Curator Comments Vol 57-3

Spring was delightful at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. Despite the dry weather, an abundance of native flora provided an inspired display of blossoming beauty in April and May. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, we purchased more than 1,400 wildflowers, native grasses and sedges for a planting project on the hillside adjacent to Violet Way trail (section shown below). Among the species planted were: Wild Columbine, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dutchman’s-breeches, Silky Wild Rye, Wild Blue Phlox, Zigzag Goldenrod, Wild Geranium, Beak Grass, Tall Bellflower, Wild Ginger, Large-leaved Aster, Jacob’s Ladder, Plains Oval Sedge, Bottlebrush Grass, Blue Cohosh and Red Baneberry.

	Garden Curator Notes - Summer 2009 by Susan Wilkins
	Spring was delightful at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. Despite the dry weather, an abundance of native flora provided an inspired display of blossoming beauty in April and May. Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, we purchased more than 1,400 wildflowers, native grasses and sedges for a planting project on the hillside adjacent to Violet Way trail (section shown below). Among the species planted were: Wild Columbine, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dutchman’s-breeches, Silky Wild Rye, Wild Blue Phlox, Zigzag Goldenrod, Wild Geranium, Beak Grass, Tall Bellflower, Wild Ginger, Large-leaved Aster, Jacob’s Ladder, Plains Oval Sedge, Bottlebrush Grass, Blue Cohosh and Red Baneberry.

	Due to the dry weather, we watered the new plants frequently. In addition, Soil Moist was used to ensure that the delicate new additions had the moisture they needed to establish themselves in the Garden. Soil Moist is mixed into the soil in the planting hole before planting so that it can surround the roots of the new plant.
	Once watered, this polymer product expands as it fills with water. Over a period of time the product releases moisture into the root zone of each plant. We’ve had great success with the use of this product during the past few years and are pleased that we can use it as a tool to encourage plant health.
	In addition to the Violet Way planting, a second spring planting took place in the wetland area. Garden staff members and three hardworking student volunteers from Breck School planted 145 trees and shrubs in the wetland and wet woodland areas.
Plants shown above Red Baneberry Dutchman's Breeches Tall Bellflower Wild Blue Phlox Celadine Poppy Total cost of all plants was $2,869.	These trees and shrubs included Tamarack, Speckled Alder, Balsam Fir, Black Spruce, White Spruce, Buttonbush, Bog Birch, Bitternut Hickory and Coralberry. The simple but essential act of planting the next generation of trees throughout the Wildflower Garden has been one of my most treasured experiences as curator. Knowing that we are planning ahead to maintain the continued ecological integrity of the Wildflower Garden is immensely rewarding. Thank you again to the Friends for the generous donation for the spring 2009 Violet Way planting project. Each season the Garden grows more beautiful with the support of and varied efforts carried out by the Friends.

Below: An example of new plants inserted into the existing hillside undergrowth along Violet Way, late spring 2009.


Full Plant List	Aster, Large leaved Baneberry, Red Bellwort, Large-flowered Bishop’s Cap Blue cohosh Celadine Poppy (Wood Poppy) Columbine Dutchman breeches Early Meadow Rue Elm-leaved goldenrod Jack-in-the-Pulpit Jacob’s Ladder Poke Milkweed Sweet Cicely Sunflower, Woodland Tall Bellflower Tall blue Larkspur Turk’s Cap Lily Wild Blue Phlox Wild Geranium Wild Ginger Zig-Zag Goldenrod Grasses: Bottlebrush Grass Beak Grass Silky Wild Rhy Plains Oval Sedge

©2009 Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc. Curator's text comments as published in The Fringed Gentian™, Vol. 57-3, Summer 2009. Photos added.