Way Down Yonder in the Paw Paw Patch!

By Jerry T., Building & Grounds Co-Chair

On June 2d, for the first time in about six weeks, I did a survey of how things are going botanically around the WUUC grounds. Most spring times over the last two decades, I have spent a lot of time weeding, pruning, cultivating, planting, and burning accumulated brush, often with the help of several other Westsiders. This spring, I was hampered by some nagging injuries and then went to Europe for three weeks, so I have not done nearly as much around the grounds as I have in past years.

Jerry T., trimming bushes during a workday a few years ago.

The good news is that most of the circa 100 small trees we have planted over the last five years are alive and well, although some have been "pruned" by the local deer. Some of our older plantings (10-20 years ago) are now large trees, particularly the silver maple planted by Dave G. and Elizabeth C. and the first of several baldcypress trees we now have, which was planted by Yetta J. I was delighted to see an actual pawpaw fruit on one of the dozen or more large stems that have developed from the saplings I planted about 15 years ago! Because pawpaw trees form clones, we now have many stems making a shady grove on the north side of the stream. We are making steady progress in expanding the riparian woodland on both sides of the stream across our property.

Although we have lost another white ash tree to the emerald ash borer, we have quite a few young or re-growing ash trees and one big ole' ash tree appears to be resistant to the plague.

The worse news is that there are always weeds to pull and invasive plants to fight. We have major infestations of vines such as winter creeper, periwinkle, English ivy, and Japanese honeysuckle, plus shrubs and trees like privet, Amur honeysuckle, burning bush, and tree-of-heaven. And Bermudagrass! Always Bermudagrass to fight. In recent years, an infestation of Chinese wild yam vines (Dioscorea japonica) has appeared in the riparian woodland along the stream. Although this plant has edible tubers and stem-borne "bulbils," it grows like kudzu and can kill our trees. The only way I know to fight it is to cut it off at ground level and try to dig up the tubers.

Needless to say, we are always looking for folks to help fight the invaders and otherwise work the grounds to make them beautiful and to provide native wildlife habitat. A tip 'o the hat to Judy W. for maintaining the flower garden along the handicap ramp, to the Aesthetics committee for maintain flowers by the front door, to Dave G. for maintaining the water feature and being an all-round mensch on the B&G crew, and to Cal W. for pulling weeds and helping me burn brush back in March.

Since Yetta J. moved away, the Green Sanctuary Committee has been floundering. We need to get that committee going again and re-visit our plans for the future of the grounds.

In the meanwhile, although spring is gone and the heat of summer is upon us, I plan to start a series of grounds workdays in July on Monday mornings, beginning July 6. We will work in the cool of the day from 8AM – 11AM. Anyone who wants to work on a different day or at a different time is welcome. Just let me know where you plan to work and what you plan to do. If you do not know one plant from another, I am happy to meet with you and train you so you don't mistake a desirable native plant for an invasive exotic. Feel free to "adopt" a flower bed and make its maintenance your own!

On a final note, the Westside grounds are now a home for over 40 species of native trees and shrubs, so we can qualify as a Level 1 Arboretum certified by either the Morton Arboretum or the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. To be certified, we will have to label all the trees and shrubs with their common and scientific names, develop an arboretum plan, and apply for certification. I hope to work with the Westside Board to approve the idea and establish Westside as a public arboretum.

Jerry T.

B&G Co-Chair