Newbie has native plant question
 

Hi Y'all :D

I've been outside doing yardwork today with the help of my Dad, and it occured to me that perhaps I should dig up some of my ramps to bring with me to transplant.

We are in the same mountain range, and at a higher elevation than Moultonboro, so maybe ramps already grow there ????????

Thank you, Colleen

Ramps?
 

They look like a cross between rhubarb and hosta. ;) Are they ornamental or edible? I would suppose as long as they aren't invasive and they grow down south but can tolerate cold, no reason why they wouldn't grow here as well. Good luck in your new venture and marriage!

Hmmmmm, that doesn't bode well for my question :( Ramps are rather "unforgetable", so it sounds like they don't grow there. Ramps are a member of the Lily family, they are edible, and they're usually the first sign of spring, April or May depending on the winter ;)

Ramps taste like an onion, and yet reeks of garlic :laugh: .....omg, they are so good. But tis true, folks either lov'em or hate'm. They are difficult to cultivate, grow wild, and when they're in season it's only for 3 or 4 weeks and then disappear for another year :(

How Chicago got it's name.
 

Interesting read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_tricoccum

If they can grow in Illinois I bet they can survive here.

Scallions grow well here in Moultonborough. Needs to be in a sunny spot though.
So you call them Ramps, I call 'em scallions. I love scallions....especially like the Wiki article says...in with my pan fried potatoes and parsley. Awesome. Bring them on up. Doesn't hurt to try... Just don't let me know where they are......:D

BTW we are in Zone 4. Some zone 4 plants do not do well in some spots. If you are in the mountains and on the wrong side they may not get enough sun do to the mountains cutting the light short. So as long as you are on the sunny side of the mountains you are go to grow...:D

give them a try
 

Soapmistress, ramps grow here in the spring as well. I usually spot them growing in marshy areas and along the banks of brooks. Always wanted to stop and forage a few, maybe this coming spring!

Hi Colleen,

When I first saw your post, my first thought was "Lady Slipper". But they would be long past at this time of year.

FWIW, if you see any of these in your new yard next Spring, consider yourself lucky and hope they come back year after year.

http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/...dy_slipper.htm

Lady Slippers
 

Please do not pick the Ladt Slippers. I think it is illegal and they do not transplant easily. They seem to like under pine trees.

Be careful with this plant, it looks to me like it could be Lily of the Valley. They're lovely in bloom, and grow in large patches like the plant in your photo, but all parts are poisonous to eat. I'd include a photo from google, but don't know how to!

Lady Slipper is Endangered in NH. It's not illegal to pick, but they don't transplant well. So you shouldn't pick them.

http://www.nhdfl.org/library/pdf/Tra...dyslippers.pdf

You are correct on the pine trees, we have about 15-20 that come up every year under a big old white pine.

This pic is from June of 2009.

Attachment 4311

In my yard.
 

I knew I liked 'em, but I didn't know what they were.

Truly, it really isn't illegal to pick them? I always heard it was! I never would pick one. I have a few in my yard.

I always thought the same thing. A neighbor told me it wasn't illegal, so I looked it up.

"NH law gives landowners in NH the right to do anything they want with plants on their property, endangered or not. While not on the official "threatened" or "endangered" lists, the pink lady
slipper "Cypripedium acaule" is the victim of uneducated picking of flowers, unsuccessful attempts at transplanting, and habitat loss."

Source: Jean Stefanik, Education & Conservation, NH Orchid Society. (5/26/2004)

We just leave ours alone, and each year they spread a little further around the base of the white pine.