My Bit of Heaven - by Kristl Walek

[Kristl Walek]

Purdon Conservation Area is best known for the largest Cypripedium reginae population in Canada/North America, which is currently estimated at 8,000-10,000.

We already knew that flowering was late this year, and bloom had just recently begun. There were, however plenty of other great species to be seen here.

The site was donated by the Purdon family to a local conservation commission, who now maintain the site.

It is very well set up for easy public viewing with boardwalks over the wet areas and peat paths through the woods. This was a real treat for me as my trekking in the wild is often strenuous work. The down side is that one cannot get close and personal with the plants, or photograph them well, as venturing off the paths is strictly verboten. One kept hoping for specimens to be right next to the boardwalk!!!!

Along the trail, signage points out the significant species, making the adventure very user friendly and educational.

[Kristl Walek]

The beautiful Linnaea borealis.

Although not flowering, the very tiny and choice Gaultheria hispidula has lovely, evergreen foliage. The small white berries in fall are very onerous to collect.

I found it strange that the Pyrola asarifolia was still at the same stage of almost-bloom as the last time I photographed it in another spot 10 days ago.

Another tiny and rare plant; Mitella nuda is a rhizomatous species with lovely, small, heart to kidney-shaped foliage, often growing as a companion to Gaulteria hispidula in the wild.

The very early flowering Lonicera canadensis already had ripe twin berries.

[Kristl Walek]

Carex pendunculata.

Platanthera hyperborea not quite open yet.

Sarracenia purpurea still flowering.

And the wet-site loving Iris versicolour.

[Kristl Walek]

And finally... the orchids....

It was true that few were in bloom, and it was frustrating not to have a telephoto lens for the far shots.
Luckily a few had decided they liked it right next to the boardwalk.

And lastly a funny story. Tony Reznicek (The Carex Guru) was on this particular outing with us. He mentioned that he originally become a gardener because he loved Cypripediums. How he got from Cyps to Carex must be an interesting story, thought I.

In any event, when we finally spotted the first C. reginae in flower, he audibly sighed and then said "You know; Cypripediums are really just sedges wearing a lot of makeup!!!"

I am still chuckling....

[art600]

Kristl
Thanks once again for capturing both the beautiful plants and the atmosphere of the location.

[Kristl Walek]

I was delighted to see your posting of Dirca palustris which I grew from seed about 5 years ago. I put four plants out in the garden, two have died and I have failed to establish why this has happened. Two are still going though one, planted with the two which died is also looking weak. Any comment of what growing conditions are best for it or which should be avoided would be welcome. You didn't mention the unusual feature of Dirca palustris which other readers  might not be familiar - the extreme flexibility of the branches.

Hi Paddy,
Ah yes...so much to say about the plants, and so little time. Aside from the "leatherwood" quality of the branches, I should also say that while the flowers are tiny (yellow) lining bare stems, it is THE earliest of any woody species to bloom in my area. That of course would only be important for northern gardeners, who are not able to flower anything in winter!!!!

It is *not* easy to establish this plant in the garden---and I have no idea why. It took a number of trys before 3 took in my own garden. In the wild it grows in rich, moisture-retentive alkaline woods; although I have seen it in botanic garden settings in fairly tough spots. And mine here is on clay, light shade.

In the wild they tend to grow taller, with an exposed trunk (reaching for light). Here is how they often grow in a garden setting---doesn't even look like the same plant as I see in the woods.

[Kristl Walek]

Kristl, you Packera looks frighteningly like what we have as ragwort, which has become a really bad pasture weed in New Zealand over recent years. From your pictures it even seems to colonise exactly the same way, so maybe it IS our ragwort. Animals won't graze it and I believe every seed germinates and grows. It's now infesting what we laughingly call our lawn. Very hard to get rid of.

Lesley,
I had noted that the Packera used to be a Senecio....and Senecios are Ragworts I believe (my common name lingo is not very advanced). This is a HUGE genus (over 1,000 species)....so hard to say which one you have running loose in N.Z. Many look similar. I recall the absolutely gorgeous Senecios I saw in the Yukon!!!

[Lesley Cox]

I'll get a picture later.

[Lvandelft]

Kristl, every time again you surprise with so many interesting plants in your area.
And your little stories are the cream on the cake.
I like it when you have even an eye for small plants like Mitella.
The only Mitella I know is M. breweri, which we used to grow for many years.
Now you might see it only in bot. gardens, I think, but in a shady spot it's a
very nice little plant for gardens.
One question still: Is 'strictly verboten' the same as 'streng forbidden' ?     

[Kristl Walek]

I forgot to post one picture ....at the NARGS annual meeting closing ceremonies yesterday one picture was left on the screen from the morning presentation of Brian Carson on double Trilliums.

You may recall my post in the Trillium link on this site about Brian (our local nose for Trillium doubles). This is one of the plants that he has found.

And if you are wondering why the NARGS awards presentor has a duck on her head....and the recipient is wearing a party hat; well, that is another story.

[Lesley Cox]

A story suitable for telling in mixed company Kristl?

[Kristl Walek]

Erythronium americanum life cycle....
Dates refer to the Ottawa Valley.

Bloom: April 24

Seed pods developed underneath the foliage (Picture taken May 24)

Plant disappears altogether leaving pod attached to seed pod stalk lying on the forest floor.

Pods are normally collected when the umbilical cord is either detached, or when critters begin eating the pods (June 13)

Seed inside pods is immature looking at this point (greenish, light beige, yellowish), but is normally firm.

Left inside an open plastic bag, or on a covered tray for a while (simulating forest floor conditions), there is a rapid change in the color and the hardness of the seed. The seed is then cleaned and moist packed, or sown immediately.

This bulb was dug from a slope, and was about 5" deep.

Cleaned bulbs.

[Kristl Walek]

A story suitable for telling in mixed company Kristl?

Unfortunately, Lesley, it's one of those "you had to have been there" kind of stories....

[Paddy Tobin]

Kristi,

Many thanks for your comments on Dirca palustris. Your mention of alkaline conditions might have hit the nail on the head in my case as my soil is slightly acidic, so  my growing conditions may not really suit it.

Have you tried Sassafras in the garden? I am struggling to keep seedlings going at present. Quite a few have died off on me. Any suggestions?

Paddy

[Kristl Walek]

Paddy,
I doubt whether "slightly acidic" conditions would be enough to make the Dirca so unhappy. It is not acid intolerant.

As to Sassafras albidum---sorry, but I actually don't grow it here. The USA woody plants manual  says:

Sassafras is classed as intolerant of shade at all ages. In forest stands, it usually appears as individual trees or in small groups and is usually in the dominant overstory. In the understory along the edges of heavy stands it may live, but generally does not reach merchantable size. If it becomes overtopped in mixed stands, it is one of the first species to die. Allelopathy seems to be the mechanism that allows sassafras, when it has invaded abandoned fields, to maintain itself aggressively in a relatively pure and mature forest

Sassafras can be found on virtually all soil types within its range. It grows best in open woods on moist, well-drained, sandy loam soils, but is a pioneer species on abandoned fields, along fence rows, and on dry ridges and upper slopes, especially following fire. In the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast States where sites are predominately sandy soils, mature sassafras seldom exceeds sapling size. On the Lake Michigan dunes of Indiana, it grows on pure, shifting sand. It is also found on poor gravelly soils and clay loams. Sassafras is most commonly found growing on soils of the orders Entisols, Alfisols, and Ultisols. Optimum soil pH is 6.0 to 7.0. The species is found at elevations varying from welldrained Mississippi River bottom lands and loessial bluffs to 1220 m (4,000 ft) in the southern Appalachian Mountains.