Native plants are the foundation of the diverse ecosystems that make up the Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge. LGNC believes in the vital ecological importance of native plants and strives to empower individuals, communities, businesses, and others to support conservation by creating and enhancing native habitat.
Conservation Landscaping at LGNC
LGNC’s Refuge and Osprey House visitor center present numerous opportunities to learn about conservation landscaping and experience native plants in a variety of landscapes.
- Visit LGNC’s demonstration habitat gardens, which include over 150 plant species native to Pennsylvania. Don’t miss our green roof, downspout garden, floating wetland, grassland restoration garden, and self-guided sensory garden trail. Download our Habitat Garden Brochure and Sensory Garden Brochure (also available at the Osprey House) to guide your exploration.
- Hike LGNC’s trails to discover even more native plant species – and the wildlife species that depend on them – across our 756 acres.
- Interested in contributing to LGNC’s gardens? Consider joining our Garden Group volunteer team. Click here to learn more.
- Check LGNC’s program calendar for upcoming conservation landscaping programs and native plant sales.
Conservation Landscaping Resources
Interested in adding native plants to your own landscape? LGNC offers a variety of resources to help! Planting natives in even a small space can have a HUGE impact on the health and biodiversity of our local ecosystems.
- Visit the Lehigh Valley Native Plant Directory. Sponsored by the Master Gardeners of Lehigh and Northampton counties, the Directory is your one-stop source on where to purchase native plants, see examples of native landscaping in the Lehigh Valley, and learn more about conservation landscaping.
- Download LGNC’s Native Plant Buying Guide, a pocket-sized resource to help you select the right native plants for your landscape.
- Purchase LGNC’s popular book, Native Plants for the Small Yard by Kate Brandes. In addition to highlighting the importance of native plants, this 55-page guide includes practical native landscaping design templates for small spaces, recommended alternatives to non-native plants, tips for installing and maintaining a native garden, and other helpful resources. View a preview, and order your copy on Amazon today! All proceeds benefit LGNC’s conservation work.
Landscaping for Communities and Wildlife
Through the generous support of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape, and other partners, LGNC has created over three dozen demonstration native habitat gardens throughout the Lehigh Valley. Here are some highlights:
- Native plant gardens installed for student research and wildlife conservation at Muhlenberg, Moravian, and Lafayette colleges, as well as Penn State Lehigh Valley
- Residential gardens along the Allentown’s 7th Street in partnership with the Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown
- Urban demonstration gardens in each of the three cities of the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Easton, and Bethlehem)
- A wildlife habitat garden at Martin Guitar in Nazareth
- Conservation landscaping at a business complex in Bethlehem
- A native shrub planting for storm water control at the Jordan Creek Community Garden
- Learning gardens at many elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Lehigh Valley
- Pollinator gardens that compliment food gardens at several community gardens throughout the Lehigh Valley
- Riparian buffer projects
- A large-scale meadow in Bushkill Township
- Conservation landscaping at the community park in Upper Mount Bethel Township