Our native wildflowers are still putting on a show, in addition to provisioning late season pollinators and butterflies searching for fuel to carry them through the winter. Some of those creatures hibernate right here, others are taking wing and … [Read more...]
Home Fruit Plantings: Elderberries
Because of their tartness and relative seediness, elderberries are rarely eaten fresh. However, they offer a low-cost, low-maintenance fruit crop from which a delightful jelly or pie can be produced. MORE SOURCE: … [Read more...]
Dogwood Borers
The client sent photos of a pink dogwood tree with bark peeling from ground up. The photo showed extensive bark loss well up the tree. The client wanted to know what caused the problem and how to take care of the tree. Dogwood borer … [Read more...]
Caring for Your New Plants
Here are some tips from Wildflower Center horticulturists for promoting healthy growth of your new plants: https://www.wildflower.org/learn/how-to/care-for-your-new-plants A note from Bedford Extension Master Gardener KathyN: The Lady Bird … [Read more...]
Underused Native Plants: Common Blue Violets
There is a reliable palette of native plants common in the trade today from Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) to Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) to Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). But there are many … [Read more...]
How to Grow Virginia Bluebells
Native to North America, bluebells are charming woodland plants that thrive in partial to full shade. Also known as Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), the plants can be found in prolific numbers in woodland areas, particularly in the eastern … [Read more...]
THE SOCRATES PROJECT – Poisonous Plants in Virginia
Tens of thousands of exposures to poisonous plants are reported annually to Poison Control Centers throughout the US, and hundreds of such incidents are reported each year to the Blue Ridge Poison Center in Virginia. More... … [Read more...]
Native Cultivars – Good, Bad, and Ugly
Straddling important choices between planting true native plants and native cultivars. Check out the link below to learn more about the environmental impact...http://www.fort-worth-metropolitan-area.com/…/native-culti…/ Source: … [Read more...]
A Close Look at Those Hard Working Woodpeckers
“I’m mad for woodpeckers,” I wrote, and Stephen Shunk wrote back: “Mad for woodpeckers is a very good thing.” I suspect if you are not already, that by the end of this story and podcast, you’ll be mad for them, too, and positively amazed at their … [Read more...]
Nandina Berries Kill Birds
Nandina is a popular garden shrub used through the U.S. It is non-native, and considered invasive in some states. While the berries are showy and last for months, they have a serious side effect: they’re toxic to … [Read more...]