Sunflowers are popular. It seems one can find a sunflower on almost anything, from throw pillows to towels to floor mats and rugs. I've also noticed more and more gardeners growing sunflowers for their beauty, their tasty seeds, or for wild bird … [Read more...]
NATIVE PLANTS: AN ELEGANT SOLUTION
Along the eastern edge of Lake Sydnor, on the narrow strip of land between the shoreline and the Children’s Garden, a group of plants is hard at work. The beauty of the bed belies its greater purpose. The plants there are members of a “designed plant … [Read more...]
A passion for pawpaws
It's shaped like an obese banana, tastes like mango custard and is probably growing wild within miles of your home, but chances are you've never tasted a pawpaw. By Su Clauson-Wicker Special to The Roanoke Times Read more: … [Read more...]
Pull Them and Eat Them Too: Edible Weeds
Weeds are often seen as an insurmountable force, an unbearable nuisance, an overwhelming enemy in the garden, all of which ensure the utmost of destruction must take place. Before you tackle them with your hoe, harrow, or hands, please read on. It … [Read more...]
A Virtual Wildflower Walk
Go on a virtual wildflower walk with Alonso Abugattas, listening to him explain some of the lore and how to ID many of the spring-blooming plants we encounter both in Arlington & Alexandria Parks, as well as others found at Turkey Run.Zoom … [Read more...]
Native Fruit and Nut Trees and Shrubs of the Virginia Mountains and Piedmont
Native fruit and nut trees can be grown to produce food for people and/or wildlife while protecting soil, water and air quality. Because they are multifunctional, native fruit and nut trees and shrubs are prime candidates for agroforestry plantings … [Read more...]
Wildflower of the Year 2020 Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Wild Geranium is an excellent garden plant, fitting well with mixed perennials in light shade or naturalistic woodland settings. CONTINUE SOURCE: https://vnps.org/2020-wildflower-of-the-year-wild-geranium-geranium-maculatum/ … [Read more...]
Piedmont Native Plants A guide for landscapes and gardens
Each of us has followed different paths to find this guide to Piedmont Native Plants. Some of us are gardeners or landscapers, farmers or scientists, locavores or nature enthusiasts. … [Read more...]
Shaggy Mane Mushrooms
Shaggy Manes are a kind of mushroom commonly referred to as “inky caps”. That’s because they grow quickly and then “melt” into a pool of black ooze that looks like INK. I know, that’s a gross description, but it’s true. MORE SOURCE: … [Read more...]
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Our Master Gardeners have put their heads together to identify and describe a broad variety of native plants that thrive in our local conditions and benefit our local wildlife. We’ve created more than 100 fact sheets to highlight the beauty, ease of … [Read more...]