I did a landscape job last fall with all natives. It was my first experience using natives. I had to do a lot of research, but it was an interesting challenge. There is a woman in the Wiscasset area who has a gardening/landscaping business that is particularly interested in natives. She's a friend of my sister-in-law and just moved there last year. I think her name is Kristy. I found it helpful to go to the garden centers and look at their native displays. However, some of them have plants that they claim are native that may not be, or are a different variety than the true native.

Marthacr, using all natives sounds like a major accomplishment to me! I agree about the research that is necessary and the challenge to figure out the difference between true natives, cultivars and others. I would love to know how to contact the Wiscasset woman who has the gardening/landscaping business that is particularly interested in natives. I would also appreciate learning more about the natives you've chosen for your garden and the garden centers you've found to be the best sources for native plants. I've been using a variety of native shrubs in addition to wildflowers in mainly a woodland setting. I have a small growing area that allows more sun loving plants, so I am able to plant a nice mix.

My sister in law is coming here in two weeks. I will try to remember to ask her about the woman in Wiscasset then. I did a mixed shrub border of winterberry, elderberry, ninebark, huckleberry and juniper. I used a clethra to hide a bathroom window. The clients wanted NO flowers which was really hard for me (I have cottage gardens)so I went with ferns Christmas and hay scented for the shade. In the sunny area I did Sweet fern and wintergreen. There is also a large rock berm in which I stuck sedums, lowbush blueberry, and reindeer moss that I dug out of my own land.
It is not a style that I would want for myself, but there is definitely very little maintenance. I used Plants Unlimited, Moose Crossing, and Surrey Garden for my plants. I got great end of the year deals at Plants Unlimited. Normally they are a little high. I was going to buy some at Anderson in Wiscasset, but found the same things closer to me.

Martha, thanks again for the reply. I have included all the shrubs you used in the garden you did and have particularly liked the ninebark and clethra. I may have put some of my elderberry where it can become a bit invasive....think I may move it to a better spot for it to expand. Iteas, amelanchiers, Cimicifuga racemosas, inkberrys and an oakleaf hydrangea have also done well, as have a red-osier dogwood, but I've read that they can begin to take over also. My winterberry has been very slow to get established. I bought bareroot plants from the state of NH plant site...great prices but obviously very young plants. Several other selections from there (NH) have given mixed results: I have nicely established swamp rose in a wet area...Virginia rose in another. Other dogwoods. grey, alternate-leafed, silky, and Bayberry as well as the elderberry have done well. My experience with native viburnums is also mixed, but I may have some where there is not enough light. Transplanting to a sunnier location might help.

It's hard to imagine a garden with NO FLOWERS. Do you have native favorites in your cottage garden? I've not shopped at Plants Unlimited, but have loved Surrey Garden...and Moose Crossing is a treat. We were sorry to lose Anderson here in Wiscasset. I've found a number of plants I've been looking for at Conleys in Boothbay, and their fall sales are very good!