Grow: Native Plant Garden Tour Ackermann & Worsham – Downtown Fredericksburg Style

We spent a beautiful and warm morning in late July visiting two homes in downtown Fredericksburg.  We were honored by having Nancy Vehrs, President of the Virginia Native Plant Society join us on the tours!

Over 40 of us started the morning at the home of Ernie and Lynn Ackermann who showed us around their large garden made up of various “rooms” each with its own feel and sense of fun.  The abundance of color and variety of plant life had all of us taking notes and many photos!  As we moved from sun to shade and back again we took in an extraordinary array of natives – to name just a few:  Sweetpepperbush, Blue Vervain, Culver’s Root, Indian Pinks, Goldenrod, Honeysuckle, and Cardinal Flowers.  Whimsical garden art and a hidden garden room added to the charm. The pollinators were literally abuzz all around us as we took it all in.  We left happy and filled with the joy of the life we saw thriving in the Ackermann’s.

From there we walked a few short blocks together to Mike and Pat Worsham’s home. We crossed over their permeable driveway to enter the backyard under a honeysuckle-covered trellis. A sense of peace permeated the space, with a fountain gently bubbling.  We walked their garden path through a brilliant garden design that made a narrow city lot feel private, full of life, depth and beauty.  A rain garden with cardinal flowers and native grasses added another environmental benefit. The unique features of each native plant – among them Buttonbush, Butterfly Weed, Joe Pye Weed, Golden Alexanders, and False Blue Indigo – were highlighted in the space; it was truly a lesson in maximizing space without overwhelming it. 

The generosity of both the Ackermanns and the Worshams in sharing their beautiful gardens cannot be overstated. They showed the variety of approaches to gardening with natives in city lots – each unique, each inspiring.

(photo credit:  Kassandra Givler)