native-plants

What happened to the NY Flora Atlas?

– Posted in: Native/Invasive

Does anyone know what happened to the NY Flora Atlas? I can get a cached image of the site on Google, but my browser tells me the server can't be found. Did the organization go under? Did they lose funding for the website? It seemed like such a worthy project, mapping native populations of various [...]

Wicked Beauty

– Posted in: Native/Invasive, Pests, Plagues, and Varmints, Plant info, What's up/blooming

Isn't this a stunning specimen of Polygonum cuspidatum? The generous rainfall we've had this season has brought it into top form. Too bad it's on America's Most Wanted list. Yes, this is Japanese knotweed, aka Japanese bamboo, Mexican bamboo, fleeceflower, and Fallopia japonica. (I've been told that it's also known as privy weed, but I [...]

August is yellow

– Posted in: Native/Invasive, Plant info

The fields surrounding my house are turning yellow and I know it must be August. I experience the passing of the seasons by what plants are coming into bloom and now it is the goldenrods’ turn. Familiarity can bring indifference and my neighbors often ignore the flowers but I cannot. I can find at least [...]

Native Plants This Spring

– Posted in: Native/Invasive, What's up/blooming

May is always a busy month, what with birthdays (3 this month), Mother's Day, a garden going to weeds, and homeschooling paperwork, but this past week had additional expected and unexpected busy-ness. It's very easy to miss the spring ephemerals if you're not careful. I know, because I've done it before. And if you go [...]

Gaywings

– Posted in: Native/Invasive

There is a sweet little flower (Polygala paucifolia) that blooms in our woods about the same time as the trilliums. It is called Fringed Polygala, which doesn't do justice to the plant, but also Gaywings, which captures the essence of the flowers better. You could almost call them funny; they look like little hot pink [...]