Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype
October 2009 Edition
© 2009
Cover Photo: Gray Tree Frog (Hyla spp.) on Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra). Montgomery, IL– October 2009
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype
V o l u m e 1 3 , Is s u e 1 November 2, 2009
GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Green Walls Move To America Plant Profile
4
Native on the Net
4
Best Books
4
Organization Spotlight
5
Native News
5
Planting with a Purpose
5
Burning Issue-
6
Invasives!
7
Fantastic Fauna
7
Focus on the Future
7
Did you know... •
•
That the wild turkey was promoted by Benjamin Franklin to be the national bird instead of the eagle? That during World War II, school children were encouraged to collect milkweed fluff to fill military life preservers?
Green walls are nothing new in places like Asia or Europe. Many foreign cities utilize vertical space where there is limited space to create large parks or sprawling gardens. Green walls, which are naturally insulating and reduce air pollution, have already been put in place on buildings in other cities, such as Los Angeles and New York. According to Joanne Westphal, a Michigan State University professor of landscape architecture, green walls provide shade that helps keep buildings cool, and “help capture rainwater and release it more slowly into the atmosphere and storm water systems.” PNC Financial Services Group Inc. has affixed hundreds of vegetative panels to the side of its headquarters building in Pittsburgh. The two-foot by two-foot panels together compose what is known as a green wall “the size of two tennis courts,” according to Dan Nephin for The Associated Press.
This might be one of the largest in America, but it is certainly not the only one.
"California - so many native plants!" marveled Patrick Blanc as the botanist-turned-urban stylist passed through San Francisco last week. "For this project I want to use only native plants. Not Australian or South African or Mediterranean."
The new wing at San Francisco's Drew School will utilize a 40 x 50 foot vertical garden composed solely of native plants.
Since virtually every region has its own native plants that are suitable for this type of application, look for more green walls in the future!
This green wall is 2,380 square feet and is composed of over 15,000 plants.
GNOME’S MISSION Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where mem-
bers can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest.
1. Join our facebook group at
You can participate in many different ways.
3. Visit or link to the website 4. Pass on the newsletter.
http://www.facebook.com/ group.php? gid=45643568296
2.
Submit articles, pictures, stories, or plans for publication.
Page 4
V o l u m e 1 3 , Is s u e 1
Potentilla arguta– Prairie or Tall Cinquefoil
“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” ~Peter F. Drucker
The answer to last month’s Name That Native was Potentilla arguta– commonly known as Prairie or Tall Cinquefoil.
that were made from some species and “sharp” referring to the sharp teeth on the leaf margins.
The scientific name comes from Latin and roughly translates in to “powerful” (potens) in reference to the strong medicines
The original range of this species extended throughout most of northern North America.
An inconspicuous, but interesting nativePrairie Cinquefoil
NATIVE
ON THE
Sometimes wading through sites looking for good resources on native organisms is just too time consuming. This section should help!
This plant can reach heights of up to three feet. It is a hairy plant, including its compound leaves. Mid-summer blooms are typically creamy white with golden stamens. Invisible to the human eye, ultra-blue light is also a part of the bloom and is visible to most pollinators.
It is considered by many to be a conservative plant, usually found within a high quality habitat and not on disturbed sites. The plants I got were dug from a prairie plant rescue in Naperville.
NET With the implementation of Chapter NR 40, Wisconsin is taking the lead in the Midwestern states when it comes to invasive species.
This month’s featured site is : Wisconsin DNR– Invasive Species
Faunal associations of this plant are mostly small bees and flies. This includes Little Carpenter bees, Halictine bees, Syrphid flies, Tachinid flies, Blow flies, and others. Wasps and small butterflies are less common visitors. The larvae of a Gall Wasp (Gonaspis sp.) forms galls on the stems. Mammals will browse this plant, but it is not a major food source.
This law is designed to prohibit and restrict certain species labeled as invasive.
http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/
BEST BOOKS– THE TALLGRASS
This page has many valuable links to read through. From plant profiles to target species lists, one can see a good model of what can be done at the state level to help solve this growing issue. There are also instruction videos on the site that are helpful in control methods. Check it out!
RESTORATION
HANDBOOK The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook is a compilation of chapters put together by our featured organization this month– Society For Ecological Restoration. This is a “how to” book for anyone thinking about creating a natural habitat focused on firedependent ecosystems as they were pre-European settlement. From small yards to extensive tracts of land, this will help you in that creation process.
I picked this book up at a Wild Ones annual convention after seeing a colleague browsing in his copy at a nature center. It can be read cover to cover, or just be used as a resource for certain components of the process. The methods of the processes pre-
sented in this book are really useful for a wide range of applications. It is also not too technical for the nonexpert. Since this book focuses on fire-dependent habitats it includes prairies, savannahs, woodlands, and some wetlands.
Species lists and many sources are Your guide to restoring and added bonuses! healing habitats
G N O M E N ew s
Page 5
O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION The mission of the Society For Ecological Restoration is “"to promote ecological restoration as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture." Mission statement taken from their websitehttp://www.ser.org
This is an international nonprofit organization that was founded in 1988. It currently has representation from 37 countries and all 50 states.
The basic functions of this organization are in five areas: conferences, journals, restoration networks, online communication including website, newsletter, and eBulletin, and committees/working groups. All of these facets tie directly to their mission statement. The goal is to provide resources to people interested in restoring land back to pre-settlement conditions. This organization unites research, practice, and member expertise to give anyone a great resource for improving habitats on all scales from yards to 1000s of acres.
Membership has many different levels, each with added amenities. The basic membership is $25. The highest available membership is the organizational level at $250.
NATIVE NEWS:
NATIVE BATS FACE EVEN MORE DANGER It has been well documented that native bat populations are in peril. There are 8 species listed as nationally endangered or threatened already. But there is a new threat to our native bats that should make us light the bat signal for help. It is called whitenose syndrome.
up as a white fuzz on the face of the bats affected. It is also believed to alter other physical functions like when to awake from hibernation.
Bats congregate in winter in caves known as hibernacula. Mortality in the NE United States caves found with white-nose syndrome have been between 90 –100% and it is making First discovered in New York in its way west. Six other states have 2006, this fungal infection shows already reported new cases.
PLANTING
WITH A
“With the fungus already wiping out 1 million bats, "that's about 700,000 tons of insects that weren't eaten this summer because those bats weren't there," says Dave Redell– a Wisconsin DNR bat ecologist. The US Fish and Wildlife Dept. announced on Oct. 26th that over $800,00 has been awarded in grants to study this issue more closely.
PURPOSE:
SHARING IS CARING One of the many benefits of using native plants is that they are oftentimes good seeders. What does that mean? A lot of plants! In many smaller home landscapes this can be a great opportunity to not only thin out the sheer number of a certain plant in your planted areas, but to share them with others, thereby getting more people to use natives.
If given the choice (at least among gardeners I know) most people prefer free plants to those that they have to purchase. Since natives are not yet common in the general nursery trade, this can do a lot to increase native plant use. While we are at it, why limit the giving to just plants?
Sharing seeds can also be a great way to get people to use natives in their landscape. Many native plants are prolific seeders. While I like to leave some seed for wildlife, I try to give as much away as I can. I even take some over to enhance our native plant buffer around our subdivision pond. Remembersharing is caring!
Share your native plant wealth!
“Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Norman Macewan
Page 6
V o l u m e 1 3 , Is s u e 1
BURNING ISSUELIGHTS OUT FOR EUONYMUS Some Midwestern states might be the next to join the “banned” wagon and prohibit the sale and movement of Euonymus alata, commonly known as winged euonymus or simply burning bush. Massachusetts began prohibiting this exotic ornamental in July, 2006 by implementing and importation ban. It followed this up in 2009 with making it illegal to even propagate. If one looks up information on Euonymus alata in the USDA PLANTS profile, one would see it listed as a noxious weed in many states.
“Weeds are nature’s graffiti” ~Janice Maeditere
The main method of seed dispersal is birds. Birds relish the fruit of E. alata, and seeds passing through their digestive tract are viable. Seeds dispersed this way germinate easily and spread the infestation to other areas. This is frequently during fall migration, when birds search desperately to replenish fat stores. With an overused landscaping plant like the burning bush, it would only make sense that this readily available food source be utilized en route.
The popularity of the burning bush can also So why would a plant that be attributed to its Burning bush covers a woodland hillside in is so commonly used in ability to grow in all landscapes throughout the North Granby, Connecticut types of conditions. US and still easily purThis includes full chased end up being considered a problem? Let’s shade and undisturbed sites, making it a real explore some of the history behind this plant and threat to mature woodlands. try to get a better understanding of why some states in the Great Lakes region are thinking One only needs to drive around neighborhoods in about extinguishing the burning bushes within the fall to see these plants blazing along fences, their borders. next to foundations, and in yards across America. While these are not yet invasive on the same scale Burning bush was introduced in North America in that they are in the Northeastern US, many Midthe 1860s as an exotic ornamental plant from western states are considering taking steps toAsia. Its native distribution extends from central ward eliminating the threat before it becomes a China to northeastern Asia, including Korea, Jawidespread problem. pan, and the Sakhalin islands of Russia. Like many plants now considered invasive in the US, it So where does that leave things? Simply knowing was brought to America for its novelty and excluthat these plants have an invasive tendency sivity. Botanical gardens and botanists would typically be the first importers of such plants, then should make it a no brainer. But many don’t know and education will be key in the progress of this landowners with money and “taste” would follow, making a statement by planting these exotic issue. plants in their landscapes. Euonymus alata eventually escaped cultivation and was acknowledged to be invasive in the 20th century, mostly in the Northeastern U.S. It now occurs in at least 25 states, as far west as Montana, and as far north as Ontario, Canada.
“Wings” show up as corky ridges making this plant easy to identify
ALATUS?
When grown in an urban environment, it poses a far smaller threat of invasion. This is mainly because concrete is not a good medium for germination. But give this plant an inch and it will grow– sometimes miles from its parent plant. It is not just a plant that grows in the shadow of its parent.
There are also many good native alternatives to the invasive burning bush, many with similar attributes. Some good native alternatives to Euonymus alatus, which provide fruit and fall color, include: Euonymus americana (Hearts-A-Burstin), Cornus sericea (Redosier Dogwood), Cornus racemosa (Gray Dogwood) Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry), Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry), Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac) Vaccinium corymbosum (Highbush Blueberry; note: summer fruit). The next time you are taking in a nice fall day and enjoying the colors, remember that the blazing burning bush is simply giving you a warning“I’m invasive!”
G N O M E N ew s
Page 7
I N VA S I V E S J A PA N E S E H O P S Humulus japonicas, also known as Japanese hops is a newer invader to the Midwest. The map to the right may be somewhat misleading because once a state is identified as having it, the entire state is listed in green. This is a targeted species in many Midwestern states because it is not yet widespread. Reporting and early identification of locations with this plant are crucially important. Notify local or state officials if you believe you have found this plant! I think that this is a unique invader. First of all, it is an annual, not a perennial. That , coupled with the fact that it is a climbing vine make this different from many other invasive plants found in the Midwestern states.
This plant has the ability to grow very rapidly. One expert from Wisconsin DNR even told me that it can overtake reed canary grass and choke it out. The biggest issue is that this plant has a very small root system. It is currently found most frequently along stream banks.
Green= Invaded States
Since it has a very small root system and can choke other vegetation, this plant can create very high potential for erosion along rivers and streams. It can thrive in shade or sun and will also invade other disturbed sites like ditches. Report any suspected populations!!
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E G R A Y T R E E F R O G Hyla versicolor is known as the Eastern Gray Tree Frog. It is virtually identical in appearance to the Cope’s Gray Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis). Their range overlaps in much of the Midwest and they can only be differentiated by looking at chromosomes on their DNA or by the call length of the males. Both species of gray tree frog have cryptic coloration that allow them to camouflage themselves to what type of vegetation they are sitting on. They cannot do this as quickly as an animal like a chameleon, but it is an effective survival strategy none the less.
These frogs are arboreal, meaning they spend most of their time in trees. They possess advanced toe pads that allow them to cling to vertical surfaces as smooth as glass. They are also both predators (insectivores mainly) and prey, making them an important link in most food webs in the area that they inhabit.
I find their overwintering strategy very interesting. They are above-ground hibernation. During hibernation, 80% of their body freezes and breathing and heartbeat are temporarily suspended. Glycerol keeps them from freezing solid, but they appear rigid when found at this time. They hibernate Adults of both species can reach the size of 1.5 to in leaf litter and under woodpiles. 2 inches in length. Typical coloration is gray, though they can vary this from almost black to white depending on location and vegetation. There are two generally accepted identification markers for these frogs. Most will have a white patch under their eyes. The more effective marker are the bright yellow patches on their side and back legs. These are usually only visible when the frog is jumping. A gray tree frog in my yard this October.
“Theories pass. The frog remains.� ~Jean Rostand
Great Natives of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538
Check out our site!!!
E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com
We’re on the Web! http://gnomenative.webs.com/ There’s no place like GNOME!
GNOME
Join our facebook group! (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45643568296)
This is our primary forum location. The newsletter as well as open discussions are there and also other links to people and groups that focus on natives.
Got an article? Now accepting member submitted news and photos! Once you have something to share, send it to the email listed at left. Monthly news articles will, of course, give credit to the contributor. Everyone welcome!
Focus p.8- http://www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/monarch/ milkweed_0003.jpg
Fantastic Fauna p. 7- http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/ accounts/information/Hyla_versicolor.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Gray_tree_frog
Invasives p.7- http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/japanhops.htm Invasives p.7- http://www.invasive.org/gist/photos/humja02.jpg
Focus on Future p.8- http://www.justkiddingcartoons.com/i/Cartoons/ Cartoon_192wtmk.jpg
Native News p.5- http://www.jsonline.com/news/ wisconsin/60482932.html and http://www.fws.gov/endangered/
Burning Issue p.6- http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2009/10/ euonymus_alatus_var_apterus.php Invasives p.7-http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/photos/ jp_hops1.jpg
Invasive Map p.7- http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/Crustaceans/maps/ pr_clarkii.gif
Articles
Name That Native p.4- http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/ pr_cinquefoilx.htm
Burning Issue p.6- http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2009/10/ euonymus_alatus_var_apterus.php and http:// bhld.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/2009-10-26_2546.jpg
Big Picture Photo- http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/ environment/2009/oct/Corporate-Green-Walls-Could-Inspire-EnergyConservation-Efforts.html
References Pictures
Big Picture-http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/ oct/Corporate-Green-Walls-Could-Inspire-Energy-Conservation-Efforts.html and http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/27/ DDSI1A84SE.DTL
FOCUS
ON THE FUTURE
Every fall since my children have been able to walk we have celebrated the autumn season with milkweed. It began back in 1999 when my oldest was just nearing his first birthday in December. We lived on an acreage and there were numerous milkweed plants in an unmowed tract next to our 1/4 mile drive way. I was not yet very aware of natives, but I was familiar with this one because of its ties to monarchs. I grabbed an already open seed pod and handed it to my son. At first I thought he was going to pop it into his mouth. As I was ready to grab it back from him, a wind gust sent some of the seeds flying through the air. This is something he understood and it wasn’t long before the pods of several milkweed plants were emptied and a new tradition was born. There is something hopeful about the milkweed seed.
While my understanding of ecosystems and native plants have increased since this tradition first started, that knowledge has not changed the delightfulness of setting a milkweed seed adrift.
The answer my friend... Is it its airy fluff? It is the small capsule that is carrying next season’s life with it in the breeze? Or is it simply the freedom it seems to express as it flies away?
Sometimes the simple things are the ones that can give a person the most joy. For me, this is one of those things.
I can’t really answer what it is about the milkweed seed that makes me smile, but that it does is enough for me.
November is traditionally a month where people give thanks. I would encourage everyone to not forget about those little things– the simple things -this year when you are pondering what you are thankful for.
Since that tradition began, my life has changed a lot. I have moved to a new state, have a different job, and have faced many unforeseen challenges, as we all have to do.
I know that I am surely grateful for the milkweed seeds. It was a tradition born from a chance opportunity, but one that continues to inspire. I am thankful.