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2007 Chapter News

Native Plant Projects at New Quarter Park                                            April 2008 

Several work days took place in April as the educational native plant trail and the Bobwhite quail habitat restoration projects got underway.  Members of the John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists are working together on the education trail, and the Williamsburg Bird Club is partnering with both organizations on the Bobwhite habitat project. 

The John Clayton Chapter has joined forces with several organizations to work on two native plant projects in New Quarter Park in York County, Williamsburg.

The first of these projects is to restore a Bobwhite quail habitat in an existing meadow which is primarily grass covered and mowed regularly. Our Chapter, the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists, and the Williamsburg Bird Club are working together to plant some native meadow plants, to clear out some of the alien invasives and to allow the meadow to grow naturally to provide the preferred cover habitat for the birds.  The plan would be to mow the area only once a year to keep trees from growing in the meadow.   During several work days in April John Clayton members helped plant blue stem grass and broom sedge donated by Cynthia Long and some invasives were cleared from the exterior of the meadow.  John Clayton volunteers working on the Bobwhite project include Laurie Houghland, Cynthia and Bob Long, and Carolyn and Ralph Will.

The second project at the park is the development of an educational native plant trail.  Invasive plants are being removed from the area and native plants are being rescued from on and along other trails in the park.  Plant identification labels will be installed.  The John Clayton Chapter is co-partnering with the Historic Rivers Chapter on this trail project.  The York County Parks and Recreation Department is also working with the organizations on both projects.

Patty Riddick, Larry Riddick (Historic Rivers Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists), Carolyn Will, Ralph Will (John Clayton Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society), and Alice Kopinitz and Seig Kopinitz (Williamsburg Bird Club and Historic Rivers Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists)

Photo by Sara Lewis

Carolyn Will, Laurie Houghland, Larry Robertshaw and Ralph Will

Photo by Helen Hamilton

As a way of going green and doing our part for the environment the chapter newsletter, Claytonia, is now on-line and can be found under Newsletter.  Members are encouraged to contact Phillip Merritt with their email address or email changes so that they will receive a pdf copy of the newsletter.  Members choosing to continue receiving a paper version of the Claytonia should contact Phillip Merritt to let him know of their choice to do so.  Phillip can be reached at phillipmerritt@hotmail.com, or (757)

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Jan Newton led two walks in the Stonehouse Elementary Habitat that focused on native plants in the landscape.  The Habitat was planted to benefit wildlife, especially birds and butterflies, and serves as an outdoor classroom.  When designing the garden, the height and width of the plants at maturity, and their moisture and light requirements, as well as their texture and overall shape were taken into measure.  Seasonal interest was also kept in mind, considering bloom time and color, summer and fall foliage color, and berries, grasses and evergreens for winter interest.

The Habitat contains over 70 species of small trees, shrubs, perennials and ferns. Wild blue phlox, creeping phlox, Virginia bluebells, wild bleeding heart and golden ragwort were in bloom on April 11.  Whereas bluestar, blue-eyed grass, Small's ragwort, wild bleeding heart, foam flower and wild columbine were blooming on the May 3 walk. (The Jamestown lilies bloomed in between the two scheduled walks!)

Two more "native plants in the landscape" walks are scheduled at the Stonehouse Elementary Habitat:  Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, August 21, both at 1pm.  Call Jan Newton at 566-3646 to register.  Free and open to the public.

Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus) at the

Stonehouse Elementary School Habitat

   Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

Several potting parties were held in March and April to dig, divide and/or pot plants in preparation for Plants Galore, our annual plant sale co-hosted with the JCC/Williamsburg Master Gardeners (See Plant Sale news above, April 26, 2008).  Potting parties were hosted by Cynthia and Bob Long, Jan Newton, Sid and Sylvia Sterling and Ada Lou Turner.

Callie Newton, Helen Hamilton and Lucile Kossodo at Jan Newton's Potting Party (4/9/08)

Lucile Kossodo, Jan Newton and Dorothy Whitfield at Jan Newton's Potting Party (3/25/08)

Pat Gibbs, Lucile Kossodo, Bob Long, Martha Smith and Cynthia Long at one of the Long's Potting Parties

Martha Smith and Cynthia Long going green by

re-using plastic containers

Mary Hyde Berg led a walk at her home site, Summerfield, in Gloucester County.  The walk began in Mary’s naturalized front yard where red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), black cherry, wild columbines and common blue violets were blooming.  In the wooded area of the property dogwood, heartleaf ginger and pink lady slippers were in bloom.  Marsh blue violet, lady smocks (Cardamine bulbosa), and blisterwort (Ranunculus recurvatus) were flowering near a brook.  Blooming along the roadside were pinxter flower, red chokeberry, dogwood and an impressive stand of wild lupines (Lupinus spp).  Bracken fern, rattlesnake (Botrychium virginianum) and adder’s tongue were among the eight fern species spotted.

Mark Chittenden, Gloria Heizler, Susan Chittenden, Mary Berg (trip leader) and Kathleen Kamper

Adder's Tongue Fern (Ophioglossum vulgatum)

   Blisterwort (Ranunculus recurvatus)

Wild Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

   Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Heartleaf Ginger (Hexastylis virginica)

Due to an overcast sky and unusual spring weather, the walk on March 16 to Mary Berg’s Tripetala site proved to be slightly early in terms of seeing the bloodroot and hepatica carpeting the woodland.  We did, however, see a few opened bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blossoms and a few liverworts (Hepatica americana) were showing their beautiful little faces.  We also saw many toothworts (Cardamine concatenata) and moneyworts (Obolaria virginica) in bloom.  A box turtle was found by Callie, daughter of Jan and Jim Newton.  Two fledgling American woodcocks were almost stepped on as their mother tried to act as a decoy, flying off in the opposite direction. The group was impressed with the numerous umbrella magnolia trees (Magnolia tripetala), the tree for which the site was named.  Mary reports that the tripetala are blooming as I am writing this article on May 6th.  After the walk my family and I went to Mary’s home to see her goats and were delighted to see Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) in full bloom. 

Moneywort (Obolaria virginica)

Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

Yellow Jessamine Vine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Trip leader Mary Hyde Berg

(Photo by Phillip Merritt)

Box Turtle

Callie Newton

Fledgling American Woodcock (Photo by Phillip Merritt)

Liverwort (Hepatica americana)

Guest speaker Hannah Morgan of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) and the South Appalachian Mountain Stewarts (SAMS)  gave a presentation about the destruction and pollution that is caused by mountaintop removal occurring in southwest Virginia.  Mountaintop removal uses explosives to blast the tops off of mountains to get to the coal below.  The ground that was blown up is then dumped into the valleys below, filling them up and blocking the streams and rivers that were there.  The coal is washed on site and the contaminated water, called sludge, is then stored in lakes on top of the flattened mountain and held in by dams.  One such dam broke in Kentucky causing a larger environmental disaster than did the Exxon-Valdese oil spill in 1972.  The powerful and rich coal and power companies were able to keep this news from reaching the national media!  Hannah also discussed the pollution and damage that will be caused by the coal-fired power plant that Dominion Power is proposing to build in Wise County, Virginia, Hannah's home. The plant, called the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, will spew 5.4 million tons of CO₂ into our atmosphere annually and, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), will be one of Virginia's largest air polluters. This plant will also release mercury and sulfur dioxide (acid rain) into the atmosphere.

Guest speaker Maureen Lynch of the Williamsburg Climate Action Network (WCAN) spoke about global warming and what each of us can do in our own homes and businesses to help fight global warming. 

Jan Newton reports that, according to the Nature Conservancy, the Southern Appalachians in Southwestern Virginia is one of the most biological diverse regions in the country and is home to numerous rare and threatened species.  The ecosystems in the Clinch, Holston, and Powell watersheds which run through Wise County are of particular concern.  These rivers of the Tennessee River system harbor more at-risk fish and mussel species than any other river in the nation, as well as the highest concentration of imperiled species in the mainland United States.  Coal mining and burning would endanger and, in some cases, destroy these wildlife habitats and the species that live in and around these rivers. 

Jan and the VNPS encourage all members to write legislators and members of the DEQ and encourage them not to say NO to dirty coal plants and STOP mountaintop removal for the health of the plants and animals of Virginia and the planet.  Visit some of the web sites below to find out how you can do more.

For more information about and images of mountaintop removal visit the following sites:

www.samsva.org

www.ilovemountains.org

For more information about the Williamsburg Climate Action Network and what you can do to help fight global warming, visit this site:

www.williamsburgclimate.org

Guest speakers Maureen Lynch and Hannah Morgan

Mountaintop removal uses an explosive mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, commonly called ANFO, the same explosive was used in the Oklahoma City bombing.  Communities located near mountaintop removal sites have reported their homes bombarded with rocks and other dangerous projectiles from blasting.  Many foundations to homes have been cracked from the shaking of the ground.

Black Mountain is one of the most horrific strip sites in Wise County, Virginia. That specific site sits directly above the coal camp Inman, which is where in 2004 3-year-old Jeremy Davidson was killed by a boulder being pushed over from the site.

VNPS passes resolution against the proposed Coal Plant in Wise County, Virginia

The Virginia Native Plant Society recently passed a resolution against the building of the coal-fired power plant (known as the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center) in Wise County on the grounds that its pollution would endanger plants in the region and that the coal plant would encourage more mountaintop removal which destroys habitats and their inhabitants.

Despite the cold, over 50 participants enjoyed dendrologist Dr. Stewart Ware as he led them through the mysteries of bark and twigs during the nude tree walk held on the campus of Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg. Oddly enough the most abundant tree in Virginia, the tulip poplar, was not spotted at this site, so Dr. Ware and his wife, Donna Ware, passed out twig samples of the tree for examination and discussion.  This was most helpful and interesting.  The nude tree walk is the chapter's most popular walk and, in fact, the attendance was so large this year that the registrants were divided into two groups and a second walk was added.  We plan on offering a 'clothed' tree walk in the summer.  Stay tuned to "Fieldtrips and Events."

Trip leader Dr. Stewart Ware

Ingrid Jahn (on left) receiving the botany award from chapter vice-president Donna Ware.

For an audience of nearly 70, big-tree hunter Byron Carmean gave a presentation about Gary Williamson's and his discovery of an ancient water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) and an ancient bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) in a swamp forest located near Courtland, Virginia in Southampton County.  Byron reported that these trees are 1500 years old (and maybe as old as 2500 years) and that there is a forest full of these big trees. In a recent visit to the site, eight John Clayton chapter members where able to enter the cavernous hollows that had formed in some of these ancient trees and found themselves dwarfed by the height of the cypress knees!  The meeting was held at the James City/Williamsburg Community Center located at 5301 Longhill Road in Williamsburg.

For pictures and links for Cypress Bridge old-growth forest scroll down to "Cypress Bridge," October 29, 2007.

The John Clayton Chapter is now considering candidates for scholarships for Summer 2008 sessions of Nature Camp at Vesuvius, Virginia. The deadline for scholarship essay submission is February 29th.       Click here for Details.

As a way of going green our chapter newsletter, Claytonia, is now on-line and can be found        under Newsletter. 

2007

Libbey Oliver, the manager of the Williamsburg Farmers’ Market, was the speaker for the November meeting of the John Clayton chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Oliver spoke on the environmental and health benefits of sustainable agriculture in our area and nationwide. She stressed the importance of buying local and supporting our local farmers. Gloria Diggs provided refreshments made from nuts, vegetables and herbs that she grew. The next date for the Williamsburg Farmers’ Market is February 9. For more info visit www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com or call (757)259-3768.

Pictured are Libbey Oliver, holding a commemorative poster for the Farmers’ Market, and Gloria Diggs, showing the canvas tote bag. Both items can be obtained at the Williamsburg Farmers’ Market.

The chapter is delighted to announce that the previous slate of legislative officers is returning to serve another two-year term.  Thanks to the 2005-2007 officers and committee chairs for a job well done.  The chapter is back and growing strongly now!  There have been a few changes in the Committee Chairs and an updated list can be found under Contacts.

President:  Helen Hamilton

Vice-President:  Donna Ware

Secretary:  Mary Turnbull

Treasurer:  Hayes Williams

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Patsy Wells reports that members of the John Clayton Chapter traveled south in October to an old-growth forest, known as Cypress Bridge, located in an often flooded slough or inlet of the Nottoway River near Courtland Virginia.  The walk was led by Byron Carmean of Suffolk, a retired school teacher and now a "big tree hunter."  The old growth forest which is owned by International Paper covers about 40 acres and has trees that are believed to be more than 1500 years old.  Patsy says, "the pictures can't describe how it feels to be standing (with very wet legs and feet) near one of these ancient trees. Byron is a delightful speaker and told us amazing details about the life cycle of the Tupelo and Cypress trees. This is a trip worth taking." 

In November another group of John Clayton members joined Teta Kain and her Friends of Dragon Run buddies on an identical trip to Cypress Bridge.

Below are links for additional reading and photos about the Cypress Bridge Old Growth Forest.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claytonsnatives/

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/files/vasouthernrivers.pdf
http://www.vnps.org/new/chapters/potowmack/potowmack.pdf
http://www.vnps.org/state/vnpsnov06.pdf
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/537308/va_negotiating_on_ancient_cypress_forest/index.html
http://search.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia/press/press2831.html

For more about Big Trees of Virginia visit http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4H/BIGTREE/

Phillip Merritt, Mary Turnbull, Donna Ware and Louise Menges standing at base of "Big Mama," an ancient bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). Note height of cypress knees!

Photos above and to the right by Phillip Merritt

Click here > to see more

Cypress Bridge photos by Phillip Merritt

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

Anybody home?  Donna Ware and Louise Menges check out the cavity in an ancient water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica).

Check out height of cypress knees (above)!

Click here > to see more Cypress Bridge photos by Patsy

"Big Mama," an ancient bald cypress

(Taxodium distichum)

Byron Carmean, Lucile Kossodo and Diane Sullivan

Photo above by Helen Hamilton   

Click here > to see more Cypress Bridge photos by Helen

In an attempt to become more green and to do our part for the environment the chapter newsletter, Claytonia, is now on-line.  The October-December 2007 Claytonia is our premiere on-line edition and can be found under Newsletter.  Members are encouraged to contact Helen Hamilton with their email address so that they will receive a notice of the quarterly postings of the newsletter.  Starting with the January-March 2008 edition, members will receive an email announcement indicating that the current newsletter has been posted to the chapter web site, www.claytonvnps.org.  Members choosing to continue receiving a paper version of the Claytonia should contact Helen Hamilton to let her know of their choice to do so.  Helen can be reached at helen44@earthlink.net, (757)564-4494, or by mailing her at 952 Wood Duck Commons, Williamsburg, VA  23188.

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Members of the John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Williamsburg/James City County Master Gardener Association manned a display booth on October 20 at the Boy Scout Expedition held at Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg. Scouts and their troop leaders learned about the benefits of native plants and the damage to native habitats by invasive plants.  John Clayton president Helen Hamilton reports that "this outreach was very effective.  Most of the adults and scouts were not aware of the invasive character of tree-of-heaven, stiltgrass, English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle, and of the variety of native plants looking good in late October."  Thanks to members Helen Hamilton, Judy Hansen and Sara Nugent who staffed the tables.

Sara Nugent manning display at Chickahominy Riverfront Park

Judy Hansen informing scouts about native plants

The VNPS Annual Meeting: "Where the Water Meets the Land"  was a Big Success!     September 14-16, 2007

With nearly 160 participants, 14 field trips and 11 presentations in addition to the keynote speaker, the 2007 Annual Meeting/Conference, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the VNPS, was the best ever according to John Clayton Chapter president Helen Hamilton!  The conference took place on the campus of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point and was co-hosted by VIMS and our own chapter.  Thanks to Leslie Herman for arranging the partnership with VIMS and starting the ball rolling.  Also thanks to Jan Newton, Shaune Reams, Lucile Kossodo and Cynthia Long who, on the way home from last year's annual meeting in Staunton, came up with many of the preliminary ideas and names of speakers and fieldtrip locations.  So many fabulous fieldtrips and terrific presentations were offered that folks had a dilemma when trying to choose their schedules.  The actual 25th VNPS annual meeting was celebrated on September 15 at the Freight Shed on the Riverfront in Yorktown with a delicious catered buffet.  A raffle held during the meeting raised $350 towards 2008 Nature Camp scholarships. 

We would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to all of the speakers and fieldtrip leaders, as well as to those of you who volunteered in so many ways to organize and run such an event.  We are also proud that so many of our own members attended the conference.  For more details of the conference schedule and events, including a list of the conference speakers and fieldtrip descriptions, please click here > "2007 State Conference."

Happy 25th Anniversary VNPS!

Cynthia Long receiving the John Clayton Botany Award cup from Libbey Oliver

VNPS president Sally Anderson and John

Clayton Chapter president Helen Hamilton 

VNPS Annual Meeting: dinner held at the

Freight Shed in Yorktown

More Annual Meeting pictures

coming by Dec.

For more information about Annual Meeting/Conference 2007 see

October 2007 newsletter (Claytonia)

For more Dragon Run Trip pictures visit

Claytonsnatives'.

Dragon Run Trip      

Photo by Phillip Merritt

John Clayton members manned a display booth at the Williamsburg Farmer's Market on Merchants Square in Williamsburg from 8-11am.  The focus was on non-native invasive plants.  Information on look-a-likes and native alternatives was presented and samples of invasives as well as native flowers in bloom were on display. Coloring activities were available for children, as well.  The booth had numerous visitors and was appreciated by many.  Thanks to Mary Turnbull, Beth Chambers, Carol Ann Elliot and Jan Newton for volunteering for this outreach and educational activity. 

Beth Chambers, Mary Turnbull and Carol Ann Elliot >

Mary Berg reports that Byron Carmean, one of the Big Tree Guys, led twenty tree lovers on a drive to big tree sites in eastern Gloucester County on July 21.  While at beautiful White Marsh plantation Byron explained the measurement and ranking of trees.  Among the big trees seen at this site were the state champion Ginkgo biloba planted in 1820 and a good sized pawpaw, Asimina triloba that was rich with fruit.  Zion Poplars Baptist, the first black church in Gloucester, was the next stop.  The group saw the historic and curious poplar tree which fell long ago, and had, before the Civil War, sent up seven trunks, which made a mystical number and an inviting site for blacks to worship. 

            The next stop (the former Hinkle property, next to Andrews funeral home on Business Rt. 17) featured the state champion horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanea, a Greek species related to the American buckeye, and, like it, having a poisonous seed. On the way to Ware Neck, the tour paused near the site (excavated and re-interred) of the first Ware Church, which burned in the early 1700s, to see a row of splendid oak trees, mostly Quercus pagoda, cherry bark, and black Q, velutina, with some water oak, Q. nigra. 

The last stop was deep in Ware Neck where a productive fig bush grows.  As a woody species Ficus is ranked even as oak, pine, and cypress.  The owners of this large fig bush led us to the long sought state champion Ficus carica nearby.  Several planned stops were left undone, and it was generally agreed we would want to do this again. 

Please call Byron Carmean at 1-757/934-0588. if you know of a likely candidates for a “remarkable tree."

Mary Berg in front of a big ash tree.

Photo by David Girard

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John Clayton members manned a display booth at the Williamsburg Farmer's Market on Merchants Square in Williamsburg from 8-11am.  The focus was on non-native invasive plants.  Information on look-a-likes and native alternatives was presented and samples of invasives as well as native flowers in bloom were on display. Coloring activities were available for children, as well.  The booth had numerous visitors and was appreciated by many.  Thanks to Helen Hamilton, Beth Chambers, Kathi Mestayer and Jan Newton for volunteering for this outreach and educational activity. 

Ann Messick of the Northern Neck Chapter of VNPS presented a delightful slide show featuring her photographs of mountain plants and Blue Ridge Mountain scenes during our July 19th meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the Yorktown Public Library on U.S. Rt. 17 at Battle Road.  Trillium, goldenseal, Oconee Bells, gay-wings, dwarf ginseng, and bishop’s cap, will be among the species shown.  She also highlighted some “critters” and other aspects of mountain slopes, such as types of rustic fencing.

Donna Ware tells us that Ann was a devoted member of the John Clayton chapter for many years, faithfully traveling the distance from her home in Kilmarnock on the Northern Neck to participate in our meetings and programs.  About five years ago, with mentoring by the Sterlings and Lorna Wass, she was instrumental in founding the Northern Neck chapter and served as its first president.  She also played a key role in the successful effort to save the Cabin Swamp area on the Northern Neck from development.  

Guest speaker Ann Messick with Mary Hyde Berg

On the drizzly afternoon of May 3, Dr. Donna Ware led chapter members and guests on a walk at the GreenHaven VNPS Registry Site, a tract of land owned by Wayne and Dolores Moyer in Norge, James City County. At the bottom of a slippery slope the group found native dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius) and American dog violet (Viola labradorica), as well as yellow bellwort (Uvularia sessilifolia), spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), water hemlock (Cicuta maculata), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) and numerous varieties of ferns. These species thrive in the calcium-rich soil of the GreenHaven ravine. The high level of calcium is due to the weathering of underlying layers of fossil shells of the Yorktown Formation. (Please note that dwarf ginseng [Panax trifolius] is not the ginseng that is sometimes used medicinally.)

Pictured from the left are Tanya Wilson, Patti Gray, Wayne Moyer, Dorothy Whitfield, Martha Smith, and Donna Ware.

 This year's plant sale was held at the Williamsburg Community Building on N. Boundary Street, across the street from the Williamsburg Regional Library.  Plant sale chairman Patti Gray reports that "Thanks to the efforts of so many members, our first attempt at a plant sale in Williamsburg in partnership with the Master Gardeners was very successful.  There were over 530 sales that day, and many people expressed their appreciation for a local sale with such fine quality and reasonably priced plants...[JCC treasurer] Hayes Williams noted that the amount raised was about average for our sales the last few years, but all in one day, instead of 2 weekends!"

Patti thanks all of the volunteers who appeared for planning sessions, potting sessions, and the day of the sale activities and emphasizes that they were "essential wheels in the engine of success."  She "thanks Helen Hamilton and Cynthia Long for helping in the early planning stages, Jan Newton for an amazing ability to keep the media interested, and those people who hosted potting sessions and then nurtured those fledgling plants –Sylvia and Sid Sterling, Ada Lou Turner, and Charlotte Boudreau."  She also gives "much gratitude to those who individually raised and presented plants – John McCloskey, Sylvia and Sid, Cynthia Long, and Lorna Wass."

Organizations in the community who provided essential -- and free-- help were—Williamsburg Event Rentals, Colonial Williamsburg Nursery, Ken Matthews Nursery, Cooke’s Nursery, and Homestead Garden Center.

Mark your calendar for next year...  

2008 Plant Sale will be on Saturday, April 26th!               

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