The votes are in and the flowering plants win.
That was the result of an online survey by the town of Dumfries as part of its "Green Initiative." Resi-dents were asked to choose their favorite plants in six categories -- large trees, compact trees, evergreens, shrubs, annuals and perennials.
The winners: Japanese Flowering Cherry tree, Flowering Dogwood tree, Southern Magnolia, azalea, petunia, as well as Shasta Daisy and Russian Sage, which tied. The results of the online survey were presented at a recent Dumfries Town Council meeting.
"This is the first step of many in helping Dumfries 'go green,'" said interim Dumfries town manager Cathy Holtzlander. "Our hope is to engage our residents and encourage their participation in the process."
The Dumfries Plants initiative is part of the town's 2020 Vision Statement that by 2020 it will be "green certified" by the state and will enjoy "a leadership role among state and county governments because of its well-established environmental commitment."
"With the adoption of the 'Dumfries Plants' we encourage plantings which offset carbon emissions, beautify our neighborhoods and businesses, encourage a sense of continuity throughout our town and establish a sense of community," wrote Dumfries Town Councilwoman Dorothea Barr in a memo suggesting the initiative.
The plants that the residents were asked to vote on were chosen because of their beauty, hardiness and because they were indigenous to the area, according to Barr.
"Plants with a historic lineage to the area were chosen," Holtzlander said.
The town wanted to look beyond its historic ties to tobacco, Holtzlander said. In colonial days, the town of Dumfries thrived in large part because much of the tobacco trade moved through its port. However, nearby tobacco farming also was blamed for the silting of the Quantico Creek, which led to the demise of the port.
Barr worked with a landscaper and nursery owners to select the plants.
"The goal of this is to encourage cleaning up the town, to plant a garden and beautify the community," Holtzlander said.
Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.
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