by Amy Martin, author, Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth

The greenbelt is still looking good in late spring, but a few issues, too.

Flowering Beauties

The reigning flower at present is Carolina woollywhite, Hymenopappus scabiosaeus. You need to look at this one up close. The flowers are incredibly intricate right before they go to puffball. Happy to see it making a great showing.

Coming on strong and should be amazing in two weeks is wild petunia Ruellia nudiflora.

Illinois Bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis is having a robust year. This fella is 4 feet tall. Inconspicuous flowers have come and gone, but the spectacular seedballs are starting to form.

Look at this gorgeous roughstem rosinweed Silphium radula asserting itself in a Maximian sunflower patch along Creekmere between Overglen and Sylvania. I tossed seeds there a couple of years ago.

This may be a patch of buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides at the meadow’s west end by the Hidden Meadow trail. A grass expert friend will be coming out to verify. If so, it’s very exciting!

We rescued and planted some little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium grass clumps years ago. It seemed like a failure. Seems that they migrated themselves about 10 yards downslope!

Meadow Invasives

Scabiosa Scabiosa atropurpurea has been mostly vanquished. Yay! It was starting to take over a 15-yard strip on the west end of the meadow. I’ve seen it destroy big swaths of prairie. It makes mats that nothing can penetrate.

Queen Anne’s lace Daucus carota is making inroads. It, too, is a takeover plant. We need to pull up if possible ASAP or at the very least collect the seedheads. Look at all those seeds from just one bloom!

But bad woodies are also invading. This Chinese pistache Pistacia chinensis on the meadow’s east end seeded itself from one deep in the woods that I’ve not been able to reach, but it’s on my list for girding this winter. This sapling must die sooner, though.

These Chinese privets and Amur honeysuckles are threatening the health of the cedar elm grove in the meadow middle. They gotta go.

The Eastwood Meadow and Hidden Meadow trails are very overgrown. But a rear-wheel drive mower has been loaned for mowing them. It’s currently in the shop getting fixed up from a lack of use. Using it is more than this little old lady can do, so seeking a mowing volunteer.

Join the Greenbelt Guild for sort-of-monthly workdays. Drop me a line.