Rudbeckia fulgida, popularly called the Black-Eyed Susan, is Maryland’s State Flower and incredibly popular with local gardeners, for its many good qualities. Looks great with grasses and the seedheads of Monarda, or with just about anything. Shown is the popular…
Alex Dencker, well-known native-plant enthusiast and our Potomac manager, is making a guest appearance today on the wonderful local blog Metro DC Lawn and Garden – check it out. And no surprise, he’s recommending his favorite native plants for the…
So Many Plants, So Little Room Finding beauty, low-maintenance and versatility in a plant is sometimes difficult. Many plants that are coveted for being the most beautiful, are high maintenance and finicky, like the stereotypical grand opera diva always wanting…
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) ‘Tiger Eyes’ Native throughout the Eastern United States, Staghorn Sumac survives in the most inhospitable conditions in large thickets. But unlike other Staghorn Sumacs, the selection ‘Tiger Eyes’ is compact and slow spreading, a medium-sized shrub…
How Rain Gardens help the Chesapeake Bay, and How to Create Them Development in Maryland and Virginia has exploded in recent years and we have witnessed the conversion of rural areas to urban. This conversion has created…
My favorite season is autumn. The weather is cooler, the sun shines abundantly, and I love the autumn colors of red, yellow and orange… and blue, purple and pink. Yes, that’s right, blue, purple and pink, and you can add to that magenta, rose, red-purple, royal blue, lavender and sky blue. These are all the true colors of autumn here in the United States due to one of our most glorious and prolific wildflowers, the aster.
An Explorer’s Journal of Native Plants in the Landscape Great Falls National Park – September 9 & 11, 2010 On the 9th, I’m back on the VA side this time to revisit the River Trail, to see what the season…
There are many more native grasses to choose from. All are unique and offer exciting and appealing characteristics to the fall garden. Be sure to check out the Baysafe tags when shopping and pick out a variety of native grasses. They are all worthwhile garden plants which are easy to care for. But most of all, these grasses care for our native wildlife and will bring you new butterflies and birds to your yard.
One of my favorite aspects of summer is seeing all the butterflies, like exquisitely colorful silk tapestries, fluttering throughout my garden.
Most people are familiar with milkweed as the host plant for the Monarch butterfly. However, milkweed is so much more than just a butterfly plant. Milkweeds are one of our most stunning and attractive native wildflowers.
A hydrangea with oak-shaped leaves! What will mother nature think of next? How about peeling bark, downy-silver new growth, cinnamon-orange stems, fragrant flowers and rich fall color?
Full sun will give you the richest fall colors, but in the wild these plants can also be found with other understory plants in the brighter spots in the woods.