Wetland Wildflowers, Greenwich CT

This sprawling pollinator garden was the wish of my clients then 11-year old daughter who asked to turn unutilized part of their backyard into an ecological paradise for bees, butterflies and other species. Bordering a wild and largely untamed natural wetland, this garden focused on local genotypes of plants considered to be Northeast native with a splash of fun when it came to Kalmia species ( the native Mountain Laurel, Connecticut's state flower.) The layers to this garden are unending, from tiny crocus bulbs to towering Joe Pyes and Ironweeds, native ferns, cardinal flowers, bee balms, woodland sunflowers and aster species all make appearances as the seasons pass. Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire), Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush) and Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry) all work to form a pleasing and ecologically friendly mid-story. This garden is low-to no maintenance and is largely left to "do it's thing," the natural way. We encourage seeds to spread, and mulch for winter using all of the leaf material from the rest of the yard. This garden will be a delight to watch for years to come.