one path, four leaves

I've been feeling bad that I haven't been writing and posting more so this morning I figured I would use my phone to snap a few quick pics while on my morning walk setting up my work day. Here's a tiny installment of some of the fall foliage out there these days...
Sassafras albidum (common sassafras)
Called "the mitten tree" by my mother-in-law the leaves of this tree are variable, meaning they can take a few different shapes. Often you will see them like the one above with leaves that have one or two sinuses (the "dimples" or depressions in the leaf) and otherwise those large, rounded lobes. Sassafras love a wet location so you will find groves of them near waterbodies where they can still get some sun. They can be a great understory tree and advantageous colonizer when revitalizing woodland areas.

Quercus alba (white oak)
When beginning to learn species within the massive genus of oak trees, botanically known as Quercus, one of the first steps is learning the difference between the pointed, bristle-tipped oaks and the softer lobed oaks. The one above, with those pronounced lobes that are softer and smoother looking indicate that it is in the white oak group. In this case, I imagine this is a white oak, as they often have this fabulous deep red to maroon fall color. The other oaks, the ones with the more pointed bristle-tips are red oaks and their various relatives, and they too can have remarkable fall color. Most oaks take on a much more earthy bronze fall color but some like this white oak and the scarlet oak, a bristle-tipped oak named Quercus coccinea, show off these rich pigments of deeper reds and purples.

Liriodendron tulipifera (tulip tree)
Liriodendron, like all the others in this post, is a North American native and wonderful tree to find in the woods. Commonly called a tulip tree, Liriodendron produce a flower in spring that looks like a green, orange and yellow tulip blooming on the large angular branches that grow overhead. The tree itself can often be easily identified in the landscape because they can grow straight as an arrow and reach up to 100' comfortably. In the fall the color of the foliage is a rich, vibrant yellow. I tend to think that the leaf too seems to resemble a tulip's silhouette but I am not sure if that has any link to the common name.

Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum)
If you didn't know you might think this tree was some kind of maple with that five-pointed leaf and insane red fall color. But alas, it is it's own species, commonly known as a sweetgum. As far as stunning native trees I have always liked sweetgums, and when fall comes around you realize why they always make the various "top ten" fall foliage lists. The tree itself is not necessarily as tough as some of the oaks and maples out there but situated in the right spot they thrive and add great character to our woodland settings.

Plant ID: Panicum clandestinum (deer tongue grass)

This is a woodland plant that really speaks to me. When most people look into the woods I find that they just see green, and don't recognize or know the different species that make up these wonderfully diverse ecosystems. Yeah, you know, you got some trees, a couple shrubby things, and then all these other plants, but they don't really flower, aren't they all just weeds?!? Oh, how wrong people can be. My hope is to post and ID some native and non-native woodland plants to further expand my own plant palette and also to introduce to you some of the great things you can find here in the northeastern US. Except for ferns, conifers, and various mosses, rushes, and lichens, all other plants tend to be angiosperms which means they do flower and set seed or fruit at some point in their life cycle. The catch is that our eye is often untrained so we think we aren't looking at anything special. But I assure you, if you look closely enough you will find that all plants deserve merit.
This wide-leafed grass is called deer tongue grass, or Panicum clandestinum. Usually I am not a big fan of common names but this one I love, as you'd imagine because the foliage is thought to resemble a deer's tongue.
A North American native, this clumping grass only stands a couple feet tall but is a great textural addition to a woodsy setting. Even though it prefers a damp soil with good drainage I'm told it does alright in drier conditions too.
Above you can see the loose inflorescence of flowers that is light and airy and blooms in summer. Supposedly it holds it's nice stiff foliage into winter so I am anxious to see how it holds up through the seasons.

adaptation, species, and time

Just because we see beautiful plants and forms in the natural landscape, like these Juniperus on the eastern end of Long Island, does not necessarily mean that the same species are going to look like that when nursery grown or planted in your landscape. The following is a little email back and forth about how plants adapt to varied environments and the different forms a single species can take. I thought you might be able to get something out of it. Enjoy:

Alex,
a professional question -- I would like to plant a "MONTAUK" shadbush in my garden- twisty gnarly branches. I see them all over, but I can't find the botanical name and the guy who does our garden brought me two straight-branched Serviceberries…. I know SHADs are supposed to be Amelanchier (s) but no photograph I've seen on line shows twisted stems or branches. Are they a unique sub-genus or a mutation - maybe a type of Amelanchier nantuketensis? I know NOTHING about this...help me please, I'm going nuts...

To which I repsonded:
Good questions. Within the genus Amelanchier there are a couple different species and it can get confusing because each species has a number of different common names. Amelanchier arborea is commonly called downy serviceberry, shadbush or servicetree. Amelanchier canadensis is commonly called a shadblow serviceberry or thicket serviceberry. As the botanical names would suggest the arborea has a growth habit that is more of a tree form while the canadensis is more of a suckering shrub. There are other kinds of Amelanchier of course. I am sorry to say I do not know Amelanchier nantuketensis though.

Whatever the landscaper brought could have been the plant you want. The difference is that he is bringing you nursery grown stock and it will never look like the weather-contorted forms you see around the neighborhood. Those natural shrubs grew from tiny seedlings and only after years and years of beating have they become the amazing forms they are. Nursery stock is given the right amount of sun and water so they will always be much more perfect than what you want.

So basically you have two options. Plant nursery grown stock young and know that it is going to take a while but will get there. But it will take time. It will probably take a bit of a beating just getting acclimated, and that will take a few years, but then the new growth will be more stunted and interesting depending on the exposure to the elements. When ever I am teaching people plant selection I am always reminding them that a plant acclimated to your landscape is going to look quite different than the way it looked when you bought it. Plants grow, change, and adapt to live most efficiently in different situations. A nursery grown plant might be a few feet tall after only a couple years, but the contorted shrubs around which might not be much taller than a few feet themselves could easily be over 20-30 years old easy. A naturalistic form of bonsai if you will. The other option is to see if any of the big nurseries ever get "specimen" pieces of Amelanchier. Marders would get odd-ball specimen pieces they would buy off of locals looking to re-landscape. Of course the trick there is that a one-of-a-kind piece like that could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

I would say buy young and let it acclimate and see what form it takes. Spending big money on a more mature specimen that might not acclimate as well is not worth it. The forms they will take might not be as contorted as the ones more exposed on the streets and bluffs but then down the road you can have me over to give you a pruning lesson.

Then CB replied:

Hi, thank you... wow...the trees they brought were VERY tall (10 feet plus roots) so, as you said in your note, probably too late to adapt to the environment. A native plant retailer said there is something odd about the Montauk Shads - more than growing up in a windy environment, might be a sub-genus. That's why I thought this might be a good question for you.

Possibly the ones here could be Amelanchier nantuketensis, not canadensis -- as the name implies we are closer to Nantucket. But I will take your suggestion and buy one of his smaller bushes and watch what happens. He said construction jobs sometimes clear lots (I HATE SEEING THIS) and bring in specimens for him - so he might have one or two.

To make my garden guy happy, however, I might plant the big one somewhere, but I don't want it in my face every morning if it doesn't have that lovely undulation that is so unique.

I imagine that locals who 'get' Shads dig them up in the woods...not sure that's kosher. My neighbors' trees are quite old ("they were there when we moved in/built the house.")
Thank GOD I can talk to you about this! If I can find my camera I'll take a picture of the twisty montauk shads - there are NO pictures of them on the internet - and you can post them.

come see us next visit!

AF:
Cool, you know I had never heard of Amelanchier nantuketensis before now. I worked with a conservation organization a few years back but the focus was more on woodland plants. If you want to try and find a source for Amelanchier nantuketensis you can try emailing Katherine Powis, the librarian at The Horticultural Society of New York. She has some great plant and nursery source books to help find obscure plants. That species is classified as endangered in New York, threatened in Maine, and of special concern in Massachusetts which makes me fear you are not going to find it in the trade, but worth an ask I suppose. Katherine's email is kpowis@hsny.org and she is the nicest with funny requests like these. I would love to know more about native coastal plants myself. Obviously there is always so much to add to the repertoire. Right now I'm focusing a lot on color and formal perennial design, and trying to climb as much as I can in the off-time. But my love and I just got new surfboards so I am sure we will be out in your neck of the woods at least a few times this summer. And yes, speaking of woods, any poaching of plants from their natural habitat is absolutely terrible and it makes my blood boil, but if it is a property about to be plowed over then I admit I too would try and save whatever great plant material I could.

Wow, well 10' plus, then I would guess it to be Amelanchier arborea. According to Michael Dirr they can get to 25’ with variable spread. Without seeing it though I'm totally shooting in the dark. God knows I have seen 15' clumps of Amelanchier canadensis too. You can definitely plant and maintain more mature plant material, I don't want you to think you can't, but often it can require extra care and coddling to get established. The main thing with trees that big transplanted that you should know is that people never seem to water them enough. And especially out there were the soil is so sandy, it doesn't retain moisture the same way, so big trees like that need a good 2-hour soak at least a few times a week through the summer drought to get established. If you get a specimen/older piece then definitely invest in soaker hose, regular hose, and a battery powered timer. Its the smartest $100-$150 you will spend if you ever want to play with bigger changes to your landscape. You know, protecting your investments.

CB:

Thanks again for your advice. The big trees (one is still outside waiting to be picked up or planted...hmmm) that they brought were tagged Amelanchier canadensis. The slender branches are absolutely straight, though flexible and the tree seems to have been tapered, though it might be how it was trussed for shipping.

How's this for a theory: Montauk shads are unique - could they be a genetic variation, not just a response to the environment? I see twisty ones in sheltered places all over Montauk, but driving west, they did not have that kinkiness. (Well, you know Montauk...everyone's a little screwy here...) Anyway, when I find my camera (or buy a new one...) I'll send you an image.

AF:

Probably environmental adaptation over genetic variation but they are both aspects of natural selection and therefore totally possible. It just goes to show species and their incredulous determination to live on. Genetic crosses and mutations do happen, creating dwarf hybrids and things like that, but I bet it is more the exposure and environment of a few basic species. Even in a sheltered spot we know how that wind and salt spray and sun out there can be nasty, moreso than the protected streets further inland. Ah Montauk, yes, as they say, ...the end!

The conversation went on and CB told me about the Grimes family out in Montauk, who own Fort Pond Native Plants. She had amazing conversations about the species the different generations have seen in the wild and the potential hybrids or sub-species that have arisen over years of natural selection brought on by the challenging environment, disease issues like Cedar-Apple Rust, human development, and so much more. For many years I have been meaning to check out Fort Pond Native Plants out in Montauk because I hear they do a great job. Obviously we are very much on the same page so now I really have to make a point of getting out there.

Butterfly Gardening (a quick intro)

Lantana is one of my more favorite sun loving annuals for the garden

I recently got an email from a good friend who is the Executive Director of an organization in Manhattan that I am on the Board of Directors of, asking if I could help her with a new project. I thought I might as well share with you the information I put together for her. It might be a help if you have ever wanted to start a butterfly garden but didn't know where or how to start.

The question was:
We are having a work day at the ...garden mid-May. part of this day will be planting - I am going to try to get native plants that attract butterflies. this garden has a group of 15-20 preschool bilingual head start kids that walk to the garden several times a week and we thought they would like these plants and it would be educational. Any suggestions on what I should buy?

To which I answered:
A butterfly garden sounds fabulous. I can definitely suggest a number of plants. One catch is that most butterfly plants want full sun or at least not too much shade. I think I saw that garden and remember it being pretty bright, the stretch you were talking about planting, so I hope the site doesn't give you grief. Another important thing to know is that there are two kinds of butterfly plants, those that the larvae (caterpillars) feed on, and those that the adult butterflies are attracted to. In an ideal world you would have both, so that might be something to shoot for in the long run. Usually the plants that the larvae feed on are more straight-forward trees and shrubs so perhaps some of them are already planted in the space or nearby. I found a website that seemed pretty great in terms of listing the two types of plants and the butterflies attract. You might want to print up a copy or two if some of the adults really want to get into it. The link is:
http://butterflywebsite.com/butterflygardening.cfm

As far as what you should plant, here are some suggestions that I know are pretty safe. The list is a mix of some natives but also some non-natives. In the interest of time and budget I don't think you should limit yourself to solely natives at this point, although that too could be a good ideal to strive for over time. Just wanted to clarify in case anyone chimes in that some of the things aren't native:

tall plants for the back:
butterfly bush (Buddleia) - you know, shrubby, but can be pruned yearly to control size, late summer flower, purple often
Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) - 6' or so if happy, purple clusters atop in summer, likes to be well watered
perennial hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) - the big hibiscus flower you see late summer, can get 4'-6' depending on sun and water, red, bright colors
ironweed (Vernonia) - also tall and thin like Joe Pye and hibiscus, tall cluster of small purple flowers, great in fall

medium plants (many of which can tolerate dry conditions once established so that helps):
butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) - a major attractor with orange flower clusters, full sun,
goldenrod (Solidago) - late summer yellow bloomers are reliable attractors, but not sure how easy to find for sale this time of year
dogbane (Apocynum) - also more of a meadow plant but perfect if you can find it, smaller white flower clusters in summer
milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) - probably too hard to find at a regula garden center/retailer
coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - purple
black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) - yellow
bee balm (Monarda didyma) - red, white, pinkish, depending

low plants and/or annuals:
violets
verbena
lantana
cosmos
marigolds
mums

I hope that gives you a decent shopping list to work from. If you want even more suggestions I found another link that seemed pretty good, and that is:
http://www.gardening-tips-perennials.com/butterfly-attracting-plants.html

Good luck and let me know how it goes. -Alex

early fall color (a late installment)

If you haven't already it is really worth your while to go take a walk in Central Park, or in any major NYC park for that matter, and check out the fall color. I know for my friends north the changing leaves have mostly fallen by this point, but for us urbanites we are being gifted with a nice long fall. Of course, if you are in the city today you know it is rather craptastic out there, but maybe tomorrow or next week you can treat yourself to some of nature's brilliance. The following pics I took back on the 3rd of November, but hopefully they will inspire you to get out there and stroll among the myriad of colors. This is why I love the northeast and the fall and this amazing collaboration.

Lagerstroemia indica 'Tuskegee' is commonly known as a Tuskegee crapemyrtle. Crapemyrtles are probably my favorite small to medium sized trees. A late summer flower atop the foliage, fabulous strucutral bark with plenty of interest, and some slamming fall color. There are so many different cultivars out there and each one has specific characteristics - flower color, bark color, fall color, etc. This is a tree I could become a real collector of. I know an estate gardener up in Greenwich, CT, who has been working on his own crosses in order to create a salt tolerant line of crapemyrtles for estates like his, right on the Long Island Sound. A badass tree that is becoming more and more welcome up here as our winters get milder and milder.



Then there is Amsonia hubrichtii, commonly called Arkansas blue star or narrow-leaf blue star. A North American native, the thin blue star flowers emerge late spring or early summer on these three-foot fluffballs of foliage. Then the green foliage really begins to pop this time of year. This is the beginning of the fall color and is now even more glowing.

When I started in horticulture years ago I wasn't much for oakleaf hydangea, or Hydrangea quercifolia. Now, however, I have really come to love this more naturalistic woody shrub for its shade tolerance and exceptional fall color. Any shrub where you can get green, red, and purple in those big textured leaves would be welcome in my woodland garden or border. I am not sure of the specific cultivar but there are many great ones out there. The dried flower clusters I think too add character to this native powerhouse. When the leaves finally drop you will see the interesting exfoliating bark beneath.


A lot of the horticulture mags are doing awesome spreads of different grasses, and in the fall how could you not!? This is a new one to me that I will keep in mind for many years. Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Moudry' is commonly called black fountain grass, even though when I photographed it I thought it more purple in color. Anyway, the flower clusters of many different fountain grasses will stop you in your tracks when fall comes around. Only a couple feet tall you could use this in an annual or perennial garden with ease. Rumor has it this grass can seed itself around like crazy, and with that many flowers on those tall spires I would not be surprised. Guess I will have to keep my eye on it.

Solomon's seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is also native, an upright herbaceous perennial that establishes well in only a couple years time thanks to spreading rhizomes. If you are a shade gardener chances are you know this plant very well along with your hosta, astilbe, hellebores, and brunnera. The small bell-shaped flowers that bloom along the stems under the foliage come out late spring and are very delicate, and can sometimes be missed. If you have a set of stairs somewhere that would allow you to plant this up at waist- or chest-height it is great because then you can really get at eye level with the plant and really appreciate its form. The white flowers mature to dark seed pods that almost look like very bue/purple grapes. There is also giant solomon's seal, Polygonatum commutatum, and that guy can get to be real big (5', 6'+). In the fall I love how solomon's seal turns a dusty light gold before the foliage falls and becomes almost translucent on the wet ground.

I admit that I usually focus more on the trees and shrubs, but here is balloon flower, Platycodon grandiflorus, an upright herbaceous perennial that also proves its worth in the fall landscape. Late summer big, rounded buds pop open to purple star/cup shaped flowers that you will enjoy a lot. A couple months later you get the fall color. With the contrast of bright yellow and and earthy near-purple foliage all on one plant it can hold up very well, even on its own.

garden pics posted to Flickr

So, I am thrilled to report that I finally have internet at home again after two weeks of living sans cyber-space thanks to the glorious bafoons at Time Warner Fable. This also means that I was finally able to upload and title most of the pics from our amazing long weekend up in Massachusetts visiting the Garden in the Woods. Included are a ton of fabulous natives you might not necessarily know about like the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) above which is great to come across in the forest and the rose pogonia (Pogonia ophioglossoides), a native terrestrial orchid indigeneous to sphagnum bogs in the northeast. To check out all of my pics from our recent trip, check out my flickr account and look for the set titled "Massachusetts June 2008". Enjoy. We're off to my folks place in East Hampton for the holiday weekend in a few hours, if people are going to be out there, track us down. Happy Fourth of July!

Trillium gallery

When I interned as a horticulture student up at the New England Wild Flower Society in Framingham, Mass, I became very familiar with native plants of the northeastern United States. One genera of plants that I didn't know so well prior to spring of '06 were members of the genus Trillium. From spring into summer I fell in love with these native woodland flowers, perfect in their multiples of three. Above and below is Trillium cuneatum, one of the larger trilliums I remember from that season.

This a red wakerobin, Trillium erectum 'Red', that I found at a local nursery up near Sudbury, MA, for only a few dollars. I think eventually this one got chomped by deer once it was moved to Long Island.
Trillium grandiflorum are called showy trillium and I think this is the species people see most. The flowers are only a couple inches, fading to pink when pollinated, but they are great to discover walking in the woods.
Then there is the double trillium, Trillium grandiflorum f. 'Multiplex'. Before NEWFS I had seen trillium before, but never a double. I thought they were amazing.
Trillium grandiflorum 'Roseum' has a pink blossom the entire time.
Trillium sessile is commonly called toad shade and you might imagine why. "Sessile" can also be a botanical adjective meaning the flower blooms right on top of the foliage, and there is no flower stalk (technically called a pedicel) in between. Trillium sessile and T. cuneatum do look very much alike but have subtle differences to tell them apart. Both are really musky smelling.
Then there is Trillium simile. I loved to see how they would follow the sunlight as it shifted throughout the day.

(All pictures taken in Framingham, MA, at or near New England Wild Flower Society's Garden in the Woods. All photographs by Alex Feleppa, 2006)

Wildflowers of Colorado

During a recent trip to the western half of Colorado I was fortunate to find myself amidst fields of wildflowers on a number of occasions. Even though I was able to identify most plants to genus right away, many of these plant species where new discoveries for me. I thought I would post some of my photographs and share with you some of my findings, along with additional information found in Don Mammoser's Wildflowers of Colorado Field Guide, 2007. Keep in mind that these plants were situated atop mountainsides at 10,500 feet above sea level and may not be suitable for gardens here in New York City.

Mertensia ciliata is commonly called tall fringed bluebells. As confirmed by Mammoser, these bluebells prefer wet mountainous areas and form dense clumps that stand 3-4' tall. You may recognize this plant as being related to Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), the spring blooming native found here in the northeast. Whereas Virginia bluebells bloom early and begin to die back by this time of year, these tall fringed bluebells were blooming late into July before the arrival of monsoon season in early August. The genus Mertensia is named after the German botanist Franz Mertens.

Pedicularis racemosa is commonly called sickle-leaved lousewort. This plant amazed me because the tubular curved petal at the top of each flower was like nothing I had ever seen before. I learned that this plant is a member of the snapdragon family, Scophulariaceae. The plant and flower spike stood about 18-24" tall. According to Mammoser there is another species, Pedicularis groenlandica, that is commonly called elephant's head, and has an even more pronounced "snout" of a petal. Just the same I was thrilled to find this less common species along a trail in Grand Mesa National Forest.


Identifying yellow or orange daisy-like flowers in the wild can often be frustrating because of the multitude of possible candidates. Here I believe I have captured three phases of Hymenoxys hoopesii, commonly called orange sneezeweed, from a budded to a fully open flower. Orange sneezeweed stands in clumps from 2-4' tall and attract butterflies, bees, and moths. As a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, you should know that each flower is in fact a collection of many flowers. Here many "disk" and "ray" flowers are situated together to give the impression that you are looking at a single flower when in fact you are looking at a large clump of individual flowers. To help explain this morphological characteristic, think about a sunflower, another member of the Asteraceae family. Eventually the center of that sunflower blossom produces many sunflower seeds, right? That is because the individual disk flowers in the center have each been pollinated and gone to seed. Take a look at this cross section of a flower in the Asteraceae family and hopefully that will help drive this little morphology lesson home. Do you see the individual flowers lined up next to each other?

Chamerion angustifolium is commonly called fireweed. The seeds of these native wildflowers are easily dispersed by wind and are known to be one of the first plants to grow after a forest fire, hence the name (Mammoser, 2007). Growing in large masses that stand 4-6' tall these plants are strikingly beautiful whether near or far. Each flower spike comfortably stands a healthy 12" above the upright herbaceous shrub of narrow, willow-like green leaves.

Erigeron speciosus is commonly called Aspen fleabane or showy fleabane. Standing 12-24" tall with light purple flowers typically 1-2" in diameter, this plant is also a member of the Asteraceae family. Native to foothills, aspen groves, and meadows along the forest edge in western Colorado, I seemed to find these on every trail. The name speciosus means "showy" and refers to the blossoms that stand atop long stems rising from the basal rosette of foliage. showy fleabane is a host plant for the Northern Checkerspot butterfly (Mammoser, 2007).
Geranium richardsonii is commonly called Richardson geranium. This perennial geranium grows both in low and high elevations, from New Mexico north to Colorado and up to the Canadian Rockies. The white petals have subtle purple venation to them and are quite delicate and beautiful when looked at up close, and sometimes the entire flower can have a soft pink hue. According to swcoloradowildflowers.com John Richardson was a surgeon and naturalist who lived and studied in the arctic and Canada in the 19th Century, but it was his fellow explorer, Thomas Drummond, who collected the first specimen in 1826 or 1827.

Of course, it wouldn't be Colorado without Aquilegia caerulea, commonly called the Colorado blue columbine. On the rocky slopes where I found these members of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, they were only standing 8-12" tall. A state protected species, Colorado blue columbines are an important nectar source for several hummingbird species in Colorado (Mammoser, 2007). Like other forms of Aquilegia, this species is known for its ability to self-seed itself throughout the challenging landscape.
Campanula rotundifolia is commonly called harebell. Do not let this picture fool you, these members of the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, only stand about 6-8" tall. The name bellflower refers to how the 5 blue/purple petals are fused together to create a bell shape. The flowers themselves are about 3/4" in size. Able to grow anywhere there is moisture and full sun, you can find these little plants mostly growing in rocky outcroppings and prairies. But do not walk too fast, or you might very well pass them by without even knowing.

Lastly, a representative from the genus Delphinium. Unsure whether it is Delphinium nelsonii or Delphinium barbeyi, members of this genus are commonly called larkspur. With a base of large lobed leaves with pointed tips, tall spikes of intense purple flowers shoot up making the plant stand 4-6' tall. Even though these plants put on a real show in the moist meadows and forest openings where they live, they are disliked by ranchers in western Colorado because they are toxic to livestock. According to Mammoser, "most of the plant parts contain poisonous alkaloids that can be fatal if ingested", and he even urges humans not to touch the plant. This, of course, I read after spending an afternoon studying and touching this plant, but luckily I did not fall victim to any such illness.