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Holly, American

Scientific Name: Ilex opaca

Family: Aquifoliaceae

Height: 15 – 30 ft.

Spread: 10 -20 ft.

Bloom Time: May

Native Range: Eastern and Central United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Cover and nesting sites for birds. Winter food for birds

Human Value: American holly has been used as Christmas decorations since colonial times. The smooth grained white wood is used for fine carving such as scroll-work and scientific instruments. During the Civil War, the leaves were used as a tea substitute and also medicinally. (Harris, p. 167-168)

August 5, 2020: Our American holly is a survivor. When we moved to our house in July 2012, the lot next door was a wonderful wild tangle. Within the year, the lot has been clear-cut leaving nothing but ground out stumps and bare dirt behind. When we bought the land in the fall of 2014, nothing seemed to be living except some vinca and English ivy. Imagine my surprise when in 2016, two years after the trees had been cut, I noticed that the stump of a holly near the fence had resprouted. In the years since, she has grown two leaders and as of 2020 stands about 8 feet tall. Hollies are dioecious (male and female flowers are produced on different trees). In the fall of 2019, our holly produced berries for the first time since she began regrowing, proving herself to be female.

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Hearts-A-Bustin’ / Strawberry Bush

Scientific Name: Euonymus americanus

Family: Celastraceae

Height: 4 -6 ft.

Spread: 4 – 6 ft.

Bloom Time: May – June

Native Range: Eastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Winter food for birds.

Human Value: Joy!

Augus 5, 2020: I first saw Heart-A-Bustin’ at Bartrum’s Garden one fall day with Martha. The bright red and purple pods splitting open to reveal the red berries within made me grin and stuck in my mind, along with the descriptive common name on the label. I had to wait several years for our red maple tree to grow large enough to shade it throughout the day, but I as finally able to plant a whip in the spring of 2019. So far, it has grown slowly, but it will probably be another year or two before it flowers.

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Hazelnut, American

Scientific Name: Corylus americana

Family: Betulaceae

Height: 10 – 16 ft.

Spread: 8 – 13 ft.

Bloom Time: March – April

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: The large shrubs provide shelter and nesting sites for birds. Tallamy reports that American hazelnut is a larval host for 125 species of caterpillars. Mammals and birds eat nuts.

Human Value: Edible nuts.

August 5, 2020: I purchased two American hazelnut whips from Prairie Moon Nursery in the spring of 2019 and planted them against the east fence next to Ian’s clubhouse. The southern whip survived and has grown into a small multi-stemmed shrub, but the more northern whip was planted in much poorer soil and died. I plan to plant a second hazelnut next spring as a pollinator for the surviving plant.

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Grapevines

Scientific Name: Vitis sp.

Family: Vitaceae

Height: 15 – 20 ft.

Spread: 8- 15 ft.

Bloom Time: May – June

Native Range: Orchard Hybrid

Ecological Value: Nectar plant. Berries for birds.

Human Value: Green grapes are edible, but reputed to have a thick skin. Varieties like this one were more likely used for making jams and wines than for snacking. Leaves are also edible.

August 5, 2020: In the spring of 2020, Johanna allowed me to transplant three of her green grape vines from the fence beside her drive way. Today they are growing on the south and east side of Ian’s club house. The eastern vine, which had the oldest root system has produced a bunch of grapes this year. I look forward to tasting them in the fall.

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Bottlebrush Buckeye

Scientific Name: Aesculus parviflora

Family: Sapindaceae

Height: 8 – 12 ft.

Spread: 8 – 15 ft.

Bloom Time: June to July

Native Range: Southeastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar source.

Human Value: Ornamental.

August 5, 2020: Our bottlebrush buckeye, affectionately named Edith, started as a balled and burlapped tree planted by landscapers at my parents’ house in Swarthmore. Unfortunately, their large deer herd found her new shoots irresistible. She struggled for two years before my parents gave her to me in the spring of 2019. Mistaking her species, I planted her in full sun for six months before realizing that she was a shade-loving bottlebrush buckeye.

In the September 2019, I moved her to the shadier northeast boundary of the Side Lot. As of August 2020, she seems to be establishing nicely.

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Apple Tree (Dwarf)

Scientific Name: Malus hybrid

Family: Rosaceae

Height: 5 – 10 ft.

Spread: 5 -10 ft.

Bloom Time: April – May

Native Range: Eurasia, Orchard Hybrid

Ecological Value: Nectar for pollinators; fruit for squirrels

Human Value: Fruit for humans

We grow three cultivars: Jonathan and Golden Delicious on the west sidewalk espalier and a six variety espalier between the crabapple and red bud.

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Honeysuckle, Coral

Scientific Name: Lonicera sempervirens

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Height: 10-15 ft.

Spread: 5-6 ft.

Bloom Time: June-September

Native Range: Eastern United States, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Nectar source for hummingbirds. Birds eat berries.

Human Value: Ornamental

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Honeysuckle, Hybrid

Scientific Name: Lonicera sp.

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Height: 10-15 ft.

Spread: 5-6 ft.

Bloom Time: June-September

Native Range: Europe and Asia, hybridized in gardens

Ecological Value: None.

Human Value: Ornamental

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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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Rose, Virginia

Scientific Name: Rosa virginiana

Family: Rosaceae

Height: 4-6 ft.

Spread: 4-6 ft.

Bloom Time: June

Native Range: Eastern North America, Pennsylvania

Ecological Value: Rose hips are eaten by birds and mammals. The suckering growth creates hedges of good cover.

Human Value: Petals are edible and may be distilled for rose water. Rose hips, with seeds removed, may be made into jams or dried and used in teas. The rose hips are high in Vitamin C and fatty acids. The seeds are high in Vitamin E. The red hips provide good winter interest.