Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia
Over 40 Years of Growing Gardens and Gardeners
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This showy mint family member boasts a fragrance similar to bergamot oranges. Its aromatic leaves are used in herbal tea. Flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. Seed heads attract small birds. The Virginia Native Plant Society named Wild Bergamot Wildflower of the Year in 1993.
The Glencarlyn Library Community Garden coordinators are creating a new series of short videos about locally invasive plants and native alternatives. This series looks at individual invasive plants, discussing how to remove them and suggesting native plants to consider as replacements. This month's post is on Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) ).
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This robust native perennial occurs frequently throughout the Mid-Atlantic in moist woods, swamps, and stream banks. With snapdragon-like flowers, which resemble turtle heads, the plant is named for Chelone (rhymes with “baloney”), a nymph of Greek mythology who was punished by being turned into a tortoise.
One day you look up, only to notice that one of your plants is looking a little droopy, maybe it’s even slightly changed color. So, what do you do? You swear it was fine last time you watered it and that can’t have been that long ago, can it? It’s time for a little detective work to figure out what’s ailing your sad plant and what can be done to get it back to its former glory.
Calling home gardeners of all ages! Whether this is your first year of gardening or you’ve been growing flowers, fruits or veggies for a while, now is the time to enter the Competitive Exhibits at the Arlington County Fair and strut your stuff! Entries will be judged by Extension Master Gardeners and there are prizes galore.
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This stately perennial is native to wet areas such as marshes, swamps, riverbanks, and moist meadows and woods scattered around the eastern United States. While each of its flowers lasts only a day, it can be covered with up to 20 striking, saucer-shaped blooms at a time.
