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| Bee on white teasel (C.Kagan) |
The
Franklin County, PA Master Gardener Facebook Friday posts from June to August
2024
BY THE ROADSIDE
Summertime is travelling time. Looking out the windows at
the scenery you may see some interesting plants along the roadside.
2024_06_21
In JUNE you can see Staghorn Sumac (Rhus
typhina) pronounced RHOOS ty-FEE-nah. This deciduous shrub or tree has
beautiful white flowers in spring and early summer with upright, red
cone-shaped berry clusters from mid-June into September. The name Staghorn may
come from the reddish-brown hairs along branches that are like the velvet
covers on the horns of a stag or male deer.
It is a native plant often seen near woodland edges, roadsides, railroad
embankments and stream or swamp margins. Its suckering roots make it an
excellent choice for erosion control. Leaves turn attractive shades of
scarlet, yellow, and orange, in the fall. It’s a larval host plant,
attracts pollinators and the deep red berries are a welcome fall and winter
food source for songbirds.
It can be a good addition to pollinator gardens. For more
information on landscaping for wildlife go to this PennState Extension
page https://extension.psu.edu/landscaping-for-wildlife-trees-shrubs-and-vines
2024_06_28
In June it is common to see beautiful orange daylilies along
roadside, often in ditches or on sloping ground. This is the Orange
Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva) and although it is common
it’s not a native plant – it is from Asia and can be invasive. It is
called a daylily as each flower lasts for only a day, but each flower stem has
several buds that bloom at different times.
It is an herbaceous perennial bulb that blooms in large
patches and are planted in areas to hold back soil to prevent further erosion
and hide unattractive spaces that are offensive to the sense of beauty. The
plants are tolerant of poor soil and drought or abundant water and can thrive
in ditches along the roadside.
It also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and may be an
addition to pollinator gardens. Precautions should be taken to prevent wide
spread of these bulbs in garden situations.
2024_07_05
It
is common to see the bright blue flowers of Chicory (Cichorium
intybus) along roadsides and other disturbed sites. It blooms from mid-June and
into the early fall. Standing 2-4 feet tall on upright wiry stems, it is topped
by the flowers. It was introduced from Europe and is now naturalized over much
of the United States.
The roots are edible and often dried, ground and used as a
coffee substitute. As always, confirm identification of any wild sourced food.
Bees. Butterflies, and other pollinators nectar at Chicory
flowers. It can be an interesting addition to the back of a garden. Its tall
stems have little foliage, and it is best mixed with ornamental grasses. While
it can be weedy it does not frequently invade natural habitats. If considering
harvesting some to transplant into your landscape, note that it has a large
taproot.
2024_07_12
Clusters of white, lacy Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus
carota) flowers can be seen along roadsides, in old fields, and abandoned
places. They sit atop 2–4-foot stems that rise from a rosette of leaves at the
base. This biennial blooms in its second year from mid-Summer and into fall. It
adapts to a variety of soils in both sun and partial shade.
This plant was brought from England and
has naturalized in many states; some consider it invasive. It attracts bees,
butterflies, and other pollinators but is not suggested for home gardens.
Although quite beautiful, it self-seeds readily, can be quite aggressive, and,
with a long taproot, is difficult to remove.
The name comes from the legend that Queen Anne of England,
known for her beautiful lacework, was challenged to make lace as beautiful as a
flower. While working on it she pricked her finger. Looking closely at some of
the white flowers, you may see a small, reddish-purple floret at the center. It
is said that this represents a drop of blood. This plant is also known as wild
carrot, bird's nest, and bishop's lace. In the language of flowers Queen Anne’s
Lace represents sanctuary.
Bishop's Flower (Ammi majus) is often mistaken or
substituted for Queen Anne's Lace. Also, similar in appearance to the
deadly poison
hemlock, it can also cause contact dermatitis.
2024_07_19
From mid-summer into fall,
Common
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a ordinary roadside sight. The first
thing to notice is the tall, upright stalk reaching 5-10 feet. At the top is a
candle-like spike with yellow flowers and at the bottom a rosette skirt of
woolly leaves. Not a native plant, it was originally planted as a medicinal
herb but has escaped cultivation and can be invasive in many areas. One plant
can produce over 100,000 seeds and it spreads easily.
Although it attracts bees, butterflies, and caterpillars, it
may not be a good choice for pollinator gardens since it easily self-seeds.
2024_07_26
The dense, bristle-covered cones of Common
teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) rise two to six feet tall and are
often confused with thistles. It’s not a native plant and is considered an
invasive weed. Each plant has a range from 850 to 34,000 seeds. Flowers are
purple or white.
The seeds stay in the spiny flower head, which is readily
transported by water, equipment, animal fur, or by ‘collectors’ who use the
distinctive flower head for decorative purposes. The spread of the seeds causes
dense patches that thins out native plants and reduces habitat.
Heads of teasel species were likely brought to North America
to use as hairbrushes or in the textile industry to raise the nap on woolen
cloth.
Sometimes the plants are grown as ornamentals and the dried,
spiny flower heads are used in the floral and craft industry. They may be used
to attract birds as their seeds are an important food source.
Photos: Seed Head: Eugene Zelenko CCA-SA 4.0 // Roadside:
Pieter Delicaat CCA-SA 4.0
2024_08_02
Sprawling mats or thickets of
Crown Vetch (Coronilla
variais) can grow up to three feet tall. The herbaceous vines are topped with
small white, pink, or purple flowers. It is often seen in open areas,
especially down embankments, and along highways and rural fields.
Crown vetch was introduced throughout North America in
the 1950s for erosion control, particularly along roadways and on slopes. The
fibrous root system of one plant can cover 70 to 100 square feet in four years
and help stabilize soil erosion.
It is still being sold and used in many states that
have not officially declared it to be invasive. It is forage for some species
such as cows, goats or sheep (poisonous for horses) but its wide spreading
habit can displace native plants. In Pennsylvania it is considered an
invasive weed.
Photos have source indicated on them
2024_08_09
Horseweed (Erigeron
canadensis) also known as Marestail, is found in fields, pastures, vacant lots,
and along roadsides. You will see tall upright stems 3-6 feet tall. Pea sized
white flowers with yellow centers show up on numerous flower heads crowded onto
branches at the top of the stem and bloom from mid-summer and into fall.
This is considered as a weed especially for agricultural
areas. It may appear in gardens and yards and, due to long fibrous tap roots,
is difficult to remove. Remove the plants completely as plants can re-sprout
from broken stems. Do not allow flowers to go to seed. This is a plant with
amazing seed production. One plant can produce over 200,000 seeds that can be
windblown up to a quarter of a mile.
See this PennState Extension page for more information:
https://extension.psu.edu/horseweed-a-winter-and-summer-annual
Photos have source indicated on them
2024_08_16
Butter and Eggs (Linaria
vulgaris), also known as Yellow Toadflax, may be spotted in small yellow clumps
along the roadside, pastures or forest edges and is often the first plant to
colonize disturbed areas such as after fires. It is not a native and was
introduced as an ornamental and medicinal plant. It is now common in North
America and most of Canada.
The yellow and orange flowers are quite attractive, similar
to snapdragons, and bloom in late summer early fall. It spreads by rhizomes,
seeds, and roots that can grow to 10 feet.
It is a food plant for a large number of insects such as
moths and bees.
Although it is not recommended for home gardens, it is
sometimes grown for its long-lasting cut flowers or for children’s gardens
where they can mimic talking by squeezing them. Be forewarned. These plants are
difficult to eradicate.
Photos have source indicated on them.
2024_08_23
“AHA!
We know what that is. That’s
CORN.” Along so many rural
roads and byways there are fields of corn. Tall, straight, and with a tassel at
the top. Thoughts of grilled or steamed sweet corn smeared with butter come to
mind.
Did you know that there are two main types of corn? There is
sweet corn and field corn.
What’s the difference? Julia Darnton, Michigan State
University Extension explains. “The sweet corn that we enjoy at our summer
picnics is similar but is selected for different traits than field corn. Field
corn is used to create a number of other food products including corn
meal, corn chips and livestock feeds as well as a host of non-food products
including ethanol and polymers that are used to create plastics and fabric.”
She also notes that “sweet corn does not grow as tall as
field corn and has leaves that are thinner. After harvesting, the sugars in corn begin to convert into starches which affects flavor. The
fresher the corn, the sweeter it will taste.
Corn that is grown for grain has taller stalks with larger
thicker leaves than sweet corn. Field corn, also sometimes called ‘cow corn,’
stays in the fields until the ears dry because corn is very high in moisture
and must be dry to be processed.” Field corn isn’t harmful to eat but it may
not be as enjoyable sweet corn due to its texture and starchy taste.
2024_08_30
We wrap up the 2024 By the Roadside series with this post.
If you make a stop during your drive and head to a parking lot
you will see plants that meet the challenges of a hard-to-plant site.
Blue Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) is a favorite
as it is a perennial, drought tolerant, and, as a sterile hybrid, it does not
reseed. It is a low maintenance plant. It blooms from spring to mid-summer and,
after shearing back flowers, will rebloom into fall. It grows up to 2 feet and
does not block the view of traffic.
Its leaves and blue-lavender blooms are heavily scented, and
cats find it attractive while the scent deters deer. It needs full sun,
well-drained soil, and does not have insect or disease problems. In home
gardens, grow it along a path, near doorways or patio areas to enjoy its scent.
It is suitable for containers and rock garden areas.
HERB SAMPLER Second Edition
Buy one for yourself and consider getting a few more. They make great hostess gifts, housewarming, and anytime gifts.
Just click this link to find it.
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