Our developing native pollinator garden is in an open field along the bottom of Twinbrook Road opposite the entrance to Long Branch Stream Valley Park – officially in Olde Forge Park. The garden serves as a place for native plant species to flourish, provide food and cover for local wildlife, and is a source of natural beauty for the community. The project was initiated by neighborhood volunteers in the fall of 2023 under the direction of the Invasive Management Area (IMA) program of the Fairfax County Park Authority. The IMA program originally purchased native plants, trees, and shrubs from Earth Sangha Native Plant Nursery. The local Girl Scout troops helped to establish the garden plot in October 2023 by planting pollinator plants. It will take awhile for some native plants to become established as they compete with invasive plants. Neighborhood volunteers, our Civic Association, and the IMA program continue to contribute native plants and pull out invasives to maintain the garden.
IMA link: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/invasive-management-area
Earth Sangha link: https://www.earthsangha.org/
Invasive species are a growing issue across the globe as the world becomes increasingly connected and it is important to take steps to combat this problem. Native Species gardens, such as this one, are a great way to promote native plant life as opposed to invasive species.
Explore this website and visit the garden to learn more about native and invasive plants and what you can do to contribute to the community!

Native plant species are vital to the environment because they support local ecosystems in ways non-native plants cannot. They provide food and habitat for native wildlife, including pollinators like bees and butterflies, and help maintain biodiversity. Native tree species soak up runoff which cleans our water and provides a natural source of shade. These plants are adapted to the local climate and soil, so they require little maintenance making them sustainable and better suited for protecting natural resources.

Below is a list of the species found in the garden:

Flowering plants/grasses:

1. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
2. Early WildRye (Elymus macgregorii)
3. Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
4. Greencut Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata)
5. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
6. Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea)
7. Goldenrod (Solidafogo spp.)
8. Hairy Beard Tongue (Penstemon hirsutus)
9. New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
10. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum)
11. Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
12. Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida)
13. Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
14. Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)
15. Whorled Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata)
16. White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
17. Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
18. Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
19. Narrowleaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa)
20. Late Purple Aster (Symphyotrichum patens)
21. Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
22. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
23. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
24. Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
25. Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)
26. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

Trees/shrubs:

1. Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
2. Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
3. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
4. Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
5. Red Bud (Cercis canadensis)
6. Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)
7. Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
8. Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
9. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
10. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
11. Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)*list is subject to change based upon new donations and durability of plants

You can protect native species easily by planting only native flowers, shrubs, and trees to create a sustainable environment in your own home. Additionally, you can remove invasive species that crop up and reduce pesticide use. To promote and protect native tree species, make sure to remove invasive vines that will smother trees, avoid over-mulching (greater than a 3 inch layer) which causes the bark to rot, and plant groundcover instead of grass beside the base of trees. Even small changes, like planting a few native plants, can help restore and protect local ecosystems!

Invasive plant species can seriously harm ecosystems by outcompeting native plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. In particular, Garlic Mustard and English Ivy are common invasives found in Northern Virginia. Garlic mustard releases chemicals into the soil that disrupt beneficial fungi, weakening native plant growth, while English ivy spreads aggressively, smothering trees and ground vegetation. These invasives reduce biodiversity, damage habitats, and make it harder for wildlife to survive, ultimately disrupting the balance of local ecosystems.
Common invasive plants to Northern Virginia:

1. Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) - Origin: Eastern Asia
2. Canadian Thistle (Cirsium arvense) - Origin: Europe and Asia it is not actually Canadian
3. English Ivy (Hedera helix) - Origin: Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa
4. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) - Origin: Europe, Asia and North Africa
5. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) - Origin: Japan
6. Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) - Origin: Temperate and Tropical Asia
7. Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) - Origin: Japan, China, and Southeast Asia
8. Mile-a-minute weed (Persicaria perfoliata) - Origin: Eastern Asia, India, and Philippine Islands
9. Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) - Origin: China, Japan, and Korea
10. Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) - Origin: Northeast, central and southwestern China, and Taiwan
11. Broad-Leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) - Origin: Europe

1. Use garden clippers to cut the ivy leaves off
   if removing ivy from a tree, cut a ring around the infested tree trunk
2. Pull out ivy from the roots
   if cutting off of a tree pull out all the ivy roots surrounding the tree
   do not pull ivy off of the tree bark because it will harm the tree!
3. Plant native ground cover instead!
   • Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera, fast spreading cover)
   • Green-and-gold (chrysogonum virginianum, yellow flowers)
   • Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia, quickly spreading with white flowers)
   • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia, vine that will grow up trees without harming them)
     Native honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, provides habitat for pollinators)

1. Plant native species in your yard/garden
   • Milkweeds, honeysuckles (not to be confused with the invasive Japanese honeysuckle), sunflowers, coneflowers, and penstemons are best for attracting pollinator species
   • Pines, oaks and elderberry trees are best for native bird species
   • Comprehensive list can be found here: plant nova natives downloadable list
2. Use native-only landscapers when designing your yard
3. Remove invasive plants
4. Comprehensive list can be found here: fairfax county public works and environmental services/recognizing invasive species
5. Don't spray pesticides or insecticides to protect native flora and fauna!

   Find more information at the websites linked below:

   • Fairfax County Environmental Services
   • Plant NOVA natives initiative
   • Plant NOVA trees initiative
   • Virginia Native Plant Society