Author Archives: Georgia Native Plant Society

By Nikki Belmonte, Georgia Native Plant Society Step outside during this sizzling summer and you will likely see a pollinator hovering, crawling or flying around in search of food. A pollinator is any animal that helps carry pollen from one flower to another, allowing the plant to become fertilized and produce fruit and seeds. More […]

By Laura Qadri, Intown Atlanta Chapter of Georgia Native Plant Society The ever-sunnier days of late can only mean one thing: the start of garden tour season in Atlanta. Whether we are just curious or seeking inspiration, it feels welcoming and special when gardeners invite us into their carefully designed spaces.  While many tours are […]

April is National Native Plant Month as annually proclaimed by Congress through Senate and House resolutions to recognize the benefits of native plants to the environment and economy of the United States. Every year, sponsors must reintroduce the resolutions. While having this recognition is excellent, why not make it permanent? Here in Georgia, that just […]

Many of us are looking for hope and optimism right now. Spending time outdoors is usually the key a lot of us tap for a refresh, but winter is certainly here in Georgia in full force and it’s been too cold or slippery to take a jaunt in the woods. How about a few hours […]

Did you realize that Georgia’s state flower is not even from Georgia? Cherokee Rose (Rosa laevigata) was designated as the state flower of Georgia in 1916 under the mistaken belief that it was indigenous to Georgia; however, it is indigenous to China, and its introduction to Georgia was the result of deliberate cultivation. The Cherokee […]

Is fall not the most inspiring time of year? While this summer has challenged many plants with a lack of rain, fall has arrived with renewed hope for several more weeks of warm, breezy days and an array of color palettes. It is a fruitful time of year – quite literally for many of our […]

By Nikki Belmonte Most of us have heard of an animal rescue, but have you ever heard of a plant rescue?  Picture this: A tract of land slated for the next local development project is infiltrated by a team clad in fluorescent vests and gloves, shovels in hand. After consulting a map and reviewing the […]

By Nikki Belmonte When we consider how we as individuals in a rapidly growing state like Georgia can contribute to improving the quality of life for ourselves and our neighbors, those of us with land – from sprawling acres to a postage stamp yard – have an opportunity to lead and influence. Low intensity development […]

By Nikki Belmonte We’re in the first week of spring and you can feel it in the air. There is so much to look forward to – longer, warmer days, flowers and leaves, farmer’s markets, patio seating, opening day for the Braves… the list goes on. We’re bursting into this season with enthusiasm and optimism, […]

By Nikki Belmonte Did you hear? The newest trend in home gardening and DIY (do-it-yourself) projects is planting native. While native pollinator gardens and wildlife habitat gardens are not new, they have gained widespread popularity due to the combined efforts of local, state and national level organizations widely promoting them. And we are here for […]

By Nikki Belmonte “I don’t have much longer on this planet, and I want to spend my time in service.” That was a sentiment shared with me recently by one of our volunteers, Marilynne. She was voicing her frustration with the commercial box stores selling the invasive, exotic plants that we at Georgia Native Plant […]

By Nikki Belmonte, Executive Director Early fall is arguably the most beautiful time of year in Georgia with a new palette of wildflowers blooming, shrubs bursting with berries and hints of autumnal colors in the trees. I have been obsessed with a single plant in my yard – a white wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) planted […]