Bulletin Board
Plant of the Month
Nineleaf Biscuitroot
Lomatium triternatum
Location: Grid P-32 Idaho native section of the Xeriscape garden, east side of the gravel road, north of the Quaking Aspen
This month will mostly require your imagination, although we do have new seedlings sprouting in the greenhouse. Hopefully those will be big enough to sell at the plant sale in May and some of them will likely get planted out in the new Palouse pollinator strip along the new rock wall at the south end of the Arboretum.
There are five species of Lomatium native to the Palouse Prairie. Nineleaf is quite common and often found in widespread patches. They flower in mid spring, usually in mid to late May, often at the same time as Camas. Lomatiums are members of the Carrot Family (Apiaceae). Like carrots, they all form taproots which were an important food source for the Nez Perce and other Columbia Plateau native people. The roots are quite starchy and were usually dried and ground into flour.
Nineleaf Biscuitroot is also an important plant for native pollinators. It is a host plant for Swallowtail butterflies as well as a food source for native bees.
Like many spring flowering Palouse Prairie plants, Nineleaf Biscuitroot grows quickly in early spring, flowers and sets seed, then goes dormant by early summer
Monthly Projects
Winter has decided to bounce back after disappearing for most of January and February. With the mild weather we were able to get some routine clean up done that often doesn’t happen until April, like cutting back most of the ornamental grasses. We have also been doing more typical winter duties like inventorying and replacing missing plant labels. We are trialing a new label this year. Instead of embossing aluminum labels we are printing plastic labels and sticking them on an aluminum label.
Upcoming Event
Plant Sale
Arboretum Associates annual Plant Sale
9 a.m. - noon
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Location: To be determined, but probably at the former Ice Rink, Latah County Fairgrounds
Lewisia cotyledon 'Elise Mix'
'Elise' blooms the first year from seed. Shades of pastel pink, rose, salmon, orange, white and yellow, plus striking bicolor flowers.
Notice
Welcome to the Arboretum. Please remember that for your safety, the safety of the other visitors, and for the protection of wildlife and the plant collections, NO PETS are allowed. To avoid damaging plants or injuries from sharp metal labels, NO SLEDDING OR SKIING. Ice in the ponds is very unstable, STAY OFF THE ICE.