In a quiet part of Tennessee‚ a small nursery sits in the full‚ thick woods‚ rich with creatures and vegetation․ It is home to many plants‚ such as the May Apple with its pendant fruit‚ large umbrella-shaped leaves‚ and pearly white flowers‚ which draw many curious plant-lovers and nature-fanatics from the native woods․ The May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) lives in the shadow of the rich woods‚ waiting for a promise of warmth in spring after a long winter's rest․ The May Apple is more than a pretty flower․ It's a plant that holds great benefits and many tales of wonder to entice those daring enough to grow and appreciate its many gifts․
Soil
The May Apple grows best in rich‚ well-drained soil in the shade and is thus suitable for a woodland garden․ The soil should contain a reasonable quantity of organic matter․ The plant spreads by way of rhizomes and forms a carpet of green growth under trees․ The plant likes a cool and moist microclimate and grows well in an area with dappled sunlight․ The plants are fairly easy to grow but the plant communities may be affected by out of control weeds that can choke out the May Apple․ However‚ left to time‚ they can grow to create a magical‚ lush undergrowth that sings the songs of nature․
May Apple has been cultivated since antiquity because it has attractive foliage․ Its rhizome contains podophyllotoxin‚ a chemical that has been used in Native American and Western herbal medicine for centuries and is a useful drug․ If not prepared properly‚ the unripe fruit and root can be toxic․ The plant extracts have been customarily used to help treat a number of different ailments‚ including some types of cancer and warts․ Those who use herbal medicine would recommend means of preparing the plant that would make the most of its positive effects‚ and remove the negative․ As such‚ this dual nature is an interesting part of the story of the May Apple‚ that it is both delightful‚ and dangerous․
Growth
The May Apple's growth cycle also follows the seasonal weather patterns․ With the coming of warmer weather in spring and longer days‚ the May Apple will push up through the soil‚ sending up new‚ tender shoots that signal the coming of the new season and another round of growth (budding)․ The broad leaves are fully developed in early spring and in late spring the small‚ nodding flowers appear‚ and the summer brings the characteristic‚ umbrella-like fruit on the plant․ May Apples are usually harvested in late summer when the fruit is a golden color․ The fruit is tangy and sweet when ripe and eaten fresh or prepared for jellies or desserts after standing at room temperature for a few days‚ but caution is advised as it should not be eaten excessively․ The seasonal changes in the life of the May Apple and the stages of the plant throughout the year can be an excellent way for gardeners and nature enthusiasts to get involved with nature․
Planting
In addition‚ anyone interested in growing their own May Apples can benefit from a few tips: May Apples are best transplanted in the fall (autumn) or early spring․ Plants should be spaced at least a foot (30 cm) apart to allow for their spread‚ and the rhizomes (underground stems) are often transplanted․ Regular mulching will help maintain moisture and keep soil temperature lower‚ and attention should be paid to any signs of pests or disease․ However‚ even the hardiest plants are sometimes in need of a little extra help to grow well․ The act of communicating information with fellow gardeners‚ or observing the way the leaves of the May Apple sway in the wind‚ can have the effect of the plant becoming more than the object of care‚ but rather a relationship with the higher spirit of nature that gives and nourishes․
Properly cared for‚ with some attention to the specific needs of the May Apple‚ the plant can also act as a habitat for a variety of insects and small animals‚ in addition to its potential aesthetic features․ The May Apple provides cover and sustenance for the local bee‚ butterfly‚ and other insect populations and is part of a larger chain of life in its ecosystem․ Understanding the role that this species‚ among others‚ provides in the local ecosystem helps give an understanding of the ecosystem as a whole․ A diverse garden habitat can therefore help to protect populations of a wide range of species that are threatened by global problems such as climate change‚ habitat loss and pollution․
The golden glow of the setting sun illuminates this specimen from a Tennessee nursery and draws to mind some of the many ways this species can be appreciated: its role in nature‚ its place in human culture and medicine‚ its contribution to the ecosystem․ Those who‚ with care and love‚ cultivate the May Apple‚ both for its unique richness‚ and as caretakers of the earth‚ serve as torchbearers for a future in which the plant‚ and all its relationships‚ can flourish․ Let us‚ as gardeners and herbalists and stewards of the earth‚ reconnect to the wisdom of this plant‚ and by caring for it‚ inspire others to appreciate and be in awe of the natural world․
