Ed. note: NYBG scientist and Mary Flagler Cary Curator of Botany, Bill Buck is currently on expedition to the islands off Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America, to study mosses and lichens. Follow his journeys on Plant Talk.

January 30, 2011; Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, 54°36’S, 71°49’W

Early in the morning the crew moved the ship to a harbor on the northeast side of Isla London, one of the islands in direct contact with the weather from Antarctica. After two days of glorious weather, Matt was beginning to wonder if  the weather I had told him to prepare for was just a myth. He soon found out how true my warnings had been. The morning started out a bit windy and overcast, but without rain. One group set out to with the intention of ascending Horatio Peak, while Blanka and I headed to a rocky outcrop in the opposite direction. As the zodiac neared the shore the wind started to pick up, and soon became a strong steady wind came out of the southwest, gusting so hard at times to literally blow me off my feet. Fortunately, as we worked up the slope the wind was at our backs and helped propel us as we scrambled over the vegetation, walking on top of the canopy of dwarf beeches as on the previous morning.

In short order, though, a heavy, horizontal, rain began. I had become separated from Blanka, all I could do was hope that she was able to find shelter. (I later discovered she had also tried to find me to let me know she was fine). On the side of a ridge I plopped down and sank into the shrubs; I was completely below the surface of the dwarf tree canopy, but could see out. The rain blew in sheets as spray from the sea was whipped up and blown ashore. The water dripping down my face tasted salty. Because of the high winds, it was too dangerous to walk around. For about a half an hour I remained immersed in the shrubs and watched as the rain and wind blasted the island. I was glad I was not up on an exposed ridge like the other group, and hoped they had found shelter. After some time, the winds became less gusty and died down, and the rain softened so that it no longer felt like pellets as it hit my skin.

Meet the rest of the crew below!

One of the new stars in the world of native plants these days is Uvularia perfoliata ‘Jingle Bells’. This woodland spring wildflower is indigenous to the East Coast west to the Mississippi. It generally has soft green leaves, yellow bell flowers and an arching demeanor. This new introduction has light green leaves with large white streaks around its border and into its interior. You can find this at Plant Delight Nurseries.

Another native that will attract the attention of homeowners is Amsonia ciliata ‘Spring Sky’. This sturdy native can be found from North Carolina down to Florida and west to Missouri. Blue star (its common name) has won the hearts of many by being a low-maintenance perennial that can grow in sun or part-shade and has the added benefit of being deer and rabbit resistant.

This new cultivar is a compact version of the native – reaching only 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. It has pale blue flowers in the spring that are slightly larger than the native and fine, feathery foliage that turns a beautiful yellow hue in the fall. This new introduction comes from North Creek Nurseries.

For those of you looking for a splash of color later in the season, there is a new goldenrod on the market named Solidago ‘Solar Cascade’. ‘Solar Cascade’ size falls somewhere in between the compact ‘Golden Fleece’ and the majestic ‘Fireworks’. ‘Solar Cascade’ is a clump forming perennial that is drought tolerant once established.

‘Solar Cascade’ has glossy green foliage and arching sprays of golden flowers late in the summer. It will pair beautifully with many of your late season staples – ornamental grasses, New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), medium sized dahlias and annual late season salvias.
A new cultivar of an ornamental grass that is indigenous to the dry plains of central North America is hitting the market by storm this year. Sometimes referred to as mosquito or blue grama grass, the new cultivar is named Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’. read more »

What a tongue-twister of a name for such a dainty flower.

Rosenbergiodendron longiflorum in the Conservatory (Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)