Photo credit: morethanordinary from morguefile.com
I first learned about ornamental grasses when I worked at a major garden center on Long Island’s North Shore. In my neighborhood in Floral Park, no one seemed to grow ornamental grasses, but they were very popular in commercial plantings and the wealthy home landscapes the company I worked for designed. Gradually, I learned about the different grasses, and I even began to appreciate their silky golden texture in the autumn, the rich colors of the fronds, the interesting shapes created when snow and ice coated their leaves.
I don’t plant any ornamental grasses in my garden today, mostly because I have beautiful full sunlight and I want to plant as many flowers as I can possibly plant, but I still enjoy seeing them planted in Farmville, our local town, and on the campus of Longwood University and other institutions nearby.
The winter Heart of Virginia Master Gardener newsletter features a piece I wrote ornamental grasses. There are other wonderful articles in the newsletter by my fellow Master Gardeners, and I hope you read the entire thing – well worth it. Enjoy!
