Hi, 

This sounds like a great idea! We would recommend starting with plant plugs of specific varieties but you can also look into native wildflower seed mixes. If you search for Maryland wildlife seed mix online just be sure to choose one from a nursery source (as opposed to Amazon as they may not have specific care information). You should look over the species list and make sure that most are perennial/biennial and not annual and keep in mind you will need to be diligent of weeding as the seeds get established for the first few years. 

You may find more success with plugs. Those are small plants that you can get individually at some garden centers, or in multiple quantities in flats (buying bulk will probably be more cost effective). You can search for locally available native plant nurseries or online to find growers that may ship you flats of plant plugs. Even if they say whole sale only, if you are meeting a minimum order or are available to go pick them up, then they will probably be able to sell to you. You would want to plant them at about 12 inches on center and overtime, certain species will crowd out others or you can edit more aggressive natives that you may want to limit. You can plant them farther apart but may need to watch for weeds as well. The perk about plugs is that you can also plant into the mulch or wood chips by making a little well in them and adding some compost as you plant the plugs. For the seeds you would need bare ground with some compost or top soil to help get them established.

Unfortunately we cannot recommend specific brands or businesses. You can also ask in social media gardening groups- there is one on Facebook called Maryland Area Gardening for the Environmentally Conscious (MAGEC) that may be helpful to ask in. 

As far as plant species, we would be able to recommend specifics if we new the growing conditions better. 

• Sun/shade amount and time of day? 
• drainage- does it skew wet or dry
• deer/rabbit presence?

There are also sites you can use to research native plants. 

• https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?start=10&collection=MD&pagecount=10
• https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists/native-plants-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects-mid-atlantic
• https://www.allianceforthebay.org/native-plant-center/
• We also have number of links and some plant lists on our webpage about pollinator gardens as well: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/pollinator-gardens/

If you would like to send us a photo of the space we could help with some additional thoughts and also answer our questions about the site conditions. 

Emily

What a beautiful view! 

With what we mentioned with the woodchips, that would probably be a good temporary solution until planting time. 

Here are some personal favorites you can explore:

• Rudbeckia laciniata - tall so maybe use for framing or in an area it doesn't block the view
• Rudbeckia hirta - biennial so you can let it reseed and it is prolific
• Echinacea purpurea 
• Partridge pea - annual but will reseed 
• Baptisia species (australis is probably the most common to find)
• Asclepias tuberosa
• Pycnanthemum muticum
• Veronicastrum virginicum 
• Salvia lyrata
• Aquilegia canadensis (spring ephemeral and will fade to dormancy when it gets into the heat of summer but will return the following year)
• Agastache foeniculum
• Amsonia species
• Liatris species
• Grasses:
  • Panicum virgatum 
  • Sporobolus heterolepis 
  • Schizachryium scoparium
  • Eragrostis spectabilis

That's a short list to get you started. Let us know if you have further questions. 

Emily