This is from early July…what a beautiful flower!

Well, hopefully I’m done with my plant shopping for the season — yeah - right! I’ve started planting one of the front borders yesterday after two days of shopping frenzies.

It started with going to the annual Adkins’ native plant sale and ending with a bargain hunt at Frank’s nursery and crafts. Adkins’ had the largest selection of natives that I’ve ever seen. I bought mostly sun loving perennials, grasses, and ferns. I’ll take a photo and put that up soon.

The American Horticultural Society is having their sale today and tomorrow near Mt. Vernon. They always have the best regional plant nurseries and independent growers.

Today’s purchases…

Natives - from Doyle Farm Nursery
Blue Cohosh
Squirrel Corn
Ornamental grass

Asian shade plants - from Lazy S’s Farm
Mertensia pterocarpa var. yezoensis  *TN Japanese Bluebells*
Tricyrtis formosana ‘Gates of Heaven’
Thalictrum reniforme ‘Grandiflorum’

Yesterday I found to my surprise a group of Mayapples and Spring Beauty. All in my backyard!

I’ll have to go exploring along the trail and see if other types exist out here.

I had the great pleasure of visiting my local native plant nursery today, Lower Marlboro Nursery. Although it was cold and raining today I was still able to make it out there. The owner is very nice and accomodating. One can only visit by appointment.

She has quite a nice collection of native plants and less common exotics. Not too mention gorgeous land for growing the plants. It was *very difficult* to not buy one of everything. I got a _small sampling_ and hope to visit again. Here’s what I got:

*Sun*
_Lonicera sempervirens_ (1)
_Sisyrinchium graminoides_ (1)
_Ruellia caroliniensis_ (3)
_Iris cristata ‘Alba’_ (1)
_Penstemon digitalis_ (2)

*Shade*
_Anemonella thalictroides_ (2)
_Thalictrum polygamum_ (3)
_Viola cucullata ‘Freckles’_ (1)
_Carex laxiculmis(?)_ (1)
_Acorus gramineus ‘Oborozuki’_ (2)
_Juncus effusus_ (1)