By Raven Michelle (Hawaiian, Mohawk)
TEK Educator/Mentor
Do you ever look up at the stars at night and wonder how you could capture that on earth? What symbolizes the stars on earth? Okay, I am not talking about space rocks. Those are cool too, but rather something that just reminds you of stars. Plants with stars in their names. like Broadleaf Shooting Star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) which we just planted at the doorway to our classroom. There are species of Shooting Star based on what region you live in but in our ecosystem, we get to enjoy this sweet little plant that goes dormant after its blooms close in Spring, a member of the primrose family.
It’s not native to our ecosystem so we recently removed a star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) a deciduous shrub that blooms early in March. This fragrant elder from Asia grew for decades in Elderberry Wisdom Farm’s front yard until recently. Everyone loved its beauty, but it had grown to a height of 20’, over-shadowing the yard, so it was removed to expand our Native plant nursery into another irrigated section of our property. Three Sisters may grow there this summer and bless us with First Foods so good for our bodies and spirits.
A few other plants with the name ‘star’ in them can be discovered here in the Pacific Northwest early to mid-spring. Pacific Northwest trilliums are one of the earliest blooming flowers in the spring, and there are eight species of them native to the Northwest, some of which have adapted to garden culture, including Trillium ovatum, also known as Western white trillium, part of the moisture-loving Lily family and sometimes found near Oregon fawn lily (erythronium oregonum). A keystone plant species, they are a cultural cornerstone, often woven into native stories, spiritual practices and traditional healing ways. Some feel they symbolize rebirth and renewal, purity and beauty. When I discover them out there in our back field, I get excited. I am seeing a star something so universal and beautiful, delicate yet enduring. Unlike other plants I wild harvest, I don’t touch them because I am aware of its long growth cycle. These perennials spread slowly by underground rootstocks and can take years to store enough energy to produce a flower. If the bulb is disturbed while in bloom, it may not bloom again or for several years depending on species and conditions.
Trillium ovatum are the most widespread trillium species in the Pacific Northwest with white flowers that sometimes turn pink or red with age. Trillium kurabayashii (Large Purple Wake Robin) has larger, darker purple flowers and is considered rare. We spotted the Trillium albidum (giant white wakerobin) in the forested area above Elderberry Wisdom Farm for the past several years. Our team discovered it again Friday in the back field although its blossoms have not yet emerged on the hillside above the stream. I am looking forward to its arrival this year and maybe we can share some photos of its life cycle. Maybe on your early spring walks you can also find trillium native to our valley and feel the blessing of the stars.
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