My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[Kristl Walek]

I can imagine how much work is waiting for you with all the new
beginning and wonder from where you take the time for taking these beautiful
pictures.

Rudi,
I cannot take credit for the recent sets of pictures---as I have only been the poster of them, not the taker. Graham Ware, who has been my seed collecting partner for the past 5 years and co-author of our book on the native plants of eastern Canada (which I still have to find time to finish), is responsible for these. As you have surmised, I have had little to no time to be out in the wild this spring (sigh). Even our seed collecting will be very limited this season.

Graham (with his better camera) is concentrating on the pictures we still need for the book while we both collect whatever seed doesn't require huge energy levels or long, intensive trips to obtain. It's the only way we have figured we can manage to continue working on the book and to keep my business running during this transition year for me. It will be really challenging once we are in different provinces.

[ruweiss]

Kristl, please excuse my misinformation, I am nevertheless so grateful that you take your precious
time to give us such valuable informations!

[Kristl Walek]

Medeola virginiana; Indian Cucumber Root, has small roots, edible raw or cooked. This delicate member of the Liliaceae has leaves in whorls and intricate flowers.

The exquisite Linnaea borealis.

[Kristl Walek]

Anemone canadensis; a pretty native with thug-like tendencies needing to be kept to wild areas only.

Calystegia spithamaea also runs in cultivation---yet is strangely uncommon in the wild.

Sisyrinchium montanum (angustifolium) is a well-known sweet small species with good blue flowers inhabiting dry, hot places in the wild.

[Kristl Walek]

Arenaria stricta grows in inhospitable, hot, waste places in the wild;  where it is short-lived. In the garden, it returns year after year.

The easy to cultivate Penstemon hirsutus grows primarily in it's dwarf form, pygmaeus, in this area. Hot, dry, alvars are solid with them in a variety of color forms.


 

[Kristl Walek]

The only three members of the Araceae in our area are Arisaema triphyllum, Symplocarpus foetidus and the beautiful Water-Arum; Calla palustris. The spathe is followed by bright red berries.

Lysimachia thyrsiflora is another wet-land plant, found in marshes and swamps.

[Kristl Walek]

Notwithstanding Dutch Elm Disease, some stately American elms (Ulmus americana) are still to be found in the wild.

The trunks of some representative Betula papyrifera.

Gaylussacia baccata (Wild Huckleberry) grows in dry, upland woods in acid soil. The urn-shaped pinkish-red flowers are followed by really delicious, sweet berries in the fall, ripening about the same time as blueberries.

The almost-spent flowers of Black Cherry, Prunus serotina. The species name means "late" (it flowers later than most Prunus).

[Kristl Walek]

And the Viburnums....

V. lentago (Nannyberry) is an extremely hardy species ranging as far north as Hudson Bay and forming hedges along the sides of my road here. The dark green glossy foliage turns a fantastic purple-red in autumn.

V. trilobum is of course, widely known, terrific in flower and showy fruit that lasts on the plants all winter, even in the far north.

V. rafinesquianum is usually found in seemingly inhospitable dry, hot alvar sites here.

[Kristl Walek]

I believe I showed you Hudsonia tomentosa last year, but without flowers.
This rare low shrub grows on sand dunes and in sandy, pine woods and clearings. I know it here from the shores of only one lake. It resembles heather, with its scale-like foliage. Bright yellow flowers near the branch tips. I have found it difficult in cultivation.

And at the same site on the sandy shore, grows Prunus pumila var. susquehanae. In this variety the branches are erect to ascending. This consistently heavy-fruiting cherry makes excellent preserves. 

Because of fluctuating water levels, many plants had been buried by sand; with only their flowering branch tips protruding out of the sand.

[Kristl Walek]

I love the alternate-leaf dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), elegant in it's tiered form, flower and fruit. It is one of my favorite native species for the woodland garden.

The common native Cornus stolonifera in bloom.

And here is Quercus macrocarpa in bloom. One of the specimens at this site had very odd, etoliated, misshaped leaves.

[Paul T]

Kristl,

Great photos as always.  So many unusual things.  The standout for the last week for me of your pics though, is the Medeola virginiana.  It looks so much like a strange multi-flowered Trillium or something.  And almost black flowers too.    Good stuff!! 

Thanks as always for showing us your pics.

[arisaema]

I'll second Paul, great shots and the Medeola really is lovely!

[Kristl Walek]

I have, sadly, never seen Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal) in the wild. Not abundant to begin with, it has, like Panax quinquefolium (American Ginseng) been so overcollected in the wild and wiped out by habitat destruction that is it rare to endangered in most parts on its range.

Once established in the garden, it spreads gently by rhizomes forming a wonderful and dense little colony of bold-textured maple-like foliage. The flowers are small, feathery things, followed by rather showy clusters of bright red berries. It is an undemanding plant in culture, if one can manage to find one.

[Kristl Walek]

These are all plants of moist to wet places:

Iris versicolor
Nuphar variegata
Lathyrus palustris
Potentilla palustris

[Kristl Walek]

Some lovely woodland mats.

The beautiful Gaultheria hispidula; not yet in flower.

As well, Mitchella repens still with last years berries, although the buds of this seasons flowers were already present.

The wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella is quite uncommon in this area.