Tiny black insects with white spots, their bodies narrow at the head and broadening toward the back and held sloped down from the head, are seen on the underside of the five leaflets of a Virginia creeper, recently sprouted, with another of the insects on the underside of the stem. At left is the bark of the tree trunk to which the vine is attached, and in the background are a sidewalk, a black pickup truck with a red and white graphic on the side parked on a neighborhood street, and a couple of houses under a blue sky striped with white clouds. Several branches of the tree also spread across the background.

In today’s photo, an unwelcome sight: the return of the #invasive spotted lanternflies, on some of our Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia).

These all took a bath shortly after their picture was taken.

#2026photos #Virginia #invasivespecies #insects #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

A slender tree branch crosses the photo from upper right to mid left, with young leaves still coming out and spears of what will be flowers still pale green as they emerge. The colors are muted as the branch is silhouetted against a mainly clear evening sky, with a long building, a vehicle, and a church steeple out of focus in the background.

Today’s photo is one of our black cherry trees (Prunus serotina), gearing up to bloom!

Black cherry is an early successional species that pops up in disturbed areas & new clearings, & lots of people think of it as a trash tree.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

The tip of a branch covered in fine hairs angles upward and has several dense sprays of compound leaves spreading from it. The leaves are bright, light green but with brilliant magenta backs. They are covered in small hairs and the sun shines through some of them. In the background are many other green and growing things.

Today’s photo is an update on the staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) whose buds were just barely beginning to look like leaves not long ago. Now they’re definitely leaves, and showing that beautiful magenta color.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

Several bare twigs in shades of brown and russet rise from the ground at various angles, with buds on one of the larger twigs beginning to visibly expand and open. In the background, out of focus, are a part of a carport and a large brick house.

Today’s photo is the best I was going to get (after many tries!) of the opening buds on the American hazelnut (Corylus americana) we planted about a week ago I think? It’s giving it a try!

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest #gardeningforwildlife

Small, bright green, deeply incised leaves are scattered throughout an area of grass, some of which is a darker green and some of which is still pale and dry from the winter.

In today’s photo is the current reason I am even less inclined than usual toward mowing the grass.

Suddenly this year the Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum) has spread enthusiastically into the lawn.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Three dense rosettes of dark green, slightly ruffled leaves with thick white midribs appear amid the smaller leaves and blue-purple blooms of a spreading plant, as well as some turf grass.

In today’s photo we have what Seek tells me is common evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis), though I’m not 100% sure on the species. (If you think that’s right/wrong, please tell me!)

(Also please ignore the creeping charlie/ground ivy.)

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Two pale green fleshy shoots with leaves clustered and wrapped tightly at their tips emerge from a bed of dry leaves.

This is far earlier than this blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis) has ever made an appearance before. @wearegonnafindout.bsky.social could this be my year???

#nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Pale green leaves, half open, emerge from the stems of a small tree. Some of the leaves glow as the sun shines through them. The undersides of the leaves are covered in white hair, and hair emerges from the stems around the base of the leaves as well. Many of the leaves also have pink where they meet the stems. Behind them, out of focus, is a mass of other darker green plants.

Today’s picture is one of our volunteer serviceberries, and I chose it because I wonder if y’all can help me identify it!

Last year Seek identified it as roundleaf serviceberry (Amelanchier sanguinea), which may be correct…

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

A small seedling tree with a light gray trunk rises from mostly bare soil, with a tiny branch with reddish brown bark slanting off to the right. On the left of the trunk, a tiny light green bud is growing, and a tinier spot of red and light green shows where another bit of growth is emerging from near where the branch joins the trunk. Here and there around the small tree violets are blooming among deep green leaves.

Today’s photo shows a little sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) not giving up.

We bought this little thing late spring last year & it sat in its pot waiting to be planted all through summer.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

Several little purplish-brown stems emerge from the ground with sprays of narrow, creased green leaves at their tops, almost looking a little palm-like. Nearby are round violet leaves and grass-like blades. The soil is littered with dry leaves and bits of bark and other plant matter, rather than being fully covered in mulch.

Recently I shared a picture of last year’s tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) standing tall above me before I cut back the stems. Today I noticed this year’s tall coreopsis, not being quite tall just yet. So that’s today’s picture!

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Several small trees and shrubs in various stages of leafing out for spring are corralled in a small section of dark green scalloped wire fencing. In front of them a small tree grows from the ground, and behind them a wall of white aluminum siding can be seen.

Today’s photo is me being very pleased with myself. Or rather, it’s the reason for my being that way.

In the midst of a spiral of connected problems brought about by my decision to plant the hazelnut yesterday…

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

I could have planted something else there instead, but I wanted it to be a hazelnut because some of them have buds that are really coming along, & because I read something last year about plum/hazelnut thickets. (Need to read more on that.)

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#nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

Vivid dark pink flowers with open upper petals and scooping lower petals emerge from short, reddish-pink stems on the otherwise bare brownish branches of a tree. The main branch cuts sideways across the picture, and in the background are a portion of a screened porch to the right and a light blue house beyond, with other buildings vaguely visible in the distance.

In today’s picture, after looking to be on the absolute verge of it for most of 2 weeks now, the redbud (Cercis canadensis) by our back porch finally began to open up its blooms today!

It’s spring now, everyone can get started blooming.

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

…juuuuuuust beginning to look like something that could turn out to be leaves.

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#virginianativeplants #backyardforest

The other day we hacked up an Aucuba that was in the middle of it that we didn’t want to keep. Next to that there’s a little serviceberry growing, and I want to transplant the other baby serviceberries there to make a little thicket.

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#nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

White snakeroot is *very enthusiastic.* So every year it grows up through the blueberry bushes & completely shades them out.

But every year they green out & bloom & try again.

I need to figure out how to help them…

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#virginianativeplants

A small flower with six rounded white petals and a bright yellow-green center appears beneath bright green leaves with toothed edges, and nestled among dry leaves. To the right a sidewalk runs, and edging of flat stones placed upright holds the plant into its bed. Some of the picture is in bright sunlight and some in shadow.

In today’s photo… strawberry season is here! (Fragaria virginiana)

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

We already had pawpaw seedlings from the Dept. of Forestry, & chinquapin seeds too, but there’s no guarantee either will grow, so we thought it would be nice to have some that already got a start. Maybe more genetic diversity this way, too?

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#nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

The camera looks up from below at two pale, dry stalks reaching straight upwards and branching near their tops like candelabras, with the tips of each branch holding seedheads. A third stalk is partly visible slightly behind, and all are seen against a blue sky with rows of thin but fluffy white clouds.

Today’s photo is some of last year’s tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris) catching the sun from *well* over my head, just before I cut these old stalks. I think these were about 8’ tall.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

I first planted woodbine probably five years ago, and it really struggled at first. But in the last couple of years it’s really taken off, & last year it climbed a lot of things. One of this year’s projects needs to be redirecting it to the fence.

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#virginianativeplants

Love the scope of this program! Virginia has a similar one through @forestryva.bsky.social, currently for Bradford/callery pear only. (See replies!) I’d love to see it expand!

If not in PA or VA, check your state - you might have one too!

#nativeplants #virginianativeplants #invasiveplants

A large, elongated, slightly curved open seed pod shows a creamy pale orange color with a shiny texture, while the backs of neighboring seed pods have a gray, hairy, roughened appearance. They sit on the ground among dried grasses and stems, in bright sunlight. In the foreground a few green blades of grass lean left and right.

For today’s picture, one of last year’s common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) seed pods lies on the ground like a little boat in the sunlight. Can’t wait to smell these blooming again!

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Dense clusters of small leaves, slightly shiny, in various shades of light and medium green grow along slender reddish-brown stems, with more stems behind them and a layer of leaf litter underneath, and to the left a small section of concrete sidewalk.

In today’s photo is the narrowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) by our front walk, which decided to come out with green leaves all over all at once in the last couple days!

…which means I have once again failed to trim it back in time.

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Winter sowing update: I currently have 3 tiny baby yellow giant hyssops and 2 tiny baby ninebarks. 🥰

#wintersowing #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

The veins of a dry leaf remain where most of the connecting material has fallen away, though pieces of it are still there. The leaf’s remains are a pale clay color, and it rests in loose, medium brown soil.

For today’s photo, another ghost sighting! This one was I think a black cherry leaf (Prunus serotina). Found while clearing a new bed & regrettably covered up by accident when moving soil around. Oh well. It’ll do some good in there.

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #backyardforest

A patch of bright green, low-growing plants spreads out under the edge of a brush pile, with dry winter lawn grass in front of it.

Who else has a native plant they can’t stand & always pull? For today’s photo, here’s mine… catchweed, aka bedstraw, cleavers, sticky willy (Galium aparine), already trying to get ahead of me!

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Deep pink clusters of flower buds appear along one slender branch pointing toward the camera and others pointing in various directions. Beneath it the ground is covered in white gravel and leaf litter, and behind it are the white trim of a screened porch and several orange ribbons marking other small trees.

Today’s photo is the redbud (Cercis canadensis) behind our back porch getting ready to bloom. It’s bloomed about the last 3 years and as the largest one we have I’m pretty sure it’s responsible for the million baby redbuds we had last year!

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#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants

Coming home from the Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium so very motivated to get outside and get to work!

But like, after this wind stops.

#nativeplants #virginianativeplants #waynesboro #WaynesboroVa

A close up of a cut-open two liter clear plastic bottle with blue tape wrapped around it and filled with wet potting soil. In the back is a white plastic sign with AGASTACHE NEPETOIDES written in grease pencil, and at left is a very tiny light green shoot with two very small leaves poking up out of the soil.

For today’s photo we have LOOOOOOOOK YOU GUYYYSSSSSS…

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants #wintersowing

A half-opened bud shows shades of pinkish red on its outer parts and bright chartreuse on the inner portions, though those are tipped in pink. It grows from the end of a slender branch with a frosty appearance and smaller dark buds unopened along it. In the background, out of focus, are a dormant flowerbed, a sidewalk, and a residential street with a dark red Honda Elementary parked at the curb.

Today’s picture plans have been preempted by this black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) that has decided spring is here! (The others agreed with it.) Look at these colors! Such a bold choice.

#2026photos #nativeplants #virginianativeplants