create a
flourishing ecosystem
in your own backyard.
Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Colorgarden is your local resource for creating living yards and landscapes that attract birds, butterflies and native bees while providing beautiful environments for humans.
Don’t know where to start? We can help.
about marcella.
Walking with people who are ready for a change.
Several years ago, when I started exploring the world of native plants, I knew that I had landed on my choice for a second career. As an academic scholar in Clean Water Partner’s Watershed Leadership Academy, I considered options for how I could have a greater impact in my community. I enrolled in Mt. Cuba’s Ecological Gardening Certificate program. It was a perfect match. I started noticing plants everywhere. I discovered the complexity of finding the right plant for the right place. Light conditions, soil type, soil health, moisture content, bloom times, height ranges are all elements that go into creating a design for a yard. The foundation for designing inspiring places is knowing the plants. Every day brings new learning and discovery. I hope to engage my clients in this exciting adventure.
Marcy lives in Lancaster, PA, with her husband, Monte Garber. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters, Madeline and Maia. In addition to her passion for native plants, Marcy loves music, travel, hiking, and learning languages.
let's work together
to turn your property into
a living habitat.
When considering a change to your landscape, some questions may emerge. It is important to address your fears and obstacles - Will it look too messy? What will the neighbors think? Will the bees sting? Will this create a lot more work? Can I afford this? Does this need to happen all at once or can it go in stages? These are all valid concerns. Colorgarden will help you create a path through new ideas and possibilities. Open communication is a priority. It is a process. Change doesn't happen overnight. It can take several years for plants to become established. We are excited to travel that path along with you.
our services.
consultation
Stewardship
installATION
design
Learn more about our offerings:
- Janneke
"Marcy turned our boring backyard into one with flower beds brimming with colorful native plants that bloom throughout the season. Butterflies and birds in the yard have increased and delight us. She’s taken great initiative in suggesting plantings for us, explaining her choices and their impact on native habitat and the beauty of our garden."
- Ryan and Keara
"We couldn’t be happier with the work that ColorGarden has done restoring our backyard. When we moved to Lancaster, our yard had been neglected for many years. ColorGarden completely rebuilt our landscaping using only native plants and natural techniques. From design, to planning, to execution the team did an outstanding job and made our backyard perfect for us and for the environment.”
nurseries
glossary
resources for you.
Goodbye grass, hello pollinators.
As more people request native plants, they become easier to find at nurseries in our area. The more consumers request native plants, the more this supply is likely to grow. Check out the resources below to discover local nurseries and learn more about the movement to reclaim native plants. If you would like to know more about why native plants matter, check out this article!
get in touch.
Marcella Hostetler
717.413.7054
colorgardenllc@gmail.com
Please feel free to email or text me if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation.
Let’s bring your vision to life! We’ll meet with you on-site to explore planting options, layout possibilities, and strategies to create a thriving native habitat. During this approximately one-hour consultation ($125), we’ll assess your site, discuss your goals, and provide expert guidance on plant selections and sourcing. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what will work best for your space and how to get started–whether you choose to work with us or take the next steps on your own.
To schedule, email us with details about your project size, challenges, and timeline—we look forward to collaborating with you!
initial garden consultation
caring for
your garden
A native garden is a living, evolving ecosystem, and thoughtful care ensures its long-term vitality. Young plants, in particular, need attention as they establish strong roots. Without proper care, weeds can outcompete desired plants, and inadequate hydration in the first year can impact growth.
At Colorgarden, we offer ongoing stewardship tailored to your garden’s needs and your level of involvement. Our expertise helps ensure that your garden flourishes as intended, maintaining the beauty and ecological balance of the original design. Stewardship plans are flexible and designed to support both you and your garden, whether you’d like hands-on guidance or prefer us to handle the care for you.
We create carefully hand-drawn designs tailored to your yard and your vision. Each design considers soil conditions, sun exposure, moisture levels, space, color harmony, bloom cycles, and plant relationships, with a special focus on keystone species that support local ecosystems.
A native garden is a transformation, not a quick fix—it takes up to three years to fully establish. But with time and care, your landscape will evolve into a thriving, resilient habitat. We encourage patience as nature works its magic!
plant-focused
garden design
A successful native garden starts with healthy plants and proper installation. Colorgarden sources high-quality, chemical-free plants and ensures they are expertly planted at the right depth, with proper soil preparation and hydration. Our team handles every step of the process with care, setting your garden up for long-term success.
garden installation
Orefield, PA - Contains more established, larger native plants. Located about 50 miles from Lancaster. If you want to start with more established plants, this is the place to go. The website is an excellent resource of native plants needed for various environments and situations (deer resistant, rain garden appropriate, drought tolerant, etc.)
York, PA - A native plant nursery offering organically-grown seeds and native plants, including many local ecotypes.
hungry hook farm
York, PA - Associated with the Horn Farm in York, PA, Calyx Native Nursery specializes in Mid-Atlantic and Northeast native plant species with a special focus on those that are threatened or endangered.
calyx native nursery
local nurseries.
edge of the woods
Strasburg, PA - A small operation about 10 miles south of Lancaster. Requires appointment ahead of time, but very easy to arrange.
butterfly oasis
Millersville, PA - Schroeder Gardens is a 46 acre family farm that grows chemical free native trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Schroeder gardens
Orefield, PA
York, PA
York, PA
Strasburg, PA
Millersville, PA
native plant
invasive plant
glossary.
keystone species
green (living) mulch
neonicotinoids
exotic plant
Click through to learn more about each term.
Plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature and do not support wildlife as well as native plants.
exotic plant
Planting native plants closely together, in place of traditional mulches, to help suppress weed growth, keep taller plant root systems cool and moist, and provide habitat for wildlife.
green (living) mulch
Invasives are non-native to the ecosystem under consideration and a species whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm, or harm to human health.
(US Department of Agriculture)
invasive plant
A keystone species, which can be any organism, from animals and plants to bacteria and fungi—is the glue that holds a habitat together. It may not be the largest or most plentiful species in an ecological community, but if a keystone is removed, it sets off a chain of events that turns the structure and biodiversity of its habitat into something very different. Although all of an ecosystem’s many components are intricately linked, these are the living things that play a pivotal role in how their ecosystem functions. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
keystone species
Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years, and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat. A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction. Native plants help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements. They will thrive in the soils, moisture and weather of your region. That means less supplemental watering, which can be wasteful, and pest problems that require toxic chemicals. Native plants also assist in managing rain water runoff and maintain healthy soil as their root systems are deep and keep soil from being compacted. (National Wildlife Federation)
native plant
Neonics are a class of synthetic, neurotoxic insecticides that are used on agricultural crops, lawns, gardens, golf courses, and in flea and tick pet treatments. Developed in the mid-1990s, neonics are now the single-most popular insecticide class in the United States. The way they work is by permanently binding to the nerve cells of insects, overstimulating and destroying them. Exposed insects often exhibit uncontrollable shaking and twitching followed by paralysis before eventually dying. Even at nonlethal doses, neonics can weaken critical functions, such as an insect’s immune system, navigation, stamina, memory, and fertility. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
neonicotinoids
Plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature and do not support wildlife as well as native plants.
new word
Plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature and do not support wildlife as well as native plants.
new word
Plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature and do not support wildlife as well as native plants.