Northern Neck Native Plants Garden Trail

These sites feature Virginia native plants, many of which are indigenous to the Northern Neck. These gardens were designed to showcase the beauty, benefits, and variety of our native plants.

The Plant NNK Natives: Go Native---Grow Native campaign seeks to inspire those who live and work in the Northern Neck to use native plants in their gardens and to protect existing native vegetation.

Native plants provide tremendous ecological benefits from water management to food and shelter for all our flora and fauna. Because Northern Neck plants are indigenous, that is, they were likely growing in the Northern Neck before European settlers came to the area, they are well-adapted to local soils and climate and can tolerate varying conditions such as drought and flooding. They usually require less watering and little if any fertilization and pesticide application compared to non-native plants.

Click on the image of the brochure to see more information about the gardens. See the map below for locations of gardens.

 
 
 
 

1. Westmoreland State Park 

Visitors’ Center
145 Cliff Road
Montross, VA

2. Stratford Hall

(across from entrance booth)
483 Great House Road Stratford, VA

3.  Voorhees Nature Preserve

The Nature Conservancy
(Entrance Road meadow and rain swale)
Rt. 674, Bristol Mine Road,
Colonial Beach, VA

4. Menokin

Visitors’ Center
4037 Menokin Road
Warsaw, VA

5. Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Wilna Lodge
336 Wilna Road
Warsaw, VA

6. Old Northumberland Co. Courthouse

Heathsville
72 Monument Place
Heathsville, VA

7. The Reedville Living Shoreline Garden

Next to Fishermen’s Museum
504 Main Str
Reedville, VA

8. Lancaster County Judicial Center

8265 Mary Ball Road
Lancaster, VA

9. Shiloh School Garden

At corner of VA 605 and VA 606
Kilmarnock, VA

10. Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club

Park along Seminole Trail (Rt. 1103)
Kilmarnock, VA

11. Towne Centre Park

The Town of Kilmarnock
(all Plantings & stormwater pond plantings)
150 North Main Street
Kilmarnock, VA

12. Boys and Girls Club

517 N. Main St.
Kilmarnock, VA

13. Belle Isle State Park

Visitors’ Center
1632 Belle Isle Road
Lancaster, VA

14. Dug In Farm

(Road front display beds & new plantings in progress)
155 Fleets Bay Road
White Stone, VA

15. The Tides Inn

480 King Carter Drive
Irvington, VA
(This private resort has extensive shoreline plantings and best practices in shoreline and bankstabilization. Please call ahead to arrange a visit - (804) 438-5000)

 

Credits:

The original Printed Edition was researched and written by Paula Boundy and Janet Pawlukiewicz, Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society.

This 2022 Online Edition was researched and edited by Betsy Washington with contributions by Kevin Howe, Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society. It will be periodically updated online.

 

Cover Photo Credits:

Photos from top left clockwise: Monarchs nectaring on Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, at Shiloh School (by Kevin Howe); Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica, and Blue Flag Iris, Iris versicolor, Old Northumberland Co. Courthouse Garden (by Betsy Washington); The Reedville Living Shoreline Garden (by Betsy Washington). Shiloh School Garden with Joe-pye-weed and Great Blue Lobelia (by Susan and Jack Moore), Coastal Meadow at Belle Isle State Park (by Denise Greene)

 

Voorhees Nature Preserve, entrance meadow/swale gardens