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by Stacey Churchill, February 19. 2026 It seemed appropriate that for Black History Month I re-read Soil: The Story of a Black Mother's Garden by Camille Dungy. On Christmas Eve each year my family shares our favorite book read that year - this was my book in 2024. It is so beautifully written that I was happy to return to those pages. This book offers a narrative that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever swapped a manicured lawn for a biodiverse ecosystem . For the

By Stacey Churchill January 15, 2026 I love to read, especially non-fiction.  In 2026 I decided to try to read at least one native plant or native-plant adjacent book each month and I thought I’d take you all along for the journey with me.   I’d love to hear what you are reading in the comments, or if you are willing, you could write up a summary for us to post here on our chapter blogs - just like Ruth Landry-Stone has done. My January read was a Christmas gift from my daugh

By Ruth Landry-Stone January 13, 2026 On yet another bone chilling day in January, I peer out the window at Winter's palette of grey and brown. I long for the warmth of vibrant color. I retreat to the comfort of my sunroom where I take a seat in the rocking chair that is placed directly in the sun's rays. To further take off the chill, my gaze falls on the coral red blossoms of the Desire Amaryllis. I exhale. Thankfully, the room is home to green leafed palm trees, flowering

By Ruth Landry-Stone November 20, 2025 So, last week on a dark, cold Monday night in November, I went to an educational meeting at the local library sponsored by several local non-profit organizations. I  learned a lot. It got darker, even with the lights on.  The topic was PFAS. Toxic Biosolid sludge from wastewater plants that is being used as fertilizer on agricultural fields throughout Virginia and the United States. This toxic matter is being given to farmers free of cha

Sixteen of our members gathered on December 1, 2025 at Howell Branch Library for an evening of Winter Sowing our own native plants.  Charter Member Laurel Major hosted our workshop, with an assist from Maureen Aylward (also a Charter Member!).   We started the evening watching a video from Homegrown National Park , with Doug Tallamy explaining the importance of growing natives on our own private land.  As with all things Doug Tallamy, it was worth the watch and provided a big

We were so excited to host our first annual Membership and Business Meeting on October 15, 2025 at the Fredericksburg Branch Library Theater!  It was a chance to celebrate the revival and expansion of our local chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. Every good celebration begins with food!  And boy did we have food! The meeting gave us a chance to come together, to meet others with our interests and to relax and chat. Stacey Churchill provided an overview of the three

A note from our President, Stacey Churchill: Mike and Pat Worsham shared this great story of how adding just one potted butterfly milkweed in a sunny spot provided monarch habitat.  Even if you don’t have much space, you can still make a difference! Here’s an easy way to plant natives and create your own small butterfly garden. All you need is a flower pot that drains well and some butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). This might make a fun school science project too. The

Our chapter is official and it is time to get out the word! The Tree Fredericksburg Native Plant Festival on September 28, 2025 was the perfect opportunity to set up a table and reach out to like-minded folks! But first we were lucky enough to hear Karen Tavakoli and Alonso Abugattas speak. Our table was set up to display our three areas of focus: Grow, Know and Protect . Joy Green brought her oak tree and taught visitors about the importance of oaks in our ecosystem.  Young

Our final garden tour of the season found us at the home of Jeanne and Will Hartzell.  It was a fantastic opportunity to visit a property that meets HOA approval in the front yard and fully embraces native plantings in the back.  The Hartzells are 7 years into transforming their extraordinary site from farmland to a paradise for pollinators and birds.  Berry-filled shrubs and trees were in abundance, as active birders the Hartzells know what is needed to feed our feathered fr

August 2025 found us right along the Rappahannock River,  just downstream from Fredericksburg, at Ruth Landry-Stone and Lee Stone’s home.  They have owned their property for three years and are at the mid-way process of rejuvenating land along our chapter’s namesake river.  Their home is surrounded by trees and understory – some of it native and some of it invasive.  Ruth and Lee are a native plant believers, so they have spent their time clearing invasives and finding native

We spent a beautiful and warm morning in late July visiting two homes in downtown Fredericksburg.  We were honored by having Nancy Vehrs, President of the Virginia Native Plant Society join us on the tours! Over 40 of us started the morning at the home of Ernie and Lynn Ackermann who showed us around their large garden made up of various “rooms” each with its own feel and sense of fun.  The abundance of color and variety of plant life had all of us taking notes and many photo