Woodland Plants - page 2

White Prairie Gentian

Ron & I were out walking on the Lake Red Rock bike trail just across the road from our house late this summer. I spied an interesting plant growing just off the trail to investigate. We kept checking it's development, then it bloomed. I gathered seed from it. I'm hoping to sow it in my garden next spring. It'll be fun to see if I can get Gentian to grow in captivity. I researched Iowa wild flowers to correctly identify the plant. We are lucky to have near paradise federal government preserve land so very near to our backdoor.

Photos from Prime Focus Iowa Website

www.primefocus-iowa.com/Gentian.html

www.answers.com/topic/gentian

Hardy Cyclamen

Learn more about Hardy Cyclamen on the Bed 13 page.

Arisaema triphyllum - "Jack-in-the-Pulpit"

Arisaema triphyllum "Jack-in-the-Pulpit" have long held mysterious powers over me. I've marveled at their very existence ever since I was a little girl. I've always believed they would be a plant that would only grow in the wild with Mother Nature tending their every whim. I think my grandma must have told me enchanting stories about 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit'.

During a visit to the Dubuque Arboretum three years ago, I was awe-struck at the sight of a entire woodland hillside engulfed in a sea of green brunneras with giant 'Jack-in-the-Pulpits' towering amongst them. The sight took my breath away. There were so many jacks I couldn't believe my eyes. I took pictures in a vain attempt to preserve that precious moment. However my photographing expertise left much lacking.

And later that same day while visiting a garden friend in Epworth, IA - Larry Clemons of LaDon's Garden; I discovered more jacks growing there. I told him my arboretum hillside story. He quickly got his spade & dug up a great big jack just for me. Oh, I almost pee-ed my pants I was so excited. Larry said they were easy to grow. He gave me planting instructions, "Stick them in the ground & ignore them." How could that be? Surely such a majestic plant needed babied & fertilized & watered & pampered. Wrong! All it needs is a shady growing spot and semi-decent growing conditions.

I'm learning about 'Jack-in-the-Pulpit' all right! He / She has flourished in my shade garden under the walnut tree & multiplied & seeded itself all over the place. I can't believe how tall they get. The word - "weed" - might come to describe these jacks one day soon. Do you know anyone I could share with?

Listed below is information I've learned about the mysterious little preacher-plant.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is bisexual - changing from male to female (trans-sexual)

Younger plants produce only male flowers. Older healthy, thriving plants that have stored up lots of energy produce female flowers - using the stored energy to bring the berries to ripeness. The berries are not poisonous.

Transplants by insects / birds / other wildlife. It is said they will start to bloom in three years.

Grows in woodlands / boggy - soggy areas

Surprised by it's height up to 26" tall

Leaves tower over the pulpit (spathe) green & white streaked with purple

Jack is the spadix inside the pulpit (preacher)

Shiny red / red orange berries

True perennial living 20 - 100 years

Arisaema triphyllum "Jack-in-the-Pulpit" has been known by many other names.
Indian Turnip
Indian Almond
Pepper Turnip
Marsh Pepper
Bog Onion
Priest's Pentle
Wood Pulpit
Little Pulpit
Cockup Flower
Starchwort
Memory Root
Devil's Ear
Dragonroot
Brown Dragon
Jill-in-the-Pulpit (female plant)

Learn more about Jack-in-the-Pulpit:

www.paghat.com/jackpulpit.html

2bnthewild.com/plants/H46.htm

Variegated Lily of the Valley (Convallaria)

'Lily of the Valley' is the "flower of the month" for May (see May 2006 - What's Happening Page). I wrote about it last year but didn't have a photo available yet. Lily of the Valley appears to be enjoying life in my Iowa garden since I imported it from Ohio in 2005. I suppose one day I'll be cussin' it and trying to murder it when it tries to take over the entire area. Remember one definition of a weed is "a plant out of place" & "the difference between a flower and a weed is a judgement".