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From the President........
The dogwood berries are bright red-orange in our yard,
spicebush berries in the woods are ripe and the Jack-in-
the-pulpit fruits are little clumps of red here and there ... it
must be fall. With all the rain we've gotten lately, the fall
bloomers are really showing their stuff, and the cool
nights are causing lots of orchids to flower in the
greenhouse.
Of course that means there's lots of work to be done
readying the garden for winter, but then I never get it all
done anyway, so maybe I'll just keep on ignoring it. It's
worked so far.
This Saturday we have something I think will be very
interesting. Most people know of the virtual elimination of
the American elm tree by Dutch elm disease, and the
efforts to bring it back. Far fewer are aware of the similar
situation with the American chestnut and Ozark
chinquapin, which have been nearly wiped out by chestnut
blight. We will hear about efforts to restore the Ozark
chinquapin by the Ozark Chinquapin Foundation.
See you on Saturday,
Steve
September 2009
Volume 14 Number 9
We come from the earth
we return to the earth
and in between
we garden.
THE FLOWER, GARDEN, AND NATURE SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST
ARKANSAS
FGNS Officers
Steve Marak
President
3460 Roma Drive
Springdale, AR 72762
H 479 271-5278
samarak@cox.net
Heather Cook
Vice-president
4436 Highland Knolls Rd
Rogers, AR 72758
H 479 366-9067
aacook@cox.net
Mary Bess Mulhollan
Secretary
3917 East Caston Drive
Fayetteville, AR 72701
H 479 442-7333
marybess@cox.net
Jean Faris
Treasurer
2511 Meandering Way
Fayetteville, AR 72701
H 479 443-1986
jeanfaris@sbcglobal.net
Gail Pianalto
Past President
P.O. Box 444
Tontitown, AR 72770
H 479 361-2198
pgp31@cox.net
___________________
Paula Marinoni
Founder
617 W. Lafayette
Fayetteville, AR 72701
H 479 444-6170
pm@paulamarinoni.com
Join us Saturday
September 19
for the presentation:
“Restoration of the Ozark
Chinquapin”
**New location**
Northwest Technical Institute
709 South Old Missouri Rd
Springdale, AR
(1/2 mile South of Jones Center on
Hwy 265) Enter at south door.
Inside
President's Message p. 1
Botanically
Speaking p. 2
In The Greenhouse p. 4
Around the Yard p. 4
Roadsides & byways p. 5
Other Garden Events p. 5
Calender p. 6
What's On the Web p. 6
2008 Speaker List p. 7
Castanea pumila, John
Pickering, discoverlife.com
Goodyera pubescens leaf, up close
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Botanically Speaking
The Time of the Seeds
This part of the gardening year could legitimately be called "the time of the seeds". Yes, some of the spring
bloomers (mostly the ephemerals) did finish up their seeds long ago, but those of many others are just now
ripening - dogwood (Cornus sp.), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
among others, and many of the summer plants also - milkweeds (Asclepias sp.), beardtongues (Penstemon
sp.) and more.
It makes sense - no matter when in the season, speaking as a plant, you start making seeds, you really need to
have them done by the time killing frosts arrive. If you bloom later, then you have to mature seeds faster.
Seeds and the structures that accompany them, and often help to disperse them in some way, are really one of
the unique benefits of this time of year in the garden. There are big bright clusters of berries, such as the
various aroids (Arum italicum, Dracunculus vulgaris, and the already mentioned Arisaema triphyllum). There
are the "cones" of the coneflowers (Echinacea sp. and hybrids), the plumes of the many grasses, the poofing
pods of milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) and their relatives, in addition to all of the nuts, berries, and other fruits on
the trees and shrubs. It's a busy time of year for those of us who collect seeds.
That's not to ignore all of the things still flowering, which will - amazingly - still mostly get their seeds ripe
by the time winter gets here. Speaking of which, have you ever accidenally mowed an orchid with your riding
lawn mower? If you have, it was probably this time of year, and very likely you didn't even notice.
Cathy was mowing our yard during one of the rare dry times last weekend, and spotted an orchid blooming
away, right out there in the grass. Of course, she is pretty careful when she mows, and knew to watch for
them, but it was still good spotting.
We're fortunate to have a great variety of wild orchids here in Arkansas, about 30 if you include varieties as
well as species. They range from the large and showy lady-slippers (Cypripedium sp.) which rival any of the
tropical orchids for size and elegance, through the grass-pinks (Calopogon sp.) that bloomed on the prairies
back in May, to very small orchids that hide amongst the grass in our lawns.
This one was a "ladies tress" orchid, one of several in the genus Spiranthes that grow here in Arkansas. They
are called this because of the way their flowers spiral around the grass-like stem. This particular one is
probably Spiranthes lacera. Many of you probably grow, or have seen, the "Chadd's Ford" ladies tress, a
selected form of another species, whose full name is the intimidating Spiranthes cernua forma odorata
"Chadd's Ford".
We looked around the yard and found a total of five stems. We've seen others in different places in other
years, so we know there are more. Though small - the individual flowers are less than a quarter of an inch
wide - if you look at them closely they are clearly orchid flowers and just as beautiful on that scale as any of
the big tropical ones.
Most of the other fall-blooming Arkansas orchids are sheltered woodlanders, like the rattlesnake plantain
(Goodyera pubescens) with its wonderfully patterned foliage, or the bizarre fall coral-root orchid
(Corallorhiza odontorhiza), which doesn't have leaves and lives most of the year as nothing but roots. But
(continued on next page)
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these Spiranthes are tough - they are growing right out there with the grass, in areas that have been mowed
lawn for at least 30 years, and were cow pasture before they were lawn, with no special treatment or extra
water in the summer.
The tie-in from these orchids back to the time of the seeds is that orchids, because of their unusual strategy,
are surely among the most prolific seed-producers of all plants. Most plants, when sending their offspring out
into the world, equip it with a food supply called the endosperm which helps it grow that first leaf or two
(depending, of course, on whether it is a monocotyledon or a dicotyledon) to make its own food. Orchids, like
botanical Robert Frosts, chose the road less traveled - rather than spending energy on the endosperm, they just
make more seeds. Lots more seeds. Sometimes millions of seeds in a single seed capsule, all thrown out there
with no food supply.
They rely, as the saying goes, on the kindness of strangers. If an orchid seed lands in just the right spot, where
there is a compatible fungus growing, they may strike up an acquaintance in which each supplies some
nutrients to the other, at least for a while until the orchid gets a leaf or two up and running, after which it
doesn't need the fungus at all and moves on with its life. (I know I'm making the orchid sound like some sort
of botanical cad who divorces the poor hard-working fungus that put it through school once it graduates, but
that's part of my plan. Based on what I see on the television schedule these days I clearly need that sort of
emotional drama to get ratings for this column up. Besides, sometimes the fungus doesn't wait for the divorce
- it just overwhelms and kills the orchid seed, so it's not completely one-sided.)
As a result, orchid seed is dust-like, and the chances that each one will germinate are very low. But there are
so very many of them that even a very small percentage is enough.
Anyway, melodrama aside, as you are out in your gardens enjoying the time of the seeds, keep an eye out for
the orchids in your lawn.
Steve
Steve Marak gardens in Springdale AR
Cypripedium
kentuckiense, tall yellow
ladies slippert
Plantanthera lacera
Tipularia discolor
Calopogon
oklahomensis
Liparis lilifolia
Tipularia discolor leaves
Spiranthes
lacera, up close
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In the Greenhouse now
Lithops sp.....my other pot of
lithops blooms in October. I
thought these were the same
species but maybe not........
Around the Yard..................
It is hard to see but can you
guess what the blue material is
that the bird used in it's nest?
Yes bits from an old tarp.
This bagworm has
added juniper berries
to his case.
Sauromatum venosum, one of
Steve's aroids in seed. Notice
the attractive pattern on the
stems.
Spiranthes lacera, in
our yard.
We've seen these ladies
tresses in the yard in
previous years. This year
when we discovered them
(three in all) at various
locations we took a lot of
pictures and then decided
maybe we should stop
mowing the lawn in
August every year to give
them time to show
themselves.
Gomphocarpus fruticosus, a
milkweed family plant, in fruit
above and in flower below. We
purchased this at the FGNS
Garden Party.
Seven Sons Tree, Heptacodium
miconioides.
Elephantopus tomentosus, a
native that volunteered in a dry
shade area. This is the first year
we've seen it there.
Can you see the frog?
Macroclinium manabinum orchid Macroclinium manabinum
orchid
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Other Garden Events
Friends of Honor Heights Park is sponsoring a worm composting workshop Saturday, October 17 from 9 a.m. to 10:30
a.m. in the Garden Education Room at Muskogee's Honor Heights Park
Learn how to improve your garden while helping the Earth. Worm composting reduces landfill and provides non-
chemical fertilizer for growing flowers, vegetables and herbs.
Participants should bring a plastic container 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 feet long to hold your worms, their food and shredded
newspaper bedding. We will drill holes in your container and provide enough red wriggler worms to start a home system.
In addition to materials on home vermicomposting, Bruce Edwards, Urban Harvest Director for the Regional Food Bank
of Oklahoma, will teach commercial worm composting. Vermicomposting helps keep kitchen waste out of the landfills.
The workshop is a fundraiser for Friends of Honor Heights Park Association.
Workshop Fee: Members $15 and Non-members $25. You can join Friends that day.
Information and Registration: Martha Stoodley 918.683.2373 or Honorheightsfriends@gmail.com
White River Nursery
Customer Appreciation Days!!
October 2nd and 3rd
Friday 8- 6 pm
Saturday 9-6 pm
Drawings for free plants
10% off sale on our current nursery stock
Drawings for free on-site consultations to help with your gardens (NWA only)
Snacks and beverages
We hope to see you there. Thank you for supporting your Local Business.
Roadsides and Byways
5635 East Huntsville Rd. Fayetteville, Ar
Contact us at wrwnursery.com
or call 442-2061
Aureolaria flava, false
yellow foxglove.
Goodyera pubescens,
rattlesnake orchid,
plantain orchid, leaves
above flowers below.Aplectrum
hyemale, Adam
and Eve orchid,
seed pod above
and leaf below.
Triphora trianthophora,
threebirds orchid.
Fungi
Lindera benzoin,
spicebush
Staphylea
trifolia,
bladder-nut.
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All are welcome to join the Flower, Garden and Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas.
MEMBERSHIP—2009
For membership, clip and return to Jean Faris, 2511 Meandering Way, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
Name(s) __________________________________________________________phone_________________
Family Members__________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________City/Zip _____________________________
E-Mail __________________________________________________Fax ____________________________
Main Interests____________________________________________________________________________
Type of Membership: New____ Renew____ $15 Individual $20 Family # years in area ____
Please include names of family members, ages of child(ren), and * those who need cards and name tags.
Memberships are annual (January-December) and renewable in December.
Make checks payable to FGNS of NWA (The Flower, Garden and Nature Society of
Northwest Arkansas).
For more information regarding membership, call Jeanne Silvestri 479-587-1785
Calendar of Event
September
19
Steven Bost
Founder, Ozark
Chinquapin
Foundation
“Restoration of the
Ozark Chinquapin”
Meetings start at 10:00
with social time at 9:30.
October
17
Carl Smith
U of A Horticulture
Professor and author
“Residential
Landscape
Sustainability”
Meetings start at 10:00
with social time at 9:30.
November
21
Theo Whitsell
Arkansas Heritage
Commission
“Rare Habitats and
New Wildflower
Species”
Meetings start at 10:00
with social time at 9:30.
Whats on the WEB?
Check out the webpage for the Ozark
Chinquapin Society
http://www.ozarkchinquapin.com/
Contribute to the newsletter!
Tell us where you've been, what you've
grown, or what you have seen around
town. Ask us to help you solve a garden
problem or identify a plant. The newsletter
is better with your contributions.
Cathy Marak, FGNS Newsletter Editor
clmarak@cox.net
2009 Laurin Wheeler Program Series
Flower, Garden and Nature Society of NWAR
January 17 Round-table discussion
February 21 Joyce Mendenhall, Washington County Master Gardener and garden writer for Arkansas
Gardener, “Garden Whimsy.”
March 21 Joe Neal/Joe Woolbright, “Chesney Prairie Restoration: Wildflowers.”
April 18 Carol Reese, “Plant Lore: The Birds and the Bees of Plants” Ornamental Horticulture Specialist,
University of Tennessee Extension Service, garden columnist for the Jackson Sun and
Horticulture Magazine and co-host of a regional television program “Earth Tones.”
May 9 Field trip to Chesney Prairie Natural Area, near Siloam Springs, led by Joe Woolbright.
May 16 Joyce Hale, local environmental activist, “Water Harvesting and Cisterns.”
June 6* Garden Party
July 18 Susan Borné, “Nature Conservancy Work and Major Projects.”
August 15 Gerald Klingaman, UA Horticulture Professor Emeritus, “The Quest for a Sustainable Garden”
September 19Steven Bost, founder Ozark Chinquapin Foundation, “Restoration of the Ozark Chinquapin”
October 17 Carl Smith, UA Horticulture Professor and author of a book on “Residential Landscape
Sustainability”
November 21 Theo Witsell, Arkansas Heritage Commission, “Rare Habitats and New Wildflower Species.”
Social time begins at 9:30 with the programs starting around 10:00 a.m. Contact: Lynn Rogers, 479-841-8759
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