Find Inspiration in Our Native Plant Gardens

June 24, 2026| Education, Environment

By: Holly Odgers

Looking for ideas for your yard or garden? A visit to our native plant gardens might be just the inspiration you need.

Located at our office at 125 Landing Road in Landing, our interpretive native gardens are open to the public and are a great place to gather ideas for your own yard or garden. We have nearly 100 varieties of native plants on our property, and you may discover a few that would work well in your own landscape.

You're welcome to stroll along the walking paths, take a seat on one of our benches, and enjoy the gardens at your own pace. As you explore, you'll find interpretive signs with information about many of the plants growing throughout the property.

We have three main garden areas:

• Our Specimen Garden showcases a wide variety of native plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season, offering inspiration for incorporating natives into home landscapes.
• Our Mass Planting Garden is packed with color and texture and changes from year to year as different species flourish, making it an ever-evolving display of native plants.
• Our Shoreline Buffer Demonstration Garden shows how simple it can be to establish a native buffer along lakefront property. These strips of vegetation help filter runoff, reduce erosion, and protect Lake Hopatcong's water quality.

And don't forget to check out the native shrubs and plantings around our building, too!

Right now (late June), we have beautiful varieties blooming, like common milkweed, threadleaf coreopsis, Virginia rose, and bluebell of Scotland. And it looks like it's going to be a great year for black-eyed Susans and Joe Pye weed in our Mass Planting Garden! They should begin blooming in the next few weeks.

If you're unable to visit our gardens, we have been creating a virtual garden with images from our grounds and information about each plant (I've been gathering photos for years!) More varieties will be added throughout the season.  

Whether you're exploring our gardens in person or online, native plants offer a wide range of benefits for both people and wildlife. Native plants are species that grow naturally in our region and are well adapted to local conditions, which means they typically require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance once established. They also provide essential food and habitat for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife, helping support healthy ecosystems. Many native plants can also help stabilize soil, absorb stormwater, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants before they reach waterways.

By adding native plants into your yard, you're helping create habitat, support biodiversity, and protect the health of Lake Hopatcong and its watershed.

Whether you're an experienced gardener, a new homeowner, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, we invite you to stop by and explore. You may discover a new favorite plant, pick up a few ideas for your yard, or gain a greater appreciation for the important role native plants play in supporting healthy ecosystems.

We hope you'll visit soon!