Education & Resources
Plant This, Not That: Native Garden Guide
A helpful guide comparing native plants with common invasive alternatives, including better choices for your garden and local ecosystem.
Native Plant Guide: What to Grow Instead
A curated list of native plants for different conditions—plus what to avoid and why. Includes benefits for pollinators, birds, and your local ecosystem.
Where to Buy Native Plants
A curated list of local nurseries, plant sales, and trusted sources for purchasing native plants in our area.
Free Native Garden Templates (Pennsylvania DCNR) https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/LandscapingwithNativePlants/NativeGardenTemplates/Pages/default.aspx
https://HomegrownNationalPark.org/
(Prof. Doug Tallamy co-founded this effort to promote habitat recovery in our backyards.)
https://PANativePlantSociety.org/
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Items of special interest to our members include:
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Dirty12/birdy12 from Audubon society
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“Native Link” Why plant natives and where to start
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6-pg list of invasive species and native alternatives
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While we don’t advertise or advocate for commercial establishments, this website is mentioned as a nice resource for "plant this/not that" with nice pictures.
National Wildlife Federation: How to Garden for Wildlife
http://nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Resources/How-to-Garden-for-Wildlife
Native Plant Finder
https://nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/
Attracting Butterflies & Moths
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Wildlife/Butterflies-and-Moths
PA Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources - Landscaping with Native Plants (with site-specific info)
https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/LandscapingwithNativePlants/Pages/default.aspx
PA Dept of Conservation & Natural Resources:
PA Audubon:
https://pa.audubon.org/conservation/diy-garden-designs
Academy of Natural Sciences/Drexel University Blog:
Winterizing Your Garden: https://www.anspblog.org/winterizing-garden/
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Spring Butterfly Guide: https://www.anspblog.org/spring-butterfly-guide/
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Late Spring Butterfly Guide: https://www.anspblog.org/late-spring-butterfly-guide/
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Summer Butterfly Guide: https://www.anspblog.org/summer-butterfly-guide/
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Pennsylvania recommended native plants
Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources: landscaping with native plants
Rebecca McMakin: Ecological Horticulture
Xerces Society: recommended pollinator plants for Mid-Atlantic region
www.kremp.com/guide-to-native-plants-gardening/
- (from our friends at friendsofAtwater.org)
Attracting Wildlife to your Garden
Attracting Butterflies & Moths
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Wildlife/Butterflies-and-Moths
National Wildlife Federation: How to Garden for Wildlife
http://nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Resources/How-to-Garden-for-
https://www.anspblog.org/leave-the-leaves/
Leave the Leaves for Understory Habitat
https://www.anspblog.org/leave-the-leaves/
https://www.anspblog.org/winterizing-garden/
https://www.anspblog.org/spring-butterfly-guide/
https://www.anspblog.org/late-spring-butterfly-guide/
https://www.anspblog.org/summer-butterfly-guide/
Where to Purchase Native Plants
DCNR > Conservation > Wild Plants > Landscaping with Native Plants > Where to Buy Native Plants
For more information, Click the icon above to download a "Where to Buy Native Plants" document.
