Though the entire grounds surrounding the Museum are filled with native plants and plantings, the gardens to the right of the pivot bridge on each side of the lock are dedicated and purposely planted with native plants.  Note the bat boxes soaring above the garden hoping to attract the evening insect-eating machines.

Some notable woody plants are Lindera benzoin - spicebush, Ilex opaca - American Holly, Cephalanthus occidentalis - buttonbush, and Cercis canadensis - redbud.  Lots of Panicum virgatum 'Northwind' was planted as a screen, in March, a large patch of Packera aurea springs to life welcoming the new season.

Around the pond and along the shoreline the invasive species have been kept at bay and the native Hibiscus moscheutos - hibiscus and Asclepias syriaca - common milkweed are left to flourish.  Lots of native perennial seeds have been scattered and patches of new things are emerging.

In the pond itself are floating wetlands.  These are two separate projects. One by the Harford Watershed Stewards and the other, an Eagle Scout project. These have many desirable attributes besides beautifying the pond.  Birds, such as herons, and turtles use the islands for their own purposes, the native plants attract native pollinators, insects and birds feeding and fueling this population, and because the roots of these plants are underwater they are helping clean the water by filtering all kinds of impurities and pollutions. 



More pics coming...

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