by Justin Wexler and Anna Plattner American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) loves shade but not too much shade. After seven years of direct observation of hundreds of acres of wild-simulated and wild ginseng, we’ve noticed a pattern. Old wild ginseng plants growing in deep shade grow extremely slowly. Likewise, in full shade, the wild-simulated seedlings of our ginseng plantings become stunted. Without brief periods of direct sunlight or full days of very bright indirect light, our …
Read More

Madison County, North Carolina Sanctuary Stewards: Michelle Dixon and Peter Waskiewicz Our Botanical Sanctuary story began Thanksgiving 2016 when we stood with the Lakota Sioux Tribe at Standing Rock and became avowed water protectors for life! On the long road back to North Carolina we hatched our first action plan and long-time dream: find a sunny mountain parcel with surface water and a spring to protect, and then start planting a permaculture paradise. When we …
Read More

Deerfield, Virginia Sanctuary Stewards: Shay and Kim Clanton and family Walker Mountain Botanical Sanctuary lies in a hollow between two mountains—Walker Mountain and Sideling Hill. Clayton Mill Creek, a rushing rocky mountain stream, flows the length of the hollow. At the base of the north slope on Sideling Hill there is a small, nearly hidden spring. The mossy hollow above this spring is where the ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) grows. Some of the plants are old …
Read More

Sperryville, Virginia Sanctuary Steward: Teresa Boardwine The Green Comfort Botanical Sanctuary has been growing for 15 years on an acre near the Shenandoah National Park, in Sperryville, Virginia. The land that surrounds us is naturalized and undeveloped, providing opportunity for plant walks through adjoining properties in woods, to a sandy river basin, out to pavement and sunny fi elds, too. While sponsoring a week of botany field work, we identified more plants to add to …
Read More