Favorite Summer Natives

Searching for a native plant in bloom is commonly a spring activity.  Summer sweet first came to our attention while Amy and I were on a hike.  Walking into a cloud of incredibly sweet scent led us to this flowering bush.  Our captive specimen came to us from a friend's garden.  She objected to a root runner spoiling the balance of her plants.  The offshoot came home with us and has since taken over a huge section of our planting bed.  One of its daughter plants will anchor a foundation planting at the south west corner of the house.  The glossy dark green foliage looks great when not hidden behind numerous white flowers.  Having the wonderful scent near the house will be an added bonus.

Most of the flowers have yet to open.  Even so a tiny spider has found the pollen on an early flower.  When more of the flowers have opened, the brown pollen stains will detract from the bright pure white mass of blossoms.  I try to see the stains as golden in color but that helps little.  In addition to the sweet aroma, there is the remembrance of that special time together when Amy and I discovered  this native treasure.

We were introduced to Cardinal flower in the writings of John Burroughs.  A single purchased plant deposited seeds and produced six new plants at its base many years ago.  Now we have these brilliant bright red flowers throughout the garden.  Late frosts are hard on these plants and those pictured were among the eighteen that were potted up and carried into the basement when cold threatened.  That may be overly protective but it does allow me to plant these where I want them.  Their red flowers near a stone wall creates an unbeatable picture.  Hummingbirds also find them irresistible!

For years I have been trying to get a clear photo that shows the unusual structure of a single blossom.  A long upward red tube opens into five petals.  Three droop down while two curl upwards.  Between the up pointing petals is a white tipped tube.  This photo shows single blossoms in profile in addition to the centered star of the show.

We do have fall asters to look forward to but for me the season of brilliant native plants has reached its peak with these two wildly different plants.

Another Native Treasure

Clethra alnifoila has much to recommend its placement in the garden.  The shiny dark green leaves create a positive impression when viewed from a distance or close up.  Drought caused this plant to deny water to some of its leaves as a survival strategy.  They are now dead brown but usually nothing bothers this plant.  Its sweet scent fills the air at great distance from the plant in the presence of a light breeze.  Up close the perfume is pleasant while not overpowering.  A wide variety of pollinating insects work these flowers but there is always an open bunch for close nose placement.
  

These pink flowers are not naturally occurring but this cultivar retains all of the other characteristics of the wild plant.  Both multiply freely by suckers and new plants are easily moved.  One of our hills is covered with wild blueberry bushes.  We are working young summer sweet plants into the openings.  The blossoms of the blueberries are long past when the clethra flowers.  These two plants work well together.  Three of the pink flowered runners have been moved to the new garden by the road.  The extra moisture retained by the soil there should benefit the new transplants.

The structure of each flower includes 10 protruding stamens.  Each is tipped with brown pollen.  White flowers usually show brown coloration as they mature and fade.  These are brown from day one giving the plant an unwell look.  Once one adjusts and realizes the plant is indeed healthy, the plant is a source of pure pleasure.   In the spring each flowering stalk remains attached to the plant as a dark grey dead stick.  They snap off easily but there are so many of them.  It is easy to remember the past season's pleasure as one removes the remains of all of those flower clusters.  Then there is the promise of a new seasons bloom to look forward to.  Add a pleasant memory of our discovery of this plant and the package is complete.

Summer Sweet, Caged For The Winter

It's time well spent to get a bed all weeded and ready for the coming winter. This summer sweet had a difficult year. The June frost hit just when it was starting to leaf out. For a long time the plant looked dead. It recovered but,we had only one or two of the white fragrant flowers that usually cover this plant. Amy and Ed discovered summer sweet while hiking. Its fragrance is a reminder of that special day. We go all out to help this specimen any way we can. The cage will keep the deer from grazing on it this winter. The small offshoot needs protection from rabbits. The bed has been weeded and amended.

The plan is to move the daughter plant to a North facing slope. In theory the glancing contact from the low sun will warm soil there slowly. Holding the frost in the ground a little longer should delay leaf out. Extra time dormant may lessen damage from late frosts.

Treasure In the Gunks

Many of our plants have an unusual route to our garden. Clethra is one such plant. Ed and daughter Amy have hiked extensively in the Catskills and the Shawangunk Mountains. An August hike in the Gunks took them through a cloud of sweet fragrance. Most wildflowers are well past by August so the source of the sweet smell had to be found. Walking into the breeze led them to dark green bushes covered with white flowers.

Our garden specimens came from Phyllis' garden. Clethera reproduces freely by underground runners. We have had more success with these daughter plants. Rabbits find them tasty, so protection is required while the plants are small.

The period of bloom makes this plant special. Its connection to a past pleasant day makes it a treasure here!