Snowberry Clearwing Moth – Native Honeysuckle

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – Native Honeysuckle by E.M. Truax

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Great Spangled Fritillaries On Butterfly Weed

Great Spangled Fritillaries On Butterfly Weed by Mary Lee Epps

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Skullcap Clearwing Moth

Skullcap Clearwing Moth by E.M. Truax

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) at Saunders-Monticello Trail

Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus) at Saunders-Monticello Trail

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Falling Spring Falls near Covington, Virginia

Falling Spring Falls near Covington, Virginia

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)

Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Eupatorium at Bull Run

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

Photo by Brigitte Hartke

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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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By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Chapter One of the earliest signs of spring is the bloom of the Round-lobed Hepatica or Liverleaf, Hepatica americana. The lovely small flowers of this woodland wildflower look fragile but this hardy perennial blooms in the face of winter often as early as February. An array of…... Read more
February 25, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
  Attention, VNPS Members! We have a rare opportunity to comment about a solar facility application (Case # PUR-2022-00179) that is proposed in Chesterfield County (south of Richmond) at a Natural Heritage “Irreplaceable” Site, which has numerous populations of rare plants and an expanse of intact native forests and woodlands that will be harmed if…... Read more
February 19, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
Hollow Joe-pye-weed is a perennial herb that may grow as tall as 35 dm (about 11.5 feet). Stems are frequently purple and, when young, are covered with a thin, glaucous, layer of wax. Cross sections of stems will reveal the presence of hollow cavities in the central pith region. Leaves are whorled, 3-7 per node;…... Read more
February 1, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
Hollow Joe-pye-weed is a perennial herb that may grow as tall as 35 dm (about 11.5 feet). Stems are frequently purple and, when young, are covered with a thin, glaucous, layer of wax. Cross sections of stems will reveal the presence of hollow cavities in the central pith region. Leaves are whorled, 3-7 per node;…... Read more
February 1, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter Our evergreen Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) is handsome in every season of the year but it particularly sparkles in the winter after the leaves of deciduous trees have fallen leaving a gray and brown landscape. Not only are Wax Myrtles a beautiful native evergreen (large shrub…... Read more
December 17, 2022
Source: VNPS Blog
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter At our recent fall native plant sale a number of shoppers requested shade tolerant perennials that bloom in shady woodland gardens in late summer and fall, long after spring bloomers have faded. The October Plant of the Month, Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, Solidago caesia, fits the bill beautifully and like other…... Read more
October 21, 2022
Source: VNPS Blog
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) enhances any landscape in which it grows. It is one of my favorite mid to late summer native perennials for any number of reasons. The beautiful purplish blue flowers atop tall stems provide a striking vertical accent contrasting with more typical mounded plants and flower…... Read more
August 28, 2022
Source: VNPS Blog
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Chapter Turk’s-cap Lily (Lilium superbum) is one of our most spectacular wildflowers in eastern North America. Its stunning flowers bloom right now in July and August. Native to wet meadows and rich moist cove forests and bogs from New Hampshire south to Georgia and Alabama, it is found in most…... Read more
July 20, 2022
Source: VNPS Blog

Requested Recipe: Sugared Cranberries

November 12, 2015

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)

May 6, 2014

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)

April 28, 2014

  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

April 18, 2014

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

April 15, 2014

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

April 14, 2014

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

March 26, 2014

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

March 24, 2014

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

March 23, 2014

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

March 15, 2014

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…