Susan Harkins, Author at Kentucky Native Plant Society

Replacing invasives with natives is a work of love

By Emilie Grace Yochim

In the spring of 2019, I decided to add gardens and chickens to my yard to supplement my homeschooling curriculum. Fortunately, I came across a native nursery set up at my local farmer’s market. After listening to what they had to say, I decided to give natives a try. I began with a native pollinator patch.

During that summer, I saw the native plants thrive and attract many pollinators. The perennials I had purchased from big box stores sat untouched. They looked pathetic compared to the natives. I dug them up and replaced them with more natives.

I saw such a difference after creating habitat, that I was hooked. As the years went by, I added more natives: flowers, grasses, vines, shrubs and trees. I removed some invasives and replaced them with natives and non-invasive annuals for more color.

I started helping the nursery with their social media and learning as much as I could about natives. My passion and excitement for educating others about natives led me to create my own Facebook group to learn, share seeds, and create a community.

A previously empty landscape has been transformed into raised beds for a kitchen garden and includes noninvasive annuals for a spot of early color. The area includes small native trees and shrubs such as dogwood, sumac, ninebark, and redbud.

A huge empty patch is slowly being filled with native pollinator beds, a berry patch, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and lots of native trees and shrubs, including edibles such as American hazelnut, pawpaw, persimmon, and elderberry. Note the growth in the trees in the back. It filled in quickly.

I removed invasive shrubs such as burning bush and installed a Monarch Waystation and a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat with native host and nectar plants.

More empty space filled with noninvasive zinnias, a plethora of native host and nectar plants, and native grasses. Each summer, my yard is full of butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, birds, and other beneficial pollinators.

A journey of replacing invasive nonnatives and barren land with native flowers, shrubs, and trees. My yard is now full of life and habitat!

Emilie Grace Yochim is a homeschooling mom to two teens and has been married to Philip for 20 years. Since 2019, Emilie has developed a slight obsession with pollinators, poof heads (bantam Satin and Silkie chickens), and native plants.

She enjoys educating others about planting natives and identifying pollinators by sharing pictures and information about the native plants, chickens, and wildlife in her yard. She also enjoys making terrible memes and puns that she finds hilarious.

This photo shows Kentucky native plants at Ironweed Native Plant Nursery.

Ironweed Native Plant Nursery moves to Waddy Kentucky

“Where can I buy native plants?”

That’s the question I hear most often at native plant events. People want to know where they can purchase Kentucky native plants.

If you’re in central Kentucky, you have a nursery nearby that’s dedicated to native plants: Ironweed Native Plant Nursery. Every plant is a Kentucky native.

Owner Alicia Bosela started Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Columbia, Kentucky about eight years ago. Last fall, Alicia bought property in Waddy Kentucky and moved her nursery there in February of this year. In the last two months, Alicia has made many new connections with educators and growers in the area. Alicia says “The momentum for native plants is growing!”

This photo shows an area of shade-loving plants under shade clothe. — Alicia’s still moving in. She’s currently in the process of expanding an area for native plants that prefer shade by hanging shade cloth.

Fortunately for us, Ironweed is fully stocked with native plants ready for new homes. You’ll find an amazing selection of flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs, all native to Kentucky.

Ironweed Native Plant Nursery is open for business by appointment. The nursery’s number is (270) 250-3587 and the email address is info@ironweednursery.com. The physical location is 400 Waddy Road, Waddy, KY 40076, which is easy to find. The entrance is on the east side of the road and clearly marked. You can also order online by pointing your browser to https://www.ironweednursery.com/. You can follow the nursery on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ironweednursery/.

This photo shows a couple visiting the nursery to purchase native plants. — A couple of happy customers, Kris and Charlie Goggin visit Ironweed.

To learn more about native plant nurseries across the state of Kentucky, visit our Native Plant Suppliers & Service Providers page. If you’d like KNPS to visit your native nursery, contact us at ladyslipper@knps.org. If you’d like to add your native nursery to our list, please fill out the form at https://www.knps.org/native-plant-supplier-form/.

Buffalo clover has moderate seed trait diversity across geographic range

Jake Sanne*, Dillon P. Golding**, Peter Arnold*, Jenna Beville*, Derek Hilfiker*, Forrest Brown*, and Jonathan O. C. Kubesch*, ***

*Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

**Hoot Owl Hollow Farm, Woodlawn, VA

***Country Home Farms, Pembroke, VA

Introduction

Buffalo clover (Trifolium reflexum), is a rare native clover present in the eastern United States. In Kentucky, this species occurs in the vicinity of Mammoth Cave, as well as further west. Conservation efforts in the eastern United States have maintained many of these native populations, though there is interest in using horticulture and agriculture to increase buffalo clover populations (Quesenberry et al., 2003; Kubesch, 2020; Kubesch et al., 2022).

A limitation of these alternative approaches is the lack of data regarding the establishment of native clovers. For many rare plants, plugs are grown in nurseries and then planted to field sites (Littlefield, 2022). Even in the only published horticultural research, seed was grown into plugs for field plantings (Quesenberry et al., 2003). Buffalo clover has a fair degree of phenotypic variability in growth form, life history, and flower color across the geographic range. These differences in plant material might also suggest diversity in seed characteristics.

Seed weight is an important seed characteristic for increasing buffalo clover populations. Seed weights are associated with increased establishment success (Catano et al., 2022; Westoby, 1998). Published seed weights of red (Trifolium pratense), white (Trifolium repens), and buffalo clover come from a publication using buffalo clover accessions from the Coastal Plain (Quesenberry et al., 2003). Coastal Plain accessions appear to have annual life histories whereas Ohio River Valley accessions appear to be short-lived biennials or perennials (Kubesch, unpublished observations). The present study sought to map and determine seed weights for buffalo clover. The authors hypothesized that Coastal Plain accessions would have different seed weights than the Ohio River Valley accessions.

Materials and Methods

This study consisted of a mapping exercise, seed weight data collection, and then analysis. The mapping exercise discerned the positions of Coastal Plain and Ohio River Valley accessions using the geographic Fall Line as the demarcation between Coastal Plain and Ohio River Valley accessions. Accessions found on the corresponding side of the Fall Line were assigned to a Coastal Plain or Ohio River Valley. This mapping was conducted in ARCGIS software.

Seed weight data for a handful of accessions was accessible from the USDA GRIN system. Notably, these seed weight data overrepresented Coastal accessions rather than Ohio River Valley accessions. Additional data came from Quesenberry et al (2003) as well as manual measurements. Quesenberry et al (2003) selected accessions from TX, GA, MS, and FL. One accession in this study came from the Ohio River Valley. Seed from single plant selections of Cincinnati and Clarks River accessions were measured on a lab balance (Bonvoisin scale).

Data Analysis

Seed weight was treated as a completely randomized design. Initial analysis at the state-level was considered to address potential accession grouping at local scales. Differences in seed weight between accessions from the Coastal Plain and Ohio River Valley were also considered to test other known differences in accessions (e.g. annual or biennial life history). All analyses were conducted in SAS v9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). PROC GLIMMIX coded for a simple one-way ANOVA.

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KNPS attends Bluebirds of Central Kentucky’s first festival

September 24 was a gorgeously mild fall day, perfect for Bluebirds of Central Kentucky‘s first festival. This organization’s mission is to improve habitat for one of Kentucky’s most beautiful native birds, the bluebird.

Our booth was next to Ironweed Nursery and Frankfort’s Fantasy Forest. The event took place at West Sixth Farm, also in Frankfort. Between the beautiful weather, the vendors, and the scenery, none of us could’ve asked for a better day, or time.

KNPS Director, Deborah White and Susan Harkins talked with lots of folks, but, mostly children. It was fun talking with children about native plants and habitat. Several were already knowledgeable on the subject, which was encouraging.

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Benefits of native grasses in urban landscaping

By Susan Harkins and Jonathan Kubesch

Prairie dropseed ((*Sporobolus heterolepis*). Photo: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Years ago, when I started planting native species for wildlife, I planted trees and flowers. My commitment to natives is strong, and I’ve restored nearly half of my property with native species of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Only one thing is missing, and that’s native grasses. Native grasslands and savannah are part of Kentucky’s rich natural heritage.

Native grasses provide a showy, functional addition to the backyard, the field corner, or the fencerow. At the time, I didn’t know the many benefits for our native wildlife that native grasses offer.

Improve ecosystem function

At the heart of every successful garden is the right soil. Regardless of your soil type, keeping topsoil and runoff in your urban yard can be a challenge. Traditional lawns can prevent erosion and runoff under ideal conditions, but native landscaping protects soil and water from more extreme weather events with fewer inputs. Some people plant rain gardens to prevent run-off but native grasses are also good at holding soil in place thanks to their long, fibrous, strong roots. Grasses help build organic matter and increase water infiltration. It doesn’t hurt that they require little maintenance and that they’re beautiful.

Native grasses also have reduced soil fertility requirements in comparison to many introduced species. Work from Kentucky and Tennessee suggests that most soils can support these grasses with modest additions of P and K (Potassium and Phosphorus) both of which can come from compost or the regular breakdown of organic matter in the yard. Native grasses can make a yard more of a closed loop for cycling nutrients.

Improve habitat

Until I started following the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources program on how native grasses benefit songbirds, I had no idea how important native grasses are to wildlife. I was aware of how game birds, such as quail, benefit from native grasses, but almost everything benefits from native grasses. Songbirds benefit from the insects, grass seed, and habitat available in native grasses. The open space at the ground level allows baby birds to move freely and the cover of native grasses provides protection from predators.

Eastern bottlebrush (*Elymus hystrix* L.). Photo Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Native grasses are host to a number of butterfly and moth species in their larval stage. Rebuilding these populations will help rebuild the bird populations as many feed caterpillars to the young. While not every yard might produce a full ecosystem, there’s research underway at Virginia Tech about how to use native grasses and wildflowers to produce bee-friendly beef.

Establishing native grasses

Converting current lawns or garden space to native grasses requires some planning and preparation. The easiest areas to convert towards native grasses are formerly wooded areas or cropland. In subdivisions, this might be a new home. Old pastures and lawns can be difficult to convert to native grasses because of the existing weed issues present. That said, attention to detail can make areas work for native grasses.

Start with a soil test from the University of Kentucky to get a baseline for any fertility adjustments. Killing existing vegetation needs to be as effective as possible. Research across the mid-South currently leans towards a “spray-smother-spray” approach where the current vegetation is killed, a competitive smother crop is grown to outcompete any surviving weeds, and then that crop is killed prior to planting native grasses. In your urban yard, an organic alternative might be to use solarization, tillage, or intensive mowing to kill existing vegetation.

Depending on the area to cover, one might consider buying seed or plugs. For plugs, assume that a native grass plant can be anywhere from one to three feet in diameter, so be sure to plan accordingly. Seeding can be a challenge given the seed is fluffy; try mixing the seed with play sand, cracked corn, or pelletized lime to make it easier to broadcast. Native grass seeding rates can vary, but plan to eventually get at least 1 seedling per square foot of allotted space.

Limiting weed competition is crucial in the establishment period, as has been seen in recent work from Virginia Tech. Introduced annual grasses, such as foxtails and crabgrass, can be hard to control in native stands. If using plugs, consider mulching around plants with straw.

When considering where to add native grasses to your landscaping, keep in mind that they’re difficult to move once established. The only non-chemical way to remove them is to mow them to the ground several times over the next few growing seasons.

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Southeast Medicinal Plants

By Coreypine Shane

Reviewed by Susan Harkins

Southeast Medicinal Plants is a guide for foraging wild medicinal plants in the United States southeast. I was hoping for an ethical review of the subject, and I wasn’t disappointed. My first stop was ginseng and here’s the first sentence: “This book is sharing how to identify ginseng (aka American ginseng) so you can observe it, not to harvest it.”

American ginseng is unethically and illegally wild-harvested throughout the Appalachians, which is quickly decimating wild populations. I appreciate the author’s honesty and his encouragement to grow your own or purchase only from reputable sources who don’t harvest from the wild.

The book’s first section is a guide on how to identify, harvest and use medicinal plants. The greater part of the book is an alphabetical guide to medicinal plants. Each plant includes a clear picture, information on how to identify the plant in the wild, where and how to wildcraft the plant and finally, how to prepare it for medicinal use. Harvesting information specifies methods for doing the least damage to the plant.

My favorite part of each section is “Future harvests.” The author identifies plants that have unusual growing habits or is of ecological concern, so you know whether harvesting what you’ve found is safe and ethical.

Given the nature of this book, it includes some non-native and often invasive plants. That isn’t a criticism; I’m all for harvesting invasives. I hope in a future edition, the author decides to use the term “invasive” and encourage foragers not to grow them on their property.

Coreypine Shane is founder of the Blue Ridge School of Herbal Medicine in Asheville, North Carolina. He has advised clients, taught classes, and presenter lectures for more than 25 years. He hosts a web sit at blueridgeschool.org.

The “Lost Crops”: Native Plants & Early Agriculture in KY

By Alicia Bosela, owner of Ironweed Native Plant Nursery

At the nursery, an inquisitive couple wanted native plants for their new cabin home: “We’d like plants that our grandmothers would’ve had.” To their surprise, I asked, “Which grandmother?” meaning a couple generations ago or when most plants at hand were still native?

Ethnobotany is the study of the interrelations between people and plants in the past. Beginning in roughly 1000AD the three sisters: corn, beans, and squash were the primary crops used by indigenous people of North America. They reached the Midwest from Mexico and became the dominant crops. Before 1000AD, during the Woodland period, crops were also grown but they were developed from native plants. These native plants still exist today, though in wild form.

The Eastern Agricultural Complex (EAC) refers to a geographic area centered on the Mississippi River and encompassing all adjoining states. Kentucky is at the core of that geographic area. The EAC is one center of domestication in the pre-historic world in which domesticated native plants were largely abandoned in favor of corn, hence, “the lost crops.”

A handful of native plants were domesticated including little barley, village goosefoot, upright knotweed, marsh elder, and Carolina maygrass. Though special, these plants are not remotely ornamental. Interesting research is being done to understand many questions about their domestication and use. As a tie in, foragers and those interested in wild edibles might enjoy a detailed talk by Dr. Natalie Mueller of Cornell University. A few in the “local food” movement have begun to experiment with these plants in their dishes.

Marsh elder. Photo credit: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Perhaps these plants have value in Environmental Education, introducing an appreciation of early agriculture to folks, young and old. Might there be a use someday for these plants for those interested in sustainability? Regardless, the inquisitive couple who visited the nursery for native plants used by their grandmother have a colorful array of options and a marvelous starting point to explore on our natural heritage over an expanse of time.

Plants mention in this article

Little barley (Hordeum pusillum)

Village goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri)

Upright knotweed (Polygonum erectum)

Marsh elder (Iva annua)

Carolina maygrass (Phalaris caroliniana)

Alicia Bosela owns Ironweed Native Plant Nursery in Columbia Kentucky, a certified woman-owned business. Before opening her own nursery, she was the Assistant Director of Clay Hill Memorial Forest Environmental Education Center. You can contact her at www.ironweednursery.com.