native plants Plant Walk at Wild Meadow Farm
You can also walk along the fruit grove planted in 2011 in honor of Paul W. Phillips, the Museum’s Senior Security Guard. The orchard contains white and black muscadine grapes, peach, pear, fig, apple, plum and blueberry plantings.
Wild Meadow Farm will host an easy, half-mile, two-hour nature walk at their farm in Delco on August 15. On past walks they’ve discussed plant ID and uses, wildlife, and local history. The walk will start at 9:30 a.m. sharp to beat the heat. Find them on Instagram @WildMeadowFarmNC. Email them at WildMeadowFarmNC@gmail.com to RSVP and get directions.
“Leaderless” Green Swamp Native Plant Walk
Cameron Museum Nature Trails
In order to beat the heat the SE Coastal Chapter of the Native Plant Society will conduct an Early Bird plant walk Saturday, August 14 at 8 a.m. at the Green Swamp. Armed with iNaturalist and some group common knowledge the group will explore the Green Swamp for no more than 90 minutes. Google maps is a good source to find directions to its location in Brunswick County.
The 9.3-acre campus of Cameron Museum of Art has nature trails for you to enjoy. Stroll along the pond and follow the trail from the museum front door north to the campus’ historic woodlands. On the trail you can see native plant and animal life.
We’re Back! (to doing walks)
For those in Wilmington who would like to car pool, a convenient meeting place is the Burger King located on 3rd Street between Wooster Street and Dawson Street. Poolers will meet at 7 a.m., depart promptly at 7:15. The easiest way to coordinate the pooling is to arrive at the Burger King with the willingness to drive or ride. It all can be sorted out in the parking lot.
After over a year of staying isolated we are happy to get back to doing plant walks. We only have one walk scheduled as of now but we expect to schedule a lot more during the good weather months. We will be trying to go to new places and are open to suggestions. We will include a walk in the Green Swamp. Most of us never get tired of a trek through it.
If going directly to the Green Swamp, meet in the parking lot off of route 211. Bring bug spray and good walking shoes. The group asks that all participants be fully vaccinated. Contact Charley Winterbauer at cewinterbauer39@gmail.com to sign up for the walk.
Fun for Kids: It’s Owl Good at Airlie Gardens For the ninth year in a row, Airlie is excited to host its Annual Art Exhibit, July–December 2021! They invited artists, or teams of artists, to decorate, paint or otherwise adorn one of 10 oversized four-foot tall, fiberglass owl models. These owls will be placed throughout the grounds for guests to enjoy as part of their garden experience. Artist designs were selected based on creativity, craftsmanship, use of materials, the ability to appeal to all age groups, outdoor sustainability, and durability.
Roger Shew
The Green Swamp looks different as the seasons change. This the Shoestring area, showing flowers in bloom in June.
Recommended Reading
For those considering going a walk through the Green Swamp, Charley Winterbauer, co-chair of the local Native Plant Society chapter, recommends this book by James Fowler. Entitled Orchids, Carnivorous Plants, and Other Wildflowers of the Green Swamp, NativeNorth Groundcovers of itNC Carolina, he considers an Native species are those that occur naturally in an area. They are better adapted to local conditions requiring less care once established. Native plants support our native invaluable resource to learn about wildlife, in particular our birds, butterflies and bees (pollinators). Introduced plants may become invasive, outcompeting the natives and not providing the food and cover our native wildlife depends on. this diverse ecosystem.
If you would like to be informed on the walk schedule and other plant-related activities, go to www.ncwildflower.org and join the state-wide NC Native Plant Society. Based on your address, you will automatically be assigned to a local chapter. For the SE portion of the state, that is the SE coastal area chapter.
Southeastern Coastal Area Chapter
Questions? Email cewinterbauer39@gmail.com. 14
North Carolina Native Plant Society
The native plants below are all perennials and should return each year if planted properly. They all attract pollinators, provide a food source, and are available commercially. If your local nursery does not sell these native plants – encourage them to do so!
Common Name
Scientific Name
Bloom Time/Color
Area Best
Planting Needs
Native Notes
Green-andgold
Chrysogonum virginianum
Spring, or later yellow
Piedmont Coast and Mountains
Part sun-part shade; average to dry soil
Evergreen; great as ground cover; deer resistant
Pussytoes
Antennaria plantaginifolia
Spring, whitish
Piedmont, Mountains, Coastal Plain
Mostly sun; well-drained, non-rich soils
May be only somewhat evergreen; spreads by stolons
www.goinggreenpublications.com
