Our yard has been an ongoing project. We are replacing traditional lawn turfgrass with native plant species. The process has involved experimentation with different plants, seeing which ones appear to do well in various parts of the yard under different conditions — sun and soil being two key variables. My wife, JoLynne, started this project years ago with a rain garden — which has grown into a magnet for pollinator species, including different varieties of butterflies.
Two years ago we expanded this project by necessity thanks to a septic system replacement. Our land is on a slope and simply replanting turf grass would accelerate runoff, resulting in erosion and loss of valuable topsoil. Native plant species generally tend to have deeper root structures which hold in soil and retain water needed by plants and trees.
One lesson learned has been about transitional plant species in the wake of soil disturbance or changes in light — such as when a tree falls, opening shaded areas to the sun. For a period of time we had rampant growth of boneset, a bushy plant that blooms in a profusion of white flowers in late summer and early fall. This year, while boneset is still there, much of it was supplanted by tall goldenrod, a spectacular plant that draws large numbers of pollinators.
One plant has troubled me. Pokeweed. When it has popped up in the yard, I’ve pulled it out. Reflecting on it, I can see why. Growing up on a farm, we continually battled to eradicate it because its leaves, stalks, and berries are toxic to livestock, people, and most mammals. Pokeweed can be eaten, but only its small, brand new leaf shoots. I don’t recommend trying it unless you know what you’re doing. Kind of like trying to eat pufferfish, whose neurotoxins will take you out if it’s not correctly prepared.
Here’s the flipside, though. Pokeweed berries are a great food source for certain songbirds, including Northern Cardinals. For some reason, they are not affected by pokeweed’s toxicity. We have a nice population of cardinals in our neighborhood, and far be it from me to deprive them of a food source, as I’d like to see healthier bird populations. Providing habitat and food sources for birds is one reason for promoting native plant species. Cornell reported on a majory study of birds that showed a staggering loss in numbers across North America. Here’s a link to Cornell’s site about the study:
Nearly 3 Billion Birds Gone | Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
So, for now, I’m going to leave pokeweed as-is and try to manage it as opposed to eradicating it. I want to see more cardinals.
