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YMCA Native Plant Garden

Bird Friendly Garden at the YMCA 

The Doylestown Township Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), in partnership with the Doylestown branch of River Crossing YMCA and Girl Scout Troop #02791, Jericho Service Unit #619, proudly completed the installation of a Bird-Friendly Native Plant Demonstration Garden on the grounds of the Doylestown YMCA. The planting event, held on October 26, 2024, was led by Heidi Shiver, Doylestown Township EAC and Bird Town Leader, and featured active involvement from the Girl Scouts, YMCA staff, and township volunteers.

YMCA Garden Bird Friendly Plant List

  • Sweet Bay Magnolia
  • Winterberry
  • Nannyberry
  • Prairie Dropseed
  • Purple Coneflower
  • Anise hyssop
  • Monarda
  • Black-eyed Susan

About the Garden

The idea for this garden—a sanctuary for local birds and a showcase for native plants—was born from the creativity and vision of the Girl Scouts. Girl Scout Gianna, a Cadette troop member, said, “The bird-friendly garden will allow birds to thrive in a protective and nurturing space.” The Cadette troop consists of girls aged 11-13, who worked together with Heidi to bring the garden to life. From its inception, the project focused on educating participants and the community about the importance of native plants in supporting local wildlife.

In preparation for the planting day, the Girl Scouts worked with Heidi to visit a nursery, where they learned about native plants and their benefits. They also helped load the plants for transport. The chosen plant species included Anise Hyssop, Purple Coneflower, Nannyberry Viburnum, Sweetbay Magnolia, Winterberry, and Black-Eyed Susan—species selected specifically for their ability to attract and support birds like yellow finches and hummingbirds, as well as pollinators. Please visit the Bird Town PA website for more information about the importance of using native plants to support birds and wildlife: https://birdtownpa.org/plant-resources/.

Anthony DiMaggio, Senior Director of Facilities at the YMCA, and his team prepared the site, ensuring it was in the proper condition for planting. They handled landscaping, soil preparation, and mulch delivery, laying the groundwork for a successful event.

The planting event was a success, thanks to the collaborative effort of all involved. Girl Scouts and their parents joined EAC members and township staff to carefully plant and arrange the garden. The volunteers also brought snacks and camaraderie, making the morning both productive and enjoyable for everyone.

Heidi Shiver shared, “The garden looks beautiful, and I know it will bring wonderful support for our birds and wildlife and help inspire many residents to consider using native plants in their yards, too!”

Special thanks go to Anthony and the YMCA team for their preparation and support, the Girl Scouts for their vision and hard work, the EAC members—Chad, Marcello, and Jim—for their guidance, and Andrea from the township staff for her organizational assistance.

This Bird-Friendly Native Plant Demonstration Garden is a step toward creating more sustainable landscapes in the community. Residents are encouraged to visit the garden to learn more about the benefits of native plants and to consider incorporating them into their own properties.

A Message From Girl Scout Troop #02791

"When you walk outside, what do you typically see? The sun, the clouds, the things in front of you, maybe even your neighbors. But what you don’t know is that you are walking around nature. Nature is all around you, such as plants you see in flower beds and even birds flying above your head. But what you might not think about is that the friendly little walk you just did may be the last time you may ever see some of these plants or animals alive in the wild.

That’s why we created a Bird Friendly Native Plant Garden: to help create a safer environment for all kinds of birds and to protect and preserve native plants and to especially inspire you to use natives in your own yard, garden or patio.

Native plants are plants that had been growing and thriving in this region before the Europeans had even settled there and coevolved with the local insects and animals. Sweetbay Magnolia trees, Winterberry Shrubs and Purple Coneflower perennials are examples native plants that we’ve included in this special project because of how important they are to our environment and ecosystem around us.

For example, native plants help preserve Pennsylvania’s biodiversity and provide food and shelter for birds and wildlife. Without native plants, we wouldn’t have blueberries, apples, raspberries, tomatoes, etc. or those bees that invade your Rita’s Water Ice, all bird species or even a healthy ecosystem altogether. If it weren’t for native plants and how crucial they are to our ecosystem’s survival, our beautiful planet would be in danger of potentially becoming extinct. Our plan going forward is to create a beautiful and safe Bird Garden that is open and accessible to all, and the perfect place for dozens of native plants and bird species to call home.

This project has been a remarkable growing point for my troop and I. We’ve learned how important native plants, and other wildlife, really are to our community, we’ve developed new skills, and we even had bonding time along the way of this journey. We would like to give a quick shoutout to some members of the Doylestown Township’s Environment Advisory Council and Bird Town: Heidi Shiver, Chad Clem, and James Baldassare, Andrea Mergner, Danielle Cioffi, and Anthony DiMaggio. We wouldn’t have been able to come this far without the help of these amazing people."

See the Girl Scouts’ Project on Canva

Please take a few minutes to tell us what you think of the bird-friendly garden as well as any improvements that can be made!

Bird-Friendly Native Garden Survey

Native Plant Resources