This will require some doing. f you just let it go you will likely end up with a field of exotic invasives. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has a program supporting homeowner wildlife habitat efforts. Does VA have something similar?

Here is a link that might be useful: Maryland Wildacres program

Want some wild/naturalized daylilies? The orange type you see growing all over the place right now?

I have a patch of them that the previous owners planted up against the house & as soon as they finish blooming I'm going to be digging them up & relocating them. I have more than I possibly need.

I'm willing to send a bunch to anyone just for the price of postage. Send me an e-mail with your name & address if you're interested.

"Ditch" lilies need no help to spread their way into natural areas. The real problem is keeping them out. Now, native meadow plants like turk's cap lilies? Very nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas

Hook up with these folks.

Here is a link that might be useful: VA Native Plant Society

Here's a link to the native plant nurseries list

Here is a link that might be useful: Nursery listing

Read "Noah's Garden" and "Planting Noah's Garden" to get a bit of an idea what you are doing. It's a huge job, but once you can see the whole of it, it's not so hard to break it in chunks. At least you have fewer invasives to deal with before planting than that author did!
Good luck with the project, and stay in touch. Once you have a head start on the area, contact me for some of the native penstemons that live in such meadows. I grow about 3 different species, all gathered locally and propagated, as well as a bunch of native asters. There are several of us on the Mid-Atlantic and Virginia forums who grow numerous locally native plants, and are happy to share them at plant swaps and otherwise.

Robin