By Mary Reid Barrow

When Demaris Yearick moved to her home in Bay Colony on Crystal Lake over 40 years ago, the land around the house was nothing but lawn, foundation plants and lots of wonderful trees.

Visit Demaris’ yard on LRNow’s Native Garden Tour Friday, June 20, and you can imagine how her garden grew over the years as she became aware of the importance of native plants.

Time honored old fashioned shrubs and flowers are the backdrop for natives of all descriptions. See native ferns galore, blue flag iris, Soloman’s seal, partridge berry, Jack-in-the pulpit, Lynnhaven Carpet, as well as butterfly weed and Stokes aster, including a shoreline protected by natives, like saltbush and wax myrtle.

That’s not to mention huge native trees, two of which are LRNow Notable Trees, as well as an oyster castle shoreline on part of the property.

The tour is from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 20, with a rain date set for the 27. Plant lists, giveaways and refreshments are part of the event. Ticket details are below.

This self-guided tour will lead you to three very special yards and gardens. The two others on the tour, like Demaris’ yard, also go back many years.

Mimi Boseman has transformed a grassy slope in Birdneck Point on the Lynnhaven River into a showcase of natives. Once Canada goose-ridden, the shoreline is now a restored wetlands of native grasses and flowers  blowing in the breeze with lots of pollinators but nary not a goose in sight.  The slope down to the water is full of natives too.

Meg Campbell’s garden at the North End is a testimony to how you can save all the trees and have your garden too. Walk on a boardwalk through a “forest” totally dominated by spreading live oaks of yesteryear. And find out more about these iconic Virginia Beach trees from the Virginia Beach Friends of Live Oaks that will have a table in the garden.

An added bonus is a pollinator garden out front, full of flowers and insects, that tells the world that even at the North End, you can maintain a parking spot for pollinators too!

You not only will be celebrating natives on LRNow’s tour but celebrating Pollinator Week June 16-22. Virginia Beach is a Bee City USA and volunteers will have a table in Demaris yard with information on how to support bees and other pollinators and reduce pesticide use.

In addition, Brent James, who is in charge of LRNow’s Notable Tree program, also will be on hand in Demaris’ yard to chat about trees, including a 270-year-old Live oak that towers over her back deck.

Brent, who also is LRNow’s Oyster Restoration Manager, will discuss the benefits of the oyster castle shoreline along part of Demaris’ shoreline.

To find out more about the garden tour, visit our website here.

To see more information on Mimi and Meg’s gardens, see these past Nature Notes:

Click here for Mimi’s garden.

Click here for Meg’s garden.