Native Plant Order Event Library

Why natives are important

Native plants are plants that have evolved with other species that occur naturally in an environment. In North America, plants are typically considered native if they were established before European settlement. They provide food/nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and other mammals, as well as being the base of the food chain. Ornamental plants (non-natives bought and planted to look good) don’t feed anything and serve no ecological purpose. They are a food desert for native species looking for a meal. Native plants typically use less water, fertilization, pesticides, and can be adapted to poorer soils than your ornamentals. Many native plants are critical food sources for specialists, which are insects and butterflies that only eat a few specific species of native plants. The most well known example is the Monarch Butterfly, whose larvae will only eat the Milkweed plant.

What natives we have

We have many common native wildflowers, some annuals and many perennials. Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, Mist Flower, Yarrow, Spotted Joe Pye Weed, Bee Balm, Asters, and Beardtongue to name a few that will be available. We will also have a native wildflower mix featuring over 20 flowering species.

Where our natives come from

Many of our seeds have been harvested from NatureWorks Park in Hollidaysburg. NatureWorks Park is a 15 acre park managed by the Blair County Conservation District with a focus on education. Private gardeners who enjoy native gardening have also saved and donated seeds specifically for this program. Another unique part of our Native Seed Library is a purchase we made from Ernst Seeds this summer. Ernst Seeds is a Pennsylvania-based seed company that focuses on seed production for restoration of native habitats. We chose an ALL NATIVE mix called Showy Northeast Native Wildflower Mix. This mix contains only flowering plants (no grasses) and has a mix of both annuals and perennials. Some of the flowers in this mix are Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), Blackeyed Susan, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Beardtongue, Oxeye Sunflower, and Butterfly Milkweed, with an additional 19 other varieties mixed in.

When can you order natives and how

Ordering from the Native Library starts on October 7th and ends October 24th. Visit the Roaring Spring Community Library Website and click on the Seed Library link to find the order form link. Fill out the online form and choose your preferred library to pick your seeds up. We serve Blair, Huntingdon, and Bedford county libraries. Simply pick your varieties and submit your form. Hollidaysburg, Altoona, and Roaring Spring locations are ready within 10 days of order submission. All other library locations may take three weeks to receive your order. Starting in 2025, all Seed Library orders will require a library card. Please contact your library for information on how to get a card. Regular Seed Library orders, featuring your typical garden produce and flowers, will resume in late January 2025. Natives are only available during this ordering event in October.

How do you plant natives

The reason we have selected October to fill native orders is related to how natives should be planted. Many of our natives require cold and moisture to successfully germinate in the spring. They should be planted in the ground in either November or December (before the ground is too cold to work with) or should be sown in containers no later than February. When direct sowing in the ground, you must remove surface vegetation and loosen soil, press seeds into the soil (cover larger seeds), and top with a light layer of straw or sand. For winter sowing in containers, use containers like plastic food containers you might get at the store with prepared food. You must use a clear lid so sunlight can penetrate, and a bottom filled with loose potting soil. Both the lid and bottom must have holes in it for moisture management. Sow your seeds, label the container, and place it in a wind protected area outside. Check on warm days and open if needed, and water if they become dry. Check often in the spring for germination, and thin and transplant when seedlings emerge. These methods allow your seeds to determine the best time for germination. A little research may be needed to determine the best transplant location for each variety we offer. Some varieties may do better in wet, shady areas, while some prefer drier conditions with less fertile soil.

How is this paid for

Funding for the Seed Library is secured through grants and donations. Volunteers power the entire program, with help from the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and The Roaring Spring Community Library. We always accept monetary donations, and welcome seed donations.