(Ilex opaca)

The American holly may be either male or female. The female produces berries in mif-to-late fll but there must be a male nearby to pollinate the flowers which produce these berries.

Most people associate holly with Christmas and decorations created using holly. While most decorations today are store-bought, turn of the century decorations were fashioned from naturally growing evergreens. Holly was one of the most popular of these natural decorations.

(Liriodendron tulipifera)

The yellow polar tree is commonly called the "tulip poplar" or "tulip tree." It gets these names from the shape of its leaves and flowers, which resemble tulips.

The yellow poplar is the largest broad leaf tree in North America and is prominent in the southeastern United States. Although called a poplar, it is not a member of the poplar family. It is actually in the magnolia family.

(Cornus florida)

Several flowering dogwood trees can be found growing on the museum grounds. The white flowering dogwood is a cultivated species used for landscaping. Both species bloom in early spring.

The flowering dogwood is both the state flower and the state tree of Virginia. Early settlers used the twigs as toothbrushes. Dye was extrated from the bark. Native Americans believed bark from the dogwood, when crushed into powder, would cure malaria.

(Picea abies)

The Norway spruce is an evergreen introduced from Europe. It is a widely cultivated tree and is grown for ornamental landscaping, as it is here on the museum grounds.

The showy cones of the Norway spruce are the largest of all the spruces. A distinguishing feature of the Norway spruce is its drooping branches.

This concludes your walk on the museum grounds. We hope you found the exterior of our museum to be fascinating.

Enjoy the remainder of your visit here. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at swvamuseum@dcr.virginia.gov or call us at (276) 523-1322. We'll be glad to assist you!