The Plants of Natural Gardens

Natural Gardens occupies approximately 107 acres of land in the western Catskills region, with terrain including woodlands, pastures, streams, ponds and rolling hillsides.
The plant cultivation on site is significant: we grow many of our own plants (rather than sourcing externally) for our “store” / garden‐center offerings.
The landscape is designed not just for display but also for events (weddings, gardens, gatherings) and as a botanical interest site — so the planting is a mix of aesthetic, native/woodland, and cultivated garden‐stock.

Here are some of the major categories of plants you’ll find at Natural Gardens, along with examples and what makes them special.

We cultivate many plants suited to woodland or shaded forest settings: ferns, trilliums, native orchids (such as lady slipper orchids) and other woodland perennials.
Examples from our plant‐store list: Greater Yellow Lady Slipper, Showy Lady Slipper, Small Yellow Lady Slipper, Spotted Lady Slipper.
Woodland plants emphasize naturalistic planting amid trees, rocks, ponds and streams — creating a serene, “wild garden” aesthetic rather than formal bedding.
If you visit in spring or early summer, you’re likely to see fresh growth, wildflower blooms, and early season woodland color.

On the more cultivated side, we offer many popular perennial garden plants: hostas, iris (German, Japanese, Siberian, Louisiana types), daylilies, coral bells (Heuchera), lungwort, primrose.
These plants bridge the gap between native/wild‐garden style and more traditional horticultural garden beds.
The variety allows visitors to both appreciate the natural woodland flora and also select plants for home gardens (if you’re purchasing).

Given the presence of ponds, streams and water features on the property, aquatic plants are part of the planting scheme: for example, “pond plants” in our store inventory include waterlilies (peach, red, white) and pickled rush.
These plants enhance the landscape design—linking the built garden with natural water features—and provide interest for both gardens and ecosystem‐enhancement (plants for wet areas).
If you visit near the ponds, you’ll likely see the aquatic plants integrated with the shoreline, rocks, and reflections of trees.

We also list shrubs & small trees in their offerings: e.g., American Hazelnut, Red-osier Dogwood, Tri-colored Willow.
These are suitable for structural planting in landscapes: edges of woodlands, transitions between open and forested areas, or as accent plantings near pathways, ponds, etc.
The presence of these larger plants means the garden supports multi‐layered vegetation (groundcover, perennials, shrubs, small trees) for a rich ecological and visual fabric.

Our plant‐store inventory also shows fruit and garden edible plants: e.g., currant (red currant), elderberry, goji berry, hardy kiwi, rhubarb, mint.
We incorporate edible-landscape planting, not just ornamental: blending food garden plants with aesthetic plants.
For someone interested in a mixed garden (ornamental & edible), this makes Natural Gardens an interesting destination.

The fact that all of our stock is “expertly cultivated on-site” means that the plants are locally adapted, robust in the specific Catskills climate.
The combination of native orchids, trilliums, and woodland plants sets it apart from a standard garden center—we emphasise ecological richness, native species, and a garden that feels integrated with the wild woodland.
Visually, the grounds feature not just plantings but also ponds, waterfalls, rock walls, bridges, woodland trails — making the plants part of a larger landscape experience, rather than isolated beds.
The seasonal variation is strong: spring wildflowers/woodland plants, summer aquatic/pond plantings, fall foliage & shrubs.

If you plan to visit, wear comfortable shoes: there are woodland trails, ponds, natural terrain.
For plant purchase: Check ahead for availability, especially for rarer woodland plants or native orchids (which may be limited quantities).
If you’re selecting plants for your own garden, consider how our offerings align with your site’s conditions (shade, moisture, woodland edge, pond margin).
If you like native/ecological planting (rather than purely ornamental), we offer strong choices.
For photography or nature walks: The plantings plus surrounding landscape (woodland + water features) make for peaceful exploration—not just shopping.

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