Landscape & Design
Our consulting and naturalistic design services for homeowners and businesses emphasize an environmentally friendly approach to design, plant selection and maintenance with the goals of providing wildlife habitat, improved soils and air quality and less surface water run-off, all for a better quality of life. We provide selective installation services and coordinate projects with local providers and DIY and property owners.
Our designs emphasize a stable, ornamental, low-maintenance site that welcomes people, but also serves the many needs of diverse wildlife. For the cost-conscious, do-it-yourself homeowners, we offer a private consultation at your property. We provide expert advice on property management, aesthetic choices and challenges, plant identification, as well as successful native plant selection during an informal garden meeting lasting about 45-60 minutes. The initial consultation cost starts at $150 depending on needs and location.
Conservation-minded landscape design services with native plants~bridging land and water through art and science.
The Native Plant Difference
Reestablishing habitats for butterflies, bird and beneficial insects with native plants and environmentally sensitive methods helps to conserve our landscapes, and create enjoyable outdoor living spaces.
In past centuries, much of the land in our region was cleared pasture for farming and grazing. Across the Mid-Atlantic States, many alien plant species, such as Autumn Olive, Oriental Bittersweet, and Norway Maple, were introduced by people who did not understand the long-term impact of their plant selections.
We want to change and restore this landscape on our own property and around the region. Our native plant sales and landscape service offerings were born from our own need and passion for land conservation. Since 2001, we have participated in hundreds of landscape restoration efforts in PA, NJ, MD, and DE. We create butterfly gardens, meadows, rain gardens, wetland gardens, streamside plantings and bird-friendly woodland areas — all restored with native plants. These projects demonstrate various native plant landscaping options for clients, as well as ongoing research studies and environmental education for conservation landscaping. Learn more about our landscape & design services.
Our Specialties - Design & Restoration
Natural Ponds & Bog Gardens
Woodland Design & Restoration
Riparian and Forested Riparian Buffers
Shoreline Planting
Meadows — Lawn substitutes
Rain Gardens
Butterfly & Pollinator Gardens
Shade Gardens & Deer Resistant Gardens
Landscape & Design Gallery
Border Garden
When the clients were building an addition on their residence, they found that this was the perfect time to also improve the landscape While ecology and environmental stewardship were important considerations, this is a garden designed primarily for people’s enjoyment, both from inside the house looking out, and by those sitting on the deck, patio or gazebo. We designed naturalistic paths to respect multiple points for viewing, and to complement the natural contour. Plants selected provide blooms in all seasons, and a sense of scale that makes the garden welcome wandering strolls as much as lazy conversation over iced tea.
Highlighted Plants: Callirhoe involcurata; Cornus sericea (Red Osier Dogwood); Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower); Purple Sage, Ruellia humilis (Wild Petunia)
Border Garden
How much space does it take to make a habitat? This modest patio border is full of native species that provide low maintenance landscaping, and home for numerous birds and butterflies. Hummingbirds especially love this garden. The border plantings extend around the garage, mailbox, and around the entire property
Highlighted Plants: Lonicera sempervirens (Honeysuckle, Coral) ; Baptisia austalis; Eupatorium purpureum (Joe Pye Flower)
Butterfly Garden
Elementary school students love to spend time outside.This butterfly garden planted with native species attracts colorful butterflies with its attractive flowers, and also complements the mosaic art project completed at the school with leadership of art teacher Cheryl Hendershott. The low maintenance garden offers so much more than lawn.
Highlighted Plants: Rudbeckia fulgida v. fulgida (Brown-Eyed Susan);Heliopsis helianthoides (False Sunflower); Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower); Solidago rugosa (Wrinkle Leaf Goldenrod 'Fireworks')
Naturalistic Meadow
This area was once a lawn, but not a great lawn given the poor soil, and sloping site behind this residence. Yet, this was a prime view from many rooms in the home. Clients wished to gain a nicer view from their deck and windows, and create a habitat to benefit birds and butterflies. A mixture of native wildflowers and native warm season grasses provides four season of interest from the plantings and brings regular wildlife visitors seeking nectar, seeds, or shelter.
Highlighted Plants: Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower); Heliopisis helianthoides; Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass); Solidago rugosa (Wrinkle Leaf Goldenrod 'Fireworks'); Coreopsis tripteris (Tall Coreopsis); Sorghastrum nutans (Indian Grass)
Rain Garden
Storm water runoff contributes to about 70% of water pollution in our region. This rain garden is about 150 square feet, and large enough to manage the water from gutter downspouts on a typical residence. This water, plus water collected by a patio French drain system, gathers in this simple rain garden. After passing through the root systems of these hard-working native plant species the water returns to the groundwater table cleaner than ever.
Highlighted Plants: Rudbeckia maxima (Great Coneflower); Monarda didyma (Bee Balm); Eupatorium dubium (Three Nerved Joe Pye); Rubus odorata; Iris versicolor (Iris, Blue Flag)
Rain Garden
When a neighbor’s sloping pasture brings torrents of floodwater across your property every time it rains, what can you do? Muddy grass is hard to mow, and not good for our environment. Instead of grass, we created a rain garden and used plenty of organic compost to supplement the soil. We suggested sun-loving native species that would drink up this water willingly, and provide a beautiful landscape feature that both humans and butterflies would enjoy.
Highlighted Plants: Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed); Iris versicolor (Iris, Blue Flag); Rudbeckia maxima (Great Coneflower); Chelone lyonii (Turtle Head - Hot Lips)
Streamside Garden
This stream bank was eroded from past infrequent floods and storm water runoff from higher ground flowing towards the creek. The site is partly to mostly shady and deer pressure limits plant choices. The soil was poor; mostly clay or rock with little topsoil present. We wanted to create plantings for the long-term to conserve soil, provide habitat for birds and beneficial insects, and begin to grow root systems to stabilize the stream banks while also catching runoff before it hits the creek.
Highlighted Plants: Senecio aureus; Zizia aurea (Golden Alexander); Polystichum artistichoides; Sedum ternatum (Stonecrop) (Groundcover); Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye); Lindera benzoin (Spicebush)
Woodland Garden
Although Pennsylvania was named for Penn’s Woods, many areas were clear cut for farming and pasture during recent centuries. Clients with passionate concern for conservation know how many trees have been lost in Southeastern PA. They asked to re-create a woodland with native species. This planting will provide future privacy along the property line, manage storm water runoff, create habitat, and reduce work and pollution associated with mowing. We look forward to seeing the plants mature for years to come.
Highlighted Plants: Cercis canadensis; Quercus rubra (Red Oak); Ilex opaca (Holly, American (Dan Fenton)) (female); Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush); Juniperus virginiana (Cedar, Eastern Red); Lindera benzoin (Spicebush); Acer rubrum (Red Maple); Liquidambar rotundilobia
