With the south facing slopes finally cleared of snow I was
able to get out and assess the current state of plant growth in the
barrens. Since I’ve been following the
progress of the container grown rare winter annuals, I was anxious to compare
that impressive growth with the condition of the wild grown plants. The big three species at Blue Jay Barrens are
Leavenworthia uniflora, Draba cuneifolia, and Draba reptans. All three grow in barrens areas typified by
bare soil conditions and excessive dryness.
This site is one in which the Drabas seem to dominate.
Bare soil of the barrens is not always evident from a
distance. Plant spikes make an effective
barrier and give the illusion of solid vegetation.
It’s not until you are in a position to view the ground from
a more aerial perspective that the patches of soil become apparent. Tufts of grass sit like a thousand islands
with channels of soil running between.
The grass plays an essential role in protecting the soil from wind and
rain.
In some areas a thin layer of dark soil exists. The protective grass has not only offered
protection, it has provided organic matter to fuel the soil ecosystem.
The typical barrens soil presents a less prosperous
appearance. A gardener faced with soil
like this would probably begin looking for a new hobby. However, for some special plants, this is the
ideal home.
The layers of small pebbles associated with many of the
barrens are a result of erosion.
Rainfall has broken the soil into its individual particles and the
smaller of these have been carried down slope with the runoff water. Left behind were the small stones and pebbles
that form a protective layer over the soil surface. The energy of the rain is now spent on the
stones and the soil is left in place.
Other factors also assist in keeping the barrens soils in
place. Moss and lichens are two plants
that tend to bond organic matter into a living mat that is much more rain
resistant than the bare soil.
In some of the larger areas, annual grasses provide
temporary winter cover. The dried grass
plants shown here are Sporobolus vaginiflorus, a low growing annual that
thrives in hot, dry areas.
Other plants grow in the barrens soil, but often suffer from
the elements. This Rose Pink, Sabatia angularis,
has lost several of its leaves from exposure to extreme cold temperatures. The plant is still alive and will recover
from this setback.
It only takes a little protection for a Rose Pink to make it
through the winter unscathed.
A barrens plant that doesn’t seem bothered by the coldest of
temperatures is Gray Goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis. The perky little basal rosettes wait
patiently until longer daylight hours spur them into growth.
I did find a few Draba cuneifolia, but they were much smaller
than those grown in my artificial container barrens. Drabas require full sunlight during their
growth period and will quickly flower before the surrounding vegetation grows
high enough to produce shade. I’m sure
they will prosper and produce a good supply of seeds for future years.
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