Eastern Bumble Bee on Columbine by Betsy Washington

The Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society kicks off 2021 with a free and open to the public virtual (Zoom) meeting to be held on Thursday, March 18th at 1:00 pm in the comfort of your own home.

The Chapter will have a presentation entitled “Native Plants & Their Pollinators” by biologist, botanist and educator, Betsy Washington, a Board member of the Chapter. “Betsy taught for 16 years at George Washington University in their Landscape Design and graduate Sustainable Design program”, said Ted Munns, President of the Chapter. “Betsy’s enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge in native plants and nature has been a great value to the Chapter. The presentation and photographs will be of interest to gardeners and naturalists from the neophyte to the expert”.

Tiger Swallowtails on Joe-pye Weed (it is not a weed!) by Betsy Washington

Betsy’s presentation will also include the Chapter’s March Plant of the Month - the Eastern Redbud which aside from its beauty, it is a spectacular pollinator attractant.

American Lady on Smooth Aster by Betsy Washington

Native plants and their pollinators have coevolved so that they are dependent on each other to varying extremes. Betsy will introduce some of our local native plants that not only add beauty to the landscape but attract and feed the vast array of pollinators including insects that are the base of the food web. Research shows that ninety-six percent of our terrestrial birds feed insects to their young while in the nest. For example, a three-year study of chickadees found the parents need 5,000 to 9,000 insects, mostly caterpillars, to feed their young over 16-20 day nestling period.

Many of the native plants shown will be those that the Chapter will offer for sale in their September Native Plant Sale that, again this year, will be held at Dug In Farm, White Stone.