The Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society (NNVNPS) is pleased to invite Chapter members and the public to a presentation at the historic Shiloh School on Thursday, May 18th starting at noon. The school and garden are located on Shiloh School Road off Jessie duPont Memorial Highway (Rt. 200) between Wicomico Church and Kilmarnock. The main Shiloh School dates to 1906 and has hosted a number of community events and programs in recent years. The smaller “mother” schoolhouse is also located on the property and dates to 1884. The school(s) is a project of the Northumberland Preservation, Inc., a local nonprofit educational charity, supported only by contributions, membership, and volunteers.

Jack Moore, past President of the Northumberland Preservation, Inc. and chief volunteer and instigator of the native plant garden, will give a presentation on the history of the schools and his work on the native plant garden. Following Jack, there will be short presentations by Chapter Board member, Paula Boundy on developing the garden design, and Chapter President, Betsy Washington, on some of the butterflies and pollinators that flock to this garden.

The highlight of the program will be a tour of the actual garden to showcase the many plants and their pollinators and butterflies that flock to this native plant garden.

The gardens are part of the Native Plant Trail Demonstration Gardens in the Northern Neck and demonstrate the beauty and variety of native plants. (You can find information and photos of other Native Plant Demonstration Gardens in Northern Neck on the Northern Neck Chapter website at www.nnvnps.org).

“The plants in the garden are all labeled with plant markers donated by our Chapter of the NNVNPS”, said Betsy Washington, “and if you’re looking for hardy plants for your sunny space that will attract butterflies and other pollinators, this is the place to visit!”

The native plant garden features over 40 species of plants all native to the coastal plain of Virginia. “These plants would have been familiar to the children that attended the school,” explained Jack, the gardens and ground’s steadfast keeper. The plants were selected for their long period of bloom from spring to late fall so that there is always something new in bloom to greet visitors. The garden features native plants that are well adapted to our local climate and soil and require little maintenance. A bonus is that they have evolved with our native wildlife and support a diversity of pollinators and butterflies.

The native plant garden features over 40 species of plants all native to the coastal plain of Virginia. “These plants would have been familiar to the children that attended the school,” explained Jack, the gardens and ground’s steadfast keeper. The plants were selected for their long period of bloom from spring to late fall so that there is always something new in bloom to greet visitors. The garden features native plants that are well adapted to our local climate and soil and require little maintenance. A bonus is that they have evolved with our native wildlife and support a diversity of pollinators and butterflies.