Activities 2004

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <script type="text/javascript"> //OwnerIQ var __oiq_pct = 50; if( __oiq_pct>=100 || Math.floor(Math.random()*100/(100-__oiq_pct)) > 0 ) { var _oiqq = _oiqq || []; _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageBrand','Lycos']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageCat','Internet > Websites']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_addPageLifecycle','Intend']); _oiqq.push(['oiq_doTag']); (function() { var oiq = document.createElement('script'); oiq.type = 'text/javascript'; oiq.async = true; oiq.src = document.location.protocol + '//px.owneriq.net/stas/s/lycosn.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(oiq, s); })(); } //Google Analytics var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount','UA-21402695-19']); _gaq.push(['_setDomainName','tripod.com']); _gaq.push(['_setCustomVar',1,'member_name','blueridge_wildflower',3]); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); //Lycos Init function getReferrer() { var all= this.document.cookie; if (all== '') return false; var cookie_name = 'REFERRER='; var start = all.lastIndexOf(cookie_name); if (start == -1) return false; start += cookie_name.length; var end = all.indexOf(';', start); if (end == -1) end = all.length; return all.substring(start, end); } function getQuery() { var rfr = getReferrer(); if (rfr == '') return false; var q = extractQuery(rfr, 'yahoo.com', 'p='); if (q) return q; q = extractQuery(rfr, '', 'q='); return q ? q : ""; } function extractQuery(full, site, q_param) { var start = full.lastIndexOf(site); if (start == -1) return false; start = full.lastIndexOf(q_param); if (start == -1) return false; start += q_param.length; var end = full.indexOf('&', start); if (end == -1) end = full.length; return unescape(full.substring(start, end)).split(" ").join("+"); } function generateHref(atag, template){ atag.href=template.replace('_MYURL_', window.location.href.replace('http://', '')).replace('_MYTITLE_','Check%20out%20this%20Tripod%20Member%20site!'); } var lycos_ad = Array(); var lycos_onload_timer; var cm_role = "live"; var cm_host = "tripod.lycos.com"; var cm_taxid = "/memberembedded"; var tripod_member_name = "blueridge_wildflower"; var tripod_member_page = "blueridge_wildflower/id44.htm"; var tripod_ratings_hash = "1728568368:c867a45c9c6a74947c350c56db40393c"; var lycos_ad_category = {"find_what":"sage plant"}; var lycos_ad_remote_addr = "209.202.244.9"; var lycos_ad_www_server = "www.tripod.lycos.com"; var lycos_ad_track_small = ""; var lycos_ad_track_served = ""; var lycos_search_query = getQuery(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type='text/javascript'> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_300X250_dfp', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_above_728x90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-1').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/95963596/TRI_below_728x90_dfp', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1450204159126-2').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(isV) { if( !isV ) { return; } var adMgr = new AdManager(); var lycos_prod_set = adMgr.chooseProductSet(); var slots = ["leaderboard", "leaderboard2", "toolbar_image", "toolbar_text", "smallbox", "top_promo", "footer2", "slider"]; var adCat = this.lycos_ad_category; adMgr.setForcedParam('page', (adCat && adCat.dmoz) ? adCat.dmoz : 'member'); if (this.lycos_search_query) { adMgr.setForcedParam("keyword", this.lycos_search_query); } else if(adCat && adCat.find_what) { adMgr.setForcedParam('keyword', adCat.find_what); } for (var s in slots) { var slot = slots[s]; if (adMgr.isSlotAvailable(slot)) { this.lycos_ad[slot] = adMgr.getSlot(slot); } } adMgr.renderHeader(); adMgr.renderFooter(); }((function() { var w = 0, h = 0, minimumThreshold = 300; if (top == self) { return true; } if (typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number' ) { w = window.innerWidth; h = window.innerHeight; } else if (document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.documentElement.clientHeight)) { w = document.documentElement.clientWidth; h = document.documentElement.clientHeight; } else if (document.body && (document.body.clientWidth || document.body.clientHeight)) { w = document.body.clientWidth; h = document.body.clientHeight; } return ((w > minimumThreshold) && (h > minimumThreshold)); }()))); window.onload = function() { var f = document.getElementById("FooterAd"); var b = document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0]; b.appendChild(f); f.style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('lycosFooterAdiFrame').src = '/adm/ad/footerAd.iframe.html'; // DOM Inj Ad (function(isTrellix) { var e = document.createElement('iframe'); e.style.border = '0'; e.style.margin = 0; e.style.display = 'block'; e.style.cssFloat = 'right'; e.style.height = '254px'; e.style.overflow = 'hidden'; e.style.padding = 0; e.style.width = '300px'; var isBlokedByDomain = function( href ) { var blockedDomains = [ "ananyaporn13000.tripod.com", "xxxpornxxx.tripod.com" ]; var flag = false; for( var i=0; i<blockedDomains.length; i++ ) { if( href.search( blockedDomains[ i ] ) >= 0 ) { flag = true; } } return flag; } var getMetaContent = function( metaName ) { var metas = document.getElementsByTagName('meta'); for (i=0; i<metas.length; i++) { if( metas[i].getAttribute("name") == metaName ) { return metas[i].getAttribute("content"); } } return false; } var getCommentNodes = function(regexPattern) { var nodes = {}; var nodesA = []; var preferredNodesList = ['a', 'c', 'b']; (function getNodesThatHaveComments(n, pattern) { if (n.hasChildNodes()) { if (n.tagName === 'IFRAME') { return false; } for (var i = 0; i < n.childNodes.length; i++) { if ((n.childNodes[i].nodeType === 8) && (pattern.test(n.childNodes[i].nodeValue))) { var areaName = pattern.exec(n.childNodes[i].nodeValue)[1]; nodes[areaName] = n; } else if (n.childNodes[i].nodeType === 1) { getNodesThatHaveComments(n.childNodes[i], pattern); } } } }(document.body, regexPattern)); for (var i in preferredNodesList) { if (nodes[preferredNodesList[i]]) { if( isTrellix && nodes[preferredNodesList[i]].parentNode.parentNode.parentNode.parentNode ) { nodesA.push(nodes[preferredNodesList[i]].parentNode.parentNode.parentNode.parentNode); } else { nodesA.push( nodes[preferredNodesList[i]] ); } } } return nodesA; } var properNode = null; var areaNodes = getCommentNodes( new RegExp( '^area Type="area_(\\w+)"' ) ); for (var i = 0; i < areaNodes.length; i++) { var a = parseInt(getComputedStyle(areaNodes[i]).width); if ((a >= 300) && (a <= 400)) { properNode = areaNodes[i]; break; } } var propertyName = getMetaContent("property") || false; if( isTrellix && (properNode) ) { e.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; properNode.insertBefore(e, properNode.firstChild); } else if( isTrellix && !( properNode ) ) // Slap the ad eventhought there is no alocated slot { e.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; e.style.cssFloat = 'none'; var cdiv = document.createElement('div'); cdiv.style = "width:300px;margin:10px auto;"; cdiv.appendChild( e ); b.insertBefore(cdiv, b.lastChild); } else if( !isBlokedByDomain( location.href ) ) { var injF = document.createElement('iframe'); injF.style.border = '0'; injF.style.margin = 0; injF.style.display = 'block'; injF.style.cssFloat = 'none'; injF.style.height = '254px'; injF.style.overflow = 'hidden'; injF.style.padding = 0; injF.style.width = '300px'; injF.src = '/adm/ad/injectAd.iframe.html'; if( b && ( !isTrellix || ( typeof isTrellix == "undefined" ) ) ) // All other tripod props { var cdiv = document.createElement('div'); cdiv.style = "width:300px;margin:10px auto;"; cdiv.appendChild( injF ); b.insertBefore(cdiv, b.lastChild); } } }( document.isTrellix )); } </script> <div id="tb_container" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-bottom:1px solid #393939; position:relative; z-index:999999999!important">  <style> .adCenterClass{margin:0 auto} </style> <div id="tb_ad" class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="ad_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px "> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "leaderboard" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['leaderboard']); } </script> </div> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> if (typeof lycos_ad !== "undefined" && "slider" in lycos_ad) { document.write(lycos_ad['slider']); } </script>  <div id="FooterAd" style="background:#DFDCCF; border-top:1px solid #393939; clear:both; display:none; width:100%!important; position:relative; z-index:999999!important; height:90px!important"> <div class="adCenterClass" style="display:block!important; overflow:hidden; width:916px;"> <div id="footerAd_container" style="display:block!important; float:left; width:728px"> <iframe id="lycosFooterAdiFrame" style="border:0; display:block; float:left; height:96px; overflow:hidden; padding:0; width:750px"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04e285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Blue Ridge Wildflower Society a chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society </b></FONT><B>     |     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blue Ridge Wildflower Society a chapter "><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Activities 2005"><U>Activities 2005</U></A>   |   <B>Activities 2004</b>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Activities 2003"><U>Activities 2003</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Activities 2002"><U>Activities 2002</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="04dd2c00dkelyh.gif"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Activities 2004</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Scholarships</b></div> <bR> <div> The Blue Ridge Wildflower Society has again awarded scholarships to biology and horticulture students.</div> <div> Kerry Huffman, a biology student, is a second time scholarship recipient from our Society. She is studying plant taxonomy at Virginia Tech. She has been asked to teach some junior level plant identification</div> <div> classes at Tech. Kerry recently spoke with Rich Crites and asked if she could present a program to our group. We will have an opportunity to hear her May 24.</div> <div> Tara (Corkey) Hendricks, is an artist and horticulturist. She received her formal art training at Central Virginia Community College then transferred to Virginia Western to major in horticulture. She has a 3.8 GPA, is secretary of the Horticulture Club and works at Riversides Nursery in Salem. Corkey will graduate in 2005.</div> <div> Mike Ragone is a graduate of UVA with his degree in English. He decided to attend Virginia Western when he qualified for Trade Act-Career Retraining benefits. Mike has a 4.0 GPA, is president of the Horticulture Club and will graduate this summer.</div> <div> We wish these students well as they pursue their careers and congratulate them on their accomplishments.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A Skunk Cabbage</b></div> <div> <B>Excursion</b></div> <div> <I><B>Esther Atkinson</b></I></div> <div> When a friend calls and invites you to go see skunk cabbage on a day in winter, you seize the opportunity. The weather is doing its best to act like spring but hasn't reached the point of perfection. It's so close to spring temperatures, you'll go see anything green after a long, dreary winter.</div> <div> Bent Mountain was our destination. The climate at that elevation is just right for our famous Bent Mountain cabbage in the fall, so it has to be just as good for skunk cabbage in the spring. I had never thought of that connection.</div> <div> There's a colony of this plant on private property in Franklin County, but the hill is so steep leaving the spot that it becomes an endurance test to climb out of the hollow. My son-in-law said when they were young, they would get a cabbage plant at this place and put it in a young man's car trunk when they knew he had a date. Can you imagine?</div> <div> Once we passed the post office on Bent Mountain, we turned right onto Tinsley Road and circled the open field at our right. Our thoughts were of all the beauty that field produces in fall wild flowers. Continuing by Bent Mountain School, we turned left onto Poor Mountain Road, heading toward the television towers. Spring branches (some wet-weather creeks) produce lots of swampy areas along this road and skunk cabbage was at its peak. There were lots of plants of various sizes and color variations. Such a pretty plant with such a stinking name. We realized when they are gone, this same area will glow in the fall with asters, ironweed, joe pye weed and lots of other wild flowers.</div> <div> We also saw colt's foot. The leaves can be boiled with sugar and made into cough drops.</div> <div> We chose to save the top of Poor Mountain for another day. Dora Lee wanted to join Frieda Toler and me but had to prioritize her day and preparing her federal tax papers outplaced botanizing. She's probably seen more skunk cabbage then we have since she once lived on the Mountain. We did pay her a visit on the way home.</div> <div> Page 293 in Audubon Society's wildflower field guide and page 369 in Peterson's field guide show<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="0e1a2cc0.gif" border=0 width="162" height="204" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT> <I><B>skunk cabbage</b></I>!</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Lynchburg Area Members</b></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Dorothy C. Bliss</b></I></div> <div> <B>Harbingers of Spring</b></div> <bR> <div> Spring was ushered in with the blooming of many of our introduced trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The star magnolia was white with masses of flowers by mid-March and was followed by the pinkish lavender blooms of the saucer magnolia and the red flowers of Japanese flowering quince. Soon the ground was colorful with hyacinths, daffodils and the invasive periwinkle. In my yard and garden ubiquitous clumps of the naturalized hairy bitter cress, <I>Cardamine hirsuta, </I>with its multitudes of tiny white flowers followed by innumerable seedpods, has spread rapidly, invading nearly every niche. More attractive are the native yellow flowers of pale corydalis or fumewort, <I>Corydalis flavula, </I>a member of the poppy family. Field garlic, another species from Europe and now naturalized, has developed into a serious pest of lawns and gardens. One of the earliest shrubs or trees to bloom was the native pussy willow on which I observed the catkins in late February and in early March. They had matured and it was too late for me to gather fresh branches for dried arrangements.</div> <div> Skunk cabbage is usually one of our first native woodland flowers to bloom, occasionally appearing in February. Not being the favorite flower of many, we usually think of hepatica, bloodroot, spring beauty and Dutchman's breeches as among our earliest blooms. Let us fast forward to March 20th, the official beginning of spring. A walk in the Randolph-Macon Woman's College Botanic Garden revealed clusters of bloodroot flowers dotting the hillside above the pools. Bloodroot, <I>Sanguinaria </I>canadensis, a member of the poppy family, is known by many common names Indian paint <I>red</I></div> <div> puccoon, redroot, tetterwort, etc. As you can see, some of these names have been inspired by the red-orange juice in the underground rhizome. This colored sap was used by the native Indians as a red dye for clothing, baskets and war paint. The white flowers emerge from the rhizome and are enveloped by the solitary leaf that enlarges and remains long after the flower has disappeared. Because of its short life span, we may use the term ephemeral in referring to its brief existence. For hundreds of years, the American Indians and early settlers used bloodroot for medicinal purposes. Because of its poisonous properties, it is now listed as unsafe by the Food and Drug Administration.</div> <div> A quote from Cullina's "Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers" expresses in colorful language the beauty and uniqueness of this early spring flower:</div> <div> "Its snow white flowers with propeller-blade petals spring from the unfolding leaves like doves from a magician's hat at the first sign of a permanent thaw. Like twinleaf, the flowers last only a few days, the petals falling to the ground in confettiesque heaps before the leaves fully expand. They have a pure, crystalline quality so befitting one with a life so brief."</div> <div> On this first spring day, only a few other plants were in bloom but the Greek valerian displayed several clusters of white flowers and there were a few pale blue flowers on the shale barren phlox. This phlox exhibits many color forms and is frequently cultivated in rock gardens and as a ground cover in yards. The golden ragwort, <I>Senecio </I>aureus, revealed a few scattered yellow daisy-like blooms but the mass display would not be out for another <I>week. The</I></div> <div> herbalists used this species to treat many diseases but it is now known to contain toxic alkaloids and is not recommended for internal use. The bright green leaf rosettes of <I>Dodecatheon </I>madia had just emerged from the soil and soon the interesting backward pointing petals that gives this plant its common name, shooting star, will appear.</div> <div> These few flowers described above are only the beginning of the magnificent floral display that will reach its maximum beauty around the end of April or early May.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>April Field Trip</b></div> <bR> <div> If you wish to see the Botanic Garden at its peak of spring flowering, join the field trip on April 24 which will begin with a tour of the Garden at 11:00 a.m. Then, following lunch, the group will drive to the Buffalo Creek Nature Preserve and hunt for spring flowers. Please see the schedule for further details.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Spring Work Session</b></div> <bR> <div> A very successful clean-up was held in the R-MWC Botanic Garden on the afternoon of March 13 with sixteen volunteers pruning shrubs, cutting back dead stalks, raking, mulching and doing other chores as needed. At the end of the afternoon, the spruced-up Garden was ready for the new year of active growth. The volunteers included Paul & Lucille Cowins, Jim & Sandra Elder, Al & Vi Sheridan, Robert Ferrell, Leonard Johnson, John Snead, Miriam Casey, Elizabeth Henderson, Molly McClenon, Evelyn McMinn, Gene Moore, Beth Weiland and Margaret Wenning. I give my deep appreciation and thanks to each of you who worked so diligently and accomplished so much. The Garden could not exist without your help. Thank you again!</div> <bR> <div> <B>Alaska</b></div> <div> <I>By Butch Kelly</I></div> <bR> <div> One year ago Betty and I were feverishly planning and preparing for the greatest adventure of our lives. We were busy purchasing books, guidebooks, clothing and gear for a 22 day trip to Alaska. Looking back the planning and preparation were almost as much fun as the trip itself.</div> <bR> <div> We participated in a Sierra Club sponsored trip entitled "Birds and Wildlife of Alaska, and Wildflowers too: Exploring the Last Frontier". No matter how much we planned we could never be prepared for the splendor we encountered. Our group identified 111 bird species, 171 plant species and untold numbers of mammals. Bald eagles were as common as red tail hawks here in the Roanoke Valley. In Anchorage, moose were causing the same problems on the highways as whitetail deer here in Virginia. We saw musk ox and Arctic fox. Our biggest thrill came the day we witnessed a grizzly bear attack, kill, and eat a moose calf. The whole entourage felt like we were witnessing a filming of a Discovery Channel special.</div> <bR> <div> Alaska is like a mini continent. The contrast between natural habitats and the living conditions of its human inhabitants couldn't have been greater. Anchorage looked like any other city in the lower 48, with lots of bustle and commerce. Nome was like going back to the Great Depression. Birding is one of Nome's biggest money makers. Native people have a very hard life with few ways to make a living.</div> <bR> <div> The trip took us to Anchorage with lots of birds and a few wildflowers. We walked the Tony Knowles Trail which is a greenway along the shores of Norton Sound which is part of the Bering Sea. There we saw Beluga whales. The terrain around Anchorage was hilly and steep much like Roanoke Valley. The forests were mostly spruce and fir. The day also yielded red fox, bald eagles and many nesting birds at Potters Marsh. This marsh was full of nesting waterfowl right next to a busy state highway. In Chugach State Park we saw golden eagles and Dail sheep. The highlight of the Anchorage trip was a three-toed woodpecker which was nesting.</div> <bR> <div> We spent 5 days in Nome. The conditions were very primitive. The living conditions were abysmal. The Nome area has 3 roads, all dirt. The land near the coast is flat and permafrost. No agriculture is found in this part of Alaska. The inland part of the area is hilly, but not extremely high in elevation. The land is rich in birds and wildflowers. We were too early for the flowers. Musk oxen are found there. The area is rich in mining history.</div> <bR> <div> Most of our trip was in 15 passenger vans. With gear and 19 people it made for cozy conditions. We birded on the road, from the road, and along the road. Our trip took us to Sheep Mountain. This area is spectacular. Dail sheep were on the cliffs. On the way to Sheep Mountain we passed over Thompson Pass, home to 1000 inches of snow in one winter, yet only 2678 ft. in elevation. We saw glaciers along the way.</div> <bR> <div> After spending several days on the Denali Highway we finally entered Denali National Park. Our group was very fortunate, we saw Mount McKinley several times. A trip into the Park's interior was very fruitful. The wildflowers and mountains were absolutely incredible. The road through the park is hair raising. It is only traveled by tour buses. The road is all gravel and the cliffs are without guard rails and the drop offs seem bottomless. Moose, grizzly bears, caribou, eagles and gyrfalcons were seen by all. The bus driver filled our minds with tails of history and nature. This was a day to remember for a lifetime.</div> <bR> <div> Every day brought new wonders. The trip to Seward was very scenic. Much of it was right on the coast. The coast on one side of the van and the mountains on the other kept everyone rubbernecking all the way. On the first day in Seward we hiked through a rainforest in Kenai Fjords National Park. We saw a grizzly sow and her cub. Mountain goats were high above us on the treeless mountains. The Exit glacier was awesome. It is not uncommon to see hikers with 10-12 gauge shotguns for protection even in the park. Dinner with the park superintendent was very informative.</div> <bR> <div> The last adventure was much different than anything else we had done. We took a boat from Seward into the Gulf of Alaska, through Resurrection Bay. The distance was 14 miles. Our destination was Fox Island where we stayed. Some folks enjoyed sea kayaking, while others hiked or read. The next morning we headed out to the Chiswell Islands. The day was rainy and cold, but the rewards were worth every moment of each wave. This area was home to Steller sea lions. black bear, sea otters, whales, Pelagic cormorants and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Many of the bird species numbered in the thousands. The most breath-taking part of the trip was sitting on the boat and watching, listening and just plain experiencing the huge glaciers. They moaned, screeched, boomed and splashed as they moved and parts broke off. It was almost like a spiritual experience.</div> <bR> <div> After one more evening meal at the Brewery restaurant in Anchorage our trip was over. Both Betty and I agreed we want to go back. Alaska is a world unto itself. If you get a chance to go, don't pass it up. Hopefully we can bring Alaska more to life with slides at our March meeting.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Lynchburg Area Members</b></div> <div> Dorothy C. Bliss</div> <bR> <div> <B>The R-MWC Botanic Garden in Winter</b></div> <bR> <div> In late December, I enjoyed a pleasant stroll in the Garden. The evergreen rhododendron, mountain laurels, hollies and similar shrubs presented a contrasting background for the red berries still clinging to the branches of the deciduous shrubs. The China fir, as expected, had dropped many of its branches since our fall work day but we can look forward to our spring work session for a cleanup. Noticing the leaf litter that covered the basal rosettes of the cardinal flowers, I carefully brushed away the leaves. These basal rosettes carry on photosynthesis during the winter months and, therefore, must be exposed to light.</div> <bR> <div> Among the conspicuous green fronds of the ferns were those of the appropriately named Christmas fern, the marginal shield fern and the ebony spleenwort. Surprisingly, some of the leaves of the Southern maidenhair, <I>Adiantum</I><I> </I><I>capillusveneris</I>, were still a bright green while those of the more northern maidenhair, <I>A. </I><I>pedatum</I>, were completely killed by the frost. This is the reverse of what I would expect but I read recently that the southern species is sub-evergreen. The ostrich fern, which is one of our most elegant in summer, is now evident only by its conspicuous brown sporophytes.</div> <bR> <div> Among several of the ground covers that gave proof of their hardiness were the green mats of green and gold, creeping phlox and the vigorous growth of creeping juniper which forms a continuous carpet that edges one of the hillside paths. The most beautiful of these ground covers were the glossy green leaves intermingled with the bright red berries of wintergreen or teaberry, <I>Gaultheria pro</I><I>cumbens</I>, under the Franklinia. On the hillside, clusters of brilliant red berries still cling to the deciduous holly, winterberry and red chokeberry. Later in the season these fruits will disappear as hungry birds search out available food sources.</div> <bR> <div> Have you thought the Garden in winter dull or drab? No! The Garden has much of interest and beauty throughout the winter season. Why not stop by for a pleasant surprise?</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>