We were excited to have another opportunity to create a garden for one of our Busch Gardens fans during the Busch Gardens Landscape Giveaway presented Bad Boy Mowers. This year’s winner, Naomi, lives in Salisbury, MD. Her house is a very linear white rancher with some mature trees already in place in the front yard. Our team collaborated to create a sustainable, bay-friendly garden that will not only add color to the front of her house, but provide food, water, and sheltering homes for birds and butterflies for most of the year.
A key focal point is the brass kettle that became a custom water feature. Its moving water and soothing sounds are welcoming for all who visit. The container was located in one of the many stores in this area selling used materials, and with it came a vision for what it could look like within the design. We worked out an overall design that would give a clean vision from the street, and enhanced color opportunities as you approached the house. By using a short hedge throughout, and limiting the color palette to a range of purple and pink, the entire space feels more harmonious. The outer ring of plants are shorter, increasing to a height of 24-30” near the kettle.
Bloom times range from April to October, from outer ring to the center. We incorporated 5 different natives plants, but all are perennial butterfly plants, with many having berries or seeds for birds through the winter months. We used plants that aren’t overly aggressive in their habits, and chose individuals that will look good as cut flowers for the taller plants to better maintain the shape of the space. The three topiaries complete the formal look and balance the design from left to right. As evergreens, they also provide critical sheltering space for birds and insects year-round.
By including plants that would provide food and shelter for wildlife and incorporating water into our design, our goal was to make Naomi's garden a habitat garden for wildlife. We were excited to have the National Wildlife Federation send a representative to certify the garden as an official Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden at the end of the day. Naomi’s garden will provide a beautiful relaxation space to her family and an exciting, vibrant environment for essential pollinators for years to come.
