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1 1 A C T I V I T I E S | 1 4 S A L U T E | 1 6 S P O T L I G H T | 1 8 AT H L E T E April showers bring May flowers, right? Well, those rainfalls are not the only thing that causes Maryland to have some of the most beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed grows over 2,700 species of plants, grasses, shrubs, and flowers. Planting native plants in your garden is important to preserve Maryland’s biodiversity. Whenever you plant natives, you impact the area around your home because they cross-pollinate with wild flora and are able to disperse seeds into surrounding areas. It is also the best way to help pollinators like bees and butterflies. Native plants and native insects have an intricate balance of co-evolving with each other. Read about some of the stars of the region and what they can bring to your own garden.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN (RUDBECKIA HIRTA Might as well start with the most popular, Maryland’s State Flower. These flowers consist of bright yellow petals and a black, domeshaped center filled with seeds ready to be caught in the wind and plant new seedlings. Show your Maryland spirit and start planting a few state flowers in your garden and see how even more sprout season after season.
whatsupmag.com | May 2021 | What’s Up? Eastern Shore
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