How about dog-tooth violets and regular native violets coming up soon for some ferns (any). The dog-tooth violets are ephemerals so I need to ship them like sod while they are up, then they disappear quickly. But they do spread in woodland areas. My clumps migrate about a foot or two each year, and some take a while to flower.

i doubt a LITTLE chipmonk gnawing.. [unless a substantial part of the girth of the tree was taken off] .. would do canopy damage ... i would suspect major borer problems... caused such .. but i am no expert on bugs ... what does the label say about applying bayer in fall ... root growth will continue until ground freeze.. i suppose the issue will be whether it will be drawn up into the tree this time of year... ken

Gray dogwood is a great wildlife plant. Mine are spreading a little wider than I wanted them to though. Be sure you allow plenty of room. They sucker.

Grey dogwood never gets tired of sending up suckers, the suckers eventually get as big as the plant. So unless you want a gazillion plants in one spot, you have to remove them. What you do it dig down about 6 inches or so, a few inches away from the sucker. You'll find a very strong horizontal root running in a straight line--the main plant sends up new suckers along that line. It's easy to see, because the suckers are often lined up in a row. If you want to slow the plant down, dig up that whole horizontal root. Each sucker will be easier to establish if it has a part of that root along with its own root system. The sucker's own root system will be rather small. Plant as for any bare-root tree or shrub--dig a hole or slit just big enough for the roots, don't amend the soil, firm the soil very well around the roots, water well, and keep the area well watered for the entire first growing season. If you're going to dig and replant these, do it before the weather gets too hot.