Consultations for Spring, Summer and Fall Designs - Available Now
Our Mission
Our passion is to create and install beautiful, sustainable gardens using plants native to the Mid-Atlantic region. Our gardens are aesthetically pleasing, well-designed native plant ecosystems that are as much of a delight to their human owners as to the creatures who live, dine and work in them.
We are a full-service, experienced landscape design group dedicated to native plants. Since 2013 we have designed hundreds of beautiful, tailored, sustainable gardens in Northern Virginia, D.C. & Maryland. Our gardens are biodiverse, and thoughtfully designed, to meet both our client’s needs and style and the conditions of their site. Although plants are our passion, we also plan and install all elements of a successful garden environment, including trails, walkways, patios and stairs.
Our philosophy is that everything in our gardens needs to work hard, providing both beauty and ecological function.
Seasonal Tips & News
-
Native Plant of the Month: Southern Blue Flag or Virginia Iris
The Southern Blue Flag (Iris virginica), also known as the Virginia Iris, is a stunning perennial native to the wetlands and coastal marshes of the Commonwealth. Its delicate violet-blue blossoms and sword-like foliage are a hallmark of Virginia’s early summer landscape, providing vital nectar for native bumblebees and hummingbirds. Since Mother’s Day falls in mid-May, it perfectly aligns with the peak blooming season of the Southern Blue Flag. If you're looking for a gift that keeps on giving, these irises are incredibly hardy. Planting one in a sunny, moist spot in the garden is a beautiful way to honor a mother with a bloom that returns every year!
-
Horticultural Tip of the Month: Wrap-Up Planting Projects
With the Northern Virginia heat approaching, now is the time to finalize planting native species so they can develop deep root systems before the soil temperature climbs. Because our native plants are adapted to the local climate, getting them in the ground by mid-May allows them to utilize the remaining spring rains, significantly reducing the risk of transplant shock during the July humidity. Prioritize woody shrubs and perennials now, ensuring you apply a thick layer of organic mulch to mimic a forest floor, which will keep their roots cool and hydrated as the summer "sauna" sets in.
-
Invasive Plant of the Month: Multiflora Rose
While it may look charming with its clusters of white flowers, the Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) is a highly aggressive invasive species that wreaks havoc on Northern Virginia’s native ecosystems. Originally introduced from Asia for erosion control and "living fences," it quickly outcompetes local flora by forming dense, thorny thickets that block sunlight and stifle the growth of native plants like the Virginia Iris. One reason the Multiflora Rose is such a relentless invader is its sheer productivity: a single plant can produce up to 1 million seeds per year, and those seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 20 years. If you're clearing it out this May, be sure to wear thick gloves—those curved thorns are specifically designed to "climb" over other vegetation, making them notoriously good at snagging clothes and skin!