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Shared by Patty Elton, President of Friends of Bear Creek Lake State Park and Certified Virginia Master Natura, as Guest Blogger.

Last fall the Friends of Bear Creek Lake decided to spruce up two signage plots within Bear Creek Lake State Park.  “The two plots are perfect for native gardens” says Anne Mason Field, a master naturalist and a master gardener who is also a member of the Friends. 


One plot is the signage for the Archery Range and the other is the signage for Bear Creek Hall.  Both plots were already framed with timbers and amending the soil came easily when the president for the local master naturalist chapter offered to bring in and distribute compost and dirt.

Bear Creek Hall Before the Garden

With the soil amended, the group got busy planting in early spring after meeting on several occasions during the winter months to determine the plant material best suited to the moisture and light conditions at both sites.  Finding native plants was not as difficult as the Friends first thought.  Everyone took a peek around their home garden space and spread the word among local gardening friends.  Within a short time they were short only a few species.  That was quickly remedied by traveling to the annual spring native plant sale hosted by the Native Plant Society located in Boyce, Virginia.

Bear Creek Hall After Garden

A few rudbeckia poked their heads out of the ground in early spring reminding the group of earlier efforts to beautify the Bear Creek Hall sign location.  The Friends honored the efforts of those who came before by leaving the rudbeckia and adding mountain mint, wild columbine, butterfly weed, threadleaf coreopsis, sundrops, sweet goldenrod and st. john’s wort.  
 

Friends volunteer Mary Etta Ross

Pictured at the Bear Creek Hall sign is Friends volunteer Mary Etta Ross, who also spends time in her award-winning home garden located in Dillywn, Virginia.

Bear Creek Lake State Park is located at 22 Bear Creek Lake Road, Cumberland, VA 23040. For park information, click here or call (804) 492-4410 or by email; bearcreek. Learn more about park offerings by calling 1-800-933-PARK or email resvs.
 

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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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