Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Promoting environmentally sound gardening practices for over 35 years!
As we look to 2023 with the best intentions, maybe include a few plant care resolutions with your fitness plans and Dry January. Winter is a hard time for our houseplants, and cold temperatures and dark days will remain through March. By implementing just two care tips, you will come into spring with a house full of happy, healthy plants.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Purple Coneflower has a rich history of medicinal use that has resulted in its over harvesting and decline in its natural habitat, centered in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. The few established populations in Virginia and Pennsylvania appear to be escapes from cultivation. So many beneficial insects (and goldfinches) flock to it though, one thinks of Echinacea as native. In any case, its attributes make it a "must-have" for a sunny garden.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This semi-evergreen vine can cling to stone, brick, and wood without support. Found in forests and along roadsides mainly in the South,* its showy, two-tone flowers are an early nectar source for butterflies and hummers. Cross-vine refers to the cross-shaped pattern of the cut stem.
Cacti and succulents are popular houseplants. If you are just getting started with these, or looking to expand your collection, check out Happy Cactus: Cacti, Succulents, and More. It is an easy-to-use book, filled with helpful advice.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Eastern Redcedar’s dense foliage provides excellent roosting/nesting cover for birds, and wildlife favor its fruit. This long-lived juniper, which is native to eastern North America, was prized by Virginia colonists for its wood. Today, its wood is valued as a closet/chest lining; oils are distilled for use in fragrances; and the fruit gives gin its characteristic flavor.
Gardeners usually think of winter as a time for taking stock of the year’s successes and failures and then planning for the upcoming growing season. One important task they should consider before designing new beds or perusing seed catalogs is preparing their gardening tools for off-season storage. Tools that are well cared for will last longer, take less effort to use, cause less damage to plants, and help to prevent the spread of diseases.
