After 21 years, the WVU Extension Demonstration Garden, cared for by the Greenbrier County Master Gardeners, has gone native. And it has a lot to do with the birds and the bees.
Now, now – this is a column about the garden, so I’m talking about plants native to our area and how they welcome pollinators into the garden.
I love the West Virginia State Fair! The first Saturday of Fair Week is a busy one and my favorite day to attend. It is also the day I volunteer in the Demo Garden. My spot is in the Bug Dig, where I can play with the little ones as they dig through sand for red, blue, and green spiders and grasshoppers. If they dig deep, they might find a gemstone.
But really, it’s about introducing them to nature and working to keep their excitement about the outdoors alive. Over the years, the Children’s Garden has had sunflower teepees for resting, tunnels for shimmying through, and lots of butterflies to chase. This year, my companion for most of the morning was a little brown bunny who hopped around the plants as if she were playing hide-n-seek with the kids, occasionally stopped to nibble, and then bounced up and down the path.
Across from the Bug Dig and the tiny fountain pond is a new addition this year—a native plant garden. This garden, started in the early spring, has really “taken a shine” to the location and flourished. Because these plants are first-year perennials, they will only continue to become more beautiful as they mature.
Some of the plants included in the new Fair Native Garden area include Little Blue Grass, which provides habitat for wildlife (I heard a visitor say she saw a chipmunk running through the area) and stabilizes the soil. This plant, once mature, will also be OK through the long dry days of summer.
The New England Aster will provide nectar for migrating Monarch butterflies and pollen and nectar for Bumble bees, honey bees, and miner bees. It also serves as a host plant for the Pearl Crescent butterfly.
The White Woodland Aster, commonly known as Eastern Star, is a late-season bloomer, which means once the dainty white flowers begin filling the bushy branches, pollinators will have a food source past the prime summer months. Winter songbirds will enjoy the seeds throughout the winter, and the plant will serve as a host for Pearl Crescent butterflies.
For me, the garden’s thriller was the Cardinal Flower, which will provide nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. During the day, I saw several hummers buzzing around the garden. The garden is planted with one mature plant and several smaller ones that will catch up soon. They are stunning.
Other plants in the Native Garden area are Slender Mountain Mint, Blazing Star, Blue Star, Blue False Indigo, and Golden Fleece Autumn Goldenrod.
Thank you, Willa Izzo and the Greenbrier MG’s for inviting gardeners from other West Virginia Counties to spend time and volunteer in the garden. It is one of my favorite summer days.
If you are thinking of going native in your garden, consider talking with your WVU County Extension Agent or the West Virginia Native Plant Society. As always, you can contact a Master Gardener, who can help you find information.