Baltimore Woods Propagation Project: A Status Report

When we last wrote of our propagation project, we had sown seeds of 8 species of wildflowers and 3 species of grasses into planting containers in a greenhouse setting so that we could have many new, healthy plants for the Baltimore Woods meadow. We found, with a couple of exceptions, that our seeds germinated well, and we spent many weeks this spring planting the first small grass and lomatium plants into the meadow, as they had outgrown their nursery pots and needed to be transplanted to their permanent home. We hoped to take advantage of the generous spring rains for these few hardy species.

However now, as the warm season begins, we have many dozens of trays of still vulnerable baby plants which FOBW members are tending at home over the summer, with the hopes of planting many of these young plants into the meadow this coming fall. Fall planting is advantageous for both seeds and small young plants, for it takes advantage of our longest rainy season, allowing new plants to develop deep roots over the fall and winter in preparation for a new flush of growth in the spring.  Some of the small bulbs, mostly in the lily family, but also including the tuber “Yampah”, will need at least another year of human care before they are large enough to transplanting into the meadow’s rather challenging environment. This is a long-range project, to be sure!

Another aspect of our project is to monitor and maintain the small plants which we purchased and planted into our meadow last fall with grant money and planting help from Portland Garden Club members. We are pleased with the progress of the plants so far, but, inevitably, there are some challenges. We had expected some damage from herbivores, mainly rabbits, but it appears they have a special taste for native lilies, milkweeds, and grasses! We have plans to try some fencing or wire “cloches” around the more vulnerable plants to deter the nibblers. Additionally, we will have to consider watering the new plantings for their first summer. So far this year, we have been fortunate that nature has taken care of the job for us, and the frequent rains have kept the soil moist and plants thriving. Of course, this includes weeds, and controlling them is a never ending task for Baltimore Woods members & volunteers. As we work and plan for the survival of these small plants, we keep in mind that they are a small but significant investment in the future of natural areas big & small throughout the Willamette Valley, and hope that our efforts insure the survival of the many species of plants & animals that depend on this beautiful and threatened ecosystem.