Leon Levy Native Garden
Aster by Bob Rohr
Located at Bylane Farm, the Leon Levy Native Garden is the cornerstone of our Bird Friendly Communities efforts.
The Garden and its programs educate, empower, and engage landowners to utilize native plants and natural landscaping practices to create buffets for migrating birds, backyard wildlife oases, and inspire neighborhood-level conservation.
The Garden is named for Leon Levy (1925-2003), a financier and philanthropist. The Leon Levy Foundation provided a grant that allowed us to hire the award-winning Larry Weaner Landscape Associates to design an expansion and renovation plan for the Native Garden in 2012.
The result is a series of distinct garden rooms that feature a diversity of gardening styles—from a more formal colonial garden to naturalistic meadows, and growing conditions—that range from deep shade, hot dry upland soils, to a unique marble mountain (limestone).
It’s a work in progress, with more plants going in the ground and garden rooms being completed each season!
Why go native?
Native plants are good for birds and people!
Native plants provide the right food, at the right time for birds. And, over time, native plants reduce the amount of extra water, fertilizer, pesticides, and maintenance compared to non-native landscaping.
National Audubon’s database of native plants is a good place to get learn what’s native!
Are you ready to get your hands dirty?
You don’t need to be a Master Gardener to join us in the Native Garden. We rely on volunteers of all ages and abilities, and volunteering is a great way to get hands-on experience with cultivating native plants and gardening techniques, and learning about the birds, butterflies, and pollinators that call the Leon Levy Native Garden their home.
Volunteers start each season in April and work until the end of October, or when the snow flies—whatever is latest.
Let us know if you’d like to volunteer in the Native Garden!
Visit the Leon Levy Native Garden
Directions
- From Route 35 take Route 22 North towards Goldens Bridge.
- Todd Road will be your 4th right.
- Bylane Farm is located about a half mile down the road, where the road surface changes from dirt to pavement.
- Look for a small historic white sign on the left side of the road.
- There’s a small gravel lot just past the building.
- An entrance to meet with Staff is located at the top of the stone steps that begin to the left of the garage.
- For all other purposes, please enter through the Leon Levy Native Garden and ring the bell at the front door.
The Bedford Audubon is open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday-Saturday)
Sanctuary trails are open from dawn-dusk 7 days a week.