1 of 6
2 of 6
3 of 6
4 of 6
5 of 6
6 of 6
by Lori Rose & Daniel Ackerman
Properties in our area are commonly dominated by grass lawns and foundation plantings. They have served us well for generations. But have they really? Imagine transforming a traditional landscape into a thriving haven for wildlife, and a space that’s not just beautiful but also environmentally responsible. From wildflower meadows to wetlands, many of these native habitat projects have already been installed in our area, and have matured into sustainable, established landscapes.
Private nature preserves are designed to restore and support local ecosystems. Instead of a conventional lawn that requires regular mowing, fertilizers, and pesticides, a private nature preserve uses native plants and natural landscaping techniques to provide wildlife habitat and reduce the need for constant maintenance.
Mark Brownlee is the principal ecologist at WildLawn®, an ecological design and landscaping firm based in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. He says that nothing demonstrates this eco-friendly movement better than real-life local people who have embraced ecological landscaping.
The owner of a three-acre property bordering a creek outside of Riegelsville was more interested in a nature-friendly design than a traditional lawn and foundation plantings. While there were some lovely mature trees on the land, it was mostly lawn with tangles of invasive shrubs. With the guidance of Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope, the owner hired WildLawn® to help create what has become a private nature preserve. The property now features a wetland shrub area, two different kinds of meadows, native hedgerows, and a signature WildLawn® of low-growing native species that require no mowing.
Another example is Lisa Menz’s vision at the Fox and Hound B&B in New Hope. When she bought the bed-and-breakfast, it had a large lawn that required a lot of upkeep. She wanted something that would be not only beautiful but also beneficial to the environment. WildLawn® helped her transform that lawn into a wildflower meadow, which is now a vibrant, dynamic ecosystem. The meadow isn’t just visually stunning, it also supports pollinators like bees and butterflies, and stores as much carbon by area as a forest.
Brownley says, “A meadow like this typically takes a year or two to really come into its own. We planted a mix of seeds and young plants, which helps reduce stress on the plants and keeps costs down. Using seeds means we can plant more at once, which is key for the ecosystem’s long-term success.” Although Fox and Hound’s meadow is still maturing, visitors and guests of the B&B are treated to a panorama of colors and textures that change with the seasons, all while helping to support the local environment.
Menz says, “For this fall, I just love to picture couples strolling through a meadow that’s come alive with the soft rustling of grasses and the gentle hum of insects. They’ll see goldenrod and asters glowing in the evening light, hear crickets chirping… it’s going to be beautiful.”
Menz’s meadow at the Fox & Hound is more than just a land transformation. It is part of a broader movement aimed at inspiring others to reconsider conventional landscaping methods. “We’re the first, and as far as I know, still the only native wildflower meadow in New Hope,” says Menz. “It really does offer our guests a unique experience–one that connects them to the land in a meaningful way.”
Her hope is that by showcasing the beauty and functionality of native landscapes, other hospitality businesses and homeowners will follow suit, creating a ripple effect that transforms even more properties into wildlife sanctuaries.
Just around the corner in New Hope, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, an important partner in this movement, is helping people reimagine their own properties by offering workshops, tours, and expert lectures on the power of native habitats. In fact, it was at one of these lectures that Lisa Menz and Mark Brownlee met; Brownlee is a frequent lecturer there. Bowman’s Hill is not just a preserve and botanical museum, it is a living classroom that provides the tools and knowledge needed to bring these visions to life.
Of course, the Fox & Hound isn’t the only success story. Across the river in New Jersey, one landowner purchased several adjacent pieces of land to create a private nature preserve featuring restored wetlands, meadows, and upland forests. Another landowner in Pennsylvania restored thirty acres of ponds, meadows, and streams to create a sanctuary for birds; and with the support of the Tinicum Nature Conservancy, sixty-five acres of degraded forest in Bucks County were rehabilitated by planting thousands of trees and eliminating invasive species to revive a waterfront area over a mile long. These transformed landscapes improve water quality by reducing runoff and erosion, and help manage stormwater more effectively. Native plants are excellent at absorbing water, which can help reduce flooding risks in areas prone to heavy rain.
The benefits of eco-friendly landscapes like a native plant meadow extend well beyond visual appeal. These are truly nature preserves, serving as critical habitats and food sources for a wide range of animals. Native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators find essential nutrition in these plants, while birds rely on the seeds and insects that the meadow supports. “You can put out bird seed in a feeder, but hatchlings can’t eat it. Nearly all baby birds in our area eat only bugs, mostly caterpillars, even if the adult birds are seed eaters. And most species of butterflies and moths will only lay eggs on a few different plants. So if we provide those plants, we support the insects, who in turn support birds. It’s creating a sanctuary, not just for you, but for the animals and plants that call the area home,” says Brownlee.
Across the country, homeowners, businesses, and conservation groups are recognizing the critical role native plants play in supporting local ecosystems. Homegrown National Park, co-founded by University of Delaware’s Dr. Doug Tallamy and entrepreneur Michelle Alfandari, encourages people to create and preserve native habitats. When a landscape meets certain ecological criteria, homeowners can register with Homegrown National Park to be part of a nation-wide network of environmental restoration efforts that is modeled after the national park system. To date, over fifty-five thousand people have registered their properties, with some installations being dozens of acres and others just a few square feet. Currently the Homegrown National Park covers well over a hundred thousand acres across the fifty states.
“I believe this movement is here to stay, says Brownlee. “More people are becoming aware of the ecological challenges we face, and they’re realizing that every little bit helps. Even if you have just a small yard, dedicating part of it to a native plant garden can make a big difference. There’s a growing sense of responsibility among homeowners, businesses, and even municipalities to think about the environment in a more holistic way. Organizations like Homegrown National Park are helping to build momentum. This is becoming a larger movement where people are supporting each other to create healthier, more sustainable environments.”
The transformation from manicured lawn or recent construction site to a thriving, native landscape is complex, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every site has its own history and unique conditions. “We don’t do cookie-cutter, repeatable designs, because they don’t work,” says Brownlee. “We start by analyzing the conditions and what the land can support, and then we create a design that works with nature rather than against it. Assessing the land and understanding local ecosystems enables us to design a plan that’s sustainable and works for the specific conditions of the site.”
From there, expert teams manage the installation, choosing the right native plants, and incorporating habitat features like swales, ponds, and meadows that naturally restore ecological functionality to the land. It takes time, though, to reap the benefits. “It might be a year or two before you can really see what it’s going to be. That being said, we will also install specific shrubs and trees at larger sizes for an almost instant impact,” says Brownlee. Once a project is complete, ongoing care ensures that these spaces continue to thrive year after year until they fully stabilize and mature.
Transforming a property into a private nature preserve can require an upfront investment, but it can ultimately be less expensive than maintaining a traditional lawn. With native plants, there is less need for weekly mowing, fertilizers, pesticides, or irrigation systems, and just a once-a-year cut will keep things tidy. “We’ve had a few clients who actually sold their lawnmowers after switching from a lawn to a meadow,” says Brownlee, laughing. The long-term savings add up, and the environmental benefits are priceless.
“People are starting to appreciate the role their properties can play in land conservation, especially in terms of biodiversity, water management, and reducing carbon emissions,” says Brownlee. “There are many local conservation groups and state programs that support homeowners interested in restoration.” These organizations can connect landowners with funding sources and ecological landscape design and installation firms such as WildLawn® to help create nature preserves on their own properties. Organizations in our area include the Bucks County Conservation District (BCCD), the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, and the Tinicum Nature Conservancy. These groups offer expert guidance and provide crucial resources like local native plants and tailored plans to make the transformations happen.
“Every native plant installation we do is a small revolution,” says Iveta Gigova, co-founder and principal at WildLawn®. “If you have two acres, you can just dedicate one small piece of it, maybe a third, to a wildflower meadow, or a hedgerow for privacy and shelter for birds, or a collection of shrubs and perennials that provides fruit for both you and the local wildlife. You know that blueberries are a native in our area, right?”
Even small projects, like converting part of a lawn into a native plant garden, can have a big environmental impact. Brownlee says, “My advice is to start small and reach out to the right resources. You don’t have to do everything at once. Even just planting a few native plants or creating a small meadow can make a huge difference. And if you’re serious about transforming your whole property, connect with local conservation groups and professionals like WildLawn® who can help guide you.”
Resources:
WildLawn®: www.wildlawn.com
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve: https://bhwp.org/
Homegrown National Park: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
Bucks County Conservation District - https://bucksccd.org/
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr.html/
Tinicum Nature Conservancy: https://www.tinicumconservancy.org/
(bio)
Lori Rose, the Midnight Gardener, is a Temple University Certified Master Home Gardener and member of GardenComm: Garden Communicators International. She has gardened since childhood and has been writing about gardening for over twenty years.