Compound Interest – Notes from the Native Plant Center by C. Smith, Pennsylvania
Late in August a frequent customer came in to the Native Plant Center. I was all set to commiserate with her about what a rough summer it had been for gardeners and gardens alike – too hot and humid, no rain – when she exclaimed, “My garden was so alive this summer!” I was confused until I looked at her face. Her eyes were shining, and in them I could see the reflection of something I’d seen before – in the mirror! It was Rachel Carson called the “sense of wonder.”
My sense of wonder began emerging a few years ago after we planted a number of serviceberry trees (Amalanchier spp.) in our otherwise grass-dominated yard. Serviceberries are multi-stemmed understory trees/shrubs. They generally reach a height of 20-30 feet. Several species are native to this area, among them Amalanchier arborea and Amalanchier leavis. They bloom white, delicately and briefly, in spring, and produce berries which ripen in June, hence another common name, the Juneberry. In his book, Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines, William Cullina states: “[The] small but delectable fruits…are among the tastiest and most uniquely flavored wild fruits the continent has to offer. Together with the nectar they provide for awakening insects, this fruit puts them near the top of the list in terms of value to wildlife.” In fall their leaves turn delicious shades of peach and coral.
Robins were the first to discover the new trees in our yard. I watched then snatch the berries from all sorts of un-robin-like positions that first summer. Mockingbirds arrived the next June, followed by Baltimore Orioles and, occasionally, voracious flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Except for the robins, all these species were new to our yard.
Through the years we’ve added many more native species to our garden and watched in fascination as Mother Nature chipped in. The sense of wonder – that feeling of part anticipation, part curiosity, part amazement, part delight – becomes an addiction.
Native wildlife is dependent on native species and vice versa. It’s that simple. They evolved together and are related in ways we do not fully understand. When we plant native species in our yards, wildlife materializes. Nature rewards us, with interest!