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Rare, Not Exotic: Special plants found right here in Columbia A unique essay about local treasures, prepared with the kind support and approval of the Columbia Parks Board By Alicia Bosela Imagine walking outside through a doorway onto a lawn (fescue grass origin: Europe), past a Bradford pear tree (origin: China), a privet hedge (origin: northern Africa, Europe), and decorative winter creeper (origin: China, Japan, Korea). Where might you be? Here in Columbia, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, some place overseas? Yes. But Columbia, KY is quite special. I'll not forget the first time driving down with the kids, "Oh, look! A dead skunk!" and the rolling green hills, the many types of birds & bugs, the blackness at night. I honestly know people who have never seen or smelled a dead skunk, and they too hail from urban areas. If you study plants, not like a gardener, but as one who studies plants that grow in wild places, this place is a genuine treasure. And I refer not just to the plants outside town. At the Jim Blair Community Center Park relatively uncommon plants occur in areas that have been allowed to remain natural. In fact, at the park a state-endangered plant was confirmed by a KY State Nature Preserves botanist this fall. At the time of this writing, there are only 4 existing records for this plant in the entire state. (Despite its status, there are no regulations that would affect the use of the park in any way.) To me, this is simply data-confirmation of what I already knew. At this same park in spring blooms a plant that a friend of mine used to pick in her youth out in eastern Kentucky. It is not common. I have seen hyssop here too, which was used historically in herbal medicine and to brew a wonderful anise-flavored tea. Along this stretch of area I would expect a plant my grandfather enjoyed reminiscing about from his youth, leatherwood. He said hanging onto it to walk up a holler the bark felt just like leather. One need only list a few plants before a connection between our cultural heritage and our natural heritage is made. I have a friend who taught me about friendship gardens. It was wonderful to swap plants and teach each other how best to grow them. Once I turned loose a particularly invasive gooseneck loosestrife in her garden and we had a time getting it out. One thing I have learned about our culture here is that it includes a fondness for storytelling and that the people are amply resourceful. One could obtain local native plants from friends and neighbors and in the process share knowledge of our natural heritage including, no doubt, information about traditional uses for them. Do you know the common milkweed plant, the one in vacant lots with fluffy seeds and spine-like projections on its milky pods? Due to the dramatic decline in the monarch population, this host plant for the monarch sold out of at least 2 Kentucky native plant nurseries this year. There are many places in our state that it is much harder to come by. At Harrods Creek in Kentucky, fish were reintroduced in 2014 and exist in the creek for the first time in decades. We have many types of colorful fish in our streams. Many people flock to botanical gardens to see the variety of plants that I see occurs here naturally, albeit without purposeful design. And I think about the local student I knew a couple of years ago who studied eco-tourism as a major. All this is by way of saying that this lovely town has a strong natural heritage with great potential to build on and further enjoy, at our community spaces and homes. Now imagine walking out through a doorway to possomhaw viburnum, with glossy fire-engine red leaves and waxy deep blue clusters of fruit in the fall. There might be an American plum with delicious fruits or the lovely spring flowering yellowwood, Cladrastis kentuckea. Yard plants could include native red honeysuckle with large tubular flowers irresistible to hummingbirds, columbine, purple coneflower, sweet William, and tidy clumps of native dropseed grass. This time you would know where you are. You are home. This story was posted on 2014-12-17 14:54:04
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ACHS Drama Dept. presents play: Mrs Claus Saves Christmas Hilda McQueary wins Support Local Businesses prize Campbellsville U TESOL and ESL ceremonies held 10 Dec 2014 Adair Co. Board of Education Agenda: 18 Dec 2104 Reg. Meeting Comment on Earthquakes: Getting ready for the Big One Economic Development takes center stage Applications for KY Angel Investment Fund tax credit available Today, WEDNESDAY with CM, 17 Dec 2014 Glens Fork Church of Nazarene Candlelight service: 24 Dec 2014 Jeff Spoon at Victory Community Church, Fri 19 Dec 2014 View even more articles in topic News |
 
115 Jamestown St. Columbia, KY. 270-384-2496 
  
   
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