16
THE SHUTTLE
May 2021
Liberate Your Lawn & Garden
A Hidden Wild Lawn Offers a Dash of Spring Magic, and a Message by Sarah Endriss, for the Shuttle
“Oh wow… that is stunning!”
W
e were at
ta (poverty oat grass) and more than a couple varieties of moss. The matrix was diverse, dense and healthy with minimal invasive plants, including the dreaded lesser celandine! So how is that possible?
Tyler Arboretum in Media to
brainstorm, but the unexpected bonus of the visit was coming upon a large expanse of lawn punctuated by two magnificent old native trees. Yes, the trees were amazing. But honestly, it was the native wild lawn that lay beneath them that took our breath away.
First, it should be noted that a light layer of leaf litter remained. Leaf litter protects the soil and plants, increases soil moisture and returns vital nutrients back to the land over time.
This was no modern American lawn. This was a magic carpet — a magic native carpet! There were no large swaths of tulips, daffodils or crocus; nor was it uniform or bright green. No, this carpet was a delicate mass of dainty, star-shaped light pink flowers hovering two to three inches above the ground, with accents of purple and yellow dancing in between.
Second, in an effort to protect the trees, Tyler protects the soil. While browsing the arboretum’s blogs, I came across an article that talks about restricting the use of chemicals and pedestrian traffic within and around the Painter Collection. They do this to limit compaction, allowing the tree roots ample access to air and water. Although focused on the health of the trees, it is clear that they have also protected the soil ecosystem and the unique native perennials that can, if allowed, thrive. There’s a lesson for all of us.
A true harbinger of Pennsylvania’s spring, Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty) is an ephemeral wildflower that arrives in early spring (March and April) before trees leaf out, and then disappears completely by June. Each plant bears a single pair of leaves with one stem supporting a loose cluster of flowers. Growing in light shade, in good, acidic moist soil, this spring wildflower was once prolific throughout our woodlands and along the shoulder slopes of stream banks. Today you need a keen eye to find it. At Tyler, we were delighted to find it spread out in front of us across a small floodplain and throughout the historic front lawn that is home to the arboretum’s Painter Collection of historic trees. It was glorious! The magic we found at Tyler Arboretum was not the grand display of its magnificent flowering trees and shrubs (yes, they are amazing) or the swaths of native cultivars planted along walks, beckoning us to return for a future show. It’s this naturally occurring, intact native ecology of a large shaded area beneath a 200-year-
old red maple (Acer rubrum) and white oak (Quercus alba) trees. And Claytonia was not the only happy native plant! As we crouched down to get closer look, we found a half dozen native herbaceous plant species happily thriving: Luzula echinata (common woodrush), Erythronium americanum (yellow trout lily), violets, Oxalis corniculata (creeping wood sorrel), Danthonia spica-
Native plants and gardens require different care from the traditional American lawn. Perhaps the key to appreciating the beauty of these naturally occurring ecosystems is acknowledging how rare they have become. Therefore, I urge you to consider that the magic of spring may not be the bold, audacious displays of non-native generalist plants but the sublime beauty of unique native ecosystems. With a little respect, what might be possible for your yard? Sarah Endriss is principal of Asarum LandDesign Group, adjunct faculty at Jefferson University and a restoration design consultant for WildLawn, an ecological native grass alternative to traditional lawns. Sarah can be reached at Sarah@asarumlanddesign.com For more information on WildLawn, visit www.WildLawn.com
“Oh, no, I forgot to save the Earth!” BYO BAG WHEN YOU SHOP THE CO-OP. Locally Grown
llustration by Alli Katz
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