Barb, it is not Hydrophyllum! Wisconsin has three species according to the USDA database. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=HYDRO4 My garden has three species, the same as your state. Look closely at Hydrophyllum appendiculatum Hydrophyllum virginianum Hydrophyllum canadense How is your plant similar? The leaf shape, arrangement of leaflets is not alike. Consider that Sambucus( elderberry) is eaten by wild birds. Most gardeners see lots of bird spread seedlings in their gardens. Ivy, honeysuckle, holly, crabapple,mulberry, cherry, poison ivy, pokeweed, Virginia creeper, are only a few that pop up here constantly.

Well from what I have read, the native Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana) has showy fall foliage. The buckthorn around my house is a soft brown with maybe a hint of orange. Very plain and ugly. However, the leaves look longer than the non-native Rhamnus cathartica and much more like Rhamus caroliniana. I am now pretty sure it is the native. Thanks everyone who replied, especially esh_ga! Now I will have another topic of discussion with my dad next time he comes over and we walk around in the woods. So the final verdict is: 1. Carya Tomentosa (mockernut hickory) 2. Sambucus canadensis (elderberry) 3. Sassafras albidum 4. Rhamus caroliniana (buckthorn) Never thought you guys would nail it this fast when I was taking pics yesterday :)

I didn't plan a bird habitat per se, with the exception of trying to attract hummingbirds initially, but I did plan my landscaping over the winter months pouring over information on the internet. That progressed to adding feeders to my yard, which has now progressed to specifically planning for plants/trees that attract wildlife. You are on the right track by planning ahead, my biggest regrets are impulse purchases - like the popple tree in our yard (sends runners everywhere). Ugh, I don't have the heart to cut it down right down due to the privacy it provides for us, and the cover it provides for the birds (we have Coopers Hawks in the area). It disguises my feeders in the summer months. Eventually, it will be replaced with a Serviceberry, or a flowering dogwood, Cornus Kousa. Hummingbirds love my honeysuckle vine, clematis vines and perennial salvia, and for annuals they love my petunias and morning glories. The first time I saw one in my yard I was watering my red morning glories, and imagine my excitement when I realized one was fluttering a foot or two away from me - I'd been trying to attract them. As we speak, I have my first bird visits to my suet log feeders. Yaaayyyy. I've been waiting for almost a week. I've seen two cardinals visit every day, observing them, now they're enjoying a good meal. As for amending your soil, adding a layer of composted manure to your planting beds each year will do wonders for your plants, but I would also recommend organic lawn fertilizer - Cockadoodle Doo or Chickity Doo Doo are the two brands I've used, and I've found it locally at nurseries. I usually buy it in bulk off season, much cheaper. We made the mistake of using "weed & feed" lawn products at our local box stores to treat our lawns when we first purchased our home, and two years in a row we found dead animals on our lawn - birds, and small rodents alike (we are in the city). We still don't know if it was the weed & feed, but since we've stopped using chemicals and gone organic, we haven't had any occurences. Good luck & have fun!

This has sent me on an interesting.search. I followed the links, and googled other places, and have learned a lot. I think the most interesting thing is that wild cherries were a staple in the Native Indians diet. And that the pits are highly toxic. Yet I still don't know what I have, but I will find out. In the Spring of 2011, I found a seedling in a small flower bed beside my back porch. It was about a foot tall, very pretty and I found a spot for it in my back yard. I had no idea what it was, but I took a cutting to the Garden Center and was told it is a wild cherry. He suggested, and I bought, some Transplant Formula and put that down where the roots would grow. It is now about 5 feet tall and is a perfect little tree, and it had blooms this Spring. The two trees in question don't look alike. I don't have a picture of it. My phone doesn't take pictures. My DGS was here and took the pics of the Bean Stalk Tree. He may take it and plant it in their yard if I can find out for sure what it is. I guess I am becoming a tree saver! To be continued eventually. P.S. Thanks for the Round Up ideas. I'll keep that handy. Sue