I recently had the privilege, along with other plant-obsessed
nature lovers, of visiting the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. Led by The
Nature Conservancy and state botanists and naturalists, we embarked on
a "plant safari" searching out rare and threatened native orchids. I
write about this remarkable experience in the September 22nd, 2005 House &
Home section of the New York Times.
While the object of our field trip was to view wild orchids, we
saw some other fascinating–some might say bizarre–plants that thrive
in dry sandy soil or moist boggy conditions. In this posting I share a
few photographs of the marvelous and curious flora not found in your
average suburban garden.
It was a very hot and humid morning in New Jersey when I joined
eleven others at the Nature Conservancy’s Pine Barrens office. Our
guides had promised to show us rare, late summer orchids, but before we
embarked on our journey those of us who were not state or conservancy
officials were handed blindfolds.
Blindfolds?
I was amazed to learn that orchids growing in
south-central New Jersey are still being poached–stolen to sell to
rare-plant collectors. Poaching, along with disappearing habitat,are
the main reasons these native orchids are rare and now fiercely
protected by the naturalists and botanists familiar with the Pine
Barrens.
Plantanthera clavellata "Green wood orchid"
"People think that removing a plant from the wild and planting it in
their garden actually helps preserve it," said Neill Heath, one of the
conservationists leading the group. "But in truth, you are reducing the
wild population, and endangering the species." Volunteer Linda Kelly,
an ecologist/botanist and our safari guide, had stronger words, "Any
removal of rare plants from the wild is poaching, regardless of the
motive."
I was deeply moved when our guides lead us to a spot where we got to
see the rarest of the rare–the endangered yellow-fringed orchid,
Plantanthera ciliaris. These flowers were similar to the white fringed
orchid, but in a bright citrus-orange color. There may be as few as 20
known plants in New Jersey, and we were looking at a half a dozen of
them.
We saw other remarkable plants that day, such as the carnivorous round-leaf sundew, Drosera rotundifolia. These and other species like the pitcher plant I grow in my garden, Sarracenia flava evolved into carnivorous insect traps in order to supplement the nutrient lean soil of moist habitats.
Drosera rontundifolia, Carnivorous sundew
This
tiny, seemingly insignificant plant is part of the ecosysytem found in
the Pine Barrens. It attracts insects with a sticky secretion, then
traps them with leaves that fold inward, and then slowly "digest" its
prey.
The fading autumn leaf, or "pitcher", of the carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia flava
In spite of the heat in the Pine Barrens, each
time our guides told us we could remove our blind folds the site of
these rare jewels caused me to instantly (if momentarily) forget any
physical discomforts; so consuming were my emotions; a mixture of
delight, awe, and reverence.
It is a common human response–"I gotta have that!"–when seeing something this rare, this
beautiful. But at what cost?
Spiranthes lacera "Slender ladies’ tresses" orchid
As I travel around the country speaking to
various groups, and in all of my books, I stress my version of the
"horticultural Golden Rule": We gardeners should always strive to
improve the health of the earth, leaving the places we live better off
than we found them. This idea not only applies to our actions in the
garden, but also to our treatment of the world outside our garden’s
gates.
We gardeners have a special connection to the earth, which makes us the
ideal advocates for the natural world. We have a stewardship to honor:
- We must educate ourselves.
- We must speak out against harm to the
environment, doing whatever we can to limit sprawl, preserve open space
and protect the few natural areas we have left in this country. - We should join local chapters of native plant societies dedicated to protecting local threatened species.
- When we see a beautiful plant in the wild, we should take pictures only.
Larger conservation groups are a rich source of informations and
advice: the New England Wild Flower Society is one of the best in the
U.S. and the North American Native Plant Society is a great resource in
Canada. The Native Plant Conservation Campaign web site provides a list of local chapters that can provide
you with information regarding native plant enthusiasts in your aarea.
And most importantly, when
purchasing wildflowers for your garden, be sure they are nursery
propagated plants not just "nursery grown". Look for the claim nursery
propagated and if you do not see it ask the nursery owner or manager
where their wildflowers came from. And if you see threatened species
for sale at big box stores, do not buy them.
The best way to procure wildflowers for your garden is through
native plant societies and plant sales conducted by conservation groups
and botanic gardens. If you are smitten with our native orchids or
carnivorous species, two reputable nurseries, California Carnivores and
Vermont Ladyslipper Company, Ltd. offer commercially propagated plants.
Purchasing plants from reputable nurseries like these actually helps to
stabilize populations of threatened species in the wild.
Finally, in the recent Timber Press edition of my book The Natural Habitat Garden you will find inspiration and guidance for creating habitats for local native species.
It is a trite saying, but when it comes to our dwindling natural
habitats it is all too true: "if you aren’t a part of the solution,
then you are very likely part of the problem."
