First-year mockernut hickory seedlings.

First-year post oak seedlings in our greenhouse.

A batch of pawpaw seedlings, along with a few volunteer sycamores. Pawpaw is one of our relatively few native fruit trees.

Second-year witch-hazel.

Second-year mapleleaf viburnum, a slow-growing shrub of moist deciduous forest.

Second-year common alder, a riparian (stream-side) plant and a very good bank holder.

Second-year bladdernut, a riparian forest shrub that produces interesting bladder-like seed pods.

Second- or third-year carolina rose. This native rose is much lower-growing than the invasive alien multiflora rose. Carolina rose prefers full light and will tolerate dry soil once established.

Second-year winterberry holly, a large shrub that grows in very wet places. It produces bright red berries that usually remain on the plant after it loses its leaves. It's very pretty.

Bloodroot in bloom. A plant of moist woodland, bloodroot is sometimes found along streams.

As with many woodland herbs, bloodroot doesn't fully leaf out until after it blooms.

New York ironweed, a tall herb that prefers wet soils in full light.

White snakeroot, a relatively common plant in the groundlayer of moist forest.

Obedient plant, a member of the mint family. It prefers very wet soils.

Mistflower, another herb of moist woodland and thicket.

Basal rosettes of first-year cardinal flower, a riparian herb.

Some potted-up cardinal flower in bloom, along the edge of a raised bed.

A batch of Jack-in-the-pulpit, another moist forest herb. Its spectacular flowers are pollinated primarily by a group of less-than-spectacular insects called fungus gnats.

The peculiar seed capsules of the appropriately named seedbox, another wetland or moist-soil herb.

Purple milkweed is a widespread eastern North American herb but is listed in Virginia as "S2," at high risk of loss from the state. It's listed as "uncertain" in Maryland, and may be fairly common in some parts of that state. It will grow in both dry and wet soils, in either full light or light shade. Like many other native milkweeds, it's an excellent choice for attracting native pollinating insects.

Swamp milkweed is another important local butterfly food-plant. Butterfly caterpillars eat its leaves, and adult butterflies visit it for nectar.

Yet another great "native pollinator" plant, scarlet beebalm is favored by both butterflies and the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochris colubris).

Wild bergamot is a close relative of beebalm.

Black cohosh, an herb of moist forests, in bloom.

Lizard's tail is a wetland plant. It's an "emergent" species—it roots in soil below shallow water but sends its growth above the water's surface.

Golden ragwort is a fast-growing herb that prefers moist soils. It can be found along streams and in wet spots in the woods.

Wild geranium grows in woods and clearings on soils that are moist, at least in spring.

Hoary mountain mint is a beautiful little plant and a denizen of DC-area meadows.

Culver's root grows in moist open woods and wet meadows. The root of this plant contains chemicals that are potent irritants of the human GI tract. Not something you want to eat!

Trumpet honeysuckle is the only native honeysuckle vine in our region. It is no longer very common—unlike its ubiquitous alien cousin, the Japanese honeysuckle.

A species of partridge pea. This species is annual and grows well in distrubed areas.