May 01, 1980 - Spring Starts Season's Parade of WildflowersE
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SECOND SECTION The *Uffolh TIMC5 MAY 1, 1980
Spring Starts Season's Parade of Wildflowers
One can't think of spring without think-
ing about flowers of one kind or another.
All winter long the plants and trees have
been waiting to show off their better side
and now their day has come. Most flowers
we become aware of around our homes
have been hybridized in one way or
another through careful selection and
cross pollinization. And because they are
so common, we almost forget that at one
time in their far past they too grew wild
and blossomed forth in their spring.
Jack -in- the - Pulpit
Years ago the native wildflower was
more a part of people's lives than it is
today, for then commercialization and
hybridization were only in their infancy.
During those times many of our parents
lived in a more rural atmosphere and so
turned to the meadows, woods and road-
sides to fulfill their enjoyment with flow-
afl UOgIQETN
ers. I'm sure there are still many of you
who today can look back to a secret patch
of arbutus you guarded jealously in the
woods, or to a creek bank where the dainty
columbine grew. Perhaps that is why
many of us have a special feeling for our
spring wildflowers. It's almost part of our
heritage. Something we don't want to lose
or ever forget.
Moore's Woods Recommended
For those new to our countryside, there's
a whole new array of wildflowers showing
themselves right now ... but to find them is
like fishing. You have to be at the right
place at the right time. Moore's Woods in
Greenport is a good spot to start.
This magnificent area belongs to the
people of Greenport and is an excellent
example of a climax hardwood forest.
Because of the heavy clay that underlies
the area, it is often wet and soggy. This is
the reason it was never used for building
and therefore never cleared or touched by
the woodsman's ax. That is until this year
when permission was given to the resi-
dents of Greenport Village to cut out the
dead wood. The idea was good, but like so
many good ideas it was taken advantage
of. I was horrified when I walked into the
woods from Route 25 yesterday to check on
the early wood anemones that are known
to bloom there. Sure enough, the under -
story was white with delicate nodding
heads of this woodland flower, but all
around it were the stark stumps of freshly
cut trees ... many of which were not dead
trees.
ANNE RICHMOND
cares enough to run for the
School Board because
taxes, curriculum, long -range planning, objectivity
& responsiveness are all important but .. .
CHILDREN ARE THE REAL ISSUE
IF YOU CARE ENOUGH,
VOTE FOR ANNE
Wednesday, May 7th
2 -8 p.m.
Here is an area that has taken hundreds
of years to evolve and one that cannot be
duplicated anywhere else on the whole
north shore. Yet overnight it has lost many
of its choice sentinels. If this kind of
cutting persists, unsupervised, I wonder
what kind of legacy we will pass on to our
children.
Wood Anemone
All along the pathways was the new
green growth of wild geraniums. Their
pink flowers will soon be sprinkling the
wood edge. The jack -in- the - pulpits were
everywhere, unfolding their greenery and
yearning to expose their colorful, capped
pulpits.
Dandelion -- Friend or Foe
The dandelion, our friend and foe,
depending on where it is, has burst its
buds and made itself available for the
bees' first real treat. This plant is my
number one choice for roadside planting.
It's ideal in the sense it's tough and
persistent and doesn't know the meaning
of quitting. It would need no mowing and
seeing it blossoms almost all summer
would add much to the color of our dreary
roadsides. Of course that is where every-
one would like to see it and not in their
lawns, but then when something is as
prolific and persistent as the dandelion you
are bound to find it everywhere. Like so
many things, it all depends on how you
look at it.
Of course spring is always welcomed in
by the flowery white shadbush that spots
our woods and water edges. It makes its
appearance before all other flowering
shrubs, so that it will not be shaded by the
leaves of the trees above and therefore
interfere with its blooming. It blooms for
only a few days and then it will be gone.
From then on it will blend into the
understory of green. Your best chance
then to distinguish it will be by its
streaked, smooth, gray bark and perhaps
its early blue berries. These are edible and
quite good tasting, much like blueberries.
When you can gather enough in a good
year they make delicious pies. Another
name for the shadbush is Juneberry,
because of its early June berry.
And so the parade of flowers starts, and I
hope you too will enjoy its entire length
this year. The beginning was headed by
the lowly skunk cabbage that has already
finished blossoming in the swamps
throughout our area.
From now on there'll be a glorious
procession that will last through the
summer and into the fall, ending up with a
dazzling array of wild asters that will not
give up until the heavy frost turns them
brown. Take advantage of this display of
color, variety and scent. Once you've
become familiar with the wildflowers,
they will always be a joy to look at and
greet. There is no charge for the parade
and the reward is everlasting.
PAUL STOUTENBURGII
Shadbush Blossoms
Photos by Paul Stoutenburgh
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