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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 31, 1979 - Spring GardensMay 31, 1979 SPRING GARDERIS focus onnatureby PaulStoutenburghIt goes without saying that with rain we've had this past week the plant world is really taking off. You only have to look at your lawn to see that. Yet, with the rain, we've all been kept inside and I'm afraid we've missed much of what's been going on outside. Necessity forces me to visit the chicken coop morning and night to feed and lock up so that Mr. Fox and Mr. Raccoon don't eat better than I. Our chicken coop is about 150 feet from our house through the woods. It was built years ago when the kids were young and has lingered 'til now to become part of our way of life. Walking through the woods, I've been watching the early spring flowers come and go. First up along the path was the dainty yellow bell flowers. They inconspicuously nodded under the sun when the leaves of the trees weren't even out. There's a whole group of early flowers that depend on this early timing so they get the benefit of the sun before the trees shade them out. KING DEVIE-Emerson would say, "A Weed whose virtues have not yet The low green cover so common through- out the North Shore, called false lily-of-the- valley, is another early blossomer. The flower of this plant is a mass of light creamy-white blossoms that, when mature, are no higher than three or four inches off the ground. The other early flower I look forward to each year is the delicate-white star flower. This one is a little harder to locate, as it usually isn't found in large quantities. IS the daintiest of dainty flowers in the early spring. Right now another series of flowers have taken over the woods and its edge. False Solomon's-seal is sprinkled throughout the area and DI be watching it closely through- out the summer. First green berries will follov,' the clustered white pkme; then, toward fall, the plant will almost bend to the ground with its big, ripe, red berries. The cycle of fulfillment has been completed. The seeds of a new generation await their sower. Some will travel no farther than where they fall. Others will be eaten by birds and animals and be distributed after digestion. The berries have provided nourishment for the birds and animals and in turn they have FALSESOLOMONSSEALwildflower has large clusters in the fall that are sown throughoat the by birds and donetheirpartinthegreatshememofthingsby distributing the seeds throughout the countryside. Wild geranium is another plant to look for throughout our area. I introduced it into our woods by collecting the seeds in the fall and doing my own sowing along the paths and wood edge. This pink blossoming flower is one of the showiest, for it stands one to two feet high and blossoms profusely. Don't Dig Up Wildflowers I would caution those who might be tempted to dig up wildflowers. Many are on the protected list of the Conservation Department and fines can be levied to those who remove them. And besides, it's just not done by those who have any sort of feeling for the natural world. Better to take a few seeds in the fall and plant them and in this way the plant is kept in its natural habitat and you in turn become only the sowerr of wild seeds. The spring flowers I've just mentioned grow mostly in or along the wood edges. One you'll find in the more open areas, especial- ly to the west, is the wild blue lupine. This Fow-groWirfg- lupine is -a- -hardy roadside plant. For those who ride the Long Island Rail Road, its banks make an excellent habitat for this purplish-blue spiked flower. Many of us are familiar with the tall, varied colored lupines in our garden, but few EVERYONE LOVES DAISIES-The seeds of bags of grain, to take its place along our roadsides realize we have the wild lupine here on Long Island. Like People, Flowers Worthwhile While we are looking along our roadsides, we will also start to see the flowers that have traveled across the ocean from Europe to makelhis their home. The most showy is our common daisy. Roadsides and abandoned fields are ideal for this welcome addition. Right alongside the daisy you can often find the yellow king devil. Considered by most a weed, its flowers are a delight to the eye, especially if you look at them up closely. Often whole fields will be aglow wan their yellow. Flowers, like people, make up our world. Some from foreign locales take up right alongside us. Others were here when the Pilgrims landed. The important thing for us to remember is that both can usually get along quite well if given a chance. Each has its own special beauty and way of life. And like people, are pretty worthwhile once you get to know them. 9 4.) 7 '- • p / •, 7= , C- \ \ A\‘,:. ...,..\ / 1--'-------------_, ' 1 LErK9. n1 just r ire Weeks June 4--- Junie Aso available: Six Week Eight Week Day Sessions Evening Session June 25—August 2 &me 11—Aug us 'i 2 Suflok Counry Commungfy Awe SUMMER .K1,) REMSTRATON W TAKING PLACE Call Now For A Summer Bulletin P33- 500 Convenient Campus Locations In: Seiden, Brentwood & Riverhead Tuition: $