Urban Natives & Landscaping

04/20/2025

Spring has sprung and I’m enjoying every moment! Happy Easter!

Pictured: Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Dwarf-crested Iris (Iris cristata), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), and Foam Flower (Tiarella cordifolia)

02/08/2025

My favorite and most valuable tool!

01/31/2025

EJCA is partnering with Neighborhood Forest in 2025 to help get FREE NATIVE TREES into the hands of kids!

Register by March 15th to pick up your free trees during Earth Week (April 22-27) at the Arboretum.

Register here: www.tinyurl.com/EJCAfreetrees

Don't miss out on creating a lasting memory with your kid(s)! Registration closes on Friday, March 15th. The tree species will be a SUPRISE but will be native and come with more information about the species and planting instructions.

01/31/2025

In addition to promoting native plants, we are trying to cultivate a culture of joy and healing at our nursery. We want our customers, clients, and staff to feel welcome to be human. We strive to create an inclusive environment and, just like our local ecosystems, are our strongest when we welcome diversity amongst our thoughts, beliefs, and backgrounds.
We will never waiver on this. Ever.
🖤🤎🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

09/10/2024

Yesss 👏👏

You want holes in your leaves. Feed the ecosystem.

08/26/2024

Not all bugs are bad!

These are large milkweed bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) at different stages of development. They are not killing your milkweed. They will not harm monarchs. Milkweed is a host to many species, a hub of life, and we should celebrate the life it supports all year round beyond just one charismatic species.

Give the bugs some love. They are cool, and dare one say, quite beautiful, too. Get buggy.

08/15/2024

Fall planting is just around the corner! Start planning while you’re ahead!

‼️ INVENTORY UPDATE!!!😀
We just added a bunch of plants to our store just in time for fall planting!!
Take a look at https://sevenbendsnurserystore.square.site/
If you have questions or want a bulk order, email us at [email protected].
Happy fall planting :🤪

08/05/2024

Looking for native plants with a VA ecotype? Hummingbird Hill Native Plant Nursery is an excellent source for this!

Why is it important to plant natives with a VA ecotype? These species have spent their evolutionary history in this very region and have co-evolved with the native wildlife, fungi and soils. They are perfectly adapted for the region in which it exists and fills a unique niche that a specimen of the same species but from a different place could not completely fill (even on the microscope level down to the pollen shape).

It is the only way to plant native? No, but it is best way! The native plant industry is growing rapidly and we are seeing more companies like Hummingbird Hill, Seven Bends Nursery, and Moulton Hot Natives doing the work to push for more ecologically conscious native plant gardening 🥳

Everyone has to start somewhere though, so I say get that native plant no matter what because you’re doing your part to grow natives!!

07/14/2024

These native plants adapt to drier, well-drained sites and can tolerate local rain shortages. Most thrive in sun and heat, although a few prefer locations with some shade. Some also grow well in exposed areas or on slopes.

07/08/2024

Listen to last week’s talk on gardening with native plants at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU!

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture 3: Gardening with Native PlantsOwner of Urban Natives & Landscaping, Ivy Makia, discusses native plant gardening-- where to start and...