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Fall Native Plant Sale onsite and online Sept. 2020

By Judy Triska In Press Releases

September 1, 2020

Plant Native with the Virginia Living Musem

Onsite and Online sales this September!

Newport News, VA (September 1, 2020) – The Virginia Living Museum popular Native Plant Sale offers 134 beautiful and unusual native perennials, vines, shrubs and trees. Celebrating 33 years of native plant sales, the Museum connects people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation. The annual fall sale will take place onsite in the Virginia Living Museum Conservation Garden and online at thevlm.org this September.

The Virginia Living Museum experienced team of horticulture staff and volunteers propagate plants in the Holt Native Plant Conservatory. Named for Museum founders Mary Sherwood Holt and her late husband Quincy, the Conservatory has enabled the Museum to expand its horticultural and garden education programs. With more than 830 square feet of plant propagation, greenhouse and horticulture storage space, the resource allows staff to grow large plant material for use in animal exhibits, propagate hard-to-find ornamental native trees and shrubs, and to experiment with propagation methods for rare and endangered native plant species.

All plants are nursery propagated at the Virginia Living Museum and many are not yet available in the commercial nursery trade. Choosing native plants improves water quality and protects our local watersheds. Native plants help preserve biodiversity and aid in the conservation of native flora and fauna by providing the correct habitat for pollinators, birds, and wildlife that live in or migrate through our area. Perfectly adapted for Virginia’s soil and climate, native plants reduce the amount of watering and fertilizing they require as they naturally resist many diseases and pests in the local area. Their root systems help prevent erosion and absorb excess nutrients eliminating runoff and reducing pollution. This limits chemical use in yards and waterways, creating a healthier environment.

The wide variety of plants available includes options for many garden sites and styles, from wet ponds to dry rock gardens, and for attracting a variety of native wildlife. Area gardeners enjoy their local weather tolerance and ability to serve as food and shelter for area wildlife, while also providing a good show in the garden. To learn about blooming periods, light, soil, and moisture needs, click here for a helpful list.

The Museum’s conservation garden will host the ONSITE Sale open to the public on two weekends, September 19-20 and September 26-27 from 9am until 4:30pm. (VLM Members Only Preview will be held September 17 from 4-6pm).  ONLINE Sales at thevlm.org will begin September 21 through 24.  (VLM Members can order online beginning Monday, September 14). PICK UP for all online orders will take place September 26 and 27 between 1pm and 5pm.

The Virginia Living Museum is open daily from 9 am- 5pm and is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, I-64, exit 258A. For more information visit thevlm.org or call 757-595-1900. You can also find the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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