The Importance of Native Plants
Manada Conservancy works to foster healthy ecosystems by encouraging the use of native plants in the home landscape. Native plants provide sustenance and habitat for the diverse creatures that are a part of a healthy ecosystem. These creatures include butterflies and other insects, birds, mammals, amphibians and invertebrates. Many native plants are disappearing for a variety of reasons, including development (habitat loss) and the incursion of alien invasive species.
Our native plant nursery, located within the East Hanover Township Nature Park, is open only during specific sale days each year. There, young plants are nurtured by a team of dedicated volunteers before our annual sales. Thousands of our native plants have been planted in the yards of those who purchase plants at our annual native plant sale each spring. We have also provided expertise and assistance in numerous restoration projects using native plants.
The nursery is dedicated to Nancy Cladel, Emeritus Board member, who planted the seeds for our native plant initiative many years ago. The two greenhouses have been named Cladel and Staver, in honor of long-time Board members from these families. We are grateful to the generous donors and to East Hanover Township who have made the nursery possible. Thank you!
photos L-R: Asclepias tuberosa (Prairie Moon Nursery), Monarda didyma ‘Gardenview Scarlet’ (Mt. Cuba Center), Rudbeckia triloba (Prairie Moon Nursery), Vernonia noveboracensis (Dogtooth77 CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)