The Waxwing Crew explored Governor Dick Park this Fall, as part of a short series of field research and foraging hikes, enriching our work as ecological gardeners. With iNaturalist in hand, we began on a moderately slow “botanizing” hike, stopping at every green texture or splash of color along the trail that was new to our eye. As members of the Muhlenberg Botanical Society, a local group of native plant enthusiasts and self taught botanists, we knew that “slow-n-steady” results in the best forest finds ;).
Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium) | Govenor Dick Park, Manheim, PA
Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium) | Govenor Dick Park, Manheim, PA
Our adventures started off strong when not long into our loop hike we spotted this stunning Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium) along the trail, thanks to Derek Metacalfe, Fall 22’ intern, nicknamed Gymnocladus metacalfe, or Gymno for short. Note: when working with Waxwing over a substantial length of time, you eventually acquire a botanical nickname. Hmmm… I’m sensing this will likely need to be a future blog post. Yes, there are actual rules to this nicknaming game ;).
I found it fascinating that Gymno connected with this plant when we first spotted it by immediately sharing, “This reminds me of Jack-in-the-Pulpit…”. Fascinatingly, the Green Dragon plant shares the same Genus as Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum).
As an environmental educator, I often ask younger scholars, “What does this remind you of?”, a gentle way to guide learners into reconnecting their relationship with nature. A John Muir Laws tip that never disappoints. However, the “this reminds me of” pedagogical trick when working with youth doesn’t always work out so seamlessly scientific, as illustrated with this Green Dragon example ;).
Citronella horse balm (Collinsonia canadensis) | Govenor Dick Park, Manheim, PA
This next forest find elicited a collective “This reminds me of…”, after giving the foliage and flowers a gingerly scratch-n-sniff. <Breathe in>…. ahhhhh, bright notes of citronella! In this case, our connection to the plant led us to help ID it through one of its common “street” names, Citronella horse balm. Citronella horse balm, or its formal scientific name, Collinsonia canadensis, is found in rich, moist woodlands, acting as good late season nectar and pollen plant for bees, a host plant for several species of Lepidoptera, and a medicinal forest tea for the curious forager.
Which of the local wholesale native nurseries want to start flushing these out as plugs? I know a few Waxwingers that would love to pepper their woodland gardens with these scented delights!
Still determining species (Erechtites or Lactuca?) | Governor Dick Park, Manheim, PA
As we continued on the trail, we approached a forest clearing where 4 ft. fluffy white seed heads stood boldly as a community. “This me reminds me of wild lettuce!”, I shared with the crew. We humbly approach the charismatic plant, feeling a bit perplexed. Still puzzled, we look to iNaturalist for help. Snap a few pictures and submit. American burnweed (Erechtites hieraciifolius), it suggests.
Laura Newcomer, Fall 22’ intern, otherwise known as Kalmia newcomerium. Get it? Mountain laurel… Laura. Ooook, teaser alert! The way the botanical nicknaming game works, via Waxwing rules, is that 50% of your nickname must be legit, a real Genus or a real species. The remaining part of the botanical nickname must connect with your human name. So, Kalmia (real Genus) and newcomerium (alluding to her last name). Its that simple and yes as joyous as it sounds, so give it a try with your nerdy native plant friends!
So, continuing with the story, Kalmia connects to the plant sharing that she recently saw wild lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) at Sherrie Moyer’s nursery, a friend and owner of Hungry Hook Nursery. Sherrie (Botanical nickname TBD, how did she manage to skate by acquiring a botanical nickname?) and I have have casually collected seed on a hike in this location in the past, so the gears start rollin’.
Afterwards, when reaching out to Sherrie to help with identification, my pictures made for a toss up of either Lactuca, or the iNaturalist suggested, Erechtites. More pictures are needed to clarify the beauty’s name. Until that day, the fun, fluffy white seed heads and distinct habit of courageously growing as a community, will be how I resonate with this plant.
Donna Volles nibbling Wild Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) | Govenor Dick Park Manheim, PA
As we journeyed through the forest, gathering pawpaw (Asimina triloba) snacks, we culminated our “field trip Friday” in the native meadow at Govenor Dick Park. Waxwing contractor and owner of Fernwey Native Nursery, Donna Volles, aka Monarda didymadonna or Didymadonna for short, made a beeline to the Wild Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) and gave it a nibble, as any good native edible nursery owner would do ;).
This plant reminds me of when I first intensively studied native plants as part of my Mt. Cuba certification training. I needed to creatively cement the scientific names leading up to the big test days and of course to carry this skill into my business practice. I distinctly remember greeting Wild Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) for the first time and picturing a skateboarding boy with chevron markings (the distinct seed head design of this plant) shaved into his hairdo, heading off to school with a belly full of hearty oats. In my mind the plant says, “Hi! My name is Chas, “the man”, and I ate wild oats this morning for breakfast! Cya latifolium!”.
Not how your brain works? For the seriously scientific among us, your best bet would be to use the Latin root words the original botanist utilized to identify the plant. For the Chas example here, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, “Genus name comes from the Greek chasme meaning gaping and anthemum meaning flower for the form of the flower. Specific epithet means broad-leaved”. Other common Latin roots to get you started can be found here.
Waxwing crew researching and observing their native meadow plant finds | Governor Dick Park, Manheim, PA
Next time you are out on a botanizing adventure and wonder about the identification of a plant. Use the connecting question tool of “What does this remind me of?” to start rebuilding your tie to the plant. What story does it tell you, seriously or silly? What of their relatives may you have met before? What of their characteristics do you resonate with? As ecological gardeners, we know the “more-than-human” world has a lot to teach us. We simply need to pause with them and listen.
Do you enjoy connecting with native plants, learning new pedagogical tools, and/or appreciate public lands to explore like Governor Dick Park? Give the post some “Love”, share with a friend, and/or comment below!