Native Gardens

Eaglehead’s "MaryLandscape Native Gardens"

In 2000 the volunteer environmental conservation efforts of the Friends of the Lake Committee created a "native plant garden" as a means to educate Eaglehead residents about the virtues of using plants native to the region for residential landscaping. The project received funding through the MaryLandscapes project of the Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000.

The gardens, which were dedicated on September 29, 2000 by Maryland Comptroller William Donald Shaefer, are located behind the LLA office around the west entrance to the Coldstream Pool area. Three gardens were installed to show residents how to plant for water conservation, suburban garden conditions, and for a natural garden. Each one is designed to provide color and flowers throughout spring, summer and fall.

[Note: at this time the gardens have been removed in preparation for construction of the meeting room addition at the LLA office building. ]

Native plants are adapted to the local soil, rainfall, and temperature and have developed natural defenses to withstand many types of insects and diseases. Native plants grown in conditions similar to those found in nature require little maintenance or use of pesticides and fertilizers. Reducing use of chemicals in Eaglehead gardens reduces the amount of pollutants that can wash into our nearby streams and lakes, and protects the quality of our water.

Local nurseries typically sell all of the plants listed above. Check listings for nurseries in the yellow pages of the phone book.

Brochures on native plants and their uses can be obtained without charge from the following sources:

• Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Field Office, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD, 21401. 1-800-662-2747.   Request the following brochures:

"Bayscapes (7 Guides for the Homeowner);"

"Bayscapes Homeowers’ Guide to Designing Your Property"

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Field Office, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD, 21401. 410-573-4593.  Request the following brochure:

"Maryland Native Plants for Landscaping"

This garden features native plants that are heat and drought tolerant. After they are established these plants require little watering. They are suitable for planting adjacent to driveways and sidewalks that radiate heat making growing surfaces hotter than the air temperature.

Spring Bloom- blue false indigo, white false indigo, moss phlox.

Summer Bloom- butterfly weed, liatris, rose mallow, coreopsis moonbeam.

Fall Bloom- virgin’s bower

This garden can be grown in yards with few trees and where plants will be exposed to full sun. These plants have "showy" blooms.

Spring Bloom- blue flag iris, blue false indigo, foam flower, green and gold fothergilla (shrub), fringe tree.

Summer Bloom- bee balm, black-eyed Susan, cardinal flower, rose mallow, red chokeberry (shrub), hydrangea (shrug), liatris, trumpet vine.

Fall Bloom/Winter Interest- aster, smooth sumac, dogwood red twig.

This type of garden is suitable for incorporating into the natural areas of your yard. Many of these plants can be found growing along our trails at Eaglehead.

Spring Bloom- blue flag iris, redbud (tree), shadblow (tree), columbine, green and god, Jack-in-the-pulpit, blue phloz, Virginia bluebells, foam flower.

Summer Bloom- black cohosh, black-eyed Susan, cardinal flower, coral bells, meadow rue, smooth prenstemon, southern arrowwood (shrub), clethra (shrub), trumpet vine, Virginia creeper.

Fall Bloom/Winter Interest- aster, boneset, goldenrod, ironweed, northern bayberry (shrub), winterberry (shrub), Christmas fern, Joe Pye weed.