We are chuffed to be unfurling out of our winter-inspired fetal position. Our mornings have been spent basking in the warmth of the sun and making plans for gorgeous gardens all around Macomb.
Jen, the owner of MTG, was traveling through Europe last month and found herself captivated by the sunny yellow blooms of the Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas). Their bright blossoms beckoned and made her heart do a little dance. If that vibrancy doesn’t scream “spring” after the dullness of winter, we don’t know what does –
– Until (plot twist…) Jen thought more about what spring in the garden really means. For a lot of gardeners, it means that we expect our gardens to burst into brightness, grabbing our attention and blossoming prolifically. However, is that what spring means to our local pollinators and other creatures?
After a long winter, these butterflies, birds, bees, and other critters are waking up from their cozy winter’s nest. Their energy resources are tapped out from surviving the winter and they’re getting hangry. Our traditional suburban landscapes are full of plant material that is designed to be decorative instead of nourishing. Plants that are not native to this area sure look nice, but they contribute less to our ecosystem. They don’t provide as much food as natives do, so local critters have much less access to nourishment. With this in mind, where are these creatures supposed to get their first meals post-hibernation?
As Jen mulled this over, Mother Earth gently waved the early spring flowers and called her attention to the red maple (Accer rubrum). This native’s red flowers hang gracefully from its branches, offering a much-needed food source to our overwintering pollinators. We chose to feature this flower for spring because of how much it contributes to its ecosystem. While the maple’s flowers don’t scream sunny yellow like the cornelian cherry does, it invites our local pollinators to thrive. It is a keystone species (read about what that means in our blog!).
The red maple’s deep, red blooms remind us of how spring enters. It’s a gentle re-awakening, slowly pushing through the chill of winter to emerge in a medley of color and song. These tough, hardy maples are resistant to the rollercoaster of weather in an early spring season. Natives inherently know how to navigate their “native” environments. When it’s freezing, they gather their sap in their roots, then send forth that life-giving liquid to the branches and buds on warmer days.
As you’re considering which native maple to consider for your landscapes, we also suggest sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and silver maple (Acer saccharinum). They provide similar benefits as the red maple and will support the local ecosystem like a champ. Warning: beware of the tendency of Norway maple (Acer platanoides) to become invasive.
If Jen were to return from her trip wanting to plant a few of those bright, yellow Cornelian Cherry Dogwoods in her own landscapes, here is how it could play out: though it would be beautiful to the human eye and provide a teensy bit of habitat and food for the local creatures, it would mainly cause distress for our ecosystem. Since it is not native to our area, it doesn’t fit in well enough to the local ecosystem to be considered beneficial. It wouldn’t be easily recognized by local pollinators and other critters as a source for nourishment and protection. It would actually create a hole in our ecosystem.
We have a saying; “Right plant, right place.” In our quest to choose plant material that fits beautifully into our neighborhood ecosystems, let’s tune into what nature is telling us. Our native bee, bird, and butterfly populations are begging for help. One or two keystone species added to your yard could make all the difference! Get in touch with Jen for garden coaching and make your garden a space of joy for our non-human community members (are we talking about aliens? I don’t know…are we?).
Until next thyme,
My Thyme Gardens