Grow: Native Plant Garden Tour Landry-Stone – With a Rappahannock River View

August 2025 found us right along the Rappahannock River,  just downstream from Fredericksburg, at Ruth Landry-Stone and Lee Stone’s home.  They have owned their property for three years and are at the mid-way process of rejuvenating land along our chapter’s namesake river. 

Their home is surrounded by trees and understory – some of it native and some of it invasive.  Ruth and Lee are a native plant believers, so they have spent their time clearing invasives and finding native gems as they clear.  And, as they beat back the invasives, each year a few more natives arrive on their own, unbidden.  It is a testimony to nature finding its way, if we can clear out past mistakes.

We began our tour in their front yard, filled with sun-loving perennials:  Joe Pye, Boneset, Black-eyed Susans, and Milkweed galore!  We caught monarch caterpillars munching away and some chrysalis tucked in the leaves.  The whole area was alive with pollinators.

Ruth and Lee have surrounded their home with beds of native plants, moving from sun in the front to more shade in the back.  Their elderberries were so prolific when we visited that the birds had plenty and there was enough left to make jam!

Those who were sure-footed took steep stairs down to the river, walking past a riverbank full of native hydrangeas.  One could just imagine sipping a cup of morning coffee on the dock, as the river ran past and the pollinators hummed and the birds sang – grateful for the land being brought back to life.

It was a serene and peaceful and so inspiring to see their property.  We appreciated the hard work that they have done and are hoping for repeat visits as their work continues!

(photo credit:  Kassandra Givler)