over-enthusiastic bulbs

Pelarg@aol.com Pelarg@aol.com
Mon, 05 May 2008 16:26:22 PDT
Invader bulbs in the nearby park along the Bronx River here in southern  
Westchester county (NY), just north of the Bronx line, include galanthus and  
scilla, both of which seem to relish the floodplain soil not far from the  "river" 
(more a creek).  A purple annual (biennial?) corydalis grows  in one area as 
well, in woodland like the others.  Natives include the  Erythronium 
americanum, Allium tricoccum (blooms after the leaves fade in  summer), Dicentra 
cucullata, skunk cabbage, Sanginaria canadensis, and a few  others.  I've tried to 
introduce a few things myself, namely native  Podophyllum (extra rhizome 
divisions I planted in various locations a few weeks  ago), Iris hexagona (I think a 
clump is still hanging on by a lake part of the  river), and last fall I 
planted Asimina triloba seeds in scattered locations  from a friends trees in 
nearby Bronxville. Less pleasant invaders include  Ameliopsis, Celastrus, garlic 
mustard, pachysandra, English ivy, and Norway  maple.  
While I am sure the galanthus and scilla got there from garden refuse, they  
have apparently spread by seed on their own for years, sometimes forming large 
 colonies.
Oh yeah, the biggest threat to all of the woodland low growers, scads of  
Ranunculus ficaria, now that is one plant that is way out of control in wet  
soils!  At least it seems to avoid the drier slopes where the dutchman's  breeches 
is found. 
Ernie DeMarie (zone 6/7) where remarkably some Pelargonium alchemilloides  
are sprouting back from the roots, as is a gazania "Christopher Lloyd".   Ditto 
several cultivars of Salvia greggii, though never the peach colored one. 
 



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