Gardening with Native Plants

How can we design landscapes that are both beautiful and ecologically sound? Hear from Dr. Diane Lewis and Cathy Ludden, two local experts on using Hudson River Watershed native plants in landscaping and gardening, and leave with your own sample of native wildflowers seed suitable for yard, planter, or window box.

Traditionally, gardening has been about selecting plants based primarily on their appearance or their cultural significance, not their ecological role. A plant that does not support local birds, insects, and other organisms plays little role in the local ecology, resulting in land use which may look attractive at first glance but which is actually unhealthy in the long term. Learn from the experts about gardening that is healthy for local organisms large and small.

Diane Lewis, M.D., is the founder of the non-profit organization, The Great Healthy Yard Project, and the author of its sister book, The Great Healthy Yard Project. She chairs the Water and Land Use Task Force of Bedford 2020, is active in the Bedford Garden Club, and is a Board member of Audubon New York.

Cathy Ludden is an educator, speaker, and consultant advocating the use of native plants in local ecosystems. She spearheaded the creation of the Native Plant Meadow at Greenburgh Nature Center, where she is past president and currently serves on the Board of Directors.