Hydrangea quercifolia

NativeSCAPE
Published by the Georgia Native Plant Society

July 2012
Volume XVIII, Number 3

Native Palms for Georgia Gardens

By Mary Tucker Choices for gardens throughout Georgia. Page 3

Presidents Message Plant Rescue News Chapter News Upcoming GNPS Events Membership Renewal

2 11 21 22 23

Plant Profile: Bear Corn

By Denise Hartline A tasty snack for bears? Page 7

Help MeI Just Cant Stop Volunteering

By Maureen Donohue Meet one of our passionate volunteers. Page 8

Newsletter Editor Ellen Honeycutt Newsletter staff: Sharon Parry and Pat Smith, Proofreaders NativeSCAPE is published quarterly by the Georgia Native Plant Society. A subscription is included with membership in the GNPS. Copyright 2012 by the Georgia Native Plant Society. All rights reserved. Articles may not be reprinted without permission of the author.

Dealing with Deer

By Ken Gohring Tips for controlling the damage by deer

Page 13

2012 Garden Tour

By Jane Trentin A summary of our annual garden tour

Page 17

McFarlane Nature Park

By Sheri George A new restoration project in Cobb County

Page 18

Book Review
Wildflowers of Florida and the Southeast

Page 20

Georgia Native Plant Society P.O. Box 422085 Atlanta, GA 30342-2085 www.gnps.org 770-343-6000 GNPS Board of Directors President Jacqueline McRae Vice President Charles Brown Secretary Kimberly Ray Treasurer Paula Reith Members-at-Large: Ron Smith Susan Hanson Keith Kaylor Director of Communications Ellen Honeycutt Director of Conservation Marcia Winchester Director of Education Julie Newell Director of Membership Jane Trentin
About your membership in the Georgia Native Plant Society Your membership dues and donations help support our mission which is: To promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgias native plants and their habitats By sponsoring meetings, workshops, an annual symposium, grants, scholarships, the native plant rescue program, and this newsletter utilizing an all-volunteer staff of dedicated native plant enthusiasts. We look forward to and appreciate your continued support. Membership renewal forms for 2012 can now be completed online or by completing the form on the last page of this news letter.

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Presidents Message
By Jacqueline McRae

What goes around comes around! Several years ago I agreed to babysit some native plants destined for our upcoming plant sale. For about a week there were maybe fifty pots lined up next to my driveway under the shade of an oak. This collection sparked an interest from neighbors and friends and from one parent in particular, who really took an interest after dropping off my son following a play date. As a gardener she was surprised not to know these plants, and so I took the time to explain our purpose. Recently I was invited to a Champion Tree dedication ceremony. Six champion trees had been identified in a tract of forgotten woodland near Emory University, and these trees had been discovered in part as a result of the efforts of the carpool parent from all those years ago! She is a member of the Lullwater Garden Club, whose mission since 1928 is to maintain the land as a conservation garden and bird sanctuary for community enjoyment. This land has been documented as having nearly all of Georgias native trees represented. From our short conversation my friend got the message big time. She went home and set about eliminating nandina, mahonia and English ivy to name just a few of our problem plants from her own yard. My friend discovered that several of the garden club ladies had already begun the Herculean task of invasive removal and with her new enthusiasm and understanding she jumped in with both feet. With the help of GNPS member David Zaparanick the site became an official GNPS restoration project so the group could attend rescues to obtain the plants they needed to restore this land. The activity at the garden, which opened up the view from the street as the privet was removed, drew the attention of another GNPS member, who pulled over and stopped to measure a tree he saw from the road. Eli Dickerson is currently the volunteer manager at the Piedmont Park Conservancy and was excited about this old growth piedmont forest and its trees. In the months that followed he went on to identify all six of the champion trees dedicated on June 9th. This dedication ceremony was touted as the first of its kind by Greg Levine of Trees Atlanta, which organizes the Champion Tree Program. It was attended by many honored guests including the Garden Club of Georgia President, the DeKalb Federation of Garden Clubs Board, Congressman John Lewis, and Commissioner Kathy Gannon. The best surprise of all was to discover that one of the champion trees measured the year before, a fabulous American beech (Fagus grandifolia), had grown enough since its initial measurement to now be recognized as the state champion. Perhaps it grew because it was no longer sharing the water and nutrients with all those invasive plants removed from its base by the efforts of this incredible garden club. What goes around comes around. Speak up about GNPS and be surprised about which of your friends and acquaintances gets into native plants lock, stock and barrel.

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Palms for Georgia Gardens
by Mary Tucker

Many folks (gardeners included) may hold a misconceived stereotype of palms. The image that comes to mind is probably of a parlor plant, a conservatory specimen, or a coconut palm towering over the sandy beach on a tropical island. However, Ive learned that several palm species are native to Georgia, and they are even adaptable to a wide range of climates in the state. Most palms are shrubs or trees, though I was surprised to learn that there are some vines among them. Generally, they are tough plants that have adapted to life in difficult environments. For example, some tolerate wind (even hurricanes), salt spray, flooding, sandy soil, and occasional fire. Many grow in situations that other shrubs or trees cant tolerate, such as in the shade of the forests understory.

Though many palms are native to tropical regions, some species are surprisingly cold hardy. The gardener can further influence that hardiness by taking advantage of warmer microclimates in the landscape. Factors that influence these microclimates are protection from wind and proximity to heat-retaining features (such as masonry walls or asphalt). Small changes in altitude can also be a factor, since cold air tends to sink into low spots. The type of soil can even make a difference. Clay holds water and, therefore, does not warm as quickly as sand. Hence, many of the tropical palms require a sandy soil.
Sabal palmetto in Charleston, SC Photo by Mary Tucker

Older, established plants generally can take more cold. The origin or provenance of the plant (or of its seed) will also influence its hardiness. In fact, many palm selections are named according to where the seeds or plants were collected, and this can help you determine if the plant will thrive in your garden. For instance, many Sabal palmetto cultivars are named with place names, such as Mt. Holly, Rock Hill, and Bald Head Island. Here are profiles of four palms that may be suitable for your Georgia garden, listed roughly in order of hardiness. All create effective evergreen accents in the landscape, and their spiky foliage contrasts well with other plant forms. Generally it is best to plant palms in early spring after the last frost. This will give them a lengthy growing season in which to become established. When designing with palms, keep in mind that many are difficult to move once established, so plan carefully.

(Continued on next page)

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Palms for Georgia Gardens
Continued from Previous Page

Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) : Some palm enthusiasts describe this Southeast native as the worlds hardiest palm. In its native range, it is found from Florida to South Carolina and west to Mississippi. It also extends inland to areas in central Georgia and Alabama. It is said to take temperatures down to -10 or -15, giving it potential for gardens even in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. Needle palms evergreen leaves are fan shaped and grow up to 3 or 4 feet wide. They are deep green with a silvery underside. Each leaf segment has a blunt tip that looks like it was snipped with giant pinking shears. The leaflets of many other palms have sharp tips, so this unusual shape is a distinguishing feature of the needle palm. Another unusual feature of this palm accounts for its common name. Sharp spines, up to 8 inches long, protrude from the stubby crown of the plant, protecting the seeds from predators. Beware that the fruit has an offensive odor, so you may want to avoid planting it too close to your patio or front door. The fruit develops from compact flower clusters composed of small yellow to brownish flowers that are borne close to the crown of the plant. Needle palm grows relatively slowly and typically reaches 5 to 10 feet tall with a similar spread, giving it a shrubby appearance. This palm makes an attractive specimen or can be equally effective when grouped as a mass planting or hedge. In its natural range, needle palm grows in low, moist areas, where it is most frequently found as an understory plant. When siting it in the garden, take a cue from its natural growing conditions and give it light shade and regular watering. Needle palm is under threat from commercial exploitation, so take care to only purchase it from a reputable nursery.

RESOURCES
This article is not wide enough in scope to cover all you will want to know if you yearn to grow palms in your Georgia garden. For more extensive information, start with the website of the Southeastern Palm Society (http://www.sepalms.org). This website includes information about growing palms in the Southeast, including some excellent articles in a section called the Palm Reader. Even more benefits are available to members of SPS.

(Continued on next page)

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Palms for Georgia Gardens
Continued from Previous Page

Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor) : This palm is also a Southeast U.S. native with a wide natural range, occurring from Florida to North Carolina to Arkansas, and as far west as Oklahoma. In general, it is only slightly less cold tolerant than needle palm, enduring temperatures of 0 degrees (or perhaps less) and making it appropriate for gardens in Zones 7 and warmer, though some especially cold-hardy selections will survive in colder zones. The evergreen, fan-shaped leaves can grow up to 5 feet in width, and each leaflet tapers to a sharp point. The leaves may have an attractive blue-green color, which will be most pronounced in sunny conditions. Dwarf palmetto typically reaches a mature height of about 4 to 6 feet, though the foliage can be cut back periodically to keep the plant shorter.

Sabal minor in Mary Tuckers garden

The dwarf palmetto appears to be non-trunked, with the leaf stalks emerging directly from the ground. Yet in actuality, a trunk or stem, which can be rather long, grows into the ground rather than above, making transplanting a mature specimen difficult. Flower stalks rise above the leaves and mature into clusters of black, pea-sized fruit. Dwarf palmetto will reseed readily, but young seedlings are easy to remove if they sprout in unwanted spots. In its native range, dwarf palmetto is found in swampy areas or floodplains and is often found growing in the understory, where it may colonize to form a tall ground cover. This palm is adaptable to a variety of soil types and tolerates some salt spray, making it valuable as a landscape plant along the coast.

(Continued on next page)

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Palms for Georgia Gardens
Continued from Previous Page

Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) : This palm is a true tree, growing up to 90 feet tall in Florida. In cooler zones, a 30 foot height is more common. It is a well-known sight along the coast and has the distinction of being honored as the state tree of both Florida and South Carolina. See photo on page 3. The large leaves, which may have a blue-green cast, grow up to 5 or 6 feet long and are costapalmate, meaning that they have a midrib. The trunk can be quite large, often 1 to 2 feet in diameter. Old leaf stems remain on the trunk, forming a distinctive crisscross pattern. Creamy white flowers are borne in large panicles, and they develop into a black drupe that contains a single seed. Sabal palmetto is native to the coastal regions of the Southeast. It is hardy throughout Zone 8, but may perform well in parts of Zone 7 if given a warm, protected site. Seedlings and young plants will be more susceptible to damage from cold. Some cultivars are proving to be more cold-tolerant than others. This palm appreciates full sun or light shade. It prefers a sandy soil, but is tolerant and adaptable, even tolerating salt spray, hurricanes, and flooding, making it appropriate for coastal plantings. Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) : This palm is native to Florida and coastal regions of other Southeastern states, from South Carolina south and west to Texas. It is reliably hardy only in its native range, making it appropriate for gardeners in Zones 8b and warmer. Serenoa repens is a low, spreading palm with trunks that typically creep along the ground, taking root as they grow to form a ground cover. In coastal areas, it may be a vigorous spreader. Typical height is no more than 5 feet, though some specimens may develop into a small tree form. The common name, saw palmetto, comes from the spiny leaf stems, a distinctive feature of this palm. The fan-shaped leaves grow 3 to 5 feet long and are usually a glossy green, though some populations are blue-green to silver-gray. This palm is drought tolerant but can tolerate occasional flooding. It is also adaptable to a variety of soil types and can be grown in either sun or light shade. Its tolerance of salt spray makes it appropriate for coastal plantings. It is a useful plant for the wildlife garden since the reddish black drupes are eaten by birds and small mammals. These fruits develop from yellowwhite flowers which are borne in dense, compound panicles.
Photo courtesy of James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Plant Profile: Bear Corn (Conopholis americana )
By Denise Hartline

Bear corn (aka squaw root and cancer root) is a highly specialized parasitic plant that grows from Florida north to Maine and up into Canada. It is common in the mountains, occurs occasionally in the Georgia Piedmont, and is a protected species in New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. Its scientific name, Conopholis, comes from the Greek words cono for cone and pholi meaning scale or scaly, which is an apt description of its appearance. Bear corn is a non-photosynthetic plant that gets it nutrients from oak tree roots. It has no chlorophyll and needs no light to grow. It can thrive in the darkest, shadiest parts of the forest, but it also grows happily on the edge of the woods in dappled shade. We may need to look a little extra carefully to notice bear corn because its stems and flowers are yellowish to yellowish-brown and can blend in well with the leaf litter. As the plant ages, it becomes more brown than yellow and is harder to see on the forest floor. If you notice clumps of something resembling bizarre cornon-the-cob or pinecones coming up from the ground, then youve probably found some bear corn.

will send up its distinctive blooming stalks that are visible above ground. The unbranched stalks are 3-8 inches tall and about as thick as corn cobs. They are creamy-yellowish to yellowish-brown during their bloom season from April to June, age to brown in the summer and, should they persist into winter, shrivel to a blackish -brown. Instead of leaves they have brownish scales. The tubular yellowish flowers seen in spring are about inch long and are arranged densely around the bloom spike like kernels of corn. The flowers have no noticeable scent, are pollinated by bumblebees (or if not, they can self-pollinate) and ripen into capsules about the size of a grape. Each grape-like capsule contains about 5,000 small seeds. Once the seed capsules ripen, the seeds are then ready to be dispersed by wind, flowing rainwater, and mammals that eat bear corn and deposit the seeds in their scat. Black bears, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and mice are some of the mammals that eat bear corn. This plant is a good source of carbohydrates, so it is an important food for black bears when they first come out of hibernation needing a source of quick energy. Interestingly, studies done in Great Smoky Mountains National Park showed that as bear corn availability decreases, nuisance bear activity in the park typically begins to increase. Bear corn clumps usually bloom for about 4 years after the underground portion of the plant matures and the blooming stalks emerge. The clump will then decline for about 2 years before it dies, so the plant has a total lifespan of about 10 years. Its seeds will find new tree roots in which to grow and repeat the life cycle.

The only common name of this plant that we reliably know the origin of is bear corn. One of the other common names, squaw root, may have come about because it was thought that Native American women used this plant to help alleviate symptoms of Photo by Denise Hartline menopause. It was also used by Native Americans as a source of food, and the boiled roots were used as a The main part of the plant remains underground for 4 to laxative. The other common name, cancer root, may 5 years to mature as it penetrates the roots of oak trees have come about because of the large rounded knobs (usually red oak, sometimes white oak, and there are that the underground part of the plant creates on the reports of it sometimes growing on the roots of American tree roots; whether or not the plant was used to treat beech). As it grows underground it forms a gall-like malignancies is uncertain. rounded knob on the host trees roots while it works its way into the roots to help itself to all of the water, Youll probably be happy to know that bear corn does not sugars, and nutrients that it needs courtesy of the seem to harm the health of its host tree in any photosynthetic work of its host tree. Once the significant way. underground portion of the plant has matured, bear corn

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Help MeI Just Cant Stop Volunteering
By Maureen Donohue

My wish to volunteer for the National Park Service started when I realized that I wanted to spend more time in the outdoors. I happened to live next to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, so it was a natural place to start. I began as a Trail Blazer, walking park trails to answer visitor questions, requesting visitors to keep their dogs on a leash, reporting problems on the trails, i.e. blown down trees, eroded trails, broken or clogged waterbars. I could, if I wanted, pick up trash too. With 16 units of the park spread up and down the Chattahoochee, I could and did trail blaze in many of them, but my default park was the unit next door, West Palisades . Walking at first one or two miles on paved trails and forest paths, I got stronger and more fit. My energy level grew. I added more miles to my trail blazing. I then began to add large visitor events, the two day Summer Festival, National Trails Day, Public Lands Day, the Return to the River Race in June. I helped with parking, told visitors boarding shuttles how to begin their raft or canoe/kayak trips, informed them of the rules of the river such as requiring a life jacket for all parties and no glass bottles. I worked the one day Summer Splash, an art competition where local artists painted locations along river; the paintings were judged and prizes awarded. I minded artists supplies when they went to lunch and got to see all the art works, including the winners, at the evening art show. Volunteering for NPS was non-routine and never boring. Slowly I added invasive species removal work. From spending time in all four seasons in park units, I learned more about native plants. All park units needed a better trail system as most of the trails had grown from visitor use. The park service sent me to classes to learn how to be a trail crew leader in building sustainable trails, first aid, and CPR.
(Continued on next page)

Maureen, not being bored pulling invasives.

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Help MeI Just Cant Stop Volunteering
Continued from Previous Page

On my own I began organizing Community Work Days and promoted them via signs along the most travelled trails and near the restrooms and water fountains. On average, 18 people showed up to work on a Sunday afternoon and after 5 minutes of training, we removed lots of invasive species and picked up a lot of trash.

As my interest in the natural world around me grew from my own observations, I started really studying native tree and plant identification. I was able to volunteer in a study by the USA National Phenology Network wherein we observe 3 plants and 3 trees weekly over several years. With this volunteer project, I have improved my observation skills, found many new plants (wonderful little natural wildflower gardens in the park that I did not know existed), and helped the scientific community with a climate change project. I am now a citizen scientist.

Through the Georgia Botanical Society, I became a botanical guardian for Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) at a state park. Coincidently I learned that there were Georgia asters found in three units of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. As a botanical guardian, I counted the number of asters at each location. One fall morning at the parks edge, I went to see if the asters were all in bloom so I could count and photograph them. I found a drilling truck rolling over them. I called the Park Service, DNR and friends from GNPS. Georgia DOT was beginning a road widening project, and the asters had to be moved to protect them. The Park Service organized a translocation date, and we moved 496 asters to a safe location within the park.

(Continued on next page)

10

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Help MeI Just Cant Stop Volunteering
Continued from Previous Page

We also collected the aster seeds. The Park Service sent them to interested botanical gardens throughout the southeast. The Atlanta Botanical Garden took some of the seeds and grew them in its greenhouses for the Park Service. We recently planted those Georgia aster seedlings in a new prairie location that will be used for the Park Services interpretative work with school groups and the general public.

Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum)

Photo by E. Honeycutt

Throughout all my volunteer activities, I have become fascinated with the natural world. My curiosity led me to seek a Master Naturalist Certificate through UGA and a Certificate in Native Plants at the State Botanical Garden in Athens. Most recently I took a Master Gardener class given by Cobb County.

I am now a gardener, mainly in pots on my terrace. But I also maintain two gardens in the park a native plant garden and a pollinator garden. I continue to go on GNPS plant rescues as a source for plants for my own garden and the parks gardens. The facilitators at the rescue sites have really helped me to identify young plants and trees. I have become fascinated with all the pollinators that visit the gardens and I want to learn more about butterflies, birds, bees and flies that do this important work.

My volunteer work and my willingness to try new things have led me to discover a whole new world. I am a native of Manhattan Island and loved my New York life. But my volunteer work here in Atlanta has helped me discover a whole new world, the natural one.

11

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Plant Rescue News
By Lynn Almand

Spring has sprung, fall has fell, summer is here, and it's as hot as..............usual
Yes, as kids, we always ended it that way to stay out of trouble with Mom, but we still got to experience being deliciously close to saying a bad word. Any of you heard that old rhyme? Well, summer IS here, and you know the rest. It is too hot and dry for plants and people to schedule rescues and for the same reason it is absolutely necessary to take extra care of the plants you rescued in the last year. Newly installed plants need extra water at least for the first year until they are established, and mulch will help keep the roots cool and moist. Rescues will restart in September, and I'll send an email out in late August letting you know the rescues are on the website. We'll all be ready to get back into the woods and save as many plants as possible until January when we have another break in the rescues. I went on a fun rescue in May. The property is huge, and luckily roads have been cut through so that people who drive trucks and 4-wheel drive cars can taxi both rescuers and plants back to their cars. We call it a luxury site, and some of the facilitators laughingly say we can practically do drive-by plant id. Luxurious in plants too--some unfamiliar to me. One in particular, was just so stinking cute, I just have to share what I found out about it. Small plants are my favorites, and this one is just too cute for words.. The Green Adder's Tongue Orchid is in the Orchidaceae family. While it is only found occasionally, it's range is very broad-- from Canada south to Florida and from Texas to the east coast. Its habitat is rich moist to dry open woods. It is a smooth green perennial from 4 to 12 in. tall that arises from a corm. A single leaf, borne about halfway up the stem, is bright green, shiny, sheathing, ovate, from 1.2 to 2.4 inches long.

Green Adder's Tongue Orchid (Malaxis unifolia)

Photo by Brad Wilson

(Continued on next page)

12

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Native Plant Rescue News
Continued from Previous Page

Eagle-eye Sheri George spotted the Green Adder's Tongue Orchid (Malaxis unifolia) growing in a shady area where trees had fallen and were rotting. She thought at first it was the Southern Adder's Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum pycnostichum) because all she saw was the leaf. Then she found one blooming and a positive identification was made. The total number found that day was about 10, and I doubt seriously that any more would be found until next year as they are more than likely dormant now.

Malaxis unifolia
Photo by Brad Wilson

Ophioglossum pycnostichum
Photo by Sheri George

As you can see from the picture, it is the flower that will knock your socks off. Again, you have to be a lover of tiny plants.

I hope you will come out to a rescue in the fall and find your own treasures, and I know our facilitators will be looking for some for you too. Happy rescuing! Remember, never dig native plants on public property, or on private property without the permission of the owner, and ONLY if the plants will be lost to development. Join a GNPS rescue instead and help us save the plants legally with other people who love native plants.

13

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Dealing with Deer
By Ken Gohring

Over the years, the population of white tail deer in our country has increased significantly. It is estimated that America's deer population has tripled since 1985. The increase is caused by the demise of many of the predators that control the deer naturally and the growth of conservation programs funded mostly by game hunters. The growth of metropolitan populations in areas conducive to deer survival has created situations where deer herds co-exist with humans in suburban areas. In many cases, there are natural areas where deer can survive and reproduce, insuring significant numbers of animals that have no reservations about consuming vegetation wherever they find it. Many times the food that deer consume is in people's yards and gardens. While most of us appreciate the beauty of deer, we find it disturbing when they consume plants that we grow. How does one go about controlling this problem? Essentially, there are four ways to minimize deer problems. 1. Restrict Access. Fencing is the primary way to keep deer away from our gardens and landscape areas. The method one uses is dependent upon such factors as how bad the deer problem is and how much money one is willing to spend. In areas of relatively low deer population, a single wire electric fence about three feet above the ground will suffice. The old master gardener trick of wrapping tin foil coated with peanut butter or something sweet like honey or molasses on the wire in between the fence posts is usually effective in conditioning the deer to stay away. I personally use a two-strand electric fence with steel posts and a battery driven charger with a solar recharging capability. It is important to get an electric fence in place while plants are starting to grow, as deer prefer plants with tender growth. Another approach is a woven wire fence seven or eight feet tall to prevent deer from jumping over the fence. A friend whose home is near Kennesaw Mountain adjacent to the Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park uses a multiple strand wire fence about 6 feet tall as well as strands of electric fencing to keep deer out of the garden area. The park has a rather large population of deer but this fence is quite effective.

Another friend also living near the park avoids fencing but uses wire cages that protect select plants from being reached by hungry deer, in conjunction with fright devices. More elaborate fencing methods are used. Generally the larger the number of deer near gardens, the more sophisticated the fencing.

Photos by Ken Gohring

(Continued on next page)

14

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Dealing with Deer
Continued from Previous Page

2. Scare the deer. Deer are startled by sounds, so devices that can emit sounds are sometimes effective in keeping deer away. I once considered purchasing a device that would detect motion and then emit a high-pitched sound to scare animals. My concern was that the sound would bother neighbors so I never tried the device. Deer are intelligent animals and such sound emitting devices have to be moved from one location to another to fool the deer. Another way to use fright to keep deer away is to get a dog capable of barking and chasing. This is probably the most effective way to scare deer, but leash laws require dogs to be somewhat constrained thus preventing them from chasing the deer. My friend, who makes extensive use of cages, uses a commercial device called Scarecrow. This device detects motion and starts emitting a stream of water up to 30 feet hopefully in the direction of the offending animal. It has proven to be quite successful, however, there is some concern that the deer will learn the system and cease to be scared.
Photo by Ken Gohring

3. Use deer repellents. Many homemade repellents have been tried to control deer. Perhaps the most frequently suggested materials are human hair and soap. Gardeners are advised to get the hair from barbershops or beauty parlors. The hair is placed in a bag and hung near the plants. The smell is said to ward off the deer. Soap is used in the same way and usually lasts longer. The hair has to be replaced about once a month while soap will last several months. These two methods affect the deer's sense of smell, which it uses to detect danger. Other repellents send alerts to deer by replicating predator odors. Many of these are sold commercially. These commercial repellents are frequently made of animal blood or urine. The base materials are treated chemically so that after application on plants and subsequent drying they become rain proof and last for several months. A friend with a large native azalea garden near Dahlonega uses a product called Deer Scram. He says it keeps deer away for several months. The deer population in his area is at a moderate level, not as significant as the one near the Park discussed earlier. Other repellents contain unattractive tastes. Once the deer has sampled a plant with such a repellent applied, it tends to avoid the remainder of the plant. At times, certain plants such as herbs are used to repel deer. These plants include mint, thyme, chives and other culinary herbs. Some people use garlic. Some use rotten eggs as well as sewage, slaughterhouse tankage, and fish or blood-derived products. If these sound offensive, they are, and in some cases can cause problems that make them less than ideal repellants.

(Continued on next page)

15

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Dealing with Deer
Continued from Previous Page

4. Use plants that deer do not like. If deer get hungry enough they will eat most any plant. In other situations when deer are more selective, they will normally avoid several plants. The University of Georgia has completed an extensive list of plants and how well deer like them. That list can be found at http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=7872. This list includes a large number of native plants that native gardeners may want to consider for their gardens. Deer tend to avoid plants with bitter taste, strong smell or sharp pointed leaves or thorns. Some of the plants listed by UGA as Rarely browsed are (there are many more at the link provided):

* American Holly, Ilex opaca * Smoketree, Cotinus obovatus * Eastern redcedar, Juniperus virginiana * Tuliptree, Liriodendron tulipifera * Waxmyrtle, Morella cerifera * Leucothoe, Leucothoe fontanesiana * Bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora * Yucca, Yucca filamentosa * Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum * Pawpaw, Asimina triloba

* Ferns * Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis * False Indigo, Baptisia australis * Meadow Rue, Thalictrum spp. * Foamflower, Tiarella cordifolia * Jack in the pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum * Ginger, Asarum canadense * White Snakeweed, Ageratina altissima * Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium * Pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris

New York fern, Thelypteris noveboracensis

Photo by E. Honeycutt

Bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora

Photo by E. Honeycutt

(Continued on next page)

16

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Dealing with Deer
Continued from Previous Page

It is not likely that one is going to design their native garden by using a list of deer resistant plants. However, the use of these plants may minimize damage. There are numerous tales of deer browsing habits. It is likely that deer eating habits vary by geographical area. Plants that deer like in one area may be ignored in another area. The friend who uses wire cages and the Scarecrow device has several plants that have avoided deer browsing for some time. These include honeycups (Zenobia pulverulenta), loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), a large collection of ferns, and winterberry (Ilex decidua). Many sources list butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) as a plant that deer avoid. That is not the case in this garden as the deer consume the blooms and part of the stems.

Gordonia lasianthus

Zenobia pulverulenta
Photos by Ken Gohring

To successfully maintain a garden in an area close to where deer live, one has to first measure the magnitude of the deer problem and plan based on this assessment. For those who live in an area near deer, it is a never-ending task. Beyond Browsing Trunk damage The term "rut" is used to describe the behaviors and activities of male deer associated with the breeding season. Male deer grow a new set of antlers each year. They rub their new antlers on shrubs and small trees to remove a material called velvet from the antler's surface. When the antlers are rubbed across the selected shrub or tree, the outer bark of the plant is removed in most cases. In addition, the deer rub their forehead on the rutted area to leave a scent to mark their territory. Another activity called "making scrapes" is part of the rutting activity. Usually a deer will select an aromatic shrub like a cedar or sassafras where it marks its territory by scraping the soil with its hooves and urinating in the soil. At times, the deer will also graze on the shrub. Two types of rut guards are sold commercially. One is a vinyl wrap that is wound around the trunk of the plant to be protected, up to a height of 36 inches or more. Another is a vinyl cage that is installed around the plant's trunk.

17

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Garden Tour 2012
Pictures and text by Jane Trentin

The first garden I visited was that of artist and long time GNPS member Linda Fraser. Her garden was lush with new spring growth. She was particularly proud of her Euonymus americanus (Hearts-a-Bustin) in full bloom by the stream in her front yard. Just below this was a group of Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-thePulpit). Along the back border she had a patch of Coreopsis auriculata in full bloom. Her garage was filled with prints of the many native plants that she has painted from models taken from her own yard. She told an interesting story about a twig on one plant she was painting that kept moving. It turned out to be a little brown inch worm that stood on the Smilax vine she was painting all of Linda's native plant pictures include at least one native insect hidden somewhere in the picture. Thanks go to Adele Northrup and to Angela Booth and Margaret Stephen for manning the sign-in table at the Fraser garden on the day of the tour.

kentukea) along the driveway. I had never seen the wisteria-like white bloom of this tree. Thanks to Nancy Lovingood and Marilyn Bloom for taking shifts at the Tackett's garden.

Finally, I made it to the species garden of Charles Hunter. In the backyard, Charles has let his passion for collecting Rhododendron and Trillium species go wild. A flame azalea was still in bloom. While there were many different Rhododendron species, one particularly beautiful and fragrant large light-pink specimen was blooming by the deck stairs that was from an area known as DelMar, or the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia peninsula. Among the many trilliums in the garden, one stood out: Trillium vaseyi . Charles has removed much privet from the back of his property where a creek runs. He is growing several sun-loving plants such as Helianthus and Baptisia spp. in this newly opened up area. One plant that was really a treat to see Next I visited the garden, or should I say arboretum, of in bloom was the Stewartia malacodendron (picture). Carl and Eva Tackett. It was apparent that this couple Charles ordered the tree from Woodlanders and thinks loves trees. Behind their house is a large open field that that they will have many orders for it after people on they have reclaimed from privet. My favorite tree on the tour are inspired by his! Thanks go to Ellen their property was the white oak (Quercus alba) that Honeycutt, Phyllis Owens and Betsy Abrams for has its lower limbs intact. A mulberry tree (Morus volunteering in this garden. rubra) was laden with fruit that the Tacketts will share with hungry birds. Several varieties of native magnolias live on one side of the house. One was in bloom for the tour, Magnolia asheii (picture). Three different hickories grow toward the back of the property, Carya ovata (Shagbark hickory), Carya tomentosa (Mockernut hickory) and Carya pallida (Pignut hickory.) An old pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) lives in the side yard, Note: for an expanded write up and more pictures, and a black walnut (Juglans nigra) has been planted to please see the website: choose Meetings & Events round out the nut tree collection. Of particular interest and then Garden Tour. to me was a blooming Yellowwood tree (Cladrastis

18

NativeSCAPE July 2012

McFarlane Nature Park
By Sheri George

McFarlane Nature Park became a GNPS restoration project this year, though it has been an unofficial restoration project for many years. Check out the January 1999 NativeScape newsletter article about McFarlane. The article highlights the early restoration efforts of GNPS members along with the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County. The McFarlane Nature Park Restoration Project will concentrate on the transitional woodlands consisting of many species of native trees but little native understory or ground layers because of the invasive, non-native plants which include English ivy, honeysuckle, and privet. The ultimate goal of the McFarlane Nature Park Restoration Project will be to clear the woodland area of these invasive plants and re-establish the woodlands using appropriate Piedmont area rescued plants from the GNPS Rescue Program with an emphasis on education for not only park visitors but volunteers.

The woodland that needs to be tackledcome help be part of the transformation from tangled invasives to beautiful natives.

Beautiful natives in the already tamed areas of McFarlane. Photos by Sheri George

Workdays are every Tuesday from 9 am 11 am for more information contact Sheri George. Please visit the Events of Interest page under the GNPS Restoration Programs heading for more information and driving directions.

(Continued on next page)

19

NativeSCAPE July 2012

McFarlane Nature Park
Continued from Previous Page

For those of you that have come to our spring plant sales, you may recall that McFarlane Nature Park has been the location of our plant sales for the last 3 years. Here is a summary of this years results, be sure to check out the webpage for more details and photos:

2012 Annual Spring Plant Sale Summary

Definition of Perfect: adjectivehaving all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics; as good as it could possibly be: A perfect day to hold a plant sale would be not too hot, not too cold; sunny, but mixed with cloudsand a breath of a breeze. A perfect plant sale would be an army of enthusiastic volunteers to set-up and work sale day; a wonderful selection of native plants with the majority being rescued and donated; large parking areas for both customers and volunteers; delicious food for volunteers to become refreshed and so many well-educated, eager customers understanding the importance of using native plants in their gardens that they purchase almost all the plants offered by the end of the sale. By definition then, the 2012 GNPS Spring Plant sale was PERFECT! Thanks to all the volunteers who made this plant sale so much fun and helped reach sales of $30,545! Please help me thank the perfect Committee: Lynn Almand, Ellen Honeycutt, Paul Shivers, Marcia Winchester and Mary Lou Cannamela (Volunteer Coordinator).

Hope to see you all next April at McFarlane Nature Park -

Sheri George

Chair, GNPS Spring Plant Sale

Did you know that we have a voluntary member directory on

the website? Members that create a login on the website can choose to be shown in the member directory. From the home page (www.gnps.org) select Member Login at the bottom of the menu to create your login using the email that GNPS has for you. Once your login is created and verified, youll see a link to Membership Directory. If youd like to be listed, choose Account Settings from your special menu and set your Directory showing to yes. The directory is not viewable to the public.

20

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Book Review
By Ellen Honeycutt

Wildflowers of Florida and the Southeast is a new book (2011) by David W. Hall and
William J. Weber that has been a long time in the making. Years of photography by Dr. Weber in Florida and the Southeast are represented here. This collaboration with Dr. Hall, a Florida botanist, has produced an identification resource for 768 native and naturalized plants, both woody and herbaceous. Of the plants represented in the book, some are endemic to Florida, but many have a range that includes the Southeastern Coastal Plain and even beyondsuch as mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). Some plants are not native to the US but are plants that have escaped from cultivation. Plants likely to be found by the average enthusiast in southeastern Georgia and Florida are covered, whether they be native or naturalized. The Introduction section contains a very thorough description of the plant communities that are home to the plants found in this book: coastal areas, forest, flatwoods, hammocks, marsh and more. Our understanding of plants and where they grow depends on our better understanding of these communities. Plant pictures are arranged by bloom color to facilitate field identification using a flower. Each plant has a written profile which includes both the scientific and the common names plus plant family and one or more pictures. Provided are details like Habit (perennial, vine, shrub, and height), Leaves (arrangement and description), Fruit description, Habitat and Distribution as well as some general Comments. The authors share a wide variety of comments including personal observations about growing these plants themselves. A good feature of any guide is a glossary - it allows the authors to provide botanically descriptive words familiar to the advanced reader while helping the novice plant enthusiast deepen their understanding of plant characteristics. As an example, the profile of dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) states that the flowers are found in the leaf axils. Using the glossary you can look up "axil" to see that it means "the upper angle betweeen leaf and stem." For those using this book to find pictures or details on plants they already know, an index is provided with both scientific and common names. Regardless of your experience, if you live in the area covered by this book, I think you will find this a useful resource.

New Chapters forming? enthusiastic groups in Brunswick, Gainesville and Ellijay are exploring interest in forming a GNPS chapter in those areas. If youd like to be involved, please send email to chapters@gnps.org and well direct you to the right person.

21

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Chapter News
By Flo Hayes, WGC Chapter President

The West Georgia Chapter of GNPS went on a visit to Birmingham Botanical Gardens on April 14, 2012. We had a self guided tour to see things in bloom and what a day we had. The garden offered an opportunity for us to identify plants and get to know each other. Our public meetings continue to draw folks who want to learn about plant identification. Carol Hight has developed a cheat sheet to go with the power point program. The sheet indicates the time frame for plants to bloom and is a wonderful tool to take into the fields and woods to look for those plants at the proper time.

We have been invited to participate in the Junior Master Gardener Camp Dirty Knees. Several of us will be involved teaching these kids about native plants and the rescue and restoration programs. Never too early to start them on the path.

We have a group of teenagers on Saturdays who are working with the Ag. Center staff. Some of our members are also involved in this project. They have asked to be involved in the Buffalo Creek project and have already cleared one bed of non-native, invasive plants. We plan to provide them with suitable plants for that area. They will also adopt a part of the trail to remove We had a booth at the opening of a new park in privet and honeysuckle. Nothing like fostering an Carroll County called Little Tallapoosa Park. Marc interest in young people. LaFountain set up the booth and helped man it on Saturday and the Sunday Crew including Joyce We had a demonstration at the Master Gardener McArthur, Carol Hight, Mike Strickland and Gina Open House in the Demo Garden on June 12. Strickland finished up the week end. They came Gina and Mike Strickland have put in some extra back with a list of folks interested in GNPS hours on our bed and it looks good. activities. It was a wonderful opportunity to Our scheduled meetings are at 7:00 pm at the educate the community about our activities. Carrollton Ag. Center. We have a meet and greet We continue the work on Buffalo Creek trail with for the first 30 minutes and plants to sell. Our monthly workdays. We have the upper woodlands program starts at 7:30pm. Please check our site free of privet and honeysuckle. We are busy calendar at http://wgawildflowers.org/ and feel putting in plants as we rescue them. We have free to come join us. adopted a new section of trail and are excited because the plant material is so different from the upper woodland area. We are looking to have signage installed in the upper woodlands area soon. So many folks put in untold hours to bring this signage project to this point. Thank you Marc LaFountain, Carol Hight, Gina Strickland, Mike Strickland, Patsy Barr, Bob Barr and Frank Bennett. I hope I have not forgotten someone. If so, please forgive me.

22

NativeSCAPE July 2012

Upcoming Events
July Meeting: Meadowscaping in Urban & Suburban Spaces - Tuesday, July 10, Catherine Zimmerman presents meadowscaping as a lawn alternative. She explains why meadow and prairie habitats are so beneficial both economically and environmentally and gives a step-bystep primer on reducing lawn size and organically installing a beautiful meadow or prairie in your own yard. No space is too small! Join the movement to bring back native habitat for wildlife and humanlife! Catherine Zimmerman is a filmmaker and sustainable landscape designer based in the Washington, DC area. She is the author of Urban & Suburban Meadows, Bringing Meadowscaping to Big and Small Spaces and has just released the companion video. The book and video offer the tools to create sustainable, organic landscapes in backyards, schoolyards, churches and communities. Catherine also contributes to the blog, Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens: nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/ The blog, book, video and Catherine's Meadow Project are her efforts to help people rethink their pesticide-ridden, manicured, monoculture lawns and return their land to beautiful, natural habitats for native plants and wildlife. Catherine's book and video will be for sale at the July meeting and she will be available for book signing. Learn more about Catherine at www.themeadowproject.com. September Meeting: A Dynamic Stability, The Nature of Georgia's Barrier Islands - Tuesday, September 11, John Crawford will explain the present "Nature" of Georgia's beautiful coastline. The story of these sandy isles begins millions of years ago and thousands of feet higher in elevation. Through slides, maps and discussion the program will explain the origin and follow the long downhill journey of the building blocks of the coastal plain - sand, clay and limestone. This program will show and explain the succession of plant species and environmental forces that mold these raw materials into the lush subtropical habitats we see today. The life histories of the many rare and diverse animal species utilizing the region will be celebrated and explained. A 4,500 year history of human habitation is intricately woven into this unique and evolving landscape and aspects of that will be highlighted during the program.

Fall Plant Sale: Saturday, September 22 at our propagation area inside Stone Mountain Park. Check the website for more information as the date draws near. Please refer to our website for current information on project workdays and times. Thank you!

23

Georgia Native Plant Society Membership & Renewal

Memberships are effective for one calendar year, beginning January 1st. Hydrangea quercifolia

Choose membership level: (Select one) ___Individual/Family ($20) ___Full-Time Student ($15) ___Lifetime Individual/Family ($250) ___Senior, 55 and older ($15) ___Corporate/Commercial/Educational ($50)

Affiliation: ___No Chapter Affiliation ___West Georgia Chapter

___Check here if in addition to my membership renewal, I have included ______ to be distributed as follows: ___Education ___Jeane Reeves Memorial Grants and Scholarship Program Total Enclosed: ____________ ___Conservation/Propagation/Restoration ___Unrestricted Check # _______________

Trade Name (if applicable):

_______________________________________________________________________

First Name: ______________________ Middle Initial: ____ Last Name: __________________________________ If Family, list additional names: ____________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ___________________________________ Work Phone: ____________________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________ (Email address is required if you wish to receive the Listserv and/or Electronic Newsletter.)

___ Check here if you prefer NOT to receive emails from our list server which contain information about meetings, plant rescues, work parties and other items of interest to the membership.

The full-color newsletter will be sent electronically. If you require a print version, which will be black and white, check here: ___

Please mail completed renewal form to the following address: GNPS, PO Box 422085, Atlanta, GA 30342-2085