Foraging and Food Forests Resurge as Locavore Trends Take Root

By Lindsey Cline-Shrader

Virginia’s lush landscapes contain a cornucopia of edible treasures. Like much of our evolving local food system, the art of foraging has undergone a renaissance, capturing the imaginations of foodies, homesteaders, and environmentalists. From upscale eateries’ haute cuisine to grassroots gatherings, foraging offers culinary delights and a pathway to health and sustainability—and, of course, this path sparks debate.

In modern culture, foraging has resurged with every back-to-the-land movement starting in the 1930s, 1960s, and early 2000s when, rather than subsidizing, foraging joined a broader movement of sustainable food systems and permaculture design. The current ease of information sharing is building a new generation of wild food advocates. Foraging experts and online influencers like Alexis Nikole and Gabrielle Cerberville translate in-depth wild food knowledge into quick, digestible videos for their respective 1.7 million and 359,000 Instagram followers. 

Viewers already educated in the flaws of a chemical-heavy industrial food system are ready for the good news. While more people get outside to taste and test, a growing awareness of responsible foraging practices has taken root.

Wild ramps are the poster child for a well-loved and occasionally over harvested wild food. In early spring, this edible onion carpets the forest floor of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. Ramps are prized for their unique flavor profile, which adds a spicy, earthy depth to dishes. For decades, foragers and chefs were beckoned to the hills to bring ramps to high-end restaurants in DC and beyond. 

While ramps often grow in patches of hundreds, they take up to seven years to produce flowers and several more years for the seeds to germinate. This slow growth, coupled with their particular growing conditions, led West Virginia to ban harvesting in many parks and recreation areas as wild populations began to disappear. Responsible harvesting now includes taking a leaf or two from large plants and rarely, if ever, harvesting bulbs. 

The lesson from ramps has led some farmers and gardeners to revive the concept of sustainable cultivated food forests. This ancient practice, a lesson from Native American culture and cultivation practices, means planting in multiple layers, which builds an ecosystem and creates more food per cubic foot. For example, a canopy top layer might consist of nut trees like oak and chestnut, followed by understory fruit trees like pawpaw and persimmon, interplanted with berry bushes like elderberry and blueberry. The herbaceous and ground-cover layers can include your favorite hardy edible perennials like wild strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, sorrel, Jerusalem artichokes, mayapples, or wild violets.

My food forest would first and foremost contain yaupon holly, the only caffeinated plant that grows wild in Virginia and across the South. Yaupon seems to be a lightly caffeinated wonder plant full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and theophylline and theobromine, the “pleasure molecules.” 

Since it’s locally grown, yaupon has a smaller carbon footprint and causes less environmental stress compared to coffee farms. Project Communitea, a Richmond-based company, grows and sells yaupon tea regionally and online.

Treasures like the pawpaw, a custard-like fruit, tempt some palates (and decidedly not others) with their creamy sweetness. Despite their delicious fruit, pawpaws refuse to submit to the conventional horticultural industry. The first challenge lies in their flowers, which emit a faint musky odor that fails to attract many critical pollinators for fruit production. Additionally, the fruit’s delicate nature makes it unsuitable for shipping and storage, limiting its commercial viability. 

Thus, pawpaws remain wild, found in thickets along bottomlands and streamsides, leaving us to celebrate and preserve wild populations and enjoy the fruits where we find them. Or, for the adventurous, to cultivate pawpaw trees in gardens. If this entices you, remember that pawpaws are dioecious, so you’ll need both male and female trees for fruit set and pollination. Edible Landscaping in Nelson County grows and sells pawpaw trees and a variety of edible plants. 

Beyond this hidden gem, more commonly found herbs and plants offer nutritional value right outside your door. The humble dandelion, often considered a nuisance, reveals its charm in everything from teas and tinctures to infused oils, syrups, and vinegar. Roots can be stored in a dirt-filled basket in a shed or basement to provide a steady supply of greens throughout winter.
Dried, mature leaves make a medicinal tea full of vitamins A, C, and K and many minerals. The bloom is the main ingredient in dandelion wine, for which there are nearly as many recipes as winemakers. 

Other flavorful and spicy greens include the common horseweed, which can be thrown into salads or blanched and added to soups. Chickweed grows abundantly in moist, shaded areas and can be eaten fresh or brewed into a tea for soothing medicinal properties.

While it’s easy to dismiss wild food as lackluster, renowned chef René Redzepi proved that foraged foods hold their own. He prioritized indigenous ingredients in his culinary creations and earned three Michelin stars for his Danish restaurant, Noma. 

Chefs like Alan Bergo, a former chef in fine-dining restaurants, left the kitchen to write the popular The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora, which eventually spawned a TV show and earned a James Beard award.

Virginia’s landscape offers edible wonders waiting to be discovered and savored. The resurgence of foraging in our evolving local food scene reflects a broader cultural shift toward sustainability and connection with the land. Let’s hope the allure of wild foods continues to inspire us to revere and appreciate nature’s bounties.  

Your May Garden Checklist
Everything you need to do for a successful growing season

Another planting month is upon us! Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, watermelon! All of the glorious summer garden produce goes in the ground this month. We always advise to wait until Mother’s Day to get these warm-weather crops in the ground, so early May is the perfect time to visit a nearby farmer’s market or local plant store for heirloom and organic varieties.  

Don’t miss our April garden checklist if you need to play a bit of catch-up.

Indoors
Continue starting okra, squash, cucumber, melons, and watermelons indoors. Sow vining crops (like watermelon and cucumber)  in individual peat pots as they do not transplant well if roots are disturbed.

Outdoors
Lots to do outside this month! Just after Mother’s Day, almost everything can be planted outside. Houseplants can also be moved to a shady spot in the yard to give them an extra boost of Vitamin D.

Beans, okra, squash, sweet corn, Southern peas, and watermelon can all be sown directly from seed. For a continuous bean and corn harvest, only plant a partial row of each and continue to direct sow seeds every week or two—this will ensure you are harvesting throughout the season rather than just all at once. Sunflowers, nasturtiums, marigolds, borage, and basil can also be directly sown from seed. Tip: Nasturtium is a trap plant, meaning it attracts harmful pests like aphids. Consider planting nasturtium near your kale, cabbages, or tomatoes to keep aphids off of those plants. Plus, every part of the nasturtium plant is edible—win, win!

Once the soil has completely warmed—toward the end of May if we’ve had warm weather—sweet potato slips can be planted in the ground. 

Establish a trellis or support system for your tomatoes now rather than wait until they’re growing tall.

Harvest any leafy greens—lettuce, spinach, kale—before it gets too warm and your plants begin to bolt.

Give your compost pile a good turn or two on warm-weather days. Or, if you haven’t started a compost pile yet, start one—you’ll be cutting back on food waste and doing your soil a favor.

Container gardening is an excellent option for those with limited space or for gardeners looking to add a touch of green to their patios, balconies, or window sills. In Lynchburg, which falls under Zone 7a, the climate offers a good range of temperatures suitable for growing a variety of vegetables in containers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, here are the top 10 vegetables perfect for container gardening in Virginia’s Zone 7 weather.

1. Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a favorite among container gardeners due to their versatility and productivity. Choose compact varieties like Patio Princess or Bush Early Girl for containers. Ensure your containers are at least 5 gallons in size to accommodate the deep root systems of tomato plants.
2. Peppers: Bell peppers, chili peppers, and sweet peppers thrive well in containers. They require full sun and well-draining soil. Varieties like California Wonder or Lipstick are ideal for Virginia’s Zone 7 climate.
3. Lettuce: For fresh salads, grow lettuce in containers. Leaf lettuce varieties such as Buttercrunch or Red Salad Bowl are easy to grow and can be harvested continuously by picking outer leaves. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
4. Spinach: Spinach is a cool-season crop that does well in Virginia’s spring and fall weather. Plant spinach in containers with nutrient-rich soil and provide partial shade during hot summer days. Varieties like Bloomsdale or Baby’s Leaf Hybrid are suitable choices.
5. Carrots: Compact varieties of carrots like Thumbelina or Short ‘n Sweet are perfect for container gardening. Use deep containers to accommodate the long taproots of carrots and ensure the soil is loose and well-draining to prevent root deformities.
6. Radishes: Radishes are fast-growing vegetables that thrive in containers. They prefer cool weather and can be grown in spring and fall. Varieties such as Cherry Belle or French Breakfast add color and crunch to salads.
7. Green Beans: Bush-type green beans like Provider or Blue Lake are excellent choices for container gardening. Provide a trellis or support for the plants to climb and ensure containers are placed in a sunny location for optimal growth and yield.
8. Cucumbers: Compact cucumber varieties such as Bush Champion or Patio Snacker are well-suited for containers. Use a trellis or cage to support the vines and ensure consistent watering to prevent bitter fruits.
9. Herbs: Culinary herbs like basil, thyme, parsley, and mint thrive in containers and can be grown together in a single large container or separate pots. Place them in a sunny location and harvest regularly to promote new growth.
10. Zucchini or Squash: Choose bush-type varieties of zucchini or squash for container gardening, such as Bush Baby zucchini or Honey Bear acorn squash. Ensure containers are at least 5 gallons in size and provide support for the plants as they grow.

When container gardening in Virginia’s Zone 7, it’s essential to monitor soil moisture, provide adequate sunlight, and fertilize plants as needed. Regularly check for pests and diseases and take appropriate measures to keep your container garden healthy and thriving. With these top 10 vegetables, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest right outside your doorstep, even in limited spaces.

Everything you need to do for a successful growing season

We are finally in the thick of it: Planting season! Colder weather crops have been in the ground for a few weeks, you’re likely seeing little lettuce sprouts here and there, and you have a glorious two months of planting ahead of you. Is there anything better? Well, maybe harvest season when we can reap the benefits of all of our hard work.

Don’t miss our March garden checklist if you need to play a bit of catch-up.

Indoors
You likely already have tomato and pepper seedlings growing and thriving under grow lights—stay on top of them and transition them to larger pots as needed. Even with our beautifully warm weather that we have had recently, resist the urge to move them outside. The chance of a late frost is still high.

Start okra, squash, cucumber, melon, and watermelon seeds indoors. If they are vining crops (like watermelon), plant them in individual peat pots as they don’t transplant well if the roots are disturbed.

Take this time to draw out any landscaping projects. Are you expanding your garden? Increasing your flower bed space? Jot down your notes and planned dimensions to ensure you don’t overplant.

Outdoors
This is where the fun begins! Scatter any annual flower seeds to create a beautiful flower border around your perennial flowers. If they are really small seeds—like poppies—they don’t need covering.

You can also sow quite a few seeds directly outdoors this month, such as beets, carrots, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, cabbage, lettuce, collards, turnips, radishes, spinach, bunching onions, and peas. For carrots, plant an abundance of seeds and plan to thin as they grow.

Plant any new trees or shrubs by the end of this month—aim to plant native plants when possible!

Cover cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower with row covers to protect them from pests like the cabbage both.

If you planted potatoes in March, you are likely seeing growth. Continue to mound them with fresh soil and compost as needed!

Give your compost pile a good turn or two on warm-weather days. Or, if you haven’t started a compost pile yet, start one—you’ll be cutting back on food waste and doing your soil a favor.

Everything you need to do for a great growing season ahead

Planting season has arrived! It’s warm, gentle rain is coming, and we are itching to get our hands in some dirt. March kicks off planting season and now is the time to get cold-resistant crops in the ground and start planning ahead for the rest of the season.

Don’t miss our February garden checklist if you need to play a bit of catch-up.

Indoors
The longer days and shorter nights will stimulate your houseplants and get them growing again after a more dormant winter. If you have any that need repotting, now is the time to do so. It would also be helpful to give them a good feeding with some added nutrients.

March is also the time to start some later-season transplants: tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Aim to get those seeds started by the 15th so you have plenty of growing time before they are put in the ground in May.

It would also be wise to start a garden notebook for the year. List everything that you plant in the garden, including the name of the seed company, plant name, variety, planting date, and harvest date. Keep notes throughout the growing season so you can refer back to them next season.

Outdoors
By the end of March, begin hardening off your onion, parsley, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts outside—particularly any new plants that are at least 5 weeks old. Select smaller rather than larger plants of these cold-weather crops as overly mature plants tend to bolt if exposed to low temperatures early in the season.

Now is also the time to direct sow carrots, Swiss chard, peas, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, onions, parsley, parsnips, beets, radishes, and spinach. You can also plant new beds of bare-root asparagus and strawberries for reliable perennials that will return year-after-year.

If you have other perennials planted from last year, remove any winter protection that you had in place by mid-March. Pull back mulch from any existing strawberry and asparagus beds so they can push through easily as they regrow. If you have grapes, raspberries, or blueberries growing, give them an added boost with a gentle, natural, nitrogen fertilizer.

Give your compost pile a good turn or two on warm-weather days. Or, if you haven’t started a compost pile yet, start one—you’ll be cutting back on food waste and doing your soil a favor.

Finally, place a birdhouse or two outside as birds will begin looking for nesting sites soon.

As we look forward to the coming growing season, you may be wondering what you can do to make your garden more productive, healthier, and better for the environment while it provides your family with delicious home-grown goodies.

Sustainability in the home garden doesn’t have to be complicated!

In fact, it can even simplify the work you do to maintain healthy gardens. It really comes down to a few simple areas of focus: water, soil, plant selection, and the wildlife around your garden. Here are a few easy things you can do to help both yourself, and the planet.

Say No to Water Wasting

This one is a no-brainer—we all realize the importance of water conservation. Thankfully, it’s easy to apply it in the garden! Ditch your oscillating sprinklers that spray water carelessly all over the place
and replace them with drip irrigation or soaker hoses to pinpoint the water right where you need it. Mulch your beds to help retain water in the soil and keep your plants hydrated, even on drier days. Place collection barrels at the bottoms of your downspouts to capitalize all that wasted rain that falls onto your roof! All these little things help to cut back on water waste. If you want to take it a step further, you can even implement rainscaping into your garden design!

Be Soil Savvy

According to earthday.org, the United States is losing soil ten times faster than it is replenished (see page 79 for ways our region is combating soil erosion). Soil is a living, breathing component of the garden. Keep the dirt healthy by using compost to replenish vital nutrients. Composting is simple, fun for the whole family, and eliminates a lot of household waste from your trash can. There is plenty of great information available online for how to create your own compost pile, and if you want in-person advice, Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum has a Compost Education Center managed by the Hill City Master Gardeners who would be happy to answer your questions. Allowing dead and decaying plants to remain on the soil to decompose is another great way to protect your garden dirt. 

That’s right: by NOT cleaning up your garden, you can improve the soil conditions for your plants! Not to mention, keeping material on top of the soil helps prevent erosion. So skip the raking and shoveling this fall. Instead, just allow those natural processes to take over and refuel your soil.

Use Flower Power Instead of Chemicals

 It can be hard to give up those chemical fertilizers and pesticides—especially if you don’t know how to protect and grow your plants without them! So here are a few pointers: 

• Use pest-repelling plants around your vegetable gardens to ward off those undesirables. For example, nasturtiums (one of my favorites) are beautiful in bloom, taste delicious in a salad, and happen to repel aphids, squash bugs, white flies, and other destructive insects. Plant them near your beans and cucumbers! Marigolds are pest control powerhouses in the garden and deter a number of bugs. I plant rows of them between just about everything I grow, but they are especially helpful with tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.

• Once the pests are under control, it’s time to look at fertilizing your plants. Go natural by using organic fertilizers. There are several products available at home and garden stores everywhere. I was always told to put a fish head in my planting holes for tomato plants. As the fish decomposes, it constantly invigorates the plant roots with nutrients. Compost makes for great fertilizer and helps control pH levels in your soil. 

• If you’re looking for a fun family project, consider vermiculture, or raising worms for the beneficial castings (poo) they produce—it’s garden gold!

Help the Helpers

Finally, your garden can help sustain the native plants and animals that are vital to our ecosystem. Planting native plants around your garden and in your yard is a small thing you can do to make a big impact. They naturally require less watering and fertilization because they are biologically designed to thrive in our specific conditions. Additionally, they support the insects we need, like pollinators and beneficial insects. And about those beneficial bugs—you want to keep those guys in your vegetable garden to eat harmful pests like aphids. For example, green lacewings feast on aphids, scales, mealybugs, and other garden destroyers. Assassin bugs eat flies and mosquitos, and love squash vine borers, so they are great for your squash, cucumbers, and vining plants. 

Then there are pollinators, which we literally depend on for our food supply. Bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, etc., all help to pollinate our garden crops. Provide for them and those other helpful insects by planting natives for shelter, and by resisting the urge to rake fall leaves, clean out garden scraps where they nest and lay eggs, and mow over those early spring dandelions, which provide food. Finally, you could consider reducing the amount of manicured lawn space you maintain around your home and replacing it with something healthier for the environment— like clover!

Going green does not have to be expensive, or difficult. In some ways, it makes our lives easier! And it’s the gift that keeps on giving as future generations learn to appreciate our planet’s natural resources. So try a few of these tips in and around your vegetable patch this season, and reap the rewards of a thoughtful garden!   

Opportunities for Lynchburg Homeowners to Lead in Water Conservation Efforts

What do Lynchburg lawns have to do with waterways from Blackwater Creek to the iconic Chesapeake Bay?

How we manage our yards isn’t just for show. It affects animals from the smallest damselfly to the trophy smallmouth bass in our local waters and impacts wildlife downstream to the Chesapeake Bay. Ramifications ripple out to the benefits we receive, like clean drinking water and our opportunity to paddle, fish, and enjoy our rivers. In fact, lawns and water quality are so intertwined that nonprofit and government programs might help you cover the costs of transforming soggy, poor turfgrass into native plant gardens or bare riverbanks into forests.

Pollution from cities and farms has damaged local streams into the James River and beyond for decades. The Chesapeake Bay has nearly become a “dead waterway,” with aquatic life and fish drastically disappearing from its waters. In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency devised a plan to reverse this course by setting goals for Virginia to reduce pollution by 2025.

This is where homeowners and their backyards come in. Picture those “dead” areas in your lawn that won’t grow turfgrass, bare dirt at new building sites, or water rushing down driveways to stormwater drains.

Bare soil from new building sites and poor lawns has become the leading cause of pollution in the James River. Sediment wreaks havoc: it smothers river bottom habitats, elevates water temperatures, and clouds water, which kills underwater plants.

The other primary water pollutants—excess nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus—come from agricultural fields and overly fertilized lawns. Nutrients foster problematic algae blooms that create oxygen “dead zones” that suffocate aquatic life and lead to fish kills. 

The good news is that homeowners can reduce runoff in several ways. Replacing lawns, especially those with poor cover or near streams, with lush native gardens, preserves water quality—root systems act as a shield, grabbing pollutants, sediment, and nutrients before they enter water sources.
These gardens are carefully designed to absorb excess nutrients, hold soil in place, and create critical wildlife habitat. They require no fertilizers or chemicals, further reducing nutrient pollution.

Recently, City of Lynchburg and Campbell and Amherst County homeowners became eligible for a state program, the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). This program helps cover costs for pollution-reduction projects, like rain gardens, conservation landscaping, and permeable pavements. 

“The projects I want to see installed are the ones that solve water issues for individuals. Whether they have erosion and soil loss on their property, standing water issues, or need to contain water for raised beds—the right project for the location and landowner are the priority,” says Blair Blanchette, VCAP Coordinator. 

Concrete exacerbates polluted runoff as water picks up other pollutants like bacteria and pesticides, then flushes straight to local creeks. Projects that slow water runoff, such as rainwater harvesting or dry wells, can keep lawns and gardens healthy and provide water during dry spells while significantly reducing polluted runoff.

The James River Association’s Buffer Program works with landowners in the James River watershed to plant forested areas along creeks or streams called buffers. Buffers stop pollution as gardens do while building cooler, clearer, more stable streams, providing habitat for sensitive species like herons and brook trout.

“Everyone can have an impact. Trees are part of the answer, and anyone, especially those with open streamside land, can grow trees to help clean our water,” says Anne Marie Roberts, Senior Restoration Field Manager for the James River Association.

Through a technical modeling program, Roberts can see precisely how much a buffer reduces pollutants like sediment and excess nutrients. Through such programs as these and continued community investment, the James River can return to total health. Luckily for many of us,
it may start with a lush forest or a beautiful garden.

WHERE TO BEGIN

Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP)

Government program managed by Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) aims to help residential homeowners reduce urban stormwater runoff.

Who: Homeowners, businesses, schools, places of worship, and community centers in Lynchburg, Amherst, and Campbell counties (R. E. Lee District) or Bedford County (Peaks of Otter District)

What: Design, prepare, and install “best management practices,” including conservation landscaping, impermeable surface removal, permeable pavement, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, and more. Up to 80% of project cost reimbursed. 

Get Started: Visit Releeconservation.com or Poswcd.org 

The James River Buffer Program (JRBP)

The James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provide technical and financial support for landowners to create forest buffers along stream banks.

Who: Landowners in the James River watershed with a creek, stream, or river frontage 

What: Design, prepare, install, and provide three years of maintenance support to restore forested buffers. 100% project cost provided.

Results: Since its launch in 2019 and with support from Department of Forestry, 1,084 acres of buffers installed across the James River watershed, including 358,331 native trees.

Get Started: Visit jamesriverbuffers.org 

Conservation Easements

The Central Virginia Land Conservancy works with landowners to save the farms, forests, waterways, and rural landscapes that make Virginia beautiful. Land conservation easements save land through voluntary, permanent agreements that outline how land can be used. 

Who: Landowners in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Buckingham, Campbell, and Nelson counties and Lynchburg

What: Permanent agreements to protect land from intense development. Tax credits and deductions based on the reduced land value.

Results: 5,900 acres protected 

Get Started: Visit www.cvalc.org

As February unfolds in Virginia, the winter chill begins to loosen its grip, signaling the arrival of spring on the horizon. Gardening enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the opportunity to bring life and color back to their outdoor spaces. While many might think of spring as the prime season for planting flowers, there are several cold-weather blooms that thrive in the cool temperatures of February in our 7A planting zone.

Poppies: Cue visions of a bright red field of poppies a la Wizard of Oz. Poppies are incredibly delicate flowers when faced with warmer temperatures but the chill of early spring is prime time to pop (pun intended) these beauties in the ground. Begin germinating poppy seeds indoors during February and plan to plant seedlings in the ground by mid to late March, when there is still a chance of a light frost.

Planting and growing poppies in a home garden can be a delightful and rewarding experience, adding a burst of vibrant colors and unique charm to the landscape. Poppies belong to the Papaveraceae family and are known for their delicate, papery petals in shades of red, pink, orange, and white. While some varieties are annuals, others are perennials, providing a range of options for gardeners.

To start growing poppies, select a well-drained location with full sunlight, as these flowers thrive in sunny conditions. Prepare the soil by incorporating organic matter and ensuring it is slightly alkaline. Poppies are relatively low-maintenance plants, but they appreciate soil that is not too rich.

Seeds are the primary method of propagation for poppies. Sow the seeds directly into the garden bed in early spring or fall, pressing them lightly into the soil. It’s essential to keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds germinate, which usually takes around two weeks. Once the seedlings have established themselves, thin them to ensure proper spacing and optimal growth.

Poppies don’t require excessive watering, and overwatering can lead to root rot. Mulching around the plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. As the plants grow, their unique and intricate flowers will unfold, creating a captivating display in your garden.

While poppies are generally resistant to pests and diseases, it’s essential to keep an eye out for aphids and snails, which may occasionally pose a threat. In terms of maintenance, deadheading spent flowers encourages continuous blooming and prevents self-seeding, especially for annual varieties.

Whether you choose the iconic red Flanders poppy or the charming Shirley poppy, these flowers bring an air of elegance to any garden. Consider planting poppies alongside other compatible species to create a visually appealing and diverse landscape that will enchant both you and any visitors to your home garden.

Pansies: Pansies are a perfect choice for February planting in Virginia. Pansies (Viola tricolor hortensis) are known for their cheerful, heart-shaped flowers and versatility in various climates, making them a popular choice for gardeners of all levels.

To start, choose a location in your garden that receives partial to full sunlight, as pansies thrive in these conditions. Prepare the soil by mixing in organic matter, such as compost, to enhance drainage and fertility. Pansies prefer well-draining soil, so ensure it is loose and crumbly.

When it comes to planting, space the pansies about 6 to 8 inches apart, giving them room to spread and flourish. Dig a hole that accommodates the size of the root ball and gently place the pansy into the soil. Pat the soil around the plant to secure it in place and water thoroughly.

Pansies are known for their ability to withstand cooler temperatures, making them an excellent choice for early spring or late fall planting. Ensure consistent moisture but avoid overwatering, as pansies are susceptible to root rot in waterlogged soil. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

One of the joys of planting pansies is the wide array of colors they offer, from soft pastels to bold and vibrant hues. Experiment with different color combinations to create a visually appealing and harmonious display in your garden.

Regular deadheading, the removal of spent flowers, encourages continuous blooming throughout the season. Pansies are relatively low-maintenance, but occasional fertilization with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer can promote healthy growth.

Primroses: Primroses (Primula) come in a variety of species and colors, ranging from soft pastels to vibrant hues. Before planting, choose a location that receives partial to full shade, as primroses thrive in cool and moist environments. Ensure the soil is well-draining and rich in organic matter, amending it with compost if needed. Primroses prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.

Late winter or early spring is the ideal time to plant primroses, either from seeds or as established plants. When planting, space them about 6-12 inches apart, depending on the specific variety. Water thoroughly after planting to help the roots establish themselves. Regular watering is crucial, as primroses prefer consistently moist soil. Mulching around the plants can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Primroses respond well to fertilization, especially in early spring when they are actively growing. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to promote healthy foliage and abundant blooms. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming and prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production.

One of the advantages of growing primroses is their adaptability to different containers, making them suitable for both gardens and patio spaces. Container gardening allows for better control over soil conditions and placement. Ensure the containers have drainage holes to prevent waterlogged soil.

Hellebores: Hellebores, commonly referred to as Lenten Roses, stand out as enchanting perennials that infuse sophistication into any home garden. Renowned for their early blossoms, these resilient plants often grace the garden with vibrant colors in late winter or early spring, a time when many other plants remain dormant. 

To cultivate a flourishing hellebore garden, it is essential to choose an appropriate location characterized by well-drained soil and partial to full shade. These plants thrive in shaded environments, making them perfect for areas beneath trees or alongside buildings. Prior to planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to enhance fertility and drainage. 

Planting is best done in the fall or early spring, ensuring the crown is at or slightly above the soil surface. Adequate spacing of 18 to 24 inches between plants facilitates proper air circulation. Hellebores appreciate consistent moisture during the growing season, though they can tolerate periods of drought. 

Applying a layer of organic mulch around the base helps in moisture retention, weed suppression, and temperature regulation. While these perennials are generally low-maintenance, removing old leaves in late winter or early spring enhances the display of emerging flowers and helps prevent diseases. 

Light fertilization in early spring supports their growth, and division of established clumps in spring or late summer allows for garden expansion. By adhering to these guidelines, cultivating a stunning hellebore garden becomes a rewarding endeavor, with the promise of enduring beauty and early-season blooms year after year.

Snowdrops: Snowdrops (Galanthus) are delicate and enchanting spring-blooming bulbs that bring a sense of renewal and hope to home gardens. Known for their dainty, nodding white flowers, these resilient plants often emerge through the last vestiges of winter’s snow, signaling the arrival of warmer days. Growing snowdrops in your home garden can be a rewarding experience, adding a touch of elegance and beauty to the early spring landscape.

When cultivating snowdrops, it’s essential to choose a suitable location. These bulbs thrive in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Plant them in an area that receives partial to full shade, as snowdrops naturally thrive in the dappled sunlight beneath deciduous trees. Early spring is the ideal time for planting, allowing the bulbs to establish themselves before the growing season kicks into full gear.

Snowdrops are relatively low-maintenance, but they do benefit from regular watering during their growing period. While they prefer moist soil, it’s crucial to avoid waterlogged conditions, which can lead to bulb rot. Once established, snowdrops are known to naturalize, gradually spreading and creating charming drifts of delicate blooms.

As these bulbs are hardy, they can withstand colder temperatures, making them an excellent choice for regions with variable spring weather. Mulching around the snowdrops can help regulate soil temperature and retain moisture, contributing to their overall health.

One of the remarkable features of snowdrops is their ability to thrive in challenging conditions. They are resistant to deer and rodents, making them a reliable choice for gardens where these animals may be a concern. Snowdrops also make lovely companions for other early spring flowers, such as crocuses and daffodils, creating a tapestry of colors and textures.

Your February Garden Checklist
Everything you need to do for a great growing season ahead

Have you felt it? The subtle shift in the season? We’ve had a few warm days (granted, unseasonably so) and it has us itching to get outside and put our hands in some dirt. While the bulk of planting season is still a month or two away, there is a ton that can be accomplished this month to set yourself up for a successful growing season.

Don’t miss January’s garden checklist if you need to play a bit of catch-up.

Indoors
There’s nothing worse than pulling out all of your garden supplies, ready to plant your summer garden, and the handle on your spade breaks off (trust us…we’ve been there). February is the ideal time to take stock of your tools and give them a little TLC. Sharpen your blades, replace any tools that are a bit too worse for wear, and mend the holes in your gardening gloves. February is also a great time to take your lawnmower and other mechanized tools in for service—doing so early will help you avoid the inevitable spring rush when everyone realizes their grass is starting to grow again!

February is also a great month to start seeds indoors ahead of the spring and summer growing season. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, head lettuce, onions, and parsley can all be started indoors at this time. If you plan to plant any perennial flower varieties, they can be started at this time as well. 

Planning
If you’re following along with us, last month you did a ton of prep work to plan for a successful and productive garden this year. You will have figured out your garden layout, crop rotation strategy, and you will have requested seed catalogs from suppliers who prioritize heirloom and non-GMO seeds. Now comes the fun part—ordering the seeds!

There is nothing more fun or hopeful than receiving a shipment of seeds. It’s your moment to dream about your future garden and all of its potential.

If you have the space, consider growing an extra row of food to give to share with neighbors or with those in need.

Outdoors
Outdoor work really begins this month, so pile on the layers and start a fire in your firepit (keep an eye on our current burn ordinances) to keep warm.

First thing’s first, mow any cover crops you had planted last fall and turn them under the soil.

Peas, seed potatoes, and parsley can be planted toward the end of the month, directly sown into the garden. Nigella, Poppy, and Larkspur seeds can also be directly sown outdoors at this time—this will allow them a few weeks of cold temperatures which is helpful in their germination process.

Harden off any brassica (cabbage, broccoli, arugula, kale, cauliflower, collards, turnips, and so on) in a cold frame. Toward the end of the month, you can plant them in your garden bed under cloches or a low tunnel.

Spread compost over the beds that you will plant next month. Or, if you haven’t started a compost pile yet, start one—you’ll be cutting back on food waste and doing your soil a favor.

Why Prioritizing Native Plant Habitats is So Important

By Lindsey Cline

It’s early morning; heavy dew casts a silver shine on the grass as the soft sun’s rays emerge over the woodland tree line. A group of Carolina chickadees flit up and down honey locust trees. They flicker from the trees to the birdfeeders, regularly startled by squirrels and bossy blue jays. On other days, white-throated sparrows sing all afternoon, a fox slips along the garden edge, and rabbits nest under a ninebark shrub.

The yard in this scene is not unique; a standard suburban 100’-by-50’ with a small patio. What brings wildlife to the backdoor are native plant garden beds 12 feet deep and running the length of space. 

Here, among the songbirds, it’s easy to forget the threat that development poses to wildlife, but nature is in trouble: the native bee population declined by 90 percent in the past decade and more than half of bird populations are dwindling. While the majestic Monarch butterfly’s endangerment demands headlines, others, like the sturgeon, which were once so numerous that European settlers could “walk across the James River on their backs,” and the little brown bat, which hibernates in Blue Ridge Mountain caves, face extinction. 

Gone is the assumption that “protected” spaces can save the wildlife we have left…much of Virginia’s 16 percent of land protected from development lacks prime habitat as it remains open for logging and agriculture. What if we welcomed insects, songbirds, amphibians, and reptiles into our developed lands?

The revolution is here, fueled by well-gloved gardeners and well-aware homeowners creating wildlife habitats in their backyards, community parks, and locally owned fields. 

Apex predators require vast wild tracts to roam, but many species—especially the foundation of the food web—can thrive in neighborhood yards. And the backyards we have!

More than half of Virginia’s land is urban, suburban, or metro-adjacent. Virginians managed 1.7 million acres of turfgrass lawn in 2004 (last year of available data); we can estimate at least 2 million acres today. Imagine some of these lawns, which offer no ecological value, as gardens that restore essential bonds between flora and fauna.

The key to creating those habitats? 

Native plants.

Native plants excel at supporting wildlife: acorns for squirrels, fruit and berries for bears and foxes, cover for rabbits and fawns, and nesting trees for birds and owls. Native plants allow wildlife to breed, feed, and live. 

One can’t explain the importance of natives without diving into the world of insects. Insects, the foundation of a rich food web, nourish birds, fish, frogs, toads, salamanders, and bats. They are indispensable to ecosystems: insects decompose organisms, recycle nutrients, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds. Insects have spun a web of mutually beneficial relationships within ecosystems, particularly with native plants.

Insects adapted over time to exploit plant qualities during each stage of their lifecycle: hiding places for eggs, foliage for young caterpillars to eat, and nectar and pollen for adults. This dance is intricate—insects must time their lifecycles to correspond with their hosts. This process led the majority of insects to evolve so deliberately that they rely on a handful of plant lineages. Because of this specificity, insects can’t quickly adapt to non-natives. 

Entomologist Doug Tallamy proved that insect populations decline without native plants. Famed biologist E.O. Wilson explained that if insects vanished, flowering plants would follow, then reptiles, amphibians, birds, and finally mammals.

The remaining debate, with experts on both sides, is the ease of establishing native gardens. Some claim that natives require less care and maintenance; others argue that unstoppable deer herds and infuriating groundhogs prefer them. 

Implementing this new garden ethic falls in all directions—obstacles aren’t more significant than “traditional” gardens; they’re simply different. We must become the first-time hosta-obsessed gardeners we once were—learning new plant communities. While culture now denounces pesticides and praises pollinator gardens, the lack of practical advice and hands-on resources, not to mention the dearth of native plants themselves, can leave us overwhelmed with the task of implementing our new-found inspiration, especially if our marching orders include the astounding “saving nature.”

But gardeners are an optimistic bunch. As Yiyun Li writes, “One garden with the same unblinded hope and the same willingness to concede as one lives, always ready to say:
If not now, later; if not this year, next year.”

It’s possible to delight in the wildlife that garden sanctuaries support. More than once, my toddler watched with wonder as a box turtle marched from one garden bed to another. Despite my garden failures, Carolina wrens still nest in the wild grape vines and painted lady butterflies cover white snakeroot drifts. Whether our endeavors can reverse the tide remains to be seen, but the evidence makes a strong case that it’s worth our efforts.

We’re now challenging presumptions that to garden, we must hail overtly blooming peonies and roses. Instead, we might try delicate shooting stars in spring, striking purple baptisia for summer blooms, or pair rich violet asters with deep golds of goldenrods in fall. 

Nature deserves to exist on its own merits, but we can keep high expectations around our homes and relish in our desire for beauty. While re-creating indigenous plant communities offers maximum habitat, native plants anywhere contribute to the effort and can work for tidy front entrances, side yards, or around entertaining areas. 

Try them—you may (or may not) become a morning birdwatcher, but you will open the door to a stunning garden and a movement of new and vital wildlife refuges.