In honor of their 10th year promoting native plant gardening, Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery sought up to 10 community habitat projects that will help expand the concept and education of the use of native plants. Native plants are at the core of building a good habitat-and, plant diversity provides wildlife diversity.
Each of the habitat projects received $50 towards developing a habitat garden along with the guiding knowledge of the Edge of the Woods Native Plant Experts. This assisted in getting a special garden started and provided the seed investment to encourage other contributions to support being ative.”
The top six reasons to use native plants in the landscape: Brings beauty and color to the landscape; saves on water and fertilizer; reduces disease; attracts beneficial insects; provides food for songbirds and butterflies; and restores and balances the ecology of Lehigh Valley.
The following organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley participated in the 2012 going native effort; additional organizations are in the planning stages:
- Matthew Bajkowski, Easton Area High School Eagle Scout Project, Arboretum development
- Aaron Williams, Northwestern Lehigh High School Eagle Scout Project, Weisenberg Park Eagle Scout Project to recreate native Pennsylvania habitat in a 6000-square-foot garden
- Jeanne Hamscher, Union Terrace Elementary School, Allentown, Pa., living laboratory for natural world education, sustainable habitat for birds and beautification; project is joint with Audubon Society
- Ryan Heydt, Trout Unlimited and the Boy Scouts, Northampton Pa., stream bank restoration
- Kyle White, Hawk Mountain Visitor Center, Eagle Scout Project, restoration of the educational bird feeding area
- Linda Frederick, Alex and James Daily., East Hills Middle School Courtyard Garden, restore native life and provide educational learning model
- Ryan Searcy, Weisenberg Elementary Boy Scout Project, create an outdoor classroom
- Susan Fetterman, Weisenberg Elementary School, establish a garden to provide outdoor elements for curriculum and instruction for students
- Friends of the Allentown Parks, Phase 3, Native plant garden at Cedar Creek Parkway
This is a great opportunity for schools, scouts, clubs or community beautification organizations.
This effort will continue in 2013. To be considered, organizations can request a short application/request form by calling 610-395- 2570 or by stopping at the nursery.