A New Year in Your Native Garden!

So much excitement to come.

Native Rain Garden in Yonkers, New York Parking Lot

As we welcome 2026, there is so much nature to nurture and opportunities to optimize the function of our gardens, whether it be a front stoop, a window box or an acre or more. Today's post features inspiration from other gardeners, some in the Chesapeake and some further afield. I hope you enjoy.

Starting with this parking lot, native plants can make anything look good! This is a wide drainage swale between a parking lot and a large patio that is part of a reuse of a former industrial building. This planting looks good year round but never more so than in September.

Excellent Espalier: Georgetown

Witch Hazel Espalier

The nuts for natives motto is anything you can do with ornamental, or non-native, plants, you can do with native plants. There are some exceptions, of course, but not many. Here, a beautiful espalier has been created with common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

Abundant Cutting Garden: Native and Non-Native Mixes

Hillwood Cutting Garden

Non-native Dahlia

Native perennials, shrubs and trees provide a summer's worth of flowers to cut. If you are really into cutting flowers, combine non-natives like dahlias, cosmos and more with your native flowers and you will have a flower bonanza. A most excellent example of this is the cutting garden at Hillwood Museum and Garden. Over the past five years or so, lots of natives have been added to spectacular effect.

Paired Dogwoods

Native Dogwoods Flanking a Path at the National Cathedral

Native trees with four seasons of interest abound. Why not plant two side by side to flank a path or entrance? Here, at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., two dogwoods (Benthamidia florida) herald spring, summer, fall and winter in the best of ways.

Perennial and Annual Sunflowers in Any Sunny Spot

annual sunflowers

perennial sunflowers

If you have sun, sunflowers will add unmatched charm to your garden. There are native annual and perennial sunflowers (Helianthus). The number of cultivars of sunflowers is ever growing and they are spectacular. If you have pollinators in mind, try to avoid the sterile sunflowers, marketed to those who want cut flowers without the pollen drop. To support wildlife, best to grow sunflowers that produce pollen.

Brilliant Use of Yucca: Baltimore Front Stoop

Variegated Yucca (cultivar)

Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is one of those native plants that looks like it shouldn't be native. It's a statement in the garden or in a container. It's also a super tough plant. Here, a variegated cultivar of yucca softens the brick, emphasizes the olive green of the door and says welcome - perfectly done!

And .... Best New Signage!

Sign Explaining which Plants Attract which Butterflies at Merrifield Garden Center

The use, awareness, availability and popularity of native plants is growing every day. There is no doubt about that and the signs of growth abound. This actual sign connecting plants to caterpillars to pollinators at a major garden center in Northern Virginia, Merrifield Garden Center, is a good sign indeed.

Happy Gardening 2026!