#MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Dense mounds of showy Aromatic Aster flowers, among the last to bloom before hard frost, attract myriad pollinators. They grow easily in habitats ranging from moist woodlands to sandy prairies. Top-rated cultivars include ‘October Skies’ and ‘Raydon’s Favorite.’

#mgnv #mastergardener #africanviolets As houseplants go, violets are one of the easiest and most rewarding.  They demand minimal care and will bloom year-round.  I have counted 52 flowers on one of my grand old plants and rooted generations of new plants from her cuttings to give to friends and add to my indoor garden.

#MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary What is the type of, usually sessile, leaf whose basal lobes wrap around the stem?

#MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic One of the few “good” Euonymus, this native* shrub gives a spectacular show in fall. The bumpy, reddish seed capsules burst open to reveal seeds covered with fluorescent red-orange arils, hence the common name Heart’s-a-Bustin’. This surreal effect is fun to show children and adults!

#mgnv #mastergardener #habitat With fall upon us, it’s a good time to think about how we can make our yards hospitable to insects, birds, and other wildlife as they settle in for the winter and even save some time as we put our gardens to bed for the winter. Action 10 of our Restoring Nature series offers tips to ensure that these creatures can survive the winter and reemerge in the spring.

#MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary What is the extra—generally fleshy and brightly colored—covering of a seed called?

#MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic This sprawling native aster (formerly classified as Aster divaricatus) traditionally blooms in late summer to early fall with numerous clusters of small white flowers. It is ideal for woodland gardens, where it grows vigorously and aggressively, even in dry shade.

#mgnv #mastergardeners #seedsaving Have you ever grown a particular vegetable that was so successful in your garden and on your plate that you wanted to grow it forever? Well, you just might be able to if you can save its seeds. And once you get the basics down about seed saving, you can continue to save these seeds from year to year with a bit of care—and luck.

#MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary What is the modified calyx and appendage of the cypsela (fruit) of the Asteraceae (aster or composite family) that aids in seed disperal? 

#MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic In the landscape, this shrub’s sword-shaped leaves provide textural form; its tall stalks of showy flowers, vertical accent; and its evergreen foliage, winter interest. Who would imagine the survival of this low-maintenance native depends on a tiny moth (Tegeticula yuccasella), its sole pollinator? In turn, some of the yucca’s developing seeds feed the moth’s larvae.

#weeds #MGNV #landscapefabric Is landscape fabric a good way to suppress weeds for the home gardener?

#MasterGardener #MGNV #Glossary What is the dehiscent fruit characteristic of rhododendron, jessamine, jewelweed, buckeye, and yucca?

#MGNV Tried and True #NativePlant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Golden sprays of flowers brighten cultivated and natural habitats across Eastern North America from late summer to frost, supporting myriad species of moths, butterflies, native bees, and other beneficial insects. For small space gardening, the cultivar ‘Fireworks’ is more compact, easier to contain, and flowers more vigorously than the species.

#mgnv #mastergardeners #flowers When you admire a flower in the landscape or in a bouquet, you may think of color, fragrance, or beauty, but you probably are not thinking of flowers as one of the powerhouses that helped build the world as we know it. How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries by David George Haskell is a fascinating look at how flowering plants supported the evolution of life on Earth, their ongoing role in human culture, and what we might learn from them for the future.