Are you looking to kick your native plant garden up a notch? Do you prize native shrubs that are beautiful and support many kinds of wildlife? Look no further than Maryland’s native roses. These are not intensely-bred hybrid roses that belong in a plant museum: these are hardy, well-adjusted plants native to our region that…
When it comes to native plant gardening, a little planning goes a long way. At Herring Run Nursery, one of the first planning questions we ask our customers is “when do you want to plant?” And the truth is that trees and shrubs can, with the right precautions, be planted almost year-round but different types…
A native plant garden full of healthy, well-chosen plants is a joyous place: beautiful and full of wildlife. Too often, though, native plant gardens end up being something less than joyous. One the primary reasons that people are disappointed with their native plant gardens, even if they are not fully aware of the reason, is that…
The most popular native plants at Herring Run Nursery are ones that offer beauty year-round. The beauty of a native plant that shines in winter is that they help preserve the sense of seasonality. Winter in Maryland has its own special character, and one of the native plants that helps define that character is redosier dogwood (Cornus…
Rain gardens are often the best solution for reducing the amount of polluted runoff your property generates. They capture the stormwater before it leaves your land, allowing it to soak gently back into the earth. This process helps the water cycle, reducing stream flooding during storms and recharging ground water, and also traps pollutants so…
We often hear that one reason to plant native plants is that they are easier to grow than non-native plants. While there is a grain of truth behind this legend, the truth is that plants of any type need the right kind of maintenance regimen. It is true that properly selected native plants are, in…
We highlight three purple native plants you can use to support wildlife, reduce stormwater runoff, and show your pride for the Baltimore Ravens.
This week, Blue Water Baltimore is celebrating National Pollinator Week. Pollinating animals are critical to a healthy ecosystem as well as to urban gardens and farms, so having an excuse to call attention to these vital critters is a welcome one. Did you know that 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators? Or…
In 2012, for the first time ever, Herring Run Nursery was a vendor at the 25th annual Baltimore Herb Festival. We grow and sell native plants primarily for their wildlife value and pollution reduction merits, but it turns out that many native plants are edible or medicinal to humans as well. I’ve posted a short article on…
At Blue Water Baltimore, we take our native plants seriously. This is not only because a landscape full of native plants can help reduce polluted runoff, but also for their other benefits: cooler summers, cleaner air, and more habitat for birds, butterflies, and bees. Consequentially, we work hard to operate Herring Run Nursery as great place…