Welcome Back to The Blog!

We know you're ready for Spring ~ we are too!

Over the next few weeks, I will introduce you to members of The Native Plant Center's Steering Committee. Introductions will be in no specific order because each of the Committee Members is invaluable to the organization's success! It would be impossible for me to choose who goes first since they all bring something unique to the organization, as well as our events.

2010 Native Plant Center Steering Committee:
Brooke Beebe, Jan Blaire, Laura Blau, Cynthia Brennan, Myles Brown, Bob Del Torto, Kim Eierman, Cece Fabbro (Chair), Barbara Fischer, Leslie Henshaw, Pat Keesee, Ursula LaMotte, Guy Pardee, Brad Roeller, Heather Sandifer, Denise C.R. Santomero, Betsy Stern, Carolyn Summers, Phillis Warden, Neil Wattles, Lucille Werlinich.

Heather Sandifer is a textile designer whose botanical art has been featured in many and varied private and public venues, including Holly Hunt/Chicago, the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, and David Winter Works on Paper. In addition to her art, Heather has written on garden subjects for various publications, and has taught at the New York Botanical Garden. She has been a volunteer assistant curator of the herbarium at the Bruce Museum, a Pen Women in both Arts and Letters, and an active member of The Native Plant Center.

Have you heard? The Plant Sale is underway!!

For your convenience, the Pre-Sale Order Deadline is extended to Monday, February 15.
Order now ~ pick up begins April 20 - 24.

To get you started on your order … here are the

Weekly FAVs
Nature's Splash of Color

#1 Aquilegia canadensis - Wild Columbine DR DT BF H - One of the most popular wildflowers with a profuse show in April-May of red & yellow flowers shaped like little Japanese lanterns. Though individual plants can be short-lived, it self-sows prolifically. Average soil, part shade, 12" tall.



#11 Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot The first harbinger of spring, snow-white petals surround deep gold centers. Deep green, deeply notched leaves make an excellent groundcover, but may become summer dormant if too dry. Red sap oozes from cut roots, hence the common name. Moist soil, light shade, 6-12” tall.

#23 Monarda punctata - Spotted Bee Balm DR DT H - This annual bee balm relative sports fragrant whorls of snapdragon blossoms layered on straight stems. Blooms have lavender bracts over soft yellow flowers with purple spots. Self-sows in sunny, well-drained gardens alongside companions like blazing star & penstemon. Average to dry soil, full sun, 12-18” tall.


#28 Aster laevis - Smooth Aster - DR DT BF Give blue-violet “daisies” a starring role in meadows and sunny borders in the summer and into fall. Lovely blue green leaves clasp the upright stems, which rarely if ever require staking. Average soil, sunlight shade, 1-3’ tall.



#33 Liatris spicata - Dense Blazing Star - DR DT BF BD H - Purple, tufted flower heads are arranged in a long, dense spike blooming from the top down. The protruding styles give the flower an overall feathery appearance. A Monarch butterfly magnet. The linear, grass-like leaves form attractive basal clumps and extend up the flower stalk. Moist to average soil, sun, 3-4' tall.

#37 Dryopteris marginalis - Evergreen Woodfern - DR - A tall, handsome, vase-shaped fern with deep green leathery evergreen fronds (leaves). Moist soil, part shade-shade, 1 - 3' tall.


# 40 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Bearberry - DR DT BD - This charming, woody groundcover thrives in harsh conditions. Small glossy leaves, flowers in April-May followed by red berries. Closely resembles non-native cotoneaster. Slow growing but durable once established. Average to dry soil, full sun, 4” tall.

#41 Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia Creeper - DT BD - A woody deciduous climber that is often used to decorate trees, buildings and as a groundcover. This plant attaches with self-adhering suckers (not roots) that do not infiltrate structures. Small greenish flowers in spring are followed by dark blue fruit that are relished by birds. Elegant, medium green, 5-parted leaves turn blazing red in very early autumn. Average to moist soil, sun to full shade, 30’+ if given support.

#46 Asarum (Hexastylis) shuttleworthii - Evergreen Ginger - DR Native to the southeast, this handsome evergreen (in mild winters) forms clumps of rounded to heart-shaped aromatic leaves which are usually mottled with silvery gray markings. Small vase-shaped, purplish brown flowers with reddish purple spots in spring. Average, well-drained soil, part to full shade, 6-8" tall.

#54 Senecio aureus - Golden Ragwort * DR DT - Cheerful yellow daisy-like blossoms light up the early spring shade garden and will also bloom in full sun, given adequate moisture. After the spring show, glossy evergreen basal rosettes slowly spread to make an attractive groundcover. Moist to average soil, part sun-shade, 12-18” tall.

Pre-Sale Order Deadline ~ Monday, February 15
Regular Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, April 24.

The NPC is a project of the Westchester Community College Foundation located on the Valhalla Campus at Westchester Community College. The Center is also the first national associate of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas.

Personnel
Beth Roach ~ NPC Special Programs Coordinator
Nancy Inzinna ~ NPC Assistant Director
Darrin Duling ~ NPC Director
John Fellas ~ WCC Foundation Director of Operations

Plant photos compliments of The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the Smithsonian Institute.