Eco-Succession
Whilst out Walking … we paused to consider a particular area in the town’s undeveloped Hydro-Servitude linear park. This particular plot was created maybe eight years ago by volunteers with the objective of supporting Monarch butterflies by growing milkweed. Accordingly it was left unmown. There are still milkweeds flowering in there but fewer in number while other plants have moved in … a process of eco-succession. Once or twice a year someone on the town’s Facebook group will moan about what they perceive to be the scruffy nature of the plot and ask what’s the point if the milkweeds are no longer standing to attention in militarily neat ranks. They are missing the point …
A number of small trees - not all, it has to be said, entirely welcome species - have taken up home and the original park grasses (mostly Timothies … LINK ) are still dominant. A decision will have to be taken soon as to whether this local area should be allowed to develop into a wooded copse or be maintained as diverse grassland but for now there is still time to ponder on what is best. If grassland then there needs to be an effort to replace the Timothy - introducing Rudbeckias and Echinaceas would be a way to go.
Meanwhile, an interesting number of volunteer flowering plants have arrived and this week are showing splashes of colour. If nothing else, this plot is in the long-term process of developing a more interesting biodiversity than any close-mown park area can ever show and is starting to support small mammal and bird species as well as insects that can export the opportunities presented. Remember, there are many more species of vulnerable butterflies than Monarchs. An educational opportunity, as well.
The (now maturing) Milkweed Garden
Lesser Stitchwort (Stellaria graminea)
St. John's-Wort (Genus Hypericum)
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)
Spiderworts (Genus Tradescantia)
I only photographed plants actually in flower this day, and it has to be said that of those at this date, only the Spiderworts - actually, the biggest and showiest of the random collection - are genuine native species, while the others are probably garden escapes. Left to get on with things without undue interference, the process of succession has started and will continue and evolve. Some plants will arrive on the wind or birds’ feet. Some will establish while others will maybe last a couple of years before being edged out by another arrival. In a big city suburb, as opposed to the wilder beyond, this is only to be expected after all. Over the next decade or so arriving species will sort themselves out and any really thuggish non-natives can be removed and replaced by interested volunteers. Anything is better than park lawn grasses … almost none of which are native either. Patience produces beauty.
Meanwhile, while regularly walking the streets and parks, it is more evident each year that the milkweed are effectively dispersing their seeds out into the edges of hedges and wooded plots and other relatively undisturbed corners of the town - their flowers are shining brightly this week and, we trust, will continue so to do for years to come.
You can read some more about the location of this plot by visiting my other, and lengthier, newsletter being released at 11am today (local time - five hours later in the UK) where I invite you to take a Virtual Suburban Nature Walk with me and see lots more photographs. This link will get you on your way …
I appreciate this post, Richard. Very informative. I am doing my part in St-Euatache and really enjoying learning about all the "new" garden arrivals now we have foresaken the mower (much to the bemusement of neighbours and by-passers!) The garden is full of milkweed and what looks like strawberries but they are something different... maybe you know what crawling plant I am talking about?