Buckeye Butterfly on Mountain Mint

Read the latest Spring, 2023 Declaration Newsletter

Snowberry Clearwing Moth – Native Honeysuckle
Heading Layer

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
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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
Heading Layer

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
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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
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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)
Heading Layer

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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Carolina Jessamine: Coastal Beauty
By Betsy Washington, Northern Neck Native Plant Society Chapter Carolina or Yellow Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, is a stunning evergreen vine native to the southern United States and Mexico south to Guatemala. In Virginia, Carolina Jessamine is a coastal beauty, common along the southern and central Coastal Plain north to the counties of Lancaster and the…... Read more
May 9, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
My Discovery of the Eastern Prickly Pear
By Emily Byers, Jefferson Chapter I enjoy the surprise of blooms in my garden each year and always add new native species. Last Fall, I received two eastern prickly pears, Opuntia humifusa, from a fellow gardener. I planted both cacti in a “problem” area of my garden. The area is shaded, gritty stays dry, and reminds…... Read more
April 3, 2023
Source: VNPS Blog
Hepatica Heralds Spring
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
Save Richmond’s Last Pitcher Plant Swamp
  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
Wildflower of the Year 2023 Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
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
Wildflower of the Year 2023 Hollow Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
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
Wax Myrtle Sparkles in Winter
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
Enchanting Blue Vervain
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

Plant Sale Profile: Mertensia virginica

March 13, 2014

Mertensia virginica is a member of the Borage (Boraginaceae) family. Commonly called Virginia Bluebells, its also known as Virginia Cowslip, Roanoke-bells, Eastern Bluebells and Lungwort Oysterleaf. When the leaves emerge they are a lovely shade of purple, quickly turning a medium green as they increase in size. Although the flowers…