Alpha Phi Quarterly Winter 2023

Holly Chichester-Morby, an George Mason (Eta Lambda) alumna and landscape design expert, offers spring gardening tips to prepare your home garden for spring.

If you've been reading the Quarterly for a while, then you may remember Alpha Phi’s very own self-proclaimed Lorax, Holly Chichester-Morby (Eta Lambda-George Mason; at right). With quotes from the Dr. Seuss book on her LinkedIn page and an email address like “vtlorax” (the “vt” for Virginia Tech), there’s no denying that Holly believes in the power of plants and the importance of protecting them. Her resume is packed with experience in sustainability, landscape management, and horticulture, with her most recent position being the director of landscape and grounds at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her passion for gardening and the outdoors is rooted in her childhood with days spent playing in the dirt and getting her hands dirty as a self-described “rough and tumble” kid. As she grew older and life became busier, she played in the dirt less and less, but never lost that passion. After graduating from George Mason University and dipping her toes in several career and hobby pools including magazine publishing, gun dog retriever training, waiting tables and automotive insurance claims, she reignited her passion for horticulture by enrolling in a Master Gardener course offered through the Virginia Cooperative Extension. From there, she went back to school to earn a certificate in landscape design from George Washington University. After earning this certificate, she went back to school full time to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture at Virginia Tech, where she as also a member of Pi Alpha Psi (aka the Horticulture Honor Society) and the vice president of the Horticulture Club. This was the foundation for what would become a career rich in horticulture and landscape design, eventually landing her at the University of Mary Washington as the director of landscape and grounds.

Outside of her professional life, Holly enjoys horticulture and gardening in her down time, as well. This being the winter issue and with spring right around the corner, we asked Holly some questions to better acquaint her with all of you and that we hope you find valuable in your own gardening endeavors, including how to prepare for springtime planting and yield a bountiful harvest.

What does a typical day look like in your life as a university landscape director?

The days of playing in the dirt daily are over! I cruise or walk the campus to check on a current project with the grounds crew or a subcontractor, chat with my facilities director or the grounds manager about tasks and issues, authorize payment of invoices or meet with our sustainability coordinator. Sometimes, I work with student clubs in the pollinator garden; but when I get a hankering, I still have the option of breaking away from the computer, grabbing a shovel or pruning saw and heading outside.

What advice would you give to home gardeners who are looking to convert their winter gardens to spring gardens?

Weather permitting, early spring is the most productive time to be in your garden. Winter is spent enjoying family and holidays, but it’s also the perfect time to plan your landscape and veggie garden.

Late winter and early spring give you the opportunity to finally stretch and expend all of that pent-up green thumb energy you’ve stored up over winter. If it’s still cold and snowy out, spend some time quietly wandering your property and making notes (mental or on paper) of things you need or want to do this spring. Do you want to try a raised bed, or do you want to add a few more? Do you want to till a plot and plant directly in the ground? Maybe it’s time to add some shade or flowering trees to your landscape? How about adding a collection of pollinator plants or a fun mailbox garden?

Once it warms up a little, grab your gloves and clean out and prepare your garden beds, but don’t be too thorough…being mindful that some beneficial insects left egg casings behind full of a new generation of free bad-bug control! (We can talk more about that later). It’s also an ideal time to repair hardscaping (patio pavers, fencing and teak benches, etc.), do a little tree pruning and plant moving and other “landskeeping” to start the growing season off right.

What should home gardeners do if they want to ensure optimal growth and yield?

Clean your tools! Most folks at least knock off the dirt when they put them away, but a good cleaning and sterilizing with rubbing alcohol will get off to a healthy start. Why? Because it will remove any remaining plant sap or dirt and debris that can hold bacteria or fungal spores — the sad, silent downfall of many a garden.

What are the best plants for a bountiful spring harvest?

While I’m predominantly an ornamental landscape horticulturist, I’m a “basic veggie” warrior! Tomatoes, peppers, most herbs … generally anything with which you can craft a rock star salsa. I try something new every year. This year it was sweet potatoes (E.g., Beauregard), a different variety heirloom tomato (E.g., Cherokee Chocolate) and hot pepper (E.g., Scotch Bonnet).

Should gardeners plant a variety of pollinator plants in addition to plants with edible yields?

Yes! When combined, certain species of plants protect each other by repelling pests, attracting pollinators and increasing plant productivity. There are some great companion plants that act as ‘bad bug repellers.’ Planting vegetables doesn’t always mean straight rows in a rectangular plot. Mix it up! Lavender, mint, bee balm, dill, geranium and marigolds are examples of classic and attractive plant choices to naturally repel damaging insects.

Last year, I specifically planted sporadic basil plants in with my sweet potatoes and allowed them to go to flower, attracting a zillion different kinds of bees. I keep my actual kitchen garden separate because you typically pinch flowers to let the plant enhance herb flavor and keep them from getting bitter. However, when you are using them as a repellent and to attract pollinators, you must let them go to flower, and forsake them as a culinary herb.

For tomatoes, it’s about repelling insects (tomatoes are self-pollinating), and the classic companion plant is the marigold. I plant all different varieties and colors to brighten up the border of the raised tomato bed.

What are your favorite plants, fruiting or otherwise, that you grow on your own property that you enjoy cultivating?

Having returned to Virginia, I live in Plant Hardiness Zone 7b now (https://planthardiness. ars.usda.gov). I miss my topicals from when I lived in Southeast Florida and can grow some of them seasonally, like elephant ears. My summer back yard is full of them! But now, I faithfully dig them up and overwinter them in my basement. My sunroom is full of zone-defying plants in colder months.

Here in Virginia, I pepper my home landscape with interesting tree cultivars and pollinator-friendly perennials. On the UMW campus, we focus mostly on the health and canopy of our trees (including a 500+ year old white oak “Witness Tree,” the Brompton Oak). I respect and appreciate this stately sentinel — oh, the things it’s seen! Some of my all-time favorites include: cercis canadensis (aka the Flame Thrower’ redbud), asclepias tuberosa (aka butterfly weed), echinacea purpurea … really any cultivar! They are pollinator staples and provide long-lasting color in your landscape.

I’m also a sucker for hydrangeas and sasanqua camellias.

I’ve just begun my camellia collection at home, procuring seedlings from my dad’s hardy, mature specimens. Eventually, I will work to bring them onto the UMW campus landscape, as well. Last year, I fell in love with hummingbirds and had several regular humming visitors to my feeder. This spring, I’ll plant some cuphea, aka ‘Hummingbird’s Lunch,’ to bring them all!

Some of my other favorite houseplants include: a Majesty palm, some dracaenas, a fiddlehead Fig and a few small red grapefruit tree experiments grown from seeds.

What plants would you recommend a first-time gardener start with?

That’s almost an impossible question to answer. A lot would depend on individual factors—what kind of landscape they already have, what kind of lifestyle they lead, if they have children or pets, or if they just wanted house plants! But I’d say that just having the desire to know a little bit more about the environment and exploring your green thumb is something you won’t regret. And sometimes it leads to a career and a lifelong passion.

What other hobbies do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I do love bees— it’s a natural extension of being involved in landscaping, the responsible stewardship of bees, and other pollinators. I dabble in beekeeping, I’ve helped rescue and regime a few bee hives, but it’s more of a commitment than I can take on personally. Hives are a significant responsibility, and I won’t do anything halfway.

I’m also an avid shotgunner, and I’m a member of the Fredericksburg Rod and Gun Club. I shot competitively in college, and now my husband and I shoot in a seasonal Trap League. We also love boating, hiking with our dog (Julep) and downhill skiing.

What advice would you give to someone who is nervous to take up gardening?

Theres a well-known riddle, “What’s the difference between a master gardener and a rookie gardener? The master gardener has killed way more plants.” This couldn’t be more true. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and are usually easy to fix … or just start over! You will kill plants. No risk, no reward.

What are some of your favorite home gardening tools and products?

I’m particular about my pruning equipment. Clean cuts are critical! My Felco 2 bypass hand pruners are a staple, as are my Felco loppers. My Silky Zubat hand saw cuts through tree limbs up to 3” like butter. Don’t skimp on pruning tools! That said, you don’t necessarily need professional-sized tools, but buying quality is key.