Prairie Surprise, Ohio Style

It may not come as a surprise to some people that "prairies" were once fairly common across the landscape of Ohio. Even the most casual visitor has likely seen hundreds of acres of Zea mays Prairie (a.k.a "corn fields") in the state.                  ...

Read More

Ascending the Slippery Slope of Restoration

For several years now, I and the NC Plant Conservation Program have been working with the Eno River Association to restore their oldest Nature Preserve, the Blue Indigo Slopes.  The site is important, in part, due to the rare plants present as well as frontage on the Eno River . In addition, we...

Read More

Bogged Down in the Thumb

I recently had the chance to visit eastern Michigan and see an excellent example of northern peat bog, just a few miles from the shores of Lake Huron.  Also called an "Ombotrophic peatland" or "raised bog" this site in Sanilac county is apparently one of the most southerly examples of this community...

Read More

Headed to Córdoba, Spain

We are excited to begin a new adventure with our colleagues from the University of Córdoba to develop both a degree program and research collaboration focusing on the impacts of sea-level rise on two river ecosystems. CPEL is interested in the interaction between vegetation and hydrology, the functional...

Read More

honest moments...

These are the days… the ones where things come together, moments collide, software works and computers behave themselves!! grrrrr…. I received notification today that a work of mine was gifted and you may remember a little thing called the blogger show curated by Meredith of Whynot Pottery it was a...

Read More

the big clay day out...

So this is happening.... It's been in the pipeline since january this year and getting very,very, close to the pointy end now..The Big Clay Day Out is coming very, very, soon!! SAT 21 June 2014 10 am til late...at Tea Tree Studio Golden Grove SAthe big clay day out posterang design rakuang pots...

Read More

Harry's Grand One! (Marshallia legrandii)

Way back in 1986 Harry LeGrand, of the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, embarked on a botanical search for "limeys" and other interesting plants in the north-central Piedmont of North Carolina. Among his notable finds was a Barbara's Button that just didn't look right.  Taller, pinker,...

Read More

Bearded Wonders - Xerophyllum asphodeloides

Turkey Beard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) is a lily-like plant whose foliage superficially resembles a bunchgrass.  Weakley's Flora places it in the Xerophyllaceae (or Beargrass) Family.  Only 2 species occur in the family, and X. asphodeloides is the only eastern US native. In North Carolina,...

Read More