Plants of the Main Meadow Trail: East End

Plants of the Main Meadow Trail: East End

by Amy Martin, Greenbelt Guild coordinator

As you walk the newly reclaimed Main Meadow Trail from the start on Creekmere between Sylvania and Overglen, you may wonder what the plants are in this summer season. Here’s what’s growing until the trail turns to follow along the edge of the creek woods.

Historic pecan. Right by Creekmere. Probably 70 years old. Invasive plants crowding it were recently removed. Native plants will be restored. In a year, it will look stunning.
Maximilian sunflower: You’ll see lots of this in the meadows. It emerges early to establish territory, but its medium yellow blooms don’t appear until August and persist through November. One of the few plants that can outcompete poison ivy and invasive KR bluestem.
The second historic pecan is about 15 yards down the trail, also around 70 years of age. Invasive plants are also being removed here and native plants will be restored. The greenery behind it is a thin line of invasive privet, so it’s gotta go because behind it is fabulous healthy woods.
Tall goldenrod. Soon to boast conical spires of fluffy yellow blooms. It’s clonal, meaning it spreads by underground stems, so a patch is actually one large plant.
Smooth ruella, aka Mexican petunia. Beautiful deep blue-purple blooms are about to emerge.
Eastern gamagrass: Only occasional 3-foot-tall clumps of this, but it’s a superb native grass. Birds and critters like to nest in the center. Related to teosinte, a forerunner of maize and corn, it makes large sweet seeds.

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