Iris, Bluets and Gama Grass

Here are a few more of the many species of native wildflowers to be enjoyed at Bennett Place. This miniature iris, Iris verna, was found growing near Bennett Place, along Hillsborough Road under a power line. Like many prairie wildflowers that need sun, it survived under the powerline because of the infrequent mowing.

When the owner decided to develop his Hillsborough Rd. property, the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association organized an effort to rescue as many of the wildflowers as possible. Bennett Place, just a quarter mile away and with similar soil, seemed the perfect place to give this and other native wildflowers a safe haven.

Bluets grace the field at Bennett Place in the spring.

One of my favorite prairie grasses is eastern gama grass. It typically grows in wet areas, such as ditches, but is found here next to the gazebo at Bennett Place. Some have speculated that it was one of the ancestors of corn, of which gama grass's large seeds and silky flowers are reminiscent.