Options for Autumn Leaf Clean-up
Fallen leaves and pine tags are a precious natural resource that enrich our soils, feed and shelter invertebrate animal life, and insulate the soil through the winter. Let’s find practical ways to use this resource as good stewards of the land on which we live. Local governments provide recycling services and schedules for leaf pick-up. Learn more here...
Secrets in the Pawpaw Patch
The native pawpaw tree is enjoying a renaissance. It is moving from ravine to orchard, from secret treat to commercial product. It is a singularly resilient tree which offers many environmental benefits in addition to its delicious and nutritious fruit. Learn More...
Managing Rain and Run-Off
Learn how to use plants and landscaping to protect your home from stormwater run-off and erosion and how changes to the landscaping can bring new life and resilience to the greater ecosystem. Certain plants have ‘superpowers’ to thrive in difficult situations. The plants we cultivate can help us find some solutions to our shared challenges. Learn more...
Late Autumn and Winter 'To Dos'
Winter is the ‘weekend’ of the gardening year when we enjoy a much-needed rest from the regular routine. A period of rest and renewal restores energy to both the garden and the gardener. Even during late autumn and winter, there is still plenty to enjoy in our gardens and plenty to do. Read more.
Evergreen Camellias for Winter Flowers
The first Camellia shrub usually chooses a stretch of damp, cool October days to burst into bloom. I am always taken by surprise when its luminous white, spring-like blossoms unfold, because they look rather out of place beside the colorful leaves falling from nearby trees. Learn more…
A Tea Story: Camellia sinensis
Foraging for Autumn Harvests
What our ancestors recognized as good food, many of us disregard as a part of the landscape. Many native plants have edible roots, stems, leaves, bark, flowers, nuts or fruit that can be used and enjoyed once you know how to correctly identify, harvest, and prepare them. Learn more...
Cultivate a 'Tiny Forest' Parts 1 and 2
Trees are the guardians of our planet, renewing the atmosphere, managing rainfall, building good soil, and supporting wildlife. Trees cool our warming atmosphere and make our communities more livable through the summer. Learn how to cultivate a ‘Tiny Forest’ to make your yard more beautiful as you restore our natural vegetation and support wildlife.
Cultivating a Tiny Forest Part 1- Why and How
Mysteries of the Mycorrhizae
Most of us know little or nothing about the vast Kingdom of Fungi, and how they support our well-being as they also support the plants growing in our gardens. To work in cooperation with these vast networks of fungi we need to first recognize their existence, and then learn more about them. Just imagine how much more there is to discover, as Mother Nature continues to reveal her secrets. Learn more here
Quick Notes: Mysteries of the Mycorrhizae
Master Gardener Video: Plant Roots and Their Fungal Partners
Beech, the Mother Tree
The American beech, Fagus grandifolia, once covered most of North America from Canada to Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. Before colonists cleared our ancient forests for farmland, large beech groves grew as part of the climax forest community. Read more here
The Beautiful Oak
At the intersection of myth, fantasy, and living reality stands a towering oak tree. More than 400 species of oaks grow across regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Oaks were already long-lived survivors on our planet long before the first humans walked beneath them. They belong to our climax hardwood forest community and remain a keystone species wherever they grow because they support such a diversity of wildlife. Learn more about oaks here…
Wildflowers
Jamestown Island’s geology, climate, and history have all shaped what grows there today. It is one of the few places left in our area to see native plant species growing wild with little maintenance or cultivation. Discover the trees, ferns, and wildflowers growing on the island in late summer. Read more here …
Plants at the Olympics
The Olympic Games, a symbol of international unity and athletic excellence, incorporate plants and flowers into their ceremonies. These botanical elements enhance the visual appeal of the events and carry cultural and historical significance as well. Read more here...
Garden Questions?
Zone Change!
Click to enlarge the photo
The USDA has updated the Plant Hardiness Zone map and we're now in zone 8A. The trend reveals a picture of how many parts of our country are warming. Read more ...
Native Tree Guide
Which Tree Should I Plant? This guide was produced by the Upper and Middle James Riparian Consortium to educate Virginians about the woody native plants of our riparian areas. Access the guide here.
Native Plant Guide
This guide showcases many attractive variety of plants native to Southeast Virginia, which includes the Hampton Roads region. It includes information about how each plant supports wildlife. Read more here...
