Manager's Message
by Judy Zatsick, Manager, Green Spring Gardens
Judy Zatsick. Photo credit: Ben Cohen.
We welcomed in Fall at the end of September. But before we turn our thoughts to the lovely colors this season ushers in, I’d like to talk about green and your incredible support in helping to make Green Spring greener. The FROGS annual appeal this year brought in the largest sum yet, almost $50,000. You heard our plea and generously donated. Thank you so very much.
I’d like to share with you how we’ve put your gifts to good use at Green Spring Gardens.
During the start of the pandemic, we lost a significant part of our collection due to closures and a lack of staff. Many gardens had sizeable holes where plants had created structure and substance. Under the guidance of our new Head of Horticulture, Adam Bucher, we began ordering woody and herbaceous plant material. We installed a number of native anise trees, to provide screening and structure in the garden. The foliage of the anise tree is highly fragrant, and brushing against it releases a spicy perfume into the air. We installed several witch hazels, adding to our national collection. Did you know we have almost 200 witch hazels here at Green Spring? They represent an important living collection, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
We planted many magnolias, tulip poplars, fragrant osmanthus, and the native elderberry. We installed native azaleas for spring color and perfume, deutzia, hydrangea, viburnum, abelia, and colorful native ninebark. Our goal is to expand the woody collection to include plants of note that do well in the mid-Atlantic region, and to inspire you to plant a garden yourself, whether a mixed border or a container on your deck or patio.
Woody plants provide vertical structure throughout the year and help create the bones of the garden. Although herbaceous perennials are usually dormant in winter, they are the stars of the summer garden and delight our guests, the carpet beneath the woodies. Your generosity permitted us to purchase hundreds of perennials that will brighten the gardens throughout the seasons. We’ve added hellebores, hardy orchids, bellflower, balloon flower, many ferns, red hot pokers, asters, sunflowers, ginger, bleeding heart, and a variety of grasses including graceful Japanese forest grass, blue stem, and carex. We’re adding to the wonderful cone flowers we have in the collection. We adore cheerful coneflowers, as do our many native bees and butterflies, and goldfinches enjoy their seeds in the fall.
We’ve been busy and I think you’ll agree it shows in the gardens. They are lovely!
With the remaining funds, we will focus on the new area by the wall to the ponds, and renovating the Waterwise, Swale, and Concentric gardens.
We have many new projects on the horizon and are looking at next year’s annual appeal already. As supporters of Green Spring Gardens, I think you’ll be excited about the upcoming plans we have to fulfill Green Spring’s mission of horticulture, education, and stewardship. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!
