News & Updates
• Check out the Spring, 2023 Declaration newsletter! Read about the (unsuccessful) quest for a rare plant, a meditation on February, light pollution, upcoming chapter meetings and walks, and more! 3/4/2023
• Enjoy reading the Fall, 2022 Declaration newsletter! Learn about the evolution of a meadow, later summer blooms, the unique features and habitats of Maple Flats in August county, the Ivy Creek Pollinator Garden, upcoming chapter meetings and walks, and more! 9/26/2022
• Don't miss reading the Spring, 2022 Declaration newsletter! News about our chapter's upcoming plant sale on April 24, new threats to the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, upcoming chapter events, and more. 3/10/2022
• Just published: the Summer, 2021 Declaration newsletter! Read about earthworms, a "new" orange caterpillar on milkweed, White Snakeroot, our spring virtual plant sale, upcoming chapter events and more. 8/29/2021
• The Winter, 2021 Declaration newsletter is now online! Learn about Common Buckeye Butterfly, the Ivy Creek Pollinator Garden, upcoming chapter events and more. 3/4/2021
• Are you looking for a fun family activity while social distancing? Check out November’s Ivy Creek virtual plant walk with Ruth Douglas. 11/21/2020
• Enjoy the Summer, 2020 Declaration newsletter. Learn all about the stamens, Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly, and upcoming plant walks and meetings. 8/28/2020
• Learn about the Mourning Cloak, a late winter butterfly; Pawpaws in the limelight; and our Native Plant Sale in the Winter, 2020 edition of the The Declaration newsletter.
• Update your calendar for upcoming local meetings, presentations, lectures, and other events described in the Jefferson Chapter Events Calendar.
• And keep up with Jefferson chapter activities and discussion on our Facebook Page!
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Requested Recipe: Sugared Cranberries
At our November 11, 2015 Chapter Meeting Betty Truax served Sugared Cranberries and several people asked how to make them. They are easy to make! Put them in a jar with a pretty ribbon and bring as an unusual and tasty hostess gift. — Enjoy! 2 1/2 cups sugar plus extra…
Viola pedata (Birdfoot Violet)
Viola pedata is commonly called Birdfoot violet because the daintily divided leaves are deeply cleft into three to five parts that resemble a bird’s foot. Standing from 3-6 inches tall, this violet has few if any pubescence (hairs). Viola pedata blooms from mid to late spring as well as occasionally in the…
What We Saw on the VMI Bluffs Field Trip (04/19/14)
On April 19, 2014 Jefferson Chapter had a wonderful trip to the VMI bluff and Maury River floodplain. Ruth Douglas led 18 of us to see the many unusual plants there. The area has a wonderful combination of limestone soil; a cool and moist north facing slope, too steep…
Plants being offered at our 2014 Plant Sale
Jefferson Chapter, Virginia Native Plant Society’s ANNUAL NATIVE PLANT SALE NATIVE PLANT SELECTION (Partial Listing) April 27 (Sun.), 2014, 1:00 – 3:00 PM IvyCreek Natural Area, Barn 1780 Earlysville Rd., Charlottesville Plants listed have been potted by the Jefferson Chapter members from propagated plants (not collected from wild areas). Many…
Plant Sale Profile: Aquilegia Canadensis
Native throughout the piedmont and most counties in Virginia, Aquilegia Canadensis (Wild Columbine, Eastern Red Columbine) can be found in dry forests, woodlands, barrens, and rock outcrops; shell-marl slopes, bluffs, and shell middens in the Coastal Plain. Although most numerous on subcalcareous, calcareous, and mafic substrates, in the higher mountains…
Plant Sale Profile: Trillium grandiflorum
Native to Greene and Nelson, Trillium grandiflorum known as Large-Flowered Trillium or Great White Trillium, is one of the showiest trilliums in Virginia. It grows in cove forests, mesic to dry-mesic slope forests, northern hardwood forests, Northern Red Oak forests, and seepage swamp hummocks; most characteristic of and numerous in…
Plant Sale Profile: Chrysogonum virginianum
Another plant being offered at our native plant sale this spring is Chrysogonum virginianum. Common names for this plant are Goldenstar, Green and Gold, and Golden Knees. Chrysogonum virginianum is a nice groundcover that actually will tolerate some light foot traffic. With golden yellow blooms (1- 1.25 in wide) from…
Plant Sale Profile: Pycnanthemum muticum
We will be offering Pycnanthemum muticum, sometimes called broad-leaved mountain-mint, clustered mountain-mint or short-toothed mountain mint for sale at our plant sale this spring (check out the events link to find details). Native to several counties in Virginia including Albemarle, Greene, Orange and Fluvanna, Pycnanthemum muticum is found in fens,…
Plant Sale Profile: Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis, commonly called Cardinal Flower was the Virginia Native Plant Society’s Wildflower of the Year in 1991. This is one of the showiest of the red blooming native plants in Virginia, blooming from July to October. It is found throughout the state, including the entire piedmont. Lobelia cardinalis is…
Plant Sale Profile: Claytonia virginica
Claytonia virginica is a member of the family Montiaceae (formally Portulacaceae – in case you’re looking for information regarding this plant in an older reference). The genus is named for John Clayton, 1694-1773, who was a Colonial plant collector and tobacco farmer in Virginia. Common names are Spring Beauty, Virginia…