To mark America’s 250th anniversary, the Alexandria Beautification Commission is hoping to meet a goal of 250 “patriotic gardens” planted by residents and business owners.
The Beautification Commission is launching a Plant for America250 challenge, seeking to have 250 properties to plant red, white and blue native plants this spring.
Eleanor Trice, chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission, told ALXnow that the commission wanted to celebrate patriotic colors as part of the city’s plans for America250.
“It’s similar to what they did in 1976, where you’ve got patriotic gardens with red, white and blue,” Trice said. “Our spin on it is that we want to encourage people to use native plants. Since those are sustainable, they’re more drought resistant and good for pollinators and just have many, many benefits.”
To mark the occasion, the 2026 Alexandria Beautification Awards will have a new patriotic native plantings category. The award is open to residential, business and other commercial properties. Long-term native plantings will be given priority for the award over seasonal displays.
Nominations for the 2026 Alexandria Beautification Awards will open on April 1. Residents may submit their own properties or another property within the city. Properties that have won an award in the last seven years are not eligible for the latest round of awards.
The Beautification Commission has provided suggestions for red, white and blue flowers that could be planted, but Trice says any native plants are encouraged.
Plant NOVA Natives has suggestions for native plant sellers in the area. There are also upcoming native plant sales, like the Northern Alexandria Native Plant Sale on April 25 and Nature by Design at the Four Mile Run Farmers’ Market on Sundays. Nurseries may stock native plants, too.
“We actually are encouraging people to ask about natives at their local nurseries, so that the nurseries provide even more native plants so they hear their customers asking for it,” Trice said.
Residents and business owners can submit a pledge that they will plant native red, white and blue plants for America’s 250th anniversary. Trice says planting can begin as soon as the freezing weather is done in late March or April.
“We really want to encourage even local businesses to just have a pot of red, white and blue flowers right at their entrance to welcome people,” Trice said. “So nobody should feel that they’re excluded, because almost everybody can do something small just right by their entrance. We also are really encouraging people if they have a lawn, to just take out the grass and plant natives and then you’ll see pollinators coming.”
(Image via Yakov Leonov/Unsplash)
