Crow’s Nest: What are those little bags on flowers?

By Daniel Barringer, Preserve Manager.

If you have walked some of our trails such as our Hopewell Trail, you may have passed some wildflowers such as these smooth white asters with little mesh bags on them. Looking like a gift bag from a wedding reception, the purpose is just as important.

Staff from Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden have selected some native plants found at Crow’s Nest that they would like to propagate and use in the gardens there. The bags simply allow the seed to mature on the plant but not be lost on the ground. As you can see, they’re not taking every seed nor are there bags on every plant—they’re just taking a few so that they can encourage this perennial at Stoneleigh so that visitors there can appreciate the beauty and value of this native plant for habitat.

Someday plants from many of Natural Lands’ preserves will be showcased at Stoneleigh, representing in one place the diversity of our network of preserves.