Earth Day, Buddleia Destruction, Trails a-Fire, and Wings o' Water

[ellyssian]

We went to Lehigh Gap Nature Center for their Earth Day celebration, where we took part in cleaning up a superfund site - yanking invasive Buddleia - the butterfly bush - from a hillside recently seeded with native grasses. Usually these have long winding shallow roots- 6' long is not uncommon. Found one today that went 2' deep - almost taproot-like. That one nearly killed me, yanking that puppy out.

Why yank the beautiful, much planted butterfly bush? It's non-native, reseeds very fast, has zero-wildlife value outside of the butterfly nectar. Side by side comparison has shown that if 10 monarchs are feeding, 1 is on the butterfly bush and 9 are on the native shrub next to it, so the nectar is a bit overrated anyway. The caterpillars won't eat the leaves, no other animal gets any value, and it escapes into the wild, spreads, drives out other plants, and becomes a monoculture. dragonflypug's son stepped on - and killed - the one we had in our yard, and it will not be replaced by another Buddleia. Plant Clethra and other natives.

After an hour on the hillside, we headed back to the Osprey House and listened to a native plant talk - and helped out a bit with advice on going native. During the talk we noticed the large number of firefighters congregating just to our side, along the bridge. Many sirens. Large clouds of smoke on the ridge, along the Appalachian Trail. So we spent the afternoon watching its progress up to the peak.

Turns out - reported by a female firefighter that needed to use our bathroom facilities - they were dragging hose up the trail. Thousands of feet of hose.

They had an airplane dumping water, and, later, a helicopter. It looked like it was mellowing out, but upon leaving we realized the whole southern face was still heavily smoking.

From our original point of view, we figured that a fire got out of hand near a shelter on the trail. After driving away, I wouldn't be surprised if it started at a house on the other side and spread up the mountain.

Comments

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Clethra, eh?

Our Buddleia died a few years ago in a nasty winter, and we haven't replaced it. This looks like a good alternative. Thank you!

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Great stuff.

I planted one last year - I'm hoping it does well!

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I'll try to make a note of it for next year. This year we're doing rugosas, and rhubarb, and asparagus. But I'd love to add some butterfly-and-bee-attractive stuff next year...

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

My parents had rhubarb growing, and I avoided that like the plague. I might try some now, even if I decide it still isn't eatable! =)

I'm seriously considering getting some asparagus planted. Probably next spring.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Well, we like rhubarb from an eating point of view. There's a totally decadent dessert I make with it, for one thing. I do tend to like sour stuff, though, as I've gotten older.

If we plant asparagus this year, we'll be able to harvest some in a couple of years- so that's the impetus. Maybe even a bit next year, but not much. It's a pretty floofy plant, though, so we're going to put it just inside the fence lengths that separate neighborhood-visible from just-us, as something of a screen. Most of the rugosas are going on the visible side of said fences.

[thewrongcrowd.livejournal.com]

After looking at the Clethra page, I won't be so disappointed that we're too cold for Buddleias. Thanks!

I am going to ignore the "no non-natives" rule though with respect to Euonymus--they're gorgeous, well-introduced here and I'm far enough away from the county forest that I won't feel guilty about a possible escape. :)

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Ah, Euonymus... a noxious weed in two states, and an annoying weed in two others! =)

Generally, the more forgiving theory regarding anything showing invasive tendencies is: don't rip it out, but don't plant it again!

From Edge of the Woods list 'Substitutes for Commonly Used Invasive Plants':

Invasive: Burning Bush

Why? Produce hundreds of seedlings that threaten habitats.

Native Replacements:
Serviceberry, Chokeberry, Red Twig Dogwood, Witherod Viburnum, Arrowwood Viburnum, Clethra

[opakele.livejournal.com]

Dragon Neighbor Lady has tons of butterfly bush. Gack! On top of the bamboo...this is too much.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

As if you didn't need proof enough that she was Evil! =)