This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Herring Run Nursery will be focusing each day on one invasive plant and a native alternative. Don’t Plant: Butterfly Bush Many of our customers are surprised to learn that butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a problematic plant. Butterfly bush certainly benefits from a beguiling name, which seduces homeowners into…
This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Herring Run Nursery will be focusing each day on one invasive plant and a native alternative. Don’t Plant: English Ivy Few invasive plants are as lovingly embraced by unsuspecting homeowners as English ivy (Hedera helix) and other non-native Hedera species. English ivy is an evergreen vine that spreads across…
This week is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. Herring Run Nursery will be focusing each day on one invasive plant and a native alternative. Don’t Plant: Barberry Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a deciduous shrub. Homeowners often plant it because of its dense form and, often, reddish purple foliage. Because it tolerates shade, this plant often…
Wondering why using native plants in your garden is so important to the environment? Curious about which plants, and planting strategies, are best for attracting birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife? To make it easier, we are offering six great talks in our Spring 2016 Native Plant Lecture Series. Each two-hour session costs just $15 and…
If this December has felt exceptionally warm, you aren’t imagining it. Baltimore, like much of the United States, has been experiencing an unusually warm month and a fitting conclusion to what is shaping up to be the Earth’s warmest in over 1,400 years. The mild temperatures aren’t universally reassuring, however. Many gardeners are concerned about…
Native plants provide more than just great food and habitat for wildlife: they also provide great beauty all year long. Although many holiday decorations make use of evergreen plants, like boxwoods and spruce, decorators are often surprised to learn that these plants are often not native to Maryland. So, for the second year, we are…
This year’s report is dedicated to the diverse people and institutions we work with to accomplish our mission of clean water and strong communities. We truly value all those who engage with us as partners in our shared vision of better water quality and a healthier, more vibrant Baltimore region. Below, read excerpts from our…
Because native plants have a long co-evolutionary history with the native wildlife of a location, they are uniquely well-suited choices for the modern garden. In this age of climate-change and habitat destruction, our gardens should do more than just look good: they must do good as well. Whether that means providing food and shelter for…
Few native trees are more deserving of appreciation, yet fail to receive it, than the common hackberry. Despite a slightly off-putting name, the native hackberry (Celtis occidentals) has all the attributes that homeowners want: Grows in a rounded, vase-like shape? Check. Resists disease? Check. Grows quickly? Check. Tolerates air pollution? Check. Is drought and salt…
One of the easiest ways to make your Baltimore yard a healthy and attractive place for wildlife is to increase the number and variety of native grasses you use. Thankfully, the many indigenous grasses we grow and sell at Herring Run Nursery are just as lovely to look at as they are valuable to our…
