Spring 2008

Dear Members and Friends,

Scant traces of snow remain at Nasami Farm, but inside, our nurseries are in a perpetual spring. Long before the first flakes melt outside, our young roundlobe hepatica, Anemone nobilis var. obtusa (Hepatica), put on their show with the sharplobe, Anemone nobilis var. acuta (Hepatica), quick on their heels. Nasami’s propagation house teems with activity as tens of thousands of seeds burst into life. I’m often hunched over a bench searching for the first signs of green, a part of the quiet drama that reminds me daily why I devote my life to the cultivation and preservation of plants.

Thanks for sharing in the excitement and for your interest in native plants and the Society. We’ve expanded our offerings with more free native plant demonstrations on Sundays at 1 p.m. in spring and fall, and lots of new native plants. We open for the spring season Thursday, April 17 at 10 a.m. and are open each week, Thursday – Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., through June 8.

Please join me at our Open House, Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m., when we introduce the new members of our nursery staff. We invite you to explore an exciting roster of demonstrations and educational programs in the Pioneer Valley. See the enclosed listing of our education programs and visit www.newenglandwild.org for full details.

We’re pleased to announce new plants for 2008. Two of our favorites include Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans ‘Touch of Class’), a variant of our patented ‘Stairway to Heaven.’  It’s identical to the latter in stature and habit but has leaves edged in pure white rather than cream. The blue flowers against the variegated foliage are great for brightening up a shady spot. The little-known Carolina bugbane (Trautvetteria caroliniensis) is a must for the perennial border, with airy meadow rue-like flowers that abound in late summer. It performs well in a wide range of soil types and moisture levels.

Try new uses for favorite wildflowers. Planting woodland ephemerals is a great way to add some spring flare to your sunny garden. Many species typically found under a forest canopy can be even more impressive in a higher light situation. Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) is a perfect candidate to include in a new or existing sunny border that holds phlox, indigo, and other later season beauties. They spring to life and flower long before the others emerge, and store enough energy to flourish for years to come. Even the shade-loving stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum) benefits from substantial levels of light. I had a specimen for five years in a shady location that produced only two flowering leaflets. Two years after moving it to a bright eastern exposure, it transformed into a stately clump of more than 17 flowering stalks. The leaves may brown at the edges but are quickly over-shadowed by later-emerging neighbors.  

Our plants aren't the only wildlife getting attention. As many of you may know, Nasami Farm is also a great place for birds. To help our feathered friends, we constructed many nest boxes, including 23 for Eastern bluebirds, 12 for tufted titmice/ chickadees, and one for American kestrels. Constructed in a single afternoon with the help of dedicated staff, volunteers, as well as Honorary Trustee Bob August and family, these houses will be placed throughout the Sanctuary and Nursery. We thank Rugg Building Solutions, West Hatfield, MA, for donating the lumber for this project.

Please share your email address. We’d like to update you on our conservation and horticulture projects via email. If you’re receiving this letter, it means that we don’t have your current email address. I promise we will never share your email with anyone. Please email Karen Pierce, our Membership Director, at kpierce@newenglandWILD.org, with “Nasami Farm” in the subject line, and be sure to include your name, desired email, and postal address in the message. Thanks in advance for helping us conserve.

Please volunteer to help native plants. Become an administration, sanctuary, or nursery volunteer. Contact Kate Pawling at kpawling@newenglandWILD.org or 413-397-9922. Thanks for your marvelous participation in this season’s conservation volunteer program. The Society needs volunteers to help with preparing native seeds, some of which may become part of the exciting Millennium Seed Bank/Seeds of Success project. Contact Tristram Seidler at tseidler@newenglandWILD.org or 413-658-5336. No previous experience is required. 

Your interest in New England Wild Flower Society means a lot to us. If you’re already a member, we thank you for supporting plant conservation and native plant education. This has been a great year for protecting rare plants in the wild and expanding nearby native plant education programs ― and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Considering becoming a member? Membership makes a powerful contribution to healthy habitats throughout New England, and member benefits include plant and program discounts. Gift memberships are also available. You can join or renew at Nasami Farm, online at www.newenglandWILD.org, or by contacting Karen Pierce at kpierce@newenglandWILD.org or 508-877-7630 x 3801.

I’m looking forward to meeting you, so please come by and say hello.

See you soon,

Ron M. Wik

Nursery Business Director

New England Wild Flower Society