Nature Rules
Joyce Hall Plant Rescue Team

Look to nature for garden ideas by hiking on our many trails in the area. National forest helps us understand what wonderful plants were on our property and in the area before human disturbance. This wild scenery provides the best horticultural model for landscaping from types of flora to the soil that lets them flourish. Restoring the natural heritage of our garden takes much observation and patience and in most cases a new way of gardening.

Forest soils where natives thrive are completely organic and require a slow process. The main ingredient is the wellcomposted leaf humus. About the closest way to imitate that is to invest in a leaf mulcher and spread the shredded leaves over an area at least 2-3 inches deep. Shredding leaves will help to compost faster. The leaf layer feed fungi and retains moisture. Chemical fertilizers (nitrogen) will kill the soil microorganisms so be aware of that relationship between many natives and fungi. This is true for our signature mountain plant the native rhododendron.

Dead trees or at least snags (15 ft or higher) make a great nesting cavity for birds. We are delighted with our northern flickers who have taken up residence in one of our snags. This is the woodpecker you hear saying "Wicca, Wicca, Wicca" and he seeks out rotting trees for chiseling his home. Their long slender beaks are not suited for hammering hardwoods as other woodpeckers. When I see those vivid under feathers of yellow flying into and out of the habitat we provided with nature, my heart soars with the bird. The long term benefit of the wildlife tree is for your garden. When the tree falls and decays mosses will develop. Nature will then provide native seeds to germinate on the nice soft moss and fresh soil. That's the way it happens in woodlands.

Because forest ecosystems are so complex the best chance of a natural woodlands garden is to be careful of pulling what does come up. That piece of green just might be a wildflower that you could not duplicate. Observe a season before you rush to rid the garden of an unknown plant.

Diversity may not be necessary. All of our natives are not possible at any one garden site. Introducing species, even natives that are not suited to your particular environment invites disappointment. Observation of what is performing and encouraging it to flourish will bring pleasure. Bowman's root, a charming pin wheel flowering spring bloomer, is abundant on our property. I hope to propagate as much as possible. Margaret Midgly states in her Native Plant Propagation manual to collect the seed in Aug-Oct. when they are dark brown and the woody follicles are splitting. They are stored at 40 degrees for 3 months and germinate in 1-2 weeks after switching to 70 degrees. She states seeds which have been stored for a year germinates better than the current year's seeds. A long time but at least I know it will love my garden. No trial and error waiting time. Division is possible in early spring or fall for instant gratification.

Another propagation project I plan to attempt will be galax seed. After seeing a carpet of galax as far as the eye could see in the woods I was motivated. Jan Midgley says to collect the seeds in Aug-Oct when capsules are yellow, dry in a paper bag and crush the capsules with a rolling pin. Then sieve the tiny seeds. Now the best part. Sprinkle the seeds of galax on the mosses in the garden. Galax and partridge berry, what a great alternative to the invasive English ivy.

A recent hike to Tesnatee Gap to Wolf Laurel off Richard Russell Hwy. revealed bush honeysuckle, no relation to the invasive Japanese honeysuckle. It was a heart stopper and a plant I plan to search for at one of the native plant nurseries. Bush honeysuckle is a shrub growing 6' tall with pinkishyellow flowers, resembling honeysuckle, in clusters at the branch tips. Also in bloom at Tesnatee: Tassel rue, a charming white flower with buttercup like leaves. Culver's root about 7'tall with showy white spikes extending well above the leaves. Northern leather flower, a climbing vine, with pretty bell-shaped pink and white flowers. These are but a few of the plants which should be blooming if you head to the woods at Tesnatee right away. Even if you cannot completely imitate the garden of nature, a trip in the wild will give you an appreciation for the possibilities of local flora.

If you wish to learn more about the Native Plant Rescue program at the Georgia Mountain Research and Education center contact Jennifer Cordier (706-745- 9317) ivylog@altel.net or Glenn Henderson, abletinker@aol.com.