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“Junk Trees” and the Native Understory
by Eileen Ellsworth Take a moment to stand in the scaly shoes of a migrating songbird along the Atlantic Flyway this fall. Passing...
Sep 305 min read
Be Very Brave: Plant a New Native Shrub This Fall
by Eileen Ellsworth Fall is the perfect time of year to add new plants to your landscapes and gardens, especially shrubs. They anchor a...
Aug 304 min read
Biodiversity or mosquito fogging: You can’t have both
Ah, the mosquito. It plagues our summers and can ruin our outdoor fun. Is anyone a fan? If so, consider the Asian tiger mosquito, which...
Jul 275 min read
Pollinator Pathways: Connecting your yard to the bigger picture
By Eileen Ellsworth Imagine the world as it once was. Verdant forests, buzzing meadows, and numerous other natural areas were immense,...
Jul 13 min read
Happy Bees, Happy Yards
Gardening to attract as many bees as possible is more than a rewarding pastime. It’s a blend of purpose, beauty, and connection to...
May 314 min read
Attracting hummingbirds (and convincing them to stay a while)
Hummingbirds may be the tiniest birds on the planet, but they are among the easiest and most delightful to observe. Ruby-throated...
Apr 294 min read
Five Great Reasons to Garden with Natives
Gardening enthusiasts everywhere are gearing up for spring with renewed passion and anticipation. There are garden beds to expand, turf...
Apr 33 min read
Early spring blooms for the garden
Our woodlands and meadows are about to awaken and burst into a vibrant display of spring ephemerals, the transient native beauties we...
Mar 63 min read
Clean Water and Native Plants
If your property contains a stream, pond, or any sort of wetland, whether its flow is permanent or intermittent in nature, this article...
Feb 83 min read
Community associations and environmental leadership
Community associations are familiar local institutions. They serve residents by enacting and enforcing community rules, managing any...
Jan 112 min read
Let Dead Plant Material Lie
Our splendid native plants are going dormant for the winter and leaving behind their seed heads and dead stalks as a reminder of growing...
Dec 3, 20243 min read
Protect The Wildlife You Attract
Market demand for native plants in our region has clearly risen in the past ten years. This is a very positive trend, fueled by an...
Nov 8, 20243 min read
“Keystone” Plants for Fall Gardens
It’s fall, and most healthy plants are looking rather spent as they go dormant for the winter. But some natives are happily blooming away...
Oct 5, 20244 min read
Native vines for hummingbirds and beauty
Native vines can be terrific additions to your landscape. The most popular one, Coral Honeysuckle, is a hummingbird magnet! Unlike the...
Aug 30, 20243 min read
Supporting your garden through heat and drought
We all know the climate is getting hotter. The week of July 22 included the world’s two hottest days in recorded history. At the same...
Jul 25, 20243 min read
Good hedges make good neighbors
Dense plantings between properties are a valuable amenity, so much so that they are mandated for many building projects. A mixed hedge...
Jun 22, 20242 min read
Shrink the lawn
If you grew up in suburbia, a pristine lawn was a welcome herald of spring. Everyone enjoys the smell of freshly mowed grass and the look...
May 17, 20243 min read
Create a mini meadow
When they aren’t being bulldozed over, the natural state of most meadows in Northern Virginia is to gradually revert to forest, but that...
Apr 8, 20243 min read
Build a mini bird sanctuary
The best sanctuaries for birds are undisturbed expanses of forests and meadows. Anyone can see that those are rapidly disappearing in...
Mar 17, 20242 min read
The Magic of Winter Trees: Making a Deeper Connection
Winter is a lovely time to get to know your trees better. Many folks spend some of the colder days of January and February planning their...
Jan 27, 20242 min read
Help Trees Thrive: Tear Up Some Turf
By Elaine Kolish, Fairfax County Tree Commission It’s fairly common in residential neighborhoods to see trees surrounded by grass or by...
Dec 26, 20233 min read
Controlling English Ivy Saves Trees and Combats Climate Change
English Ivy is everywhere, in our neighborhoods, along our roads, and in our parks. It climbs over fences, covers sheds, and carpets...
Nov 17, 20233 min read
Fall cleanup in two easy steps
Here is an executive summary of eco-friendly yard maintenance recommendations for fall. 1. Watch the pretty leaves flutter down...
Oct 11, 20233 min read
Biodiversity starts at home - plant native plants!
Fall is for planting. When choosing what to plant, why not factor in the ecosystem while you are at it? Preserving biodiversity may sound...
Sep 14, 20232 min read
The corporate world embraces native plants
Most corporate properties have pretty “standard” landscaping, meaning the plants do very little if anything to support the local...
Aug 10, 20232 min read
Tree-of-Heaven is not heavenly!
In summer many folks travel to the Shenandoah Valley and beyond for recreational opportunities. Driving in any direction from Northern...
Jul 21, 20232 min read
Inviting fireflies to your yard
When fireflies start their early summer dance, will they pick your yard for their display? Like most insects (and like most vertebrate...
Jun 9, 20232 min read
Front yard landscaping, reimagined
Originality has not been what springs to mind when looking at most front yards, but now people are starting to tweak the conventions by...
May 6, 20232 min read
Help save our native trees!
It isn’t easy being a Flowering Dogwood, White Oak, or other native tree in Northern Virginia. There are many threats to trees in an...
May 3, 20232 min read
Shopping for the birds
Warm weather has many of us headed to the garden center, where lovely blooms await. Did you know that those shopping trips can double as...
Apr 7, 20232 min read
Beauty is not in the eye of the beholder!
Recently our social media feeds have been full of beautiful photos of flowering plants that signal spring is on the way, much to the joy...
Mar 24, 20232 min read
Want birds and butterflies? Plant native shrubs!
When it comes to the curb appeal of our houses and other buildings, the difference between starkly naked and softly clothed is the...
Mar 12, 20233 min read
Five myths about trees
It’s no myth that trees hold a special place in our collective psyche. Trees play a prominent role in myths, often symbolizing life and...
Feb 12, 20232 min read
Save a Sapling: Pull Invasives
By Laura Handley One of the most satisfying moments of invasive plant management comes when you pull the last vine off a struggling...
Jan 8, 20233 min read
Solar panels vs. trees - how to choose?
Residents who are interested in installing solar panels often face a dilemma. Which is better for the environment, solar panels or shade...
Dec 17, 20223 min read
Managing larger properties for birds, butterflies, and people
The outdoor space on larger properties in Northern Virginia, whether residential or commercial, is typically divided into formal...
Nov 15, 20222 min read
Keeping our wooded areas beautiful
If your community owns some wooded common land, or if you yourself own a wooded property, you may have noticed that the woods around here...
Oct 25, 20222 min read
Plant NOVA Trees – One Year On
September marks the first anniversary of the launch of Plant NOVA Trees, a regionwide effort by over a hundred local organizations and...
Sep 22, 20224 min read
Welcoming visitors with native plant landscaping
The big signs that welcome visitors to neighborhoods are usually framed by conventional ornamental shrubs, grasses, and annual flowers....
Aug 25, 20222 min read
Be nice to your trees
On a recent day, driving out of the sun into a wooded community resulted in a temperature drop from 91 to 86 degrees. We all try to stay...
Jul 28, 20222 min read
Free trees for communities
As community associations around Northern Virginia ramp up their native tree planting efforts, they are looking around to find ways to...
Jun 17, 20222 min read
Native groundcovers and trees: the perfect pairing!
Native groundcovers are becoming increasingly popular, for good reason: even if they have minimal time for gardening, people want to use...
May 10, 20222 min read
Do you have room for a shade tree?
If your yard sits in the blazing sun in the summer, it may have already occurred to you that a native shade tree would benefit you...
Apr 11, 20222 min read
Millions of Trees at Risk in Northern Virginia? Introducing Tree Rescuers!
Northern Virginia’s oldest and best-loved trees are in danger, and the threat is in plain sight – and yet there are few who can see it....
Mar 3, 20222 min read
Easy plant combinations for your yard
Are you ready to brighten up your yard but not to spend hours researching plant choices? You may be a candidate for a native plant...
Feb 8, 20222 min read
Landscaping with nature
In the winter, as you drive across the American Legion Bridge or across many of our creeks, you may be startled to see large numbers of...
Jan 8, 20223 min read
Party time on the disc golf course
We don’t usually associate the native plant movement or a tree campaign with sports, but players at the Giles Run Disc Golf Course see it...
Dec 8, 20212 min read
Alexandria neighbors bring trees to their community
Trees plant themselves and replace themselves – except in our lawns. Many Northern Virginia neighborhoods that are graced by magnificent...
Nov 15, 20213 min read
Celebrate Fall Color!
As Northern Virginia continues to celebrate trees to mark the start of the five year regional native tree campaign, autumn colors move to...
Oct 14, 20213 min read
Arlington National Cemetery Treasures its Trees
Arlington National Cemetery is a place to honor, remember, and explore. The beauty of the grounds and the comfort of its visitors is...
Sep 10, 20213 min read
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