Native Plant Resources
Planting native plant gardens is ones of the best things we can do for climate mitigation and ecosystem conservation! Compared to turf grass, native plants provide wildlife habitat, sequester carbon, support pollinators, and make our soils and water healthier. If you are interested in creating a native plant garden, or even doing a larger pollinator meadow, here are some resources VCC recommends.
Blue Ridge PRISM
Blue Ridge PRISM reduces the impact of invasive plants on the ecosystems of the northern Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounding areas through regional and statewide advocacy, landowner support, implementing control measures, and public education.
Virginia Native Plant Society
For the most up-to-date and localized information on native plants, check out the Shenandoah chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Their recent publication: Pland Ridge & Valley Natives: A Gardener’s Guide to Virginia’s Ridge & Valley Native Plants, is the first of its kind for the Shenandoah Valley and is designed with gardeners in mind.
The larger Virginia Native Plant Society also keeps a list of nurseries across the state that raise and sell native plants:
Virginia Master Naturalists
The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. If you have questions about Virginia’s native ecosystems and the best ways to support native species, the Master Naturalists can help.
http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/
Shenandoah Valley Chapters:
Based in Alleghany, Bath, and Highland counties
Chapter Advisor: Christine Hodges, VCE
Based in Rockingham and Augusta counties
Chapter Advisors: Jason Hallacher, DWR
Based in Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties
Chapter Advisor: Patrick McNamara, DCR
The Natural Garden
From their website: “We are a design-and-build ecological landscaping company. This means we build what we design from start to finish. We work with you from your very first ideas through the complete design process—and then we build your dream into a reality. We also offer a range of garden maintenance services.”