Expressing your creativity through native plant gardening
If you drive down a suburban street you will see a lot of the same plants in people's yards. Most gardeners plant what is easily available and familiar to them. While many of these plants have been selected for decades or centuries to work well in a manicured garden, this leads to gardens that all look relatively the same. Native plant gardening provides an opportunity to explore a new realm of plants for you garden. While, depending on your location, it can be a challenge to find the plants you want, gardening with natives will create a garden that stands out from your neighbors'. Many natives will fit nicely into the manicured aesthetic you may be used to. However, there is a unique (and fun!) challenge in designing a garden that is both wild and curated. Instead of a sea of mulch spotted with flowers, you can create a lush cottage style garden with natives that bring nature right to you door. As you experiment, you will find beautiful pairings of plants that complement each other in color, texture, height, and bloom time to keep your garden stunning all season.
Many people worry what their neighbors will think of their different approach to gardening. Experiment with raised beds, borders, and containers to make you garden look intentional while still giving you the natural beauty of a meadow or woodland. These small additions can go a long way in making your garden look well cared for. Talking with your neighbors about why you grow native, without being critical of their own garden goals, can help them understand and appreciate your native plant garden. |