ASHLAND — Art of Gardening Club members met Aug. 5 at Tim Hortons for a “Planting Natives in Your Yard” program by Master Gardener Sarah Russell of Richland County.
Art of Gardening Club President Pat Edwards said she was in a book club with Russell’s grandmother.
A mini-Kingwood Center is how Russell referred to her home before she changed it into a yard of native plants. Namely, the property looked like a botanical Kingwood Center, manicured, immaculate.
“I want to feel joy! I started off by planting an apple, Honeycrisp,” Russell said.
Native plants evolved over thousands of years alongside wildlife. Native plants like oaks (Quercus), cherries (Prunus) and willows (Salix) are keystone or foundation plants. Everything is connected. Not only do they form deep connections with wildlife, but they also feed insects, birds and animals.
“Put a native oak in your yard,” she said.
Native wildflowers in Ohio include about 1,8000 species and attract local pollinators.
Caterpillars, a food source for birds, also need food.
“We need the right kind of leaves” for butterflies; sassafras and spicebush are native host plants, she said.
They lay their eggs on the leaves giving their young (caterpillars) safe food and shelter. When bluemist flowers (wild or hardy ageratum) take over August-October, butterflies go “banana grams.”
“Could we make our yard the bird feeder habitat and shelter?” Russell inquired. “Even a small bird bath can make a significant difference.”
Bird baths add a source of water to a yard for wildlife.
“I love botanical names. I think they’re so fun,” she said.
Baptisia australis is the botanical name for blue false indigo, spikes of indigo-blue, pea-shaped flowers. Russell makes an exception when it comes to hostas. They may not be native plants but they’re not invasive.
“Fair boxes look fabulous,” she said.
The club maintains two fair flower boxes in front of the Ashland County fairgrounds.
“Yard of the Month” scouts for August included Sally Ahlers who launched the summer project five years ago from June through September, Claudia Dunn, Edwards and Cathy Siwek.
The award went to a very inviting yard and couple, Richard and Pam Crist of 110 E. 12th St., Ashland.
Kathy Bargar, Peggy Stover, Wendy Schmidt and Edwards are September scouts for the southeast section of Ashland starting with Cleveland Avenue.
The club will travel to Tin Can Chandelier on Sept. 2.
Member Kim Tanner expressed an interest in having a program with soap, so Pat will contact the art studio/workshop to inquire about a speaker on soap making.
Members should plan on meeting at Tin Can Chandelier.