{"id":623,"date":"2013-04-17T01:15:10","date_gmt":"2013-04-17T01:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=623"},"modified":"2013-04-17T01:15:10","modified_gmt":"2013-04-17T01:15:10","slug":"prime-plants-for-nature-backyards-for-natures-2013-native-plant-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/?p=623","title":{"rendered":"Prime Plants for Nature: Backyards for Nature\u2019s 2013 Native Plant Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/em> Edie Parnum<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

By\u00a0announcing\u00a0annual\u00a0Prime Plants for Nature<\/strong> awards we hope to encourage\u00a0you to plant native plants that\u00a0have exceptional ability to support wildlife. These plants contribute significantly to the web of life by hosting insects, offering nectar and pollen, or producing fruits, seeds or nuts for birds, butterflies, and other insects and animals.\u00a0 Some of the award-winning plants perform all of these functions.\u00a0 Our selections, all native to southeastern\u00a0Pennsylvania, will make attractive additions to your landscape, are readily available at native plant nurseries or native plant sales, and are easy to grow. \u00a0By incorporating these plants into your landscape you will be helping to create a healthy ecosystem on your property.\u00a0 Each year we will announce awards in two categories: Trees and\u00a0<\/strong> Shrubs<\/strong> and Perennials<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Our selections for the 2013 Prime Plants for Nature Awards are:<\/b><\/p>\n

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata<\/i>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

This attractive 3-5\u2019 tall perennial milkweed has pink flowers that bloom from June to
\nAugust.\u00a0Like other milkweeds it is an important host plant for Monarchs, a declining species of butterfly.The flowers produce nectar used by many butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.<\/p>\n

\"Monarch<\/a>

Monarch on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in Barb’s garden. July 9 2012. Photo \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

Milkweed Bugs, Milkweed Leaf Beetles, and some other insects feed on this plant, too. \u00a0Native to eastern and central United States, Swamp Milkweed is deer resistant and will thrive in sun or part sun in moist or average soils.\u00a0 A showy grouping of at least three, preferably more, of these milkweeds will attract egg-laying Monarchs and a variety of nectar-seeking butterflies and pollinators.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

White Oak (Quercus alba<\/i>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have room to plant only one large shade tree on your property, make it a
\nWhite Oak.\u00a0 Oaks host more insect species than any other plant, including 534 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars, critical foods for adult birds and their nestlings.\"White<\/a><\/p>\n

The acorns are eaten by nuthatches, jays, woodpeckers, crows, squirrels, and other animals. This tree is, therefore, a major source of food for birds and other wildlife. White Oak is slow growing, but it is disease-resistant and will eventually become a 60 to 85-foot majestic tree.<\/p>\n

\n
\"White<\/a><\/dt>\n
White Oak (Quercus alba). Photo \u00a9 Barb Elliot. Click to enlarge.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

It can live for 300 or more years–all the while offering food, shelter, and nest sites to myriads of animals.With its long taproot\u00a0this eastern North American native is difficult to transplant and should be planted as a young tree. This quintessential wildlife plant will grow in sun or part-sun in dry to moist soil.<\/p>\n

We strongly encourage you to consider adding one or both of these exceptional native plant\u00a0species to your garden this year.\u00a0 You can check for these plants at the suppliers listed below.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Sources for Backyards for Nature\u2019s <\/i>Prime Plants and Other Native Plants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Native Plant Sales<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (in date order)<\/b><\/p>\n

McKaig Nature Education Center, Wayne, PA; \u00a0pre-order by April 25. \u00a0Pickup May 11. \u00a0http:\/\/www.enjoymckaig.org\/<\/a>\u00a0 **Both Swamp Milkweed and White Oak available\u00a0at very reasonable prices**<\/p>\n

Delaware Nature Society, Greenville, DE; April 25 & 26, members only; April 27-28 public http:\/\/www.delawarenaturesociety.org\/nps.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila., PA; April 26 members only, April 27-28 public http:\/\/www.schuylkillcenter.org\/departments\/land\/plantsale.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Brandywine Conservancy, Chadds Ford, PA; May 10 members only, May 11-12 public \u00a0http:\/\/www.brandywinemuseum.org\/calendar_events.html\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Bowman\u2019s Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, PA; May 10 members only, May 11 \u2013 June 2 public http:\/\/www.bhwp.org\/resources\/Plant-Sales.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Native Plant Nurseries<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Edge of the Woods Nursery, Orefield, PA \u00a0http:\/\/www.edgeofthewoodsnursery.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Gateway Garden Center, Hockessin, DE \u00a0www.gatewaygardens.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Redbud Native Plant Nursery, Glen Mills, PA \u00a0http:\/\/www.redbudnativeplantnursery.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Russell Gardens Wholesale (some native perennials), Southampton, PA www.russellwholesale.com\/ZenCart\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Sugarbush Nursery, Mohnton, PA \u00a0http:\/\/www.sugarbushnursery.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Yellow Springs Farm, Chester Springs, PA \u00a0www.yellowspringsfarm.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Edie Parnum By\u00a0announcing\u00a0annual\u00a0Prime Plants for Nature awards we hope to encourage\u00a0you to plant native plants that\u00a0have exceptional ability to support wildlife. These plants contribute significantly to the web of life by hosting insects, offering nectar and pollen, or producing … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":667,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions\/667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backyardsfornature.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}