A Wildflower Walk with Ted Elliman
Wildflowers have symbolized hope and renewal throughout history. The sight of yellow forsythia along a highway often sparks an eager welcome of spring. As the USDA Forest Service notes, “There is a deep urge we carry from childhood into adulthood to reach out and pick a flower in a meadow filled with butterflies or along a trail lined with spring beauties, irises, or wake-robins.” Wildflowers inspire a shared wonder that connects people from all backgrounds. Like a vibrant spring meadow in the Berkshires, bursting with purples, yellows, and oranges, we can also foster a lively and mutually beneficial landscape—one that thrives through diversity and harmony.
Ted Elliman, a longstanding board member of Christodora and a resident Wildflower expert, envisioned over 40 years ago a space where cultivation and beauty were limitless—a place where New York City kids could challenge themselves while staying true to who they are, exploring an uncharted land. Thanks to his perseverance, Christodora selected a small site in Florida, Massachusetts, where the seeds of the Manice Education Center were sown, eventually thriving into the vibrant program it is today. Recently, Ted was celebrated at Manice for his visionary contributions to Christodora. He was presented with a native-rich wildflower garden, planted by alumni volunteers during Garden and Grounds Day, located near the Shyamli Washhouse. The celebration began with a wildflower and perennial nature walk for the Fall Outdoor Educator staff around the Manice grounds. During the walk, he shared his extensive knowledge of plant identification, weaving in the histories, uses, and fun facts about various plants.
Ted expresses a particular fondness for the Asteraceae plant family, which includes recognizable flowers such as daisies, asters, and goldenrod. When thinking of Aster and Goldenrod, one might picture purples and yellows. Recognizing the classic thin, sun-like radiating shape of an Aster or the pyramidal yellow-tipped stalk of a Goldenrod can make it easy to identify and point out to a friend, saying, "That’s an Aster!” or “Look at the Goldenrod by the highway!”
But what if that was the tip of the iceberg?
We learned to identify five native Goldenrod species and nearly ten native Aster species, all sharing the MEC grounds! Overall, Massachusetts hosts over 25 species of each. We discovered that not all Asters are vibrant purple; some are paler, and others are completely white. A fun way we identified Calico Aster was by its multicolored centers or disk florets, which range from yellow to dark purple—indicating pollination. Nearby, we saw the classic burst of purple from the Purple-stemmed Aster, known for its dark stems. As we moved toward the Upper Field, we entered a forested part of the MEC Loop, where we were introduced to the Whorled Wood Aster, a forest-dwelling aster with white flowers that prefers shade, unlike the others.
Pictured left to right: Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum), Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum), Whorled Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata)
Goldenrod is well-known for covering large areas of meadows, forest edges, and roadsides, often appearing uniform from a distance. However, up close, different species exhibit distinct features, despite their similar overall look. The most common native Goldenrod we encountered was the Rough-stemmed Goldenrod, which requires a gentle touch to identify correctly—simply rub its stem, and you’ll notice a texture reminiscent of a cat's tongue! Goldenrod typically features cone-shaped yellow flower clusters that often skirt the tips of their stalks, resembling a delicate Bob Ross painting. In contrast, Flat-topped Goldenrod displays its flowers in tightly packed, short stalks called a flat umbel. Ted was surprised to find a rarer Goldenrod species at MEC that exhibits both characteristics. Showy Goldenrod retains the cone-shaped flowers but clusters them more densely, giving it an especially radiant, golden appearance.
Pictured left to right: Rough-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), Flat-topped Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia), Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Our group was perhaps most impressed by the discovery of a few native Great Blue Lobelia emerging from beneath the driveway meadow. As a protected species in Massachusetts, this striking blue-purple flower is classified as endangered under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). It is highly valued by beneficial insects, such as bumblebees, and is known to attract hummingbirds. With this understanding, MEC is committed to ensuring this beautiful plant remains healthy and thriving on our grounds.
The day wrapped up with an official ceremony, attended by New York and MEC staff and a few of Ted’s longtime friends and fellow board members. Words were shared to highlight the impacts of Ted's work, both in outdoor education and in plant ecology, and finished with a lovely poetry reading by executive director, Salma Choudhury-Muro. The Elliman Family Garden sign was revealed as we took delight in the fruits of the Garden and Grounds Day labor, which reminded us of all of the teamwork gardens symbolize. Whether we are a hard-shelled beetle on spicebush, a hasty leafhopper in the goldenrod, or a delicate monarch on milkweed, wildflower gardens remind us that there is room for all, and that our shared presence is important.
