A garden worthyof the founding fathers.

By Joel M. Lerner WASHINGTONAuIn keeping with the spirit of 1776, here is a list of plants that represent principles stated in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, altered as though greenery could declare, AoAll plants are created equal.Ao Plants are entitled to roam free, provide food, inspire, live long, be independent and protect their territory, help the environment, and promote democracy in the world of flora. Roaming Free Black-eyed Susan makes a splash of bright yellow with summer blooming that lasts a month or more. It spreads by seed and rhizome, popping up in most any well-drained sunny spot. Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum) grows five to six feet tall and has pinkish-purple flowers standing above its foliage from August to September. Great for attracting butterflies, it likes moist sites and will do well in sun or partial shade on the edge of a stream or woodland. Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Its golden flowers open the same time as ragweed, which is why itAAEs mistakenly blamed as an allergen. Its long-blooming yellow flowers in late summer and early fall attract butterflies and work well in wildflower meadows or rambling in natural areas. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is commonly found growing wild and requires a natural, moist setting. These perennials are host plants on which monarch butterflies lay eggs. Providing Food Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) has reddish-purple-to-black berries so attractive to birds that the fruit must be picked quickly. Ripe berries can be served as-is or made into jellies and pies. White flowers are more prolific in sun but the plant tolerates some shade. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is one of the first trees to flower in spring. Its berries can be used in tarts, as syrup or in cranberry sauce. This shaggy barked tree is virtually disease-free, growing about 20 feet high in sunny locations. Chinese date (Ziziphus jujuba) is a hardy, late-flowering, drought-tolerant tree for full sun. Fruit, harvested in the fall, has a sweet custard flavor and texture. The tree grows about 20 feet tall. Inspiring Common dogwood (C. florida) flowers before it leafs in spring. Flowers grow in the shape of a Maltese cross and have a great deal of religious significance. It has been a religious symbol since approximately 1080, when an organization was founded in Jerusalem providing care for poor, sick and injured pilgrims in the Holy Land. Lavender (Lavandula angustfolia) is a calming herb commonly used in pillows, soaps, candles, aromatherapy and body creams. Lavender is also used to flavor candies, ice cream and other foods. Living Long Bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) is more than 4,800 years old, predating virtually all recorded history. It was unknown at the time that the tree cut down for research in the Great Basin National Park in Nevada was the oldest known specimen. Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is a member of the agave family. The elders are estimated to be about 1,000 years old. It grows on dry ridges in the Southwest. Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) lives for 1,000 to 2,000 years. One of the oldest living redwoods is in Kings Canyon National Park in California. Being Independent and Protecting Territory Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) grows new shoots from its roots whenever possible, a successful technique to propagate groves of offspring when weather permits. Thorny stems help keep wildlife damage minimal. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) controls its territory with a chemical called juglone, exuded from its roots, leaves and nuts, which can kill most plants trying to grow in the surrounding soil. Poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron) protects its territory diabolically. The oil (urushiol) in leaves and stems can cause rashes to humans allergic to it. Rashes usually appear one to three days after contact. The plant spreads by berries, rhizomes and creeping stems and can grow as a shrub, small tree or vine with a hairy appearance. DonAAEt burn it. This can cause internal allergic reactions. Helping Others and the Environment Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and other legumes, such as peas, beans and vetch, grow nodes on their roots that take nitrogen from the air for use by plants. This creates healthier soil when the plants are tilled at the end of the growing season. Mycorrhiza, a fungus, forms a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. The fungus grows into root systems and produces enzymes that make nutrients available to the plant. This is only one of many microorganisms in the soil that have a direct relationship on productivity of trees. Promoting Democracy Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is at its best when it grows as a community. It colonizes areas of poor but well-drained soil. If a plant is injured, another grows from the roots to take its place. Its greatest ornamental impact in the landscape is flower and fall color. Gaillardia (G. grandiflora) is a perennial that prospers for three to five years, and then it simply doesnAAEt return, leaving room for another flower to fill that spot. The replacement could be a healthy seedling from the parent plant or a different, hardier perennial. Lerner is president of Environmental Design in Capitol View Park, Md., and author of AoAnyone Can LandscapeAo. LATWP News Servic

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