Join NCWF and Wake County Parks, Recreation & Open Space for a native planting workday on Thursday, Oct 20th, 9 AM – 12 PM, at Turnipseed Nature Preserve, a a 265-acre Wake County park located south of Wendell in the eastern part of Wake County. We will plant approximately 80-100 native shrubs/trees within a 700-1000 square-foot field edge. This is a great opportunity to take action to enhance habitat for pollinators and other wildlife! We will provide the tools needed to get the job done, or bring your own!
“When we plant a tree, we are doing what we can to make our planet a more wholesome and happier dwelling-place for those who come after us if not for ourselves.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Here is what we are planting . . .
Trees and Shrubs
- Downy Serviceberry – Amelanchier arborea
- Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana
- Strawberry Bush – Euonymus americana
- Witch Hazel – Hamamelis virginiana
- Sparkleberry – Vaccinium arborea
- Eastern Red Cedar – Juniperus virginiana
- Old Man’s Beard – Chionanthus virginicus
- Red Mulberry – Morus rubra
- Chickasaw Plum – Prunus angustifolia
Herbaceous
- Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa
- Mountain Mint – (Pycnanthemum pycnanthemoides, Pycnanthemum
- tenuifolium, or Pycnanthemum incanum)
- Tickseed – (Coreopsis verticillata, Coreopsis pubescens, Coreopsis major)
- Ragwort – Packera aurea
- Goldenrod – (Solidago odora or Solidago caesia)
- Milkweed – (Asclepias tuberosa or Asclepias variegata)
South Wake Conservationists 
The focus of our work this day was an area in the Turnipseed Nature Preserve that had been taken over by Chinese Privet, also known as Ligustrum. Thankfully, the Park Staff had opened the meadow edge by cutting back most of the privet within a few inches of the ground. The Catbrier, Chickasaw Plum, and red Honeysuckle were nevertheless agitated by our presence. New plants were positioned within the cleared area and watered in. As we dug, we found several of the granite rock slabs that make this sandy site unique. Time was taken to remove more young sprouts of this noxious plant. In the background was the football sized field that is being managed as a meadow with wildflowers and native grasses.
Turnipseed Nature Preserve
Click to access Turnipseed%20Nature%20Preserve%20brochure%202020.pdf
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