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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Questions From Near You

Cambridge, MD
Plants to grow in shady area near a pecan tree in Maryland
I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have planted only natives in my front lawn. My backyard, which sports a pecan tree, fir, fig tree, and others I can't identify is dirt, just dirt. I have...
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Cambridge, MD
Resources for wildlife garden in Maryland
I've recently bought a home in Cambridge in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. I want my small garden to have native plants that will sustain birds, butterflies and visiting wildlife. ...
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Salisbury, MD
Groundcover for gravesite in Maryland
I know this is very unusual question but here I go. I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and I am looking for a low ground cover for my grandparents grave. The soil is very sandy and I am looking...
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Owings, MD
Where can I find Ilex verticillata in Maryland?
Do you have any suggestions where I might purchase a winterberry holly, ilex verticillata (with bright orange berries in the winter)? They are on our Maryland State highway on Route 3 (301) heading t...
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Aquasco, MD
Planting wildflowers on company property from Aquasco MD
Our company wants to plant wildflowers on our property. How do I know how much seed, what type of seeds, how to care for, how to plant, basically everything? Finally, we hope to find use some deer-r...
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Saint Marys, MD
Native grasses for hill in Saint Mary's County, Maryland
Is there a native grass or grasses I can mow on a hill that faces south and is too large to water in Saint Marys County, Maryland?
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Annapolis, MD
Hybrid Leyland Cypress leaning in Annapolis MC
We have a large, 9-year old Leyland Cypress that has tipped over. It is still green and growing but leaning slightly off center. It's about 20' tall. Should we stake it? If so, we'd like to do ...
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Annapolis, MD
Shrubs for Shade in Annapolis MD
Can you please recommend dense shade tolerant shrubs for Annapolis, Maryland.
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Annapolis, MD
Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed
I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring,...
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Annapolis, MD
Magnolia and non-native weeping willow competing in Annapolis
We planted a sweetbay magnolia next to a Weeping Willow in our yard and did not anticipate the willow would grow so quickly and into the magnolia. We have had the magnolia now for 3 years, and it is c...
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Annapolis, MD
Rotating a non-native cypress in its hole in Annapolis, MD
I have a follow up question to a Cypress transplant question from December 28, 2008. We trimmed our 5 1/2 foot Dwarf Hinoki Cypress back too far, and now the side facing the street has some bare spot...
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Annapolis, MD
Source for Penstemon calycocus
Do you know where I can obtain Penstemon calycocus? I live in Annapolis. I am willing to look at mail order sources.
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Annapolis, MD
Non-native crape myrtle resistance to deer from Annapolis MD
Is Crape Myrtle tree resistant to deers? Thank you.
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Annapolis, MD
Shrub with red two-globed berries
I am looking for the name of a red berry with 2 globes attached to each other on a plant with small soft oval shaped leaves.I live in Maryland and they are maturing now. These bushes are in the park ...
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Mechanicsville, MD
Digging wild buttercup from roadside in Mechanicsville MD
Mr. Smarty Plants, is it illegal to dig out wild buttercup in Maryland? I see them along the dirt road or just in the ditch. Since buttercup considered weed, I'm wondering what the law say about this...
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Charlotte Hall, MD
Want to identify thorny vines growing in Charlotte Hall, MD
I have vines with thorns growing in my wood, vining around the trees and killing them. It grows and vines go up trees of any height all the way to the top. It has green pointy leaves. If it doesn't...
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Georgetown, DE
Removing faded flowers from plants in Georgetown, DE
I bought a chamase rose quartz that was in bloom. now the buds are dead, should i remove them or just leave them on the plant. they wont just fall off. and the tips of the plant has new growth.
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Davidsonville, MD
Getting rid of non-native, invasive English Ivy from Davidsonville MD
Just moved and need to rid the well established Ivy planted on the steep slope area around the back and side of the house as it is taking over the bushes on the top and trees in forested area at botto...
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Millsboro, DE
Crows foot plant for Christmas wreaths from Millsboro DE
I am looking for a plant called crows foot to make wreaths for Christmas. Where do I find this plant.
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Bowie, MD
Native plants to prevent erosion in Maryland
Please can you recommend native plants for a north-facing slope, under pine trees? I live in Maryland near the border between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont Plateau, where we have cold to mild Winter...
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Plymouth, MD
Failure to bloom of non-native lilac in Plymouth MD
My five year old lilacs are not blooming, WHY?
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