Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Over 40 Years of Growing Gardens and Gardeners
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Commercial demand for American Holly, the State Tree of Delaware, for use in holiday decorations may have declined over the decades, but its value in the landscape has not. As temperatures drop, its evergreen leaves and red, berry-like fruits brighten the winter scenery.
Join Master Gardeners in the Arlington/Alexandria unit of Virginia Cooperative Extension in a series of monthly articles reposted from 2021 as we explore the topic of climate change and practical actions individuals can take in their home landscapes in response. This month, we’ll present an overview.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This trouble-free shrub, also known as Carolina Allspice, delights the senses with fragrant, showy, spring flowers when planted as a specimen or screening hedge near a front door or patio. While primarily native to several southeastern states, it does well in Northern Virginia.
Curious about floral design? Understand the importance of the receptacle (not the vase used in floristry but the part of a flower stalk bearing the floral parts) and hypanthium. Explore nature’s ingenious arrangement of floral parts and how botanists interpret those arrangements to categorize flower type—hypogynous, perigynous, or epigynous.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Noted for beautiful, exfoliating bark, River Birch is an excellent food source for wildlife, supporting hundreds of species of butterflies, moths, and songbirds. It is commonly found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of the Mid-Atlantic Region from Pennsylvania to Virginia.
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV) turns 40 this year! Over the hill? No chance! We are between the rows, behind our trowels, beside our plants, and before the public, fulfilling our mission to promote sustainable gardening.
