Meadows Matter

 

I went up to Big Canoe this week; it is a large, residential community in Pickens County where they have preserved a lot of the natural areas. Along the winding roads, I spied plenty of native ferns, sourwood saplings, and even some dwarf pawpaw shrubs contributing to the cool, leafy-green feeling that is so unlike most residential developments.

I was there to give a talk to the Wildflower Bunch Garden Club about native plants. All the attendees recognized that their community has much natural beauty, thanks in part to the native plants and the natural environment. Someone mentioned a meadow area that had been developed with the help of Audubon and Walter Bland, a longtime GNPS member and owner of Rock Spring Restorations. This area is called McDaniel Meadows. On our way out of Big Canoe, we stopped to visit it and see how it has grown (it was created in 1999).

According to the sign, the meadow area and trail included plants to help create a bird sanctuary as well as be of benefit to pollinators. Berry-producing shrubs included American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), two species of Viburnum, spicebush (Lindera benzoin), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), serviceberry (Amelanchier) and even several fruiting paw paws (Asimina triloba). These were on the edges, leaving the meadow relatively open to supporting native perennials and annuals.

A mowed edge for neatness, a bunch of goldenrod; the meadow is much deeper than it appears

I had heard in advance that the meadow wasn’t being managed much so I was curious to see how it was faring. The most noticeable “flaw” was that some of the more aggressive perennials were dominating the space. First and foremost, tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) was taking up a lot of the space.

Thuggy plants affect plant diversity as they crowd out things that are less capable of holding their ground (for example, they crowd out smaller plants). However, these thuggy plants still contribute: goldenrod hosts more insects (butterflies/moths) than any other perennial. These plants are likely providing significant insect meals for birds that need them (baby birds, warblers, other insectivores).

Lobelia cardinalis

First ironweed bloom

Tall ironweed (Vernonia) was also quite abundant. A cloud of blue blooms in the center turned out to be downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana), while purple passionvine (Passiflora incarnata) twined its way through the plants. A bit of partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) was evident in the drier areas while cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) thrived in the moist spots. Another area was full of Canada germander (Teucrium canadense), but the flowers were just about spent.

Coreopsis in open areas

Cutleaf coneflower just starting

As we walked the trail, smaller sunny areas were more open and there was mountain mint (Pycnanthemum), Coreopsis, cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), Joe pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum), numerous grasses, and the seedheads of spring-blooming false indigo (Baptisia) and Penstemon. Shady areas had bear’s foot (Smallanthus udevalia), Indian plantain (Arnoglossum), elephant’s foot (Elephantopus tomentosus) and natural populations of ferns.

Passionvine and bee

Joe pye and mountain mint

This was an ambitious project, and I think it is largely successful. Bird calls were abundant and I pointed out to my husband how much the birds appreciate these areas where they can feel safe darting in and out of the vegetation. Yet still there are open, sunny areas for birds that need that habitat. That thuggy goldenrod will be a lifesaver when it blooms for late summer butterflies like migrating monarchs (and seed eating birds will feast on the seeds and stem insects all winter). At over 20 years in, there is lots to still admire about this meadow.

Viburnum fruits ready now

Elderberry also ready