1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 28 Number 2 Spring 2009
Monthly meetings Unregulated floodplains:
good for plants, people
Thompson Park Center/Dakota
Lodge
Thompson County Park
360 Butler Ave. E., by Beth Nixon, MNNPS Conservation Committee chair
West St. Paul, MN 55118 Adaptation to the greater powers of the Earth has made numerous native
651-552-7559 (kitchen) plant species, anthropomorphically, look forward to the floods of spring
Programs for their livelihood. Rivers still unregulated enough to escape their banks
The Minnesota Native Plant in the spring nourish floodplains and backwaters with the spring flush
Society meets the first Thursday of the land’s meltwaters. Viewed from Google Earth, unregulated river
in October, November, December, floodplains stand out as a prominent signature of floodplain forests —
February, March, April, May, and chockfull of native plant species in balance with the annual flooding ritual.
June. Check at www.mnnps.org Up close, floodplains present themselves with tall forests of silver maple
for more program information. with elm, ash, cottonwood, and often laced with riverbank grape vines.
6 p.m. — Social period Underfoot, carpets of herbs rise and fall on an annual basis, surviving on
7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society the nourishment of spring floods.
business These floodplains welcome flooding, and people who find these
May 7: ”Making a Floral Atlas unregulated places learn to appreciate the power and beauty of the spring
for the Shakopee Mdewakanton ritual. Conservation of these unregulated rivers and floodplains shows what
Sioux Community,” Victoria Ranua, could be done for people trapped in harm’s way, where rivers run regulated
environmental assessment specialist and floodplains are nonexistent.
for the SMS Community; Plant-of- You can advocate for programs for conserving and restoring floodplains.
the-Month: Solanum rostratum Through the federal Emergency Watershed Protection easement option,
(buffalo bur). lands with a history of flooding can be preserved. The Nature Conservancy’s
June 4: “Western Prairie Upper Mississippi River Program is a focal point of their ambitious three-
Fringed Orchid: an Enigmatically year-old Great Rivers Partnership. Top priorities include the Root River
Declining Species,” by Nancy and areas tributary to the St. Croix River.
Sather, DNR ecologist; Annual Although there are several altered floodplains, such as the Red River
plant sale. Valley, which no longer are havens for native plant species, many large
and small floodplains still abound throughout Minnesota. Foremost is
Oct. 1: Program to be the granddaddy, the Mississippi,
In this issue
announced. at several recreation sites. A site
not to miss is the McCarthy Lake
MNNPS website Wildlife Management Area at President’s column ...................2
New lifetime member ...............3
For current information about Kellogg, near one of the Society’s
favorite field trips, Weaver Dunes. Northfield citizens’park ............4
Society field trips, meetings and
Further upstream, and north of New mnnps website .................4
other events, check the website:
the Twin Cities, is the Mississippi New members .........................5
www.mnnps.org
River Islands SNA near Elk River. Wild River State Park ...........5
The site also contains all of the Field trips ................................6
newsletters since 1982, committee Then there are the lower Cannon
River Turtle Preserve SNA, the Dutchman’s breeches ...............7
contacts, and a variety of volunteer June 4 plant sale .......................7
opportunities. Continued on page 3

2. President’s column MNNPS Board
by Scott Milburn of Directors
We are coming off another successful symposium, our fourth President: Scott Milburn,
consecutive year focusing on a region of Minnesota. This year a great scott.milburn@mnnps.org
roster of speakers explored the often underappreciated Tallgrass Aspen Vice President: Shirley Mah
Prairie. Over 130 people attended the all-day event. I would like to thank Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@
our speakers, including Rhett Johnson, Nancy Sather, Robert Dana, Cary mnnps.org
Hamel, Russ Reisz, Donovan Pietruszewski, Laura Reeves, and Ross Hier.
Most of them made the trek down from the Northwest, including Cary and DerekAnderson, board member,
Laura who came all the way from Manitoba. I would also like to thank the derek.anderson@mnnps.org
symposium committee for their time and effort. This year’s committee Ken Arndt, board member, field
had two new members, with Erika Rowe taking charge of much of the trip chair, ken.arndt@mnnps.org
planning and Angela Hanson coordinating the catering. It is also important Michael Bourdaghs, board
to point out how gracious the Bell Museum of Natural History has been to member, michael.bourdaghs@
host us the past several years. mnnps.org
As keepers of our natural history, the Bell Museum serves an important Angela Hanson, board member,
role in educating the public. The Bell is the state’s repository of Minnesota angela.hanson@mnnps.org
animal and plant life. Anyone visiting the Bell will notice the beautiful
dioramas depicting the Minnesota landscape with the prominent fauna and Elizabeth Heck, board member,
flora. As you may already know, the Bell Museum is seeking funds for a webmaster, elizabeth.heck@mnnps.
new facility as part of the 2009 capital bonding request. This request for org
funds is not new. Last year’s request was denied through a line-item veto. Dylan Lueth, board member,
This funding request will likely face similar scrutiny from those who have dylan.lueth@mnnps.org
opposed it in the past, with the economic decline making things that much Beth Nixon, board member,
more difficult. The purpose and mission of the Bell is in line with ours, and conservation committee chair, beth.
we have an opportunity as individuals to show our support. I encourage nixon@mnnps.org
those who feel strongly about this to contact their local representatives,
Erika Rowe, board member,
including the Governor’s office.
erika.rowe@mnnps.org
In other news, the board has three new members replacing myself,
Peter Dziuk, and Shirley Mah Kooyman. The new members are Angela Russ Schaffenberg, board
member, russ.schaffenberg@
Continued on page 4 mnnps.org
Treasurer: Ron and Cathy
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose
Huber, ron.huber@mnnps.org
Linda Huhn, program
(Abbreviated from the bylaws)
coordinator, 612-374-1435
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for
educational and scientific purposes, including the following. Secretary: Andrés Morantes,
andres.morantes@mnnps.org
1. Conservation of all native plants.
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@
mnnps.org
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant
life. Memberships: memberships.
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to mnnps@mnnps.org
Minnesota. Historian-Archives: Roy
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. Robison, historian-archives.
mnnps@mnnps.org
6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and
natural areas. Technical or membership
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps.
org
resources and scenic features.
8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through Minnesota Plant Press Editor:
Gerry Drewry, 651-463-8006;
meetings, lectures, workshops, and field trips.
plantpress.mnnps@mnnps.org
2

3. Introducing new David Johnson
is new lifetime
MNNPS board members honorary member
Derek Anderson
by Ron Huber
Peninsula and never looked back.
At the April 2 meeting, David
Derek Anderson is one of the While he has over 10 years of Johnson was awarded an Honorary
professional botanical experience,
newer members of the Minnesota Life Membership for his many years
Mike freely admits that he has a lot
Native Plant Society. He has been a of dedicated service to our Society.
to learn. That is what led him to the
member for several years and looks David was born in West Virginia
MNNPS just over a year ago.
forward to serving on the board. but has lived in numerous places
Mike currently resides in
Derek grew up in northwestern Mahtomedi and spends most of his around the country. After completing
Wisconsin, where he developed an time helping his wife raise a toddler. his computer science degree at the
interest in the outdoors and plants. He During breaks in the action he enjoys University of Wisconsin-Madison,
spent a good deal of time on the St. brewing beer, playing hockey, and he and his wife, Susan, moved to
Croix River and the numerous parks thinking about canoe trips to come. Minnesota. David recalls collecting
located along the river. This interest seeds as a youngster. Later, he taught
led Derek to go to the University Angela Hanson himself how to grow tropical orchids
of Wisconsin–Superior, where he The Society’s new board and native plants from seed. He
obtained a degree in botany. His member, Angela Hanson, has been served as treasurer and membership
early work and interests focused on a MNNPS member since she was secretary for the Orchid Society of
the forested plant communities of cultivating her plant knowledge Minnesota.
northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. while studying ecology at the David discovered the MNNPS
Derek started working with the University of Minnesota. Since when he saw the display board. He
Minnesota Department of Natural then, she interned with the DNR’s and Susan joined in 1998, and David
Resources in 2004. While he started Prairie Care Program (with Society volunteered to keep membership
with northern forests, he now member Dave Crawford), the records. He also became treasurer
primarily focuses on the prairies of Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux in 1999. He developed several
southern and western Minnesota. Community’s Land Department, complex computer programs
The majority of his work within the and the Minnesota Board of Water to handle the membership data.
DNR is centered on the recovery and Soil Resources. She now works Recently, David made some long-
efforts of the plants listed as full time for the City of Burnsville’s awaited changes, modernizing and
federally endangered or threatened Natural Resources Department, streamlining the database. He then
(Minnesota dwarf trout lily, western where she is involved with programs turned those duties over to others,
prairie fringed orchid and prairie ranging from wildlife management but he continues to volunteer his
bush clover). More recently, he has to water quality improvement to computer programming expertise
started surveying the counties of ecological restoration and public on an “as needed” basis.
south central Minnesota as a part of education.
the Minnesota County Biological Angela lives in South Floodplains
Survey. Minneapolis. Her other passions Continued from page 1
Mike Bourdaghs
include photography, gardening, Chamberlain Woods SNA on the
sailboat racing, and riding Minnesota River, and numerous
MPCA Wetland Biologist Mike motorcycles. One of her motorcycles other fascinating examples of
Bourdaghs is another one of the is currently having native plants floodplain natural communities
new crop of recently elected board painted on it. throughout the designated Wild and
members. He has been with the Angela looks forward to her Scenic Rivers.
MPCA since 2004, working on involvement with the board and the Visit a floodplain, appreciate
techniques to measure wetland Society’s unique blend of native the native plants and their complex
quality by looking at how wetland plant proponents. She hopes to natural communities, and notice
native plant communities respond attract, inspire, and compel new the associated animals. Imagine
to human-caused disturbances. and younger audiences to sustain or the possibilities for reclaiming
Mike had his first real exposure even expand the Society’s concern landscapes and watersheds complicit
to the state’s flora during a summer and enthusiasm for native plants in devastating human disasters, and
internship on the Kabetogama and their habitats. then do something about it.
3

4. Northfield residents organize, mnnps.org has
create natural city park a new face
by Arlene Kjar, MNNPS member Northfield and the surrounding area. by Elizabeth Heck
I first became involved with Prairie Partners consists not only of The Minnesota Native Plant
Northfield’s Lashbrook Park in residents of the Northfield area, but Society’s website has a new face.
1988, when I joined a citizen group many college students. Check it out at www.mnnps.org.
called People for Parks. The group Education is an important part The site is intended to introduce the
was intent on saving an 11-acre of our group. Members of Prairie Society, encourage membership,
cornfield from being developed Partners have volunteered to teach provide an informational resource
into high-rise apartments. The land classes, such as Drawing in the for existing membership and be an
had previously been designated as Prairie, and flower walks that are led educational resource. Prospective
parkland, but developers had their in the prairie and woods. Two grants MNNPS members will find
eyes on this prime piece of land are pending that would provide informative details about the Society
tucked in next to St. Olaf College. snowshoes for youth to be used in in the links at the top of the page,
It took four years of meetings with the park in the winter. A brochure, while current members are kept up-
the city, many fundraisers, donations produced by Prairie Partners, to-date through the links on the left.
and a grant before the park became is being distributed to promote Board member Elizabeth Heck
Lashbrook Park in 1992. This was awareness of the park. Members designed and constructed the
made possible with the donation attend the city park board meetings site, while other board members
of $25,000 from St. Olaf College, and communicate with city staff. contributed greatly to the concept and
and equal amounts from People for Taking care of an 11-acre natural content. Additional contributions to
Parks and the City of Northfield. park is a never-ending task. A MNNPS online communications
Working with the Park Board, a volunteer crew pulls Canada thistles include an update to the Society
grant of $86,000 was obtained with and takes out buckthorn, reed canary blog being undertaken by member
the efforts of Kathiann and Wesley grass and other exotic invasive Katy Chayka. This is the place
Brown of People for Parks. The plants. Prairie Partners has drawn to post the latest in plant-related
grant funds came from the State of upon the specialists at Carleton and happenings. Also look forward to
Minnesota, funded by the United St. Olaf and naturalists from the our new Facebook being set up by
States Department of Interior. state parks for advice. The residents board members Michael Bourdaghs
The oak savanna portion of of Northfield think it is great to and Angela Hanson.
the park was planted by Prairie have a city park that is dedicated Thanks to all those who have
Restorations in 1996. About nine to preserving the native habitat of volunteered their time to make the
acres are prairie; the other two acres Northfield, and they take pride in Society’s online communications
are part of the wooded watershed helping to care for it. available to a diverse variety of
area next to the prairie. The park was
named after the Alfred Lashbrook Shirley Mah plant-loving professionals and
enthusiasts.
family that once farmed the land Kooyman receives President’s column
and became world-famous for their
Holstein cattle. The name reflects the educators award Continued from page 1
Northfield motto, “Cows, Colleges, Shirley Mah Kooyman, MNNPS Hanson, Derek Anderson, and
and Contentment.” vice president, received the Bruce Michael Bourdaghs. I am very
Beresford Horticulture Educators pleased to have them serve the
Obtaining the park was just the Award from the Minnesota State Society in this capacity. Each will
beginning of a continuing battle to Horticultural Society on Feb. bring a unique perspective and a new
preserve it as a restored oak savanna 7. The award is given to honor a dimension to the board. Also new is
and native wetland woods. Citizen person who has been an educator the revamped website. (See article
groups came together many times in the gardening world for 15 years above.) One of the web components
to prevent tennis courts, an archery or more. Shirley has been at the will be a revised blog. We have
range, and landscaping from Arboretum for 24-1/2 years and has had a blog, but we want to make it
encroaching on the natural park. been teaching for just as long. She a more useful tool. We hope folks
Prairie Partners is a new citizen- was nominated for the award by the will contribute to the blog and that
led group I have joined. Its mission Hennepin County Master Gardener it will be beneficial to our members.
is to help promote, maintain, and Program, where she has been a In closing, we hope everyone will
preserve all prairie ecosystems in member since 1984. enjoy the new growing season.
4

5. MNNPS welcomes Community involvement is key
new members
The Society gives a warm to Wild River Park restorations
welcome to 27 new members who by Dave Crawford, park naturalist, value of seed collected and sown
joined in the first quarter of 2009. Wild River State Park. This is a has risen from $400 per year in
They are as follows. summary of his Feb. 5, 2009 talk. early efforts to more than $40,000 a
Norman Aaseng, Minneapolis Prairie Care is a volunteer-based year. Species diversity of collected
Chel Anderson, Grand Marais project to reconstruct prairie and seed has risen from 20 species to
Sarette Arsenault, St. Peter oak savanna, maintain existing over 200. Henslow’s sparrows and
Karl Bischoff, Welch remnants, and compile data on a rare jumping spider, Pelegrina
Kevin Cavanaugh, St. Paul phenology and locations of native arizonensis, are among the wildlife
Kate Drewry, White Bear Lake
prairie and savanna species. species known to have benefited
Karen Eckman, Shoreview
Linda Falch, Richfield The project dates to the 1980s. from restoration efforts.
Pamela Freeman, Anoka The name “Prairie Care” came The largest part of the increase
Nick Grebe, Minneapolis about in 2000 for an adopt-a-species in species diversity is credited to
Dale T. Higgs, Apple Valley approach to getting volunteers to volunteer Species Stewards, who
Ric Jasken, Ogema help with early-seeding species. monitor and report locations and
Karen Jensen, Stillwater
Tara Kline, West St. Paul Wild River State Park lies on the phenology of one or more early
Matt Lasch, Prior Lake St. Croix River upstream of Taylors ripening, uncommon, or challenging
Amy Linnerooth, Mankato Falls, Minn. It was established species. Stewards collect seed from
Sharon Meister, Corcoran to preserve river shoreline and to their species when it is ripe. This
Dean and Natalee Oknich, preserve and restore presettlement seed may be combined with other
Lindstrom plant communities. Most of the species for mass sowing, may
Stacey Olszewski, Minneapolis park is wooded and is rated high be carefully sown in promising
Trudi Poquette, Minneapolis to outstanding in biodiversity locations, or may be used to grow
Phyllis Root, Minneapolis significance. plugs which are planted to establish
Jacob and Anne Rouland, Blaine new populations for further seed
Judith Sims, St. Paul An area of about two square collection.
Phil and Pat Splett, Stanchfield miles, which had been altered
Karen Stiles, Minnetonka from presettlement oak savanna Training materials make it
Natalie White, Minneapolis by agricultural activity, is in possible for even inexperienced
Terry Yearwood, St. Paul need of restoration. Prescribed volunteers to be confident of
burns, invasive species control, accomplishing what is needed for
How to join MNNPS and collecting and sowing of their species. Data reported by
There are three ways to join the local genotype seed from native stewards are used to improve training
Society. Information is available species are proving effective in materials for future volunteers.
on the website (www.mnnps.org), More stewards are needed, as many
accomplishing restoration.
or you may join at any monthly species are not currently being
meeting. To join by mail, send your Seed collection and sowing are closely monitored. Stewards are
name, address, contact information, now done mostly by volunteers and also being sought for the task of
membership class, and a check to: visiting school classes. Resource making manageable-sized portions
Minnesota Native Plant Society management goals go hand in hand of the park buckthorn-free.
P.O. Box 20401 with educational goals, reaching
Bloomington, MN 55420 beyond park boundaries as more Correction
Dues are: visitors become aware of native There is an error in a chart
$15 - Individual plant communities and take part in accompanying the article,
$15 - Family stewardship activities. “Inventory shows the extent of non-
native invasive plants in Minnesota
$ 8 - Student Up to 1,000 visitors are involved forests,” that was in the Winter
$ 8 - Senior each year, contributing 1 to 1.5 full- 2009 issue. European privet should
$20 - Institution time employee equivalents in total not have been listed as a non-native
$25 - Donor volunteer hours. Estimated retail invasive species found in the plots.
5

6. Summer field trips set
rich cedar swamp and black spruce
bog in search of the unusual and the
beautiful.
by Ken Arndt and Natural Areas. Hastings Sand
Coulee is a dry sand prairie of Participants will learn about the
We have a great line-up of field
about 80 acres located just south local geology and ecology of this
trips in 2009. In March we went
of Hastings. It is the largest sand section of Minnesota, as well as get
to the University of Minnesota
gravel prairie left in Dakota County an understanding of how bogs are
Herbarium. Outdoor field trips
and is home to rare plants, including formed. A number of unique native
begin in April.
James’ polanisia (endangered) and plants will be encountered along
All field trips are open to MNNPS the way, including over a dozen
members at no cost. Register for sea-beach needle grass.
different native orchids. Don’t miss
trips at one of our general meetings, This will be, in part, a hands- this chance — there are only a few
where you can sign up in person, or and-knees adventure, as some of the spots left.
go to our website (www.mnnps.org) earliest spring prairie flowers are
and follow the link to the field trip quite tiny. But there will be some Aspen Parkland region
page, where you can e-mail me. splash too, with the bird’s foot violet July 11 weekend
and other early prairie wildflowers. Led by Nancy Sather, DNR
Eloise Butler Wildflower botanist/plant ecologist.
Garden and Bird Sanctuary Mdewakanton Sioux
Property and Spring Lake Set aside the weekend of July 11
Saturday, April 25, 9 to 11 a.m., and
Regional Park for an in-the-field follow-up of this
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon. year’s symposium topic, the Aspen
Led by Scott Milburn, MNNPS
president, board member and Led by Victoria Rauna, Parkland region of northwestern
Midwest Natural Resources environmental assessment specialist Minnesota. Details for this trip are
botanist/ecologist, and Elizabeth for the Shakopee Mdewakanton being planned now. Highlights will
Sioux Community. include surveying for the federally
Heck, MNNPS board member and
threatened western prairie fringed
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden View several different native orchid, Plantanthera praeclara, and
naturalist. plant communities in Scott County. a close look at the many different
Stroll through the oldest Participants will hike on Shakopee plant communities of this region of
wildflower garden in the country. Mdewakanton Sioux tribal land and the state.
This 102-year-old garden is home to in parts of Spring Lake Regional
over 500 species of plants, all within Park to view maple-basswood Weaver Bottoms
14 acres. We will visit woodland and forests, created prairie, rich fen with August
wetland areas and see many spring stunted tamaracks, shrublands and Led by Steve Eggers, senior
ephemerals. Due to the narrow trails other wetland plant communities. ecologist for the St. Paul District
in the garden, we will be limited to Victoria Rauna has worked Corps of Engineers.
20 MNNPS members for each time with the Shakopee Mdewakanton In August, MNNPS members
slot. The first is full. The second will Sioux Community for three years, will return to Weaver Bottoms in
be from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.. surveying the flora on the reservation Winona County for a canoeing
Hastings Sand Coulee and working on a program to restore field trip. American lotus and other
Scientific and Natural Area native prairie. She will tell us about aquatic plants will be in bloom, wild
Tuesday, May 5, 6 to 8 p.m. her work and management plans rice stands will grace the river, and
Led by Karen Schik, ecologist being implemented on the tribal a diverse assemblage of emergent,
and project manager for Friends lands in Scott County. floating and submergent aquatic
of the Mississippi River; Ellen Orchid hunting up north vegetation will be experienced
Fuge, SNA Progam staff; and Tom Grand Rapids/Hill City Area throughout the day.
Lewanski, conservation director for Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information …
Friends of the Mississippi River. Led by Dr. John Almendinger, Stay tuned to our website for
This will be a joint field trip with DNR forest ecologist; and Scott additional details of existing trips,
Friends of the Mississippi River Milburn, MNNPS president as well as more trips being planned
and will be limited to 15 MNNPS and Midwest Natural Resources for late summer and fall. If you
members. Currently this field trip botanist/ecologist. would like to receive periodic field
is full, but we are taking names for John and Scott led this trip two trip update e-mails, just contact me
a waiting list. years ago, and many members have at karndt@ccesinc.com and ask to
This will be an evening hike into asked for a repeat trip. Spend the be put on the list. I look forward to
one of the DNR’s newest Scientific better part of a day, hiking through a seeing many of you this summer.
6

7. Plant Lore
by Thor Kommedahl
flowers at an Indian maiden, or
chews on roots and projects his
breath toward a potential mate as he
What is Dutchman’s breeches? encircles her, hoping she will follow
Dutchman’s breeches is a native, the scent and him.
perennial, early spring flower
named Dicentra cucullaria in the
fumitory family. It is a close relative Annual Plant
of bleeding heart.
What do its names mean?
Sale is June 4
It is called Dutchman’s breeches by Ken Arndt
because its blooms resemble This year’s native plant sale,
white breeches (pantaloons). which raises money for the Society,
Dicentra comes from a Greek will be held at the June 4 general
word meaning twice-spurred, meeting. We encourage members to
referring to the two-spurred flowers. divide or propagate their own native
Cucullaria means hood-like or plants and donate them to the sale.
hooded, descriptive of the flowers. We will again hold the sale on
Where does it grow? the patio outside of Dakota Lodge.
Dutchman’s breeches thrives in We need all plants by 6 p.m., so
rich woods in most of the deciduous- our volunteers will have time to
wooded areas of the state. get the sales area set up. The sale
Dutchman’s breeches flowers, will take place after our speaker’s
What do the plants look like? presentation. Members and non-
Dicentra cucullaria, photo by
All of the leaves and flower stalks members may participate.
Peter Dziuk.
are basal and grow from short, scaly
rhizomes. Leaves are three-parted What is the relationship to ants? Bring only native plants from
with finely divided leaflets. The five- Seeds of Dutchman’s breeches the region (Minnesota/western
to nine-inch long stalks (scapes) are spread by ants. A fleshy structure Wisconsin). Do not bring cultivars
end in white flowers arranged in a called an elaiosome is attached to a (horticultural selection) of native
raceme. When spring is over (April seed and attracts ants. Ants carry plants (e.g. “Goldstrum” black-
- May), the foliage turns yellow, and the seeds to their nests, where eyed Susan or “Gateway” Joe-Pye-
the plant is not visible in summer or ants feed the elaiosomes to their weed).
fall. larvae and then put seeds in their Plants should be from your own
waste disposal area. Thus seeds are property, or other private property
protected until they germinate in the (with that owner’s permission),
rich substrate of ant nest debris — a and not from public property. The
mutual benefit. plants should be in typical nursery
Are plants edible, medicinal, or containers with adequate water and
poisonous? soil. Label them with both common
They are not edible. The and scientific names. Pricing will be
species contains several alkaloids done by volunteers at the sale. We
that can affect the brain and heart. will have plant guides at the sale to
Native Americans and colonial help with correct labeling.
practitioners regarded this plant Try to dig your plants at least
as useful for treatment of syphilis, two to four weeks before the sale,
skin conditions, and as a blood especially if you are dividing your
purifier. In some people, it causes plants. The plants will then have time
dermatitis. Plants are also reported to get through transplant shock.
toxic to grazing animals. A few volunteers are needed to
What does this plant have to do help with setting up and cleaning up
with courtship? the sales area, along with assisting
Dutchman’s breeches plant, Stories are told that Menomini members with their plants. To
Dicentra cucullaria, photo by Indian suitors used this plant as a volunteer, contact Ken Arndt at
Shirley Mah Kooyman. love charm. A young man throws karndt@ccesinc.com
7

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 20401
Bloomington, MN 55420
Spring 2009
Directions:
Take MN Hwy. 52 to the Butler Ave. E. exit in West St. Paul.
Go west on Butler 0.2 mile to Stassen Lane.
Go south on Stassen Lane to Thompson County Park.