When Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s semi-annual Native Plant Sale returns to Morven Park on September 10, it will be bigger than ever.  For the first time, four native plant nurseries will be participating.  During the early years of the Sale, Nature by Design and Hill House were the only two nurseries.  Then in 2015, Watermark Woods became the third nursery.  Now we welcome Seven Bends as the fourth nursery.  We invited each of the nurseries to tell us about themselves.

Nature By Design

Randee Wilson gives advice.

Nature By Design was started in 2001 by Randee Wilson and Carla Thomas, who wanted to focus on a more environmentally responsible model, offering native plants and using only organic methods (although not certified). They opened a retail garden center in Alexandria in 2006, selling plants that are indigenous to the southern Chesapeake Bay watershed and support pollinators and other wildlife, while satisfying the aesthetic and practical requirements of residential property owners.
Nature By Design is currently seeking a permanent location after losing its lease this past spring but continues to vend at the Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market in Alexandria on Sunday mornings. Delivery can be arranged for large orders. Meanwhile, you can place your orders by email, or call us at (703) 683-4769. See you at the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Fall Native Plant Sale!

Hill House Farm & Nursery

Janet Davis chats with customers.

Janet Davis, the indefatigable powerhouse at Hill House Nursery, started growing a non-native, indoor begonia at age 8, and was hooked on plants from that moment onward. She received her bachelor’s degree in horticulture from VA Tech, and has spent her entire career working in various horticultural pursuits—from growing organic vegetables to managing large commercial apple orchards, gardening professionally and pulling weeds, growing native plants and designing landscapes—while spending as much time as possible hiking in our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoying the plant communities of the Virginia Piedmont. Her time spent outdoors fostered her passion for our native flora and plant communities, and spurred her desire to learn more about these plants and how to incorporate them into our managed areas.

For 30 years, Janet has operated her landscape design-install-care business, incorporating native plants into garden settings and “managed” areas using sustainable garden techniques. In 2006, she opened her native plant nursery business, Hill House Farm & Nursery, which grows and sells U.S. native plants and select native cultivars from the mid-Atlantic region. Its crew continues to expand the outreach of Hill House Nursery located in Rappahannock County, just east of Shenandoah National Park.

Watermark Woods

Julie Borneman among her plants.

Watermark Woods – Native Plants has been a native plant–dedicated business in Loudoun for 8 years now. We specialize in pesticide-free native plants from the Piedmont region. We are located in Hamilton, just a few minutes west of Leesburg. Our inventory database is fully searchable, which helps you plan your landscape needs and streamline your shopping trip with a list in hand.

Our passionate and knowledgeable staff members are available to help you with your landscape needs Tuesday–Friday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. We are happy to take pre-orders to the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Native Plant Sale; just send your list to julie@watermarkwoods.com.

Seven Bends
Seven Bends Nursery LLC is a boutique native plant nursery located in the northern Shenandoah Valley focused on sustainable horticulture and ecosystem-based landscaping. We produce high-quality plant material that benefits our livelihood, peace of mind, and the health of our landscapes. Seven Bends is unique in that it is owned and operated by Lara Lacher, PhD, a conservation ecologist dedicated to not only increasing the availability of native plant material but also spreading information on the importance of native plants in supporting the function of ecosystems and the services they provide (clean water, recreation, productive soils, etc.). Seven Bends Nursery is a certified woman- and minority-owned small business.