewardship.

Registration for the workshops is required. Contact the Coop-

erative Extension offices in the link below for more informa-

tion or to register.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/index.php?page=countycenters

Grace Lawrence, Agent

Wake County Center

North Carolina State University

4001-E Carya Drive

Raleigh, NC 27610

grace_lawrence@ncsu.edu

919-250-1106

www.ces.ncsu.edu/wake

www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater

Information submitted by Misty Franklin.

Red Listed Magnolia

he Red List of the

Magnoliaceae, pub-

lished jointly by Botanic

Gardens Conservation Inter-

national (BGCI) and Fauna

& Flora International (FFI),

through the Global Trees

Campaign (GTC), identifies

131 wild magnolias as being

in danger of extinction, from

a global total of 245 species.

The significance of this po-

tentially catastrophic loss

lies not only in the threat to the genetic diversity of the fam-

ily, but also because they are a highly sensitive indicator of

the well-being of the forests in which they are found. Mag-

nolias are among the most ancient groups of flowering plants

and have long been

cultivated by mankind. Some specimens growing in the pre-

cincts of Chinese temples are estimated to be up to 800 years

old. Still popular as ornamental plants in gardens around the

world (although fewer than 15 species are common in culti-

vation), in the wild magnolias are a source of timber, food

and medicines for local communities.

The Red List is a free download—and interesting reading.

http://www.bgci.org/conservation/magnolia_red_list/

P A G E 16

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

NCNPS Photo Album

Members of Triad Chapter discover what sur-

vives when power lines are sprayed.

Native Plant Garden at the NC State Fair—installed and cared for by the Margaret Reid Chapter

McDowell Prairie. Jean Woods and the Charlotte Chap-

ter organized a Prairie Restoration Workshop with the

SCNPS and York Museum.

John Schmidt, a presenter at the Prairie Restoration

Workshop in the Charlotte area discusses plant selection

with participants.

P A G E 17

S E P T — O C T 2 0 0 7

Off the Shelf….books worth a read

resh herbs are a healthy and delicious way to spice up any meal. This indispensable guide

takes the guesswork out of using herbs in the garden and in the kitchen by providing de-

tailed information for cultivating a wide variety of herbs along with easy-to-follow recipes that

will surely impress even the most discerning palate.

Ranging from Alliums to Zingiber , the volume‘s first section provides horticultural information

for each of the sixty-three herbs found in the National Herb Garden‘s Culinary Garden. Each

entry also includes a short history of the herb, gardening basics, and suggestions for using it in

your kitchen. An informative introduction to this section compares several different definitions

of the word herb, explains the advantages of fresh over dried herbs, describes the proper storage

and use of spices, and suggests the best timing and methods for harvesting herbs.

In the second part of the book, HSA members offer classic and creative recipes for more than two hundred

dishes incorporating a variety of herbs. Among the mouth-watering recipes featured are Lemon Basil Tea

Bread, Chicken Linguine with Fennel and Tarragon, Five-Herb Pasta Salad, and Rosemary Fizz.

The concluding section of the book offers a fascinating personal tour of the two and one-half acre National

Herb Garden, which lies in the heart of Washington, D. C., at the center of the United States National Arbore-

tum, and of its intimate themed areas, including the Knot Garden, the Antique and Heritage Rose Garden, the

Dye Garden, the Colonial Garden, the Native American Garden, the Beverage Garden, the Medicinal Garden,

and many others. Complete plant lists accompany the description of each garden.

Green thumbs and gourmets alike will find inspiration in these pages to look at herbs in new ways. More than

a gardening book, more than a cookbook, The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and

Cooking with Herbs will prove to be an indispensable companion for all herb lovers.

The Naming of Names: The Search for Order in the World of Plants

Anna Pavord, Bloomsbury Publishing 2005

s is well known, a comprehensive system of naming, of ordering and classifying, embraces

every known plant in the world. In The Naming of Names Anna Pavord takes us on a thrilling

adventure into botanical history — from the Guyanan jungle to Renaissance Europe, Ancient Greece

and sixteenth-century London — to show how nature was rationalized in a way that could be under-

stood in countries and languages throughout the world. For the first time, Anna Pavord shows how the busi-

ness of naming plant names, which had begun with the Greek philosopher Theophrastus in the third century

BC, occupied the best minds in Europe for at least three hundred years until, in 1773, the process came to an

end with a Swedish book about sex …

The whole vibrant array of plant life is contained within these pages: flamboyant, irresistible superstars like

fritillaries, anemones, lilies, crocus, iris and tulips; everything from the agave and the banana to the paony and

the yucca.

The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking With

Herbs

Katherine K. Schlosser, Louisiana State University Press, 2007

Symposium highlights:

See over 25 species at Mr. Cuba Center and Winterthur Museum and Gardens

Gain an understanding of trillium habitats and garden culture

Learn biology and current taxonomy of trilliums

Understand conservation challenges

Learn about trillium propagation and best strategies

Persimmon Pudding

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup persimmon pulp (see below)

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

To make persimmon pulp: Choose soft ripe fruit with a transparent skin. Peel and strain the pulp or mash,

removing the seeds.

Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Add persimmon pulp to the flour mix-

ture along with beaten eggs, milk, lemon rind and butter. Mix well. Turn batter into a well-greased and

floured 8x8x2-inch square baking dish. Bake at 350° for 45 to 55 minutes, or until pudding is done. Serve

warm with freshly whipped cream.

Diospyros virginiana. A native tree growing to about 50 feet at maturity, found from southern Connecticut to south-

ern Florida. It blooms in March or April, with fruit ripening from September to November. The hard, fine-textured

wood is used for golf heads and by crafters. It is also commonly called possumwood, probably because opossum will

beat you to the fruit given half a chance.

North Carolina’s Native Plant Society since 1951 

NC Native Plant Society

1402 Bearhollow Road

Greensboro, NC 27410

NCNPS Spring Trip

May 9 –11, 2008

In the Newland, NC area (Toe River)

Put the date on your calendar!