over-enthusiastic bulbs
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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