Golden Ragwort and Butterfly weed in bloom, May 2024.
If you want to see how beautiful landscaping with all natives can be, visit our Falmouth Road restoration project at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Falmouth Road in Bethesda. Installed in spring 2022 on both sides of the intersection, the plants are beginning to establish themselves and fill in the spaces. No need for mulching this year!
Before - removing the invasives from the berm, March 2022.
The little yellow dandelion-like flowers are golden ragwort (packera aurea)- an excellent ground cover that does well in sun or shade. With its beautiful evergreen heart-shaped leaves, it makes a great addition to any area where you want something to “take over” and are deer resistance due to a slightly toxic leaf.
Another favorite in bloom now is Illicium or Anise Star. There is a Chinese species, but ours are native to southeastern US. They are flourishing in the garden with beautiful purple flowers.
Also doing well are dozens and dozens of ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris). We planted over 100 of these last spring (2023) and they are filling in nicely. Ostrich ferns are also deer resistant.
We have the plant list from the initial planting spring 2022 HERE as well as a description of the project and design process.
Thank you
The Falmouth Road restoration would not be possible without the vision and hard work of the Westmoreland Hills neighbors who envisioned the project and supervise the work. Thank you also to the more than 50 volunteers who have come out to plant and weed, to the neighbors who water for six-weeks after there is a new planting, and to our donors who made it possible with their generous financial support.
