Plant Sale & National Public Gardens Day at Compton Gardens, Bentonville, Arkansas
2 comments Posted by John Gardner at 7:20 PM
Hello all you plant enthusiasts! You will be happy to know that there is a native plant sale coming this weekend [ 05/08/2010 ] at Compton Gardens, located near downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. They will be offering great flowering and fruiting native trees, shrubs, and beautiful perennial flowers. Some of my favorites on the list will include Cladrastis kentukea, Ribes aureum, Euonymus americanus and many others. For more information about the plant sale and the National Public Gardens Day, just CLICK HERE.
If you want to know how to get to the garden, click here. Be sure and enter on Main Street. Sometimes that area can be a bit confusing.
I will be giving a short walk through the Bird Sanctuary, for the National Gardens Day on Friday. I'm very excited. Hope to see you there.
Over the past several days, my comrades and I have been removing Euonymus fortunei-common name is wintercreeper-which is an invasive plant species. It may look harmless, but it will easily choke out native plants and limit the biodiversity of an area very quickly. The garden staff and I devised a way of removing the plant by starting at the top of a slope and rolling it over itself similar to rolling carpet. As we were rolling the wintercreeper, many creatures would come out to greet us: worms, various insects, spiders, and a lovely little salamander.
Mr. Salamander was upset because the worms were eating all his food. I told Mr. Salamander that we would relocate the worms to another place if he would have a wrestling match with one of the worms. He agreed.
Eurycea lucifuga, which is the scientific name for Mr. Salamander, is a rare find in the wild. The common name for this species is the cave salamander. Its habitat is usually in caves where light can be found and near springs. In Arkansas, the animal is limited to the Ozarks in the northern part of the state; however, the cave salamander can be found in many central and eastern states. Even though this salamander is rare, it is not on the federal endangered species list. 
Some people would say that I'm one of the lucky ones and I would have to agree - I did find a job after finishing my degree! Can you believe it? I am on my second week of work and I still can't believe it!
The garden which is now known as Compton Gardens was donated to the Peel House Foundation in 2002. The creator and former owner, Dr. Neil Compton is the man responsible for America's First National River - the Buffalo River.
Today, the garden offers enthusiasts a look of Arkansas' native flora - from Alum Root to Yellow Root and the list is growing! In fact, just the other day I was planting the native orchid Spiranthes cernua. And rumor has it that we're getting some other interesting plants... keep that on the down-low.
On my lunch break I decided to shoot some photos of these great Arkansas plants to share with you. I want you to have a good idea about the potential of this wonderful garden - and believe me, this place has way more potential that you think.
Let me tell you that the flowers of Eryngium yuccifolium smell of honey. Very impressive summer plant. This plant is on my recommendation list. :)
Next up, we have Vaccinium elliottii. This is one of our native blueberry bushes. If you're a fan of natives and enjoy eating blueberries, this plant is definitely for you.
Another edible is Ribes odoratum, the golden currant. This is an all around great shrub. It has nice foliage and bears edible fruit. However, it is deciduous (keep in mind if use for a screen).
Well, that's all I have for now. Soon, I will post pictures of Compton Garden's Champion Trees! Ciao.
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