tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post8236839459692206252..comments2024-03-09T13:49:36.566-06:00Comments on Prairie Bluestem: Wild Plums Are BloomingGenevieve Netzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-41755315121290998882007-03-22T07:33:00.000-05:002007-03-22T07:33:00.000-05:00Hi, Stephanie. Thanks for your kind comment. The...Hi, Stephanie. Thanks for your kind comment. There are some things in nature that I have taught myself to look at carefully and to study a little. But there is a vast body of human knowledge about the plant and animal kingdoms that I have never even peeked at. So I guess I still have a lot left to appreciate. That's good -- it keeps life interesting!Genevieve Netzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-19477385461706300142007-03-21T22:46:00.000-05:002007-03-21T22:46:00.000-05:00These are so beautiful. I continue to be in awe of...These are so beautiful. I continue to be in awe of your love and appreciation of nature.stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14760765831975016535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-89621591750162546682007-03-21T19:42:00.000-05:002007-03-21T19:42:00.000-05:00Xris, if you look back at the photo I took of the ...Xris, if you look back at the <A HREF="http://prairiebluestem.blogspot.com/2006/03/springtime-in-christian-county.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="Post from March 2006)">photo I took of the wild plums last year</A> you can get an idea of the size and form of these particular plums. They are a mixture of Kansas and Kentucky plums which I started from seed.<BR/><BR/>They're rather spindly little bushes and they send up a lot of suckers so they can form a thicket. The tallest ones might be about six feet tall.<BR/><BR/>There may be other species that "bush out" more than these.<BR/><BR/>If you're looking for a shrub with a lot of wildlife value, this is probably not it. <I>American Wildlife and Plants</I> by Alexander C. Martin, Herbert S. Zim, and Arnold L. Nelson (1951: New York, McGraw Hill) says the following:<BR/><BR/><I>Wild plums belong with the wild cherries botanically, but their differences in growth, fruit and wildlife use set them apart. About 16 species of plums are present in various parts of the country, but their fruits are not used so much by wildlife as might be anticipated. Foxes are the chief consumers. Plum thickets often furnish valuable protective shelter.</I><BR/><BR/>Then it lists the following consumers of the fruit:<BR/><I>Blackheaded Grosbeak in California<BR/>Ringtailed Cat in Texas<BR/>Gray Fox in the Southeast and Northeast</I><BR/><BR/>Hope this helps.Genevieve Netzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004780820713448880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20637018.post-986944346903516942007-03-21T17:18:00.000-05:002007-03-21T17:18:00.000-05:00How large are these plants? I've thought of planti...How large are these plants? I've thought of planting a wild plum in my backyard for its wildlife value. The only time I've seen them growing in the wild is out on Fire Island, a barrier island, where they grow dense and stunted by wind and salt spray.Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08467595231097695124noreply@blogger.com