Sumac trees get worse press coverage than our current President. They are messy, short -lived and spread invasively. We had three growing on the property line but a strong wind toppled all of them. New trees quickly growing from seed is how this cluster came to be. Their shade allows us to grow native woodland flowers. This may be the only occurrence of plants like trillium and hepatica growing under sumac. We do import hardwood leaves in an attempt to establish a more natural woodland soil and so far that is working. The Audubon Society identifies sumac as the only native tree or shrub that grows in all 48 contiguous states. Perhaps that fact will influence an improvement in how this tree is viewed.
Cardinal Flower is highly prized here because of the pure brightness of its red blossoms. As a native plant that flourishes both to our north and south, it presents a huge problem here just keeping it alive. Two rather mild late winters is the reason this cluster looks so impressive. Anyone living near the Grasse River would see this group as pathetically small since these plants grow in abundance there.
Bee balm is our native red that spreads each year forming huge clumps. It is deserving of a better reputation. Perhaps if was more difficult to grow it would be seen as a treasure.
This is the first Royal Catchfly flower ever seen here. Our past attempts to simply have this plant survive all failed. Perhaps the river bottom soil under this specimen retains more moisture that the stony soil up the hill. Whatever the reason we hope that this red flower will be seen here next season.