As a member of the Garden Club of Marlton I am happy to join the Native Plant Society of New Jersey and the Evesham Green Team to invite interested gardening enthusiasts into my "Beginner Native Garden". In the past few years of my retirement from Virtua Health, my garden areas have matured and expanded. Before learning more about the benefits of native plants, my gardens were filled with perennials and ornamental seasonal bloomers. Through Garden Club enrichment programs, the addition of native plants has become more interesting to me. Now the bright colors are still blooming, but they are enhanced by milkweed, butterfly bushes, coreopsis, rudbeckia, catmint, spiderwort and lavender to name a few. My yard is still a young native habitat. My goal is to make it a healthier yard by adding more native plants such as speedwell, bee balm, Leatrice, penstemon, columbine and herbs. I will continue my efforts to attract and nurture wildlife, to maintain healthy soil, and to conserve water. The grassy areas will continue to recede over time as native plants become established. It's a win-win situation.

Enjoy – Barbara Darcy-Castorina