Gardening Lesson in Far Hills: Use Indigenous Flora

Have you ever wondered how to create an outdoor garden perfect for the environment you live in? An upcoming workshop in Far Hills will offer this key tip: Incorporating plant species native to New Jersey in your home landscape helps preserve regional biodiversity and provides food and shelter for native animals -- including birds and butterflies. 

Instructor Cynthia Megill, former horticultural instructor at Suffolk Community College, and Patricia Scibilia, interpretative gardener, will be holding the Native Plants Workshop at Leonard J. Buck Gardens on Wednesday, July 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 A.M. 

Megill and Scibilia will explain the numerous benefits of incorporating native plants into a home landscape, including the ornamental characteristics and environmental values. Emphasis will be placed on North American native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, many of which will be seen during a garden tour following a PowerPoint presentation. 

The workshop will take place at Leonard J. Buck Garden, 11 Layton Road, Far Hills, New Jersey.

Leonard J. Buck Garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States. The Garden consists of a series of alpine and woodland areas situated within a 29-acre wooded stream valley. 

Buck Garden is a naturalistic setting incorporating large rock outcroppings creating varying exposures and microclimates which enable different plant associations to thrive. Tucked among the rocks are rare and exotic rock garden plants. The wooded trails connecting the outcroppings are lined with beautiful wild flowers that have flourished and multiplied through the years. Throughout the gardens grow various ferns. At the base of the valley walls, azaleas and rhododendrons produce a colorful display in May and early June.

Pre-registration for this workshop is required and the fee is $20 per person. To register call Leonard J. Buck Garden at 908-234-2677, ext. 21 or NJ Relay 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment.