Warrives, I always figure that spring is almost here and get ready to head back outside. So while we’re all waiting for the appearance of the first spring ephemerals, here are some resources for learning about native plants and how to use them in your home garden. Some of these resources use the latest technology, while others just require a visit to a website or even a local garden.

Phone Apps

The National Audubon Society has developed a wildflower app that is an excellent online field guide to North American native plants. It includes photos, range maps and descriptions. There’s even a journal feature where you can record your finds and then share them with others via Facebook and email. It’s available for both Apple and Android devices.

There is also an Android app called Virginia Wildflowers. It has information on over 2,000 species, including forbs, shrubs, trees and vines.

Websites

Three of the best websites offer everything from general to highly specialized material. The Digital Atlas of Virginia Flora is the online successor to the Atlas of Virginia Flora.

It has excellent information on the geographic distribution of plants in Virginia. Information is based on specimens at various Virginia herbaria, including those at Longwood University.

The Digital Atlas is an excellent companion to the 2012 Flora of Virginia and includes photos, descriptions and maps. Information can be searched by group, family, genus and even county.

If you need information about whether a specific plant is appropriate for your garden, this is the place to go. There is material on plant size at maturity, soil requirements, water requirements and much more. If you’re interested in North American native orchids, then you’ll love the new website for the North American Orchid Conservation Center, a relatively new resource.

Places to Visit

In addition to all of our state parks, there are some specialized resources not too far away. The Mt. Cuba Center in Wilmington, Del., is a research center and botanical garden dedicated to the preservation of native plants with beautiful gardens, educational programs, trial gardens and research programs.

Closer to home, we have Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, which was recently voted one of the top 10 botanical gardens in the country. Lewis Ginter has a wildflower meadow, bog gardens with water-loving natives, large stands of interesting grasses in front of the conservatory and woodland gardens replete with many native plants that would be perfect choices for use at home.

Right here in Farmville, we have the newly rejuvenated Heart of Virginia Master Gardeners’ native plant demonstration garden at the Prince Edward County Extension Office that includes vines, grasses, early spring bloomers and even plants that happily tolerate our summer heat. The Master Gardeners’ website is hovmg.org. If you can’t get to Delaware this year and even Richmond seems like too much hassle, then be sure to check out this local garden.

CYNTHIA WOOD is a master gardener who writes two columns for The Herald. Her email is cynthia.crewe23930@gmail.com.