This winter I started taking a different look at the plants immediately around our woodland home because I want to learn more about the lifecycles of local plants. I want to be able to better identify them at all stages, rather than just the most obvious ones such as when they are flowering. I also want to be able to gather some plants at various stages for different purposes.
And because I am forgetful, I also am making notes of WHERE I find things so that I can find them again later.
What really is interesting to me is how many of the local green growing things are NOT native to this area. So far I noted 16 plants that are coming up nearby, and, of those, 10 are not native to this continent at all. A few are naturalized, but some are unwelcome. (For those who do not know me, I am mundanely located in West Virginia.)
So I am cataloging the plants as Native or Non-Native (though some institutions use the term Exotic). I am also including location where it originated and whether it is Naturalized to the area or Invasive.
Over the next few years I hope to introduce additional Native plants to the yard here. Things like Serviceberries for our field and trying to eradicate the highly invasive Stiltgrass in the shaded front yard and encourage plants like Wild Ginger, Bloodroot and Mountain Mint instead.
I have also mentioned another Invasive here on my blog, Garlic Mustard. I happily eat my fill of this in the spring and fully murder the rest. I walked the lane leading into our property yesterday and saw very little of it coming up this year, compared to the last few, likely due to my willful destruction of every bit that I could find.
I am hoping to do some more campfire cooking in the next few weeks, and am eager to include some of the things growing around the house, including chickweed, hairy bittercress and spring onions... possibly even violets and redbuds if they are ready.
And because I am forgetful, I also am making notes of WHERE I find things so that I can find them again later.
What really is interesting to me is how many of the local green growing things are NOT native to this area. So far I noted 16 plants that are coming up nearby, and, of those, 10 are not native to this continent at all. A few are naturalized, but some are unwelcome. (For those who do not know me, I am mundanely located in West Virginia.)
So I am cataloging the plants as Native or Non-Native (though some institutions use the term Exotic). I am also including location where it originated and whether it is Naturalized to the area or Invasive.
- Native plants, simply put, are those that belong here and have historically been here.
- Non-Native plants evolved in another location (quite frequently that location is listed as Eurasia). They might have been brought here as garden items or been brought accidently as seeds with other cargo.
- Naturalized plants are Non-Natives but that have adapted to live here without harming the local ecosystem.
- Invasive plants are those that threaten the local systems and can crowd out Native plants.
Over the next few years I hope to introduce additional Native plants to the yard here. Things like Serviceberries for our field and trying to eradicate the highly invasive Stiltgrass in the shaded front yard and encourage plants like Wild Ginger, Bloodroot and Mountain Mint instead.
I have also mentioned another Invasive here on my blog, Garlic Mustard. I happily eat my fill of this in the spring and fully murder the rest. I walked the lane leading into our property yesterday and saw very little of it coming up this year, compared to the last few, likely due to my willful destruction of every bit that I could find.
I am hoping to do some more campfire cooking in the next few weeks, and am eager to include some of the things growing around the house, including chickweed, hairy bittercress and spring onions... possibly even violets and redbuds if they are ready.
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