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Raspberry

Scientific Names: Rubus idaeus

Family: Rosaceae

Height: 5-6 ft.

Spread: 5-6 ft.

Bloom Time: May-June, August

Native Range: North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar plant for beneficial insects. Birds enjoy berries.

Human Value: Berries are eaten fresh or cooked. Leaves can be used for tea.

We grow three varieties of raspberry: two red and one yellow. The first two years, the raspberries did exceptionally well, but in 2019 and 2020, they struggled. As a rule, I don’t water our garden once plants are established. It is possible that the dry summers of the last two years have stressed the canes. Last year, the yarrow growing with them seemed like it might be out competing them, so I have kept it in check in 2020. Nevertheless, many canes have turned brown over the summer. Once the Corona virus pandemic passes, I plan to have the soil retested and see if an imbalance is contributing to our raspberries’ troubles.

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Violet, Blue

Scientific Name: Viola sororia

Family: Violaceae

Height: 0.5-0.75 ft.

Spread: 0.5-0.75 ft.

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Bloom Time: May-June

Ecological Value: Larval host for fritillary butterflies. Nectar source for insects.

Human Value: Flowers and young leaves are edible. The leaves may be eaten in salads or added to soup to thicken it like okra. Flowers can also be used in salads or candied. Both leaves and flowers can be used for tea.

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Aster, Heart-leaf / Blue Wood

Scientific Name: Sympyotrichum cordifolium

Family: Asteraceae

Height: 2-5 ft

Spread: 1-2 ft

Bloom Time: September-October

Native Range: Eastern and Central United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host for Pearl Cresent. Nectar plant for bees and butterflies.

Human Value:

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Aster, New England

Scientific Name: Sympyotrichum novae-angliae

Family: Asteraceae

Height: 3-6 ft

Spread: 2-4 ft

Bloom Time: September-October

Native Range: North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host for Pearl Cresent and checker spot butterflies. Nectar plant for bees and butterflies.

Human Value: Medicinally used as a decoction to treat weeks skin and as a poultice for pain, fever, and diarrhea.

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Milkweed, Swamp

Scientific Name: Asclepias incarnata

Family: Apocynaceae

Height: 4-5 ft

Spread: 2-3 ft

Bloom Time: July-August

Native Range: Throughout North America except west coast, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host for monarch and queen butterflies. Nectar plant.

Human Value: Native American used it medicinally. The stringy fibers were used to make twine and rough textiles. The seed parachutes are six times more buoyant than cork and 5 times warmer than wool so large quantities were used to stuff pillows and life jackets during World War II.

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Sumac, Fragrant

Scientfic Name: Rhus aromatica

Family:  Anacardiaceae

Height: 1.5-2 ft

Spread: 6-8 ft

Bloom Time: April-May

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host. Berries.

Human Value: Native Americans used leaves and bark for medicines. Both could be used for tanning of leather. The berries soaked in water can be used to make sumac-aide.

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Dogwood, Red Osier

Scientific Name: Cornus sericea

Height: 4-5 ft

Spread: 4-5 ft spread by suckering and layering

Bloom Time: May-June

Native Range: Northern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host. Berries for birds and small animals late summer, fall and into the early winter. Wildlife browse the leaves, shoots and twigs. It also provides cover.

Human Value: Native Americans used the Red Osier for a variety of medicines. Stems may be used for basket weaving. Ojibwe and Chippawa used the bark for dye.

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Basswood

Scientific Name: Tilia americana

Height: 50-80 ft

Spread: 30-50 ft

Bloom Time: June

Crown Density: Dense

Native Range: Eastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects, especially bees. It is a larval host plant for over 150 caterpillars including tiger swallowtail butterflies. Squirrels and other small animals enjoy its seeds.

Human Value: Use young leaves like salad in lettuce. Young leaves may also be cooked. The flowers can eaten fresh or cooked or made into tea. Traditionally, fibers from the inner bark were used for cords. Seeds can be eaten from the hand, chewing and spitting out the shells. Trunks can be coppiced to provide an ongoing crop of new leaves throughout the summer.

So far in 2020, our basswood seems to be the tree most attractive to spotted lanternflies. I have not seen enough of an infestation to warrant the collateral damage of using insect tape on tree trunks, but it may become necessary as the autumn approaches.

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Oak, Scarlet

Scientific Name: Quercus coccinea

Height: 50-70 ft

Spread: 40-50 ft

Bloom Time: April – May

Crown Density: Moderate

Native Range: East Coast North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host plant for 534 species of caterpillars and numerous other insects. Acorns are an important food for birds and mammals.

Human Value: Acorns, once leached of tannins, can be ground into flour.

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Sweet Birch

Scientific Name: Betula lenta

Height: 50-70 ft

Spread: 40-50 ft

Bloom Time: April

Crown Density: Moderate

Native Range: East Coast North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Larval host plant for 413 species of caterpillars including tiger swallowtail and morning cloak butterflies. Seeds and flower buds feed birds, and small mammals.

Human Value: Can be tapped like a maple tree and the sap used to make syrup or fermented into beer, wine, or vinegar. The roots, leaves and branch tips can be steeped to make tea. Very young leaves can be eaten or used for flavoring. (EtW) The inner bark can be used as a flour substitute.