Nature Corner: A Look At Lupines - Part 1

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

One of the beautiful but fleeting sights in June are the lupines, filling our fields, gardens and road sides with a glorious tapestry of blue, purple, pink, red, yellow, and white. But did you know that the lupines we most commonly see are non-native to the northeast? 

Sundial lupine is native to eastern North America, but the Bigleaf Lupine and ornamental Russell Hybrid were brought into the Northeast during the early to mid-1900s for decorative gardens and roadside stabilization. Gardeners appreciate the fact that lupines are an asset, enhancing garden health and resilience by improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixing.

Through these initial plantings and escapes from gardens, plus the fact bigleaf lupines are prolific seed producers, they have spread rapidly, sometimes displacing native lupines. These non-natives do provide pollen for pollinators, but the tendency to hybridize with sundial lupines from cross-pollination is common. This results in hybrid lupines which are not suitable food sources for the endangered Karner blue butterfly caterpillars.

Fortunately there are conservation efforts in the Pine Barrens of Concord to restore native lupines.

To discover more about these variety of lupines and how to tell the difference:

What Are the Differences Between the Native Wild Lupine and Bigleaf Lupine Commonly Seen In New Hampshire Landscapes?

Nature Corner: Unlikely Neighbors?

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

On a recent visit to a local rookery where there are five active Great Blue Heron nests, we were concerned that at first sight, one of the nests had a red-tailed hawk in it. We thought that perhaps the hawk was after one of the heron babies, but when scanning with our binoculars, we realized the babies in the nest weren’t herons but eyas (the name given to baby hawks who don’t fly yet).

In researching it, Red-tailed hawks usually do nest in the tallest of trees, to give them good hunting views.

The herons usually will nest high up as well, for protection from predators.

In researching this phenomenon of unlikely neighbors, I discovered that at times, red-tailed hawks can and will prey on young hawks or eyas, but in this scenario, the heron parents in all the nests we observed seemed vigilant.

Nature Corner: Pink Lady Slippers - New Hampshire's State Wildflower

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

On a walk this week, I was delighted to discover a group of our New Hampshire state’s beautiful wildflower, Pink Lady's Slippers (Cypripedium acaule Ait.)

This once prolific wildflower, a member of the orchid family, has seen a significant decline due to human development including agriculture, urban development and road construction. The more common Pink Lady's Slipper is actually listed as a “special concern: under the Native Plant Protection Act.

Lady's Slippers can live for many years if left alone. But they require a specific climate and soil conditions to grow and propagate. Like other orchids, they require a specific fungus in the dirt to germinate and grow. While other plants have food inside their seeds, they need the fungi to break open the seeds and attach to them. Once attached, the fungi flows both food and nutrients into the seeds, causing it to germinate and grow. 

It can take from 10 to 16 years before the plant first blooms, but these wildflowers can survive for over 20 years. Lady's Slippers do not transplant well due to their particular environmental needs for survival. To protect these beautiful flowers, we need to observe them in their wild places and let them bloom undisturbed.

To discover more:

Pink Lady's Slipper

Can You Dig Up Pink Lady’s Slippers?

Nature Corner: Dandelions - Protect for the Pollinators or Poison

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Bright yellow dandelions are one of the earliest flowering plants, bringing vibrant pops of color to our lawns and countryside. Dandelions are critical plants this early in the year for over 100 species of insects; and the leaves and seeds feed over 30 species of wildlife including birds. The flowers attract pollinators, like bees, butterflies, and moths which in turn pollinate flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables that feed even more species.

Dandelions, which are herbs with many valuable uses, can be appreciated or denigrated, by well-meaning homeowners, wishful for a smooth, weed free green lawn. But dandelions, when treated with weed killing poison controls and pesticides, can be a danger to key species in our ecosystem. In particular, the pesticide glyphosate has proven to have serious repercussions on wild bee colonies and other animals.

If you need to remove dandelions, the safest way to do this is pull them out by their roots. There are many tools on the market that help you achieve this. You can also use neem oil, vinegar, and/or epsom salts to prevent the devastating harm that poisons can do to our ecosystems.

To learn more:

Glyphosate Weedkiller Damages Wild Bee Colonies, Study Reveals

Nature Corner: The Healing Power of Nature

by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

There is a powerful antidote to the maladies of anxiety and stress produced by over exposure to the technology-driven world. We can simply shut it off and spend some time in nature. In a busy life, deliberately choosing to spend time in nature can seem like one more demand. But multiple studies have shown there is a direct correlation between spending time in nature and improvements in mood, mental heath and emotional well-being.

In fact one study showed that spending time in nature can calm and regulate our nervous system in less than five minutes! It doesn’t seem to matter what age this powerful antidote can impact. Children who spend quality time in nature have improved academic achievement, higher self-esteem and creativity.

What are some ways to bring nature back into your busy, modern day life? Opening your senses to the beauty and wonder of the natural world is the first way. It focuses your attention on the present moment, pulling you out of the rabbit holes of worrying about the future. It can be as simple as gazing in awe at the vibrant vista of a sunset, reveling in the sound of waves crashing on a beach, savoring the delicate scent of a flower, tasting freshly picked berries, and/or tracing the softness of a feather.

Bringing our attention and appreciation to the gifts that surround us in the natural world, can help the over-stimulated mind. You can even bring nature indoors, with artwork, plants, and sound recordings of natural phenomena.

So in this blooming time of year, gift yourself the gift of the healing power of nature.