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Garden Maintenance / Gardening on the Wild Side: Working in Harmony with Nature / Native Plants / Water Wise / Watering

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Water-Wise Demonstration Project

The Water-Wise Demonstration Project is located in front of the Human Services Center (HSC) at 5249 Olde Towne Road (shown here). About 10,500 people walk through this garden each year. They are generally families, often bilingual, seeking social services and affordable health services. Our water-wise garden provides a peaceful setting for them, showcasing a variety of drought-tolerant perennial plants in a low-maintenance, low-water setting. This year we’re reaching out in English and Spanish by posting what is blooming on a...

Beneficial Insects / Birds / Flowering Shrubs / Gardening on the Wild Side: Working in Harmony with Nature / Lepidoptera / Pollinators / Sustainable Gardening / Watering

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Water-Wisely, Choose Drought Resistant, Pollinator-Friendly, Plants

Planting and maintaining lovely gardens, while restricting the use of water, is made possible by using a few watering techniques and a choice of plants. The VCE created a brochure, in 2004 entitled Creating a Water-Wise Landscape and twenty years later it still contains some great advice.

Deer

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Susceptibility of Plants to Deer Damage

James City County-Williamsburg Master Gardeners conducted a survey of local residents in order to identify the shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals that are often or sometimes browsed by deer in this area, as well as those that usually are not. Among the participants of the survey were landscapers and other professionals, Master Gardeners, members of all local garden clubs, and other residents of neighborhoods where deer damage occurs. The lists below are based on the participants’ personal experiences while living...

boxwood

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Boxwood: An Historic Shrub

Boxwood: An Historic Shrub for Williamsburg Gardens By Shirley Livingston, Master Gardener Volunteer Many James City County residents, influenced by historic gardens in this area, have boxwood plantings in their gardens. Although boxwood is considered to be a low-maintenance shrub, it is subject to a number of diseases that can be minimized by knowing your plant and its growing requirements. Boxwood was introduced to North America from Europe in the mid-1600s and soon became a popular plant in formal gardens...