Native Garden

You might be asking, “What is native gardening?”

It uses native plants in the landscape: these are plants that have evolved in our region, and which offer enormous benefits to our backyards, because they support biodiversity – that is, a range and volume of animal, insect and plant life. 

Biodiversity is important and encouraged because it helps the environment be more resilient and better able to cope with the stresses of climate change. Biodiversity helps keep the ecosystem in balance. We want a variety of plants to support a variety of insects; we want the insects because they provide food for birds and so on up the food chain.

Native plants and trees provide habitat and food for local wildlife and attract pollinators to a garden, an essential component of a healthy ecosystem. This is becoming increasingly vital as we all begin to experience the effects of climate change and seasonal shifts. 

Because these plants have evolved gradually and adapted over a period of years, they are well-suited to local conditions.

Native plants are adapted to local rainfall patterns, so they typically require less supplemental water than non-native plants. 

Although small, this garden will be an oasis for nature, helping with habitat fragmentation in our suburban environment.

The native garden at Bedford Hills Free Library has sprung to life in the last couple of weeks with multiple spring flowers in bloom.  Check out the lavender blue Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata), clearly happy in the dappled shade and the native Columbine (Aquilega canadensis) – distinctive with its orange and yellow flowers beginning to spread around our small garden. The colorful moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is also in full bloom in the sunnier parts of the garden; it will slowly spread out covering the bare ground and serving as a “living mulch” throughout the growing season. Close to the ground and beginning to put out its yellow flowers is Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia fragariodies) – another great native ground cover. 

In early May take a peek under the umbrella-like leaves of the Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) to see the solitary white to rose-colored flower hiding under there. In time, those will turn into a golden yellow fruit, which, although edible when ripe (the only part of this plant that is not toxic), we prefer to leave to the foraging animals. 

Native gardens are constantly evolving and blooms come and go throughout the season. Keep an eye out for the many more plants and colors to emerge through the spring, summer and fall. 

Our native garden isn’t just about the flowers. Take time to look for the pretty wild ginger (Asarum canadense) and the foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) which have pretty leaf structure for season-long interest. These leaves, like all leaves of native plants, are also of interest to butterflies, moths and other insects which may need them as a host plant to lay their eggs, and always for safe cover.

To further help our budding community of plants and insect life, the Bedford Hills Free Library is no longer uplighting the cherry tree. Night lights are very detrimental to insects, particularly moths, which are most important pollinators.

Bedford Hills Free Library is proud to support Bedford 2030, Pollinator Pathway and Healthy Yards. Click on each name to explore websites.

To see the full list of the plants in our garden click here.

To see the garden design click here.