Buffalo Creek Workday
Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Prepared by Flo Hayes

Participants

Mike Strickland, Carol Hight, Frank Bennett, James Dickinson, Flo Hayes

Work done

Labeling of plants and privet removal. We learned the lesson of trying to label as plants are put in ground. We had one plant, a coreopsis, that we will have to wait until next year to know which one. We could not find the Cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) and hope the mysterious person with the weed whacker did not kill them. We were able to drive large metal fence posts in front of the American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) that is coming back nicely following the weed whacking incident. We also gave the wonderful Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) two metal stakes. A Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) taken to a 4 inch stub by the weed whacker is making a recovery. We staked a Climbing Hempweed (Mikania scandens). The Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) are beautiful and in several spots along the creek. Two Cinnamon Ferns (Osmunda cinnamomea) we had planted earlier in the year look the worse for wear, but we have high hopes for their survival. We will know next Spring. We did find our stick marker for the Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii) and replaced it with a permanent marker. We also saw that the Pink Lady Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) that we rescued and planted are doing very well. Using the common and botanical name has proved to be a wonderful way for us to learn the names of plants.

After the workday, we walked the back side of the trail and found some treasures. That part of the trail took a real beating in the four major weather events to hit the area and not many people venture to that end. Thus the nature is busy "replanting" the area. We saw a Trillium still up. Mike's guess was a catesbaei. The rest of us nodded in agreement.

We identified some areas for some of our natives now in pots awaiting the rains. We all agree to think RAIN.

As we exited the trail, we took a few minutes to see how our demonstration bed is doing. We were pleasantly surprised how well the plants are holding up. The azaleas look a little rough, but they've still got green leaves. We were quite surprised to see the Whorled-Coreopsis (Coreopsis major), that we thought dead, is not only still alive, but blooming.

Observations

Weather: Nice. Temps were cool enough that working was pleasant.

Plants: Elephant's Foot, two species (Elephantopus carolinianus and E. tomentosus), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum), Climbing Hempweed (Mikania scandens), Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), Trillium (probably Trillium catesbaei), Pink Ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule), False Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia pubentissima)

Plants list

We decided it was still too dry, so none planted.

Plans for next workday

If weather permits (needed rain occurs), plant some of the natives we are holding in pots. Continue with non-native plant removal.

Photos of Activities

	The Crew: Carol, James, Flo, Frank		Carol making tag for Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii).
	Flo and Frank putting tag onto stake.		Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) damaged by mowing crew.
	Frank driving a stake beside Beautyberry, to, hopefully, prevent further mowing.		Two species of Elephant's Foot growing side by side, not something you see often in nature. On the left is Carolina Elephant's Foot (Elephantopus carolinianus), and on the right is Elephant's Foot (E. tomentosus).
	False Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia pubentissima) we found along the trail.		Left side of our Demo Bed. Although the drought has caused some damage to the azaleas, they are recovering and the other plants are doing well. The storms yesterday and overnight have knocked the Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) down.
	Center of our Demo Bed.		Right side of our Demo Bed.

 Back