Native Landscaping
Herndon Friends Meeting Has Installed Native Plants - The Basis of our Local Ecosystem
Thanks in part to a $3500 matching grant from the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program, in the fall of 2017, we converted part of our front yard to conservation landscaping using Virginia native plants only. By reducing lawn and creating shallow depressions, we have reduced the stormwater runoff that is ruining our streams and the Chesapeake Bay.
Before - sterile landscaping with impervious surfaces
Lush Life Landscaping plan
After - Conservation Landscaping supports wildlife and clean water
In 2019, landscape designer Lea Wolf designed native plant landscaping for the east and northeast foundations. Both this and the 2017 project were installed by Northern Virginia Property Services, experts in naturalized landscaping who also have been doing our spring cleanups.
In 2020, Adele Kuo and Jeff of Deco Footprints designed and installed the final phase of our professional landscape redesign.
Before
Right after planting
We also have three Do-It-Yourself pollinator gardens, one of which is devoted to milkweeds.
Our beautiful trees won’t live forever. Knowing that the best time to plant a tree is now, we have added a baby Redbud, Loblolly Pine, and White Oak.” Canopy trees are particularly important in a warming climate
Look Who Lives at Herndon Friends Meeting!
To be a certified Audubon-at-Home Wildlife Sanctuary, at least 10 species of animals need to be seen using the habitat. We have had no trouble achieving that goal! So far we have photographed 116 species of animals on our property. You can see them here.
Click here to see the list of sanctuary species. Can you spot them on our property?
For more photos of the garden, with comments and names, check out our gallery.
To learn how to landscape with native plants, see the Plant NOVA Natives website.