Leavenworthia Barrens Check

After visiting the barrens most likely to contain Draba species, I headed for the southern slopes of a neighboring ridge line to assess the progress of Leavenworthia uniflora.  The barrens with the densest stands of Leavenworthia form a chain along the upper slope of a long east-west running ridge.

A surface covered with limestone pebbles dominates here. 

Beneath the pebbles is a soil layer deep enough for the plant roots to get a good hold.  I found the Leavenworthia to be rather abundant, but of such a small size that they were extremely difficult to see.

The largest plants are only displaying three or four leaves.  Growing conditions over the next month will determine the flowering success of this plant.

Leavenworthia grows poorly in shaded conditions.  Over a period of about ten years I gradually thinned away the cedars to provide more light for the Leavenworthia.  The Leavenworthia have responded favorably to my clearing efforts.

I’m hesitant to clear any more because of the condition of these pre-existing openings.  The soil is good enough to support several species of prairie type grasses and clearings that provide near continuous sunlight through the summer become carpeted with grass.

The grass makes a thick enough cover to effectively block all sunlight from reaching the surface.  Leavenworthia does not grow in the grassy areas.  I don’t want to make the mistake of clearing so much that conditions worsen for Leavenworthia survival.  I’m happy with the way things are now.

Even a little bit of grassy shade causes elongation of the leaf stems and general weak growth of the plant.  Plants in this condition rarely produce more than a single flower.

Several other barrens species are showing healthy growth on this site.  Here is a Western Sunflower, Helianthus occidentalis, emerging from a partially exposed stolon.  These perennial sunflowers begin their growth in late winter.

Western Sunflower growth is more typically at ground level like this specimen.  Most of the growth remains as a basal cluster, but a tall flowering stalk will emerge in mid summer.

Hedyotis canadensis, Canada Bluets, is common in all of the pebbly barrens.  The previous year flower stalk can be seen standing in the center of this year’s growth.

Many aster leaves manage to survive winter on the barrens.  Several species of asters with intergrading characteristics grow in the Leavenworthia barrens.  I usually tackle their identification on days when I crave a frustrating activity.

Drier Prairie

My original plan was to post about the improved conditions on the prairies following the rains created by the remnants of Isaac that passed through over the Labor Day weekend.  Unfortunately, the total accumulation for the four day event came to one tenth of one inch of rain.  I’m beginning to think we live beneath a rain excluding bubble.  Within ten miles of us in any direction, the rainfall totals for that same period were between two and five inches.  So, the prairies are drier than ever and I’m left wondering by how much this year is going to beat our standing drought record.

Besides being abnormally short, the prairie grasses are having trouble remaining upright.  I’m sure they’ve drawn about all the moisture they can from the shallow soil.  By mid-day the grass is so wilted that it drapes itself across the ground like thin plastic ribbons.

The Reindeer Lichen turns to dust beneath my boots.  I avoid the areas with a predominantly lichen ground cover, but there’s enough lichen scattered through the grass to make a loud crunch every time I take a step.  Fortunately, the Reindeer Lichen regenerates quickly during the rainy season.  The crushed pieces travel with wind and water to establish lichen colonies in other suitable areas.  Even so, I prefer when the lichen is moist and springy.  Then you can travel through the tall grass in almost total silence.

At this time of year the grass should be taller and greener.  I shouldn’t have such a clear view of the ant mounds in September.

A new brood of Allegheny Mound Ants has hatched and the spent cocoons have been discarded atop the mound.   That event is typically followed by new excavation and a fresh exterior being added to the mound.  By the time winter arrives, the mounds are contoured so that rainfall and snow melt flow right off.  There is some new material being brought to the surface, but it’s so dry it can’t be used for any sort of mound repairs.  The winter mounds may look a bit shabby if we don’t get some rain soon.

This slope should be covered with eight foot tall Big Bluestem, but maximum height now is closer to 30 inches.  A few super short Orange Coneflowers and Western Sunflowers stand tall among the dwarfed grass.

Western Sunflower on this site usually sends up a divided flower stalk that produces anywhere from three to nine blooms.  The few plants that bloomed this year were able to produce just a single flower.  These plants do most of their expansion by vegetative means, so the loss of a seed crop is not a disaster.  It’s the birds that will lose on this deal.  Western Sunflower seeds are a favorite of many bird species and this is just one more source of food that will not be available this coming winter.

Prairie Garden - Old Part - Early April

Growth in the Prairie Garden is proceeding at a rapid rate.  Plants are roughly a month ahead of where they were last year.  The old portion of the Prairie Garden was mowed the first week of February and we’ve had above normal temperatures during the two months since then.  Plants that take their growth cues from soil temperature have emerged at a time when the top growth is still at risk from damage by a frost or freeze.  I know from experience that some of these plants cannot handle freezing and there will be a die-back of top growth when we get a frost.

The most obvious plant in the Prairie Garden at this time is the Western Sunflower.  These plants often survive the winter as a cluster of green basal leaves, so it’s not surprising that they take off as soon as the spring temperatures allow. 

Western Sunflower is an aggressive plant and will soon spread to take over just about any area.  It does produce viable seed, but most of the rapid expansion is through far reaching rhizomes that produce new plants.  The result is a large colony of clones. 

The grasses are coming on very quickly.  I’m wondering if the grasses will give more competition to the early blooming flowers.  This is a clump of Side-oats Gramma, which normally stays very short until the mid-summer months.

The leaves of the False Aloe are rapidly elongating.  These plants will produce flower stalks this year if they are not knocked back by a freeze.  At this stage they are highly susceptible to damage by a hard frost.

Purple Coneflower plants are showing some luxurious growth.

My population of Wild Nodding Onion still hasn’t increased in number.  The only plants I have are those protected by the wire cage.  Most of the seed produced by these plants has been scattered back into the garden, but no more plants have emerged.  I don’t know if the seeds are failing to germinate or if predators are eating the plants as quickly as they develop. 

The first Prairie Garden bloom this year is the Hoary Puccoon.  This is an early plant that is pretty much on schedule, but it usually doesn’t have all of this competing growth to deal with.

These young plants remain unidentified at the moment.  I’ll keep a watch on them until they reach a stage where I can either run them through the keys or I recognize what they are.  It’s not unusual for me to be baffled by a young plant in its early stages of growth.  One reason for this garden is to allow me to watch things grow on a day-to-day basis, so that I’ll be able to identify a plant the minute it sticks leaves above the ground. 

Saddle Prairie

I’m still visiting areas of Blue Jay Barrens in an attempt to assess current conditions and identify future management needs. At this time of year I really enjoy visiting the areas of shallow soil that restrict the growth of tall, thick stands of prairie grasses. There has been plenty of moisture this year, so the Indiangrass has done well. Even when we have good growing conditions, this species remains short and scattered throughout the site.

This particular ridgetop prairie lies in a depressed saddle between two knobs. Rain water flows off the knobs and into the depression before draining away, giving the saddle a moisture boost not enjoyed by the rest of the ridge. Tall wildflowers don’t grow here, but conditions are perfect for the short statured Gray Goldenrod.

Some bare areas support very little vegetation. These make ideal sites for some of the rare winter annuals such as Leavenworthia and the Drabas. Western Sunflower maintains a strong population here, but the plants are dwarfs compared to others of their species growing in good soil.

The area is filled with tiny specimens of Wild Rose, Rosa carolina. Most are much less than a foot tall and are hardly noticeable when not in bloom.

The bright orange fruits make it a bit easier to find the rose plants. The Wild Rose is a plant of the dry prairie and seems well suited to life among the short plants. I’ve never found it in shaded areas or in stands of tall vegetation. I hope the creature that eats that fruit deposits the seed in a suitable growing site.

Spiranthes orchids are still abundant. Slender Ladies’ Tresses, Spiranthes lacera, is recognizable by the green patch in the throat of the flower.

Bluehearts are still blooming. Late bloomers are not uncommon, but they have been especially abundant this year.

Early blooming Bluehearts have already produced mature seed and are scattering it about the hillside. For an area that was once thick with small cedars, this site has produced an amazing diversity of plant and animal life. I don’t see any need for hands-on management activities here for at least two or three more years. By that time, there will be a new crop of small cedars needing removed. Until then, this will be a place to observe and enjoy.

Prairie Garden - Late August

The Prairie Garden is beginning to look a little bit raggedy. The tall plants can’t contain themselves within the confines of the garden and are spilling out into the yard. Trying to maintain an abrupt transition from tall prairie to mowed yard is impossible. The tall plants at the interface between wilderness and civilization can’t help extending beyond their intended bounds.

Western Sunflower has amassed an unwieldy collection of blooms. The Thursday morning storm wove the tall flower stalks into an inseparable mat. Many of the stalks are still reorienting the flowers into an upright position. They may no longer stand tall and proud, but their ability to produce seeds has not been diminished.

Indiangrass is at full flower and has formed a screen that effectively hides many parts of the garden.

This Butterflyweed has produced a fresh batch of flowers. At the bottom of the photo you can see seed pods produced from an earlier batch of blooms. I wonder if the rainy weather is responsible for this second blooming season.

The Baptisia seed pods are almost ripe. In another month, the pod covering will lose much of its shine and the seeds will come lose and rattle in the pods.

There will be no shortage of Baptisia seeds this year. A fungus typically destroys about ten percent of the seeds, but the rest will be just fine.

Despite floods, heat and drought, the Nodding Wild Onions have managed to produce some seed. I’ll be planting these in a special bed with hopes of having many new plants next year.

Gray-headed Coneflower rushed rapidly through its blooming period and quickly produced seed. It’s been many years since this species has had such a short blooming season.

For some reason, the Red Footed Robber Flies have declared the Prairie Garden a prime hunting ground. Dozens of these big predatory flies were perched around the perimeter of the garden. There was a constant drone of robber flies changing positions and darting out to capture insects flying across the lawn. After the initial disturbance from my approach to the garden, the robber flies settled down and behaved as though I wasn’t there. They put on a very interesting show.

Summer Bloomers Still Hanging On

The dry weather seems to be delaying the transition into autumn. The fall asters have not yet begun to bloom, but most of the showy summer flowers have almost disappeared. The result is a landscape of golden brown grasses and very little bright color. Occasionally you see a fresh bloom from some summer species that has not yet called it quits. Here is a fresh Western Sunflower adding a splash of color to the field.

Several Field Thistles are still producing new flowers. This is probably the most common nectar plant now available in the old crop fields. A Leonard’s Skipper is taking advantage of this nectar supply.

Thistle flowers at Blue Jay Barrens also come in white, cream, pink and pale lavender. I’ve toyed with the idea of collecting seed from the various colors and creating a thistle flower bed near the house. Several things have kept me from pursuing this project. These are biennial plants, so I would have to plant seed every year in order to maintain flowers from year to year. Depending on patterns of pollen transfer and the genetics of the individual plant, I may not get any of the colors I’m actually after. I think it best that I just enjoy the plants out in the field.

Most of the Indian Grass has finished blooming, but there are isolated patches that are just getting started. Most of the flowering specimens are found in more shaded locations on the lower slopes. These areas may have remained cooler early in the year and delayed the growth of the Indian Grass in the spring.

Gray Goldenrod is still around and remains the most numerous blooming goldenrod. The later blooming goldenrods are going to have to hurry in order to flower and produce seed before they are knocked back by the first heavy frost.

There are still some Orange Coneflowers blooming in the fields, but none display the attractive appearance I was seeing two months ago. This must really be a tasty flower. Every bloom I saw had some insect munching away at the leaves. The late flowers may suffer, but the plants have produced an ample supply of seed for future generations.