July 2025 – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Jennifer Van Brunt, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

Gardeners are very special people. In fact, I would go so far as to say that one of the things I love most about gardening is other gardeners! On the whole, I find gardeners to be passionate and friendly people with a great love and appreciation for the natural world. We are creative problem solvers who engage our ingenuity to help feed our families and friends with the food we grow. Or, for those “humble ornamental gardeners” (in the words of our advisory committee chair, Melinda Heigel), perhaps you support the local economy at the farmer’s market. Either way, as gardeners we seek to beautify the spaces around us in ways that make a positive contribution to our communities and the planet.

Just a few of our beautiful volunteers helping to feed the community at the Briggs Ave Community Garden Spring Plant Sale (Image credit: Allie Mullin, EMGV)

The world around us is a complex and fractured place. I find that the more dividing lines we draw around ourselves, the more difficult it is to simply have conversations with those we believe disagree with us. Perhaps I am biased (but if you are reading this, maybe you have a slight bias in the same direction?) but I am of the opinion that gardeners are uniquely qualified to contribute to the process of creating strong and resilient communities and helping people begin to find common ground. You don’t have to agree on everything, just find something that connects you to the people around you.

“The garden reconciles human art and wild nature, hard work and deep pleasure, spiritual practice and the material world. It is a magical place because it is not divided.” – Thomas Moore

If you also have an interest in the healing power of gardening, for minds, bodies, and communities, you might consider checking out courses in Therapeutic Horticulture from our friends at NC State and the North Carolina Botanical Garden.

A Legacy of Gardeners

My Dad was a truly great gardener. He grew the plumpest, juiciest tomatoes and the crispest cukes. He tended the loveliest flowers of clematis, iris, azalea, peony, dahlia, rhododendron, and many more! He maintained a lush lawn that was the envy of the neighborhood. He even tried his hand at roses, although those were more of a specialty for his father.

A close-up of a vibrant red and yellow dahlia flower blooming in a garden setting.

Three blooming roses with vibrant pink and orange petals, surrounded by green leaves, growing near a stone structure.

Clockwise from upper left: Dahlia October, 2022; Roses July 2024; Lilies – July, 2019; Clematis June 2023; Iris May 2023. All images taken in Massillon, Ohio (Zone 6B) (Image credit: Fred Van Brunt Sr.)

Born in 1913, my grandfather was still very young in the midst of the Great Depression. It was exceptionally rare for him to indulge in anything that could be considered a “luxury”, even later in life when things were much more settled and secure. The exceptions I remember came in his garden. As a good Dutchman, he would order specialty tulip bulbs from Holland, and each year he would eagerly await his rose catalog to select a special, new rose to plant and tend in his home garden in Nutley, NJ.

A pale green house with a peaked roof and multiple windows, featuring a rose bush in front, showcasing white flowers.

Family home in Nutley, NJ Featuring a rose bush gifted to my grandfather by my mom. (Image credit: Valerie Starr)

Unfortunately, many of the photos of grandpa’s garden seem to be packed away in an album in my aunt’s storage. Here’s what we managed to scrounge up…

A pink peony flower surrounded by green leaves, showcasing its delicate petals.

Beautiful blooming peonies in a garden, accompanied by yellow irises, with a vibrant green lawn in the background.

Grandpa’s Peony (image credit: H. Kenneth Van Brunt or Madeline Starr); Dad’s Peonies – May 2024 – Massillon, Ohio (Image credit: Fred Van Brunt Sr.).

A vibrant bush of pink rhododendrons in full bloom next to a sidewalk and house, surrounded by lush greenery.

A vibrant bush covered in clusters of pink rhododendron flowers in front of a house.

Grandpa’s Rhododendron – Nutley, NJ (Image credit: H. Kenneth Van Brunt or Madeline Starr); Dad’s Rhododendron May 2024 – Massillon, OH (Image credit: Fred Van Brunt Sr.)

My personal gardening philosophy is much different from both of these special men. Rather than a conventionally maintained lawn, fit for a putting green, I tend to let the clover (Trifolium carolinianum) linger and the mock strawberry (Potentilla indica) fill in the gaps. I have a sign that says “Pardon the Weeds, We’re Feeding the Bees”.

A garden sign reading 'Pardon the Weeds, We're Feeding the Bees' featuring a bee and floral designs, placed in a landscaped area with colorful flowers and a brick background.

Yard signage at my home in Durham, NC. (Image credit: Jennifer Van Brunt)

My current policy on anything with prickles, thorns, or spines is that if it wants to take up space in my garden, it had better feed me (in other words, blackberries and raspberries have real estate; roses, not so much). I see the value in them for those who love them, but I don’t feel the need to grow them myself.

Finding Common Ground

My Dad and I were very different people, but we found our common ground in the garden. When there was nothing left to talk about because religion and politics were too contentious of subject matter, we could still share photos of our gardens and compare notes on the harvest. What varieties of tomatoes were surprising us or who was attracting more hummingbirds to the garden? (it was always me, by the way – they love my Celosia and this year I added a Canna lily to the back deck that they are simply devouring).

A tray displaying several large heirloom tomatoes in varying shades of red and green, alongside a baseball and a measuring tape for size reference.

A colorful assortment of freshly harvested vegetables including tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, and basil arranged in a woven basket on a dark countertop.

“My king size tomatoes. 20 lbs. off one bush. The biggest one is 5 inches across. Trying your suggestion to save the seeds. Just picked to avoid freezing. Will try to ripen in the sun. Hope you are doing well, love you. Not so master gardener, Dad” – Shared in text exchange October 21, 2024. (Image credit: Fred Van Brunt Sr); Harvest pride shot – August 2024 – Durham, NC (Image credit: Jennifer Van Brunt).

Even though our gardening philosophies were very different, those differences were small enough to open the door to conversations. We could respect one another’s ideas and opinions without the need for absolute agreement. When the gulf of opinion on the current state of politics threatened to swallow our relationship whole, we could still find a point of connection in our gardens. This connection was not a superficial one. We were able to have real conversations. He could tell me about how pain in his shoulder or knees were making it difficult to keep up on the weeding and I could suggest tools to make the jobs more manageable. He could express to me how he experienced God’s majesty in nature and I could share with him my concerns for pollinators and the planet and the ornamental value I was finding in native plants – all in ways that didn’t feel preachy because we knew we shared this common ground.

I lost my dad in February of this year, but I still feel him close to my heart when I’m out in the garden. I don’t say this to bum you out, but to maybe inspire you to tell someone you love them today, or better yet, show them how much you care. Grow something because it reminds you of someone you’ve lost, or teach someone else to grow something so they’ll have a special way to remember you when you can’t be near.

If I had one wish regarding our family gardening legacy it would be for a garden journal or a plan in writing. My Dad kept all of his garden plans in his head, so we were left scratching ours when I recently visited my Mom in Ohio and was trying to help recreate his successes. If you have struggled to find the motivation to keep a garden journal or have never bothered to put your plan down in writing, consider this a gentle nudge in that direction. Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in Durham County have all had the experience of developing a written garden plan as part of our training. Call us at our helpline (919-560-0528) or drop us an email at durhammastergardener@gmail.com and we can point you to resources that can help you do the same. And hey, you never know what inspiration this might provide for generations to come!

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” – Gertrude Jekyll

A decorative lighthouse surrounded by a vibrant bed of pink flowers in a grassy area.

A vibrant pot containing blooming pink canna lilies, surrounded by green foliage and other plants on a sunny deck.

Lighthouse statuary in the yard at the family home in Massillon, Ohio – Ensconced in pink bubblegum petunias! (Image credit: Fred Van Brunt Sr.); Canna lily, a hummingbird favorite, at my home in Durham, NC (Image credit: Jennifer Van Brunt)

Additional Reading and Resources

For more information on therapeutic gardening and keeping a garden journal, try these resources from NC State Extension:

Garden Journaling – A Place to Start

Therapeutic Horticulture Courses at NC Botanical Garden

Therapeutic Horticulture Resources for Participants

Editor: Martha Keehner Engelke

Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-6eN

By Lisa Nadler and Martha Keehner Engelke, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers of Durham County

Sometimes a plant becomes a rapid spreader working its way into places where you would rather it not go. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is an example of this. It is a vigorous twining vine that is native to the eastern United States. It can grow 10-20 feet high in a season. It spreads aggressively. But, because it is native to our ecosystem, it doesn’t displace other native plants in the area. It is not invasive. In contrast, its “cousin” Japanese or Chinese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a native of Asia, is capable of growing over plants and smothering them. It can displace native species by outcompeting them for light, space, water and nutrients.

“The term invasive applies only to non-native plants; invasive implies a negative effect on native plants and animals. On the other hand, native plants that establish quickly in your garden and spread readily are more appropriately termed “aggressive.” Aggressive native plants generally are species adapted to recently disturbed sites where they establish and spread quickly but give way to other native plants within a few years”.¹

So, how do you tell the difference?

Close-up of coral honeysuckle flowers, showcasing elongated yellow blooms surrounded by green foliage.

Close-up view of coral honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_) with green leaves and white-yellow tubular flowers growing on a tree.

Close-up of coral honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_) featuring white flowers and green leaves against a blurred green background.

Close-up of bright red and orange tubular flowers of Coral Honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_), surrounded by green leaves.

Two of the pictures above are Lonicera sempervirens (native) and two are Lonicera japonica (invasive). Can you tell the difference? Answers are at the end of the post. (Image credit: Top left: Debbie Roos; Top Right: Lucy Bradley, CC-BY 4.0; Bottom left: Hope Duckworth CC- BY 4.0; Bottom right: Chris Kreussing CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Lisa Nadler’s adventure to distinguish a native plant from an invasive plant is enlightening. It is an excellent illustration of how two plants that seem similar and are in the same family are vastly different in the impact they will have on your garden.

Plant Detective: Lisa Nadler

On a recent visit to Cocoa Cinnamon Container Garden², Lisa Nadler made a discovery. Invasive Chinese or Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) was in one of the painted pots. Lespedeza is in the Fabaceae, or bean family.

A close-up of a painted flower pot containing various plants, including invasive Chinese Lespedeza, with two arrows pointing to the identified invasive species. Background features blue and red patio chairs.

A woman wearing a colorful tank top holds a plant with roots in one hand and gives a thumbs down gesture with the other, standing in a garden setting with outdoor tables and chairs.

The picture on the left shows Lespedeza cuneata growing in a pot at Cocoa Cinnamon. In the photo on the right Deb Pilkington holds the plant after it is removed illustrating its long tap root (Image credit: Lisa Nadler)

So, what is Lespedeza and how did they know it is bad? There are both native and invasive Lespedeza plants and they can look similar. So, you need to know what to look for to know which ones to yank and which ones to leave.

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a warm-season, perennial legume with many erect, leafy branches. It also goes by the name of Chinese Bush Clover. It was introduced from Asia in 1896 for erosion control, livestock forage and wildlife cover. But, it has no natural diseases or insects to manage it here and it is now listed as a Rank 1-Severe Threat in NC.

According to the NC Plant Toolbox, it may be allelopathic, producing substances that chemically inhibit the growth of other plants. It forms extensive monocultures and develops an extensive seed bank in the soil, ensuring its long residence at a site. Its high tannin content makes it unpalatable to livestock and most native wildlife. So, not a very good addition for wildlife feed. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and once you know what it looks like, you’ll start seeing it everywhere, especially on road sides.

But how can you tell it from the native Bush clover species, Lespedeza virginica and Lespedeza capitata? Here are some clues.

Bloom Color (which wasn’t helpful in this case because it wasn’t in bloom.)

Lespedeza cuneata has white blooms with a touch of purple. The native Lespedeza virginica has purple flowers. But… (isn’t there always a but…) the other common native, Lespedeza capitata, has white flowers but with a redder touch.

Close-up of white and purple flowers of Lespedeza cuneata, a perennial legume with leafy branches.

Close-up of a pink flowering plant with small clusters of flowers, surrounded by green foliage in a natural setting.

The picture on the left is Lespedeza cuneata which is invasive. In the middle is Lespedeza virginica, a native and on the right is Lespedeza capitata, another native. (Image credit: Anita 363 CC-BY-NC 2.0; CC-BY-SA-2.0; CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Leaves

Okay, so now look at the leaves. The Lespedeza cuneata (the bad guy) has leaves that are more rounded at the end with a single tooth. Also, the veins are straight and easily visible. The leaves of the Lespedeza virginica and Lespedeza capitata (the good guys) are pointier at the end, usually have a less prominent tooth and the veins are curvier (I’m sure there is a specific botanical name for that…).

Close-up of elongated green leaves with droplets of water, surrounded by a small green plant, potentially illustrating the invasive Lespedeza cuneata.

Left to right: Lespedeza cuneata; Lespedeza virginica; Lespedeza capitata (Image credit: Hamilton Native Outpost; Bonnie Semmling CC-BY-4.0; Missouri plants. com).

There are other plant families that include both native and invasive species so it is important to always be on the lookout. The Poaceae family includes invasive and native grasses. The aquatic common reed (Phragmites australis), is native to Europe but very invasive in NC. It spreads rapidly and forms dense stands. Within the Rosaceae family we find native plants but also the highly invasive Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora). Plants in the Oleaceae Family are popular ornamentals and there are some natives but invasive species like Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) should not be planted. Autumn olive was introduced for wildlife habitat and ornamental purposes but has become invasive. Finally, we have the Fabaceae family. While Wisteria frutescens is a native, Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) are invasive vines in North Carolina.

So be on the lookout and be your own plant detective!

Answers to quiz: The picture on the upper left and lower right are native (Lonicera sempervirens) the other two are Invasive (Lonicera japonica).

Note 1: This article by Christoper Moorman and Dr. Lucy Bradley, summarizes the differences between aggressive and invasive plants. https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/how-to-create-wildlife-friendly-landscapes/why-landscapes-for-wildlife/invasive-species/

Note 2: Cocoa Cinnamon is a demonstration garden located at 420 West Geer Street, Durham, NC 2770. The Durham EMGs provide oversight and it has been an amazing source of information on best practices for growing plants in containers. Here are a few examples of previous posts inspired by the Cocoa Cinnamon project:

Winter pruning of “Little Miss Figgy”: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5Xr

“Little Miss Figgy in the City” https://wp.me/p2nIr1-50Z

Give a thought to the pot: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-4sZ

Pot Luck: Adventures in Urban Container Gardening: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-2jZ

Pot Luck: A Wildlife Ecosystem in the Middle of a City? : https://wp.me/p2nIr1-2tn

Another series on invasive plants and alternatives by Jeanne Arnts, was recently published on the blog:

From Beloved to Invasive: How does it happen? https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5l3

Replacing Invasive Plants: Suggestions for Beneficial Alternatives https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5CJ

Additional Reading and Resources

For more information on plant diversity check out this article from the NC Botanical Gardens. https://ncbg.unc.edu/2025/03/06/what-are-the-most-diverse-plant-families-and-why-part-one-the-asters

The NC Native Plant Society has good information on identifying native vs. invasive plants. https://ncwildflower.org/invasive-exotic-species-list/

How do invasive plants affect our forests? Here is the answer: ttps://content.ces.ncsu.edu/invasive-plants-and-your-forests

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-68z

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Month: July 2025

Finding Common Ground: A Gardening Legacy