Last week there was a segment on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered featuring native plants. This 5 minute feature titled Local Plants Give Sense of Place, Character discussed the many benefits of native plants. Moving beyond the usual advantages of no watering and increasing value to wildlife Washington D.C. gardener, Lisa Caprioglio, discussed the great sense of place that native plants can provide to display a sense of regionalism rather than using the same set of plants from state to state.
They also discussed a problem that is not frequently discussed: The accessibility to purchase native plants. Unfortunately the push to use natives is not matched by the ability to purchase them.
A nice little story that hopefully reached a large audience.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90645101&sc=emaf Listen to the story here.
As you drive through the countryside this week you have probably noticed a small tree blooming in an elegant white. This is American Plum (Prunus americana) which graces the country from late April to mid-May with its white flowers. It is always amazing how many of these plum trees are around and how much we under appreciate this fantastic bird feeder.
American Plum is very widespread. It is found in almost every state east of the Rockies and in almost every county in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. It attains a hight of 15 feet and a width of 15 feet when found alone or when planted as a speciman tree. In the landscape it is hard to find a native tree or shrub that beats its versatality. It is showy, fragrant, provides great value to wildlife and tolerates a great range of growing conditions. Unfortunatly, it is hard to find in the nursery trade in its native form.
If you can beat the birds to its fruit you will enjoy a moderately tasting, but sometimes sour, plum. With all of the glamourous options available at the supermarket now, this plum is usually reserved for canning and for use in jams and jellies. Because of its high palatability by birds and mammals it is found along fencerows and roadsides everywhere, sometimes forming huge thickets that will take up a quarter acre in size if the surrounding land is not managed. Our state conservation districts often sell this tree for windbreaks and hedgerows.
As you view this small tree this week let it remind us of the true beauty that our native flora can possess.
