One of the bonuses of owning a bit of land that has been left wild for many years is to discover all of the new and wonderful (and some not so wonderful--like ticks) native flora and fauna. We've already discovered a rare in its range native plant called American Columbo. We have also recently identified one of the trees we left in our field to shade our house as a persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana). I am very excited about that as I've not grown persimmon before. Persimmons can be messy but they are actually a well recommended shade tree and Mr. Fix-it and I really do want to grow fruit. Our newest find is a large millipede. We spotted it on the leaf litter as we were walking up our driveway. Mr. Fix-it videotaped it for me. I believe it to be an Apheloria virginiensis. We think it most neat and never kill these kinds of things unless we know they are harmful. One other native that grows quite robustly all along the tree line on the property is poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). We will have to be very careful with all of the wildings because while we are having fun exploring and learning sometimes things are meant to be left alone....
in the garden....
