Native Landscapes: Beautiful, Not Messy

Many homeowners hesitate to consider native landscaping because they worry it will look messy or unkempt. It’s a common concern and understandable. We’ve all seen landscapes that have been left to “return to nature” which doesn’t always lead to the most attractive space.

The truth is, a well-planned native landscape can be just as polished and intentional as any traditional garden you see along the Main Line, while also offering incredible benefits for local wildlife and biodiversity.

The key to any landscape looking attractive is thoughtful design. Strategic plant placement, defined edges, and seasonal maintenance can keep a native garden looking cohesive and attractive year-round.

One simple way to create a tidy appearance is by using lower-growing plants along the front edges of garden beds. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata), Golden Fleece Goldenrod (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’), Homestead Purple Verbena (Verbena canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’), and Wood’s Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum ‘Wood’s Blue’) all add structured edges to the designed landscape, while providing vibrant color and ecological benefits.

By working with the natural beauty of native plants rather than against it, you can achieve a landscape that is both ecologically beneficial and aesthetically pleasing.

A native landscape doesn’t have to mean messy or overgrown but can be vibrant, structured, beautiful and uniquely yours.

Beat the Winter Blues: Plan Your Spring Landscape Now!

Well, here we are—another snow day.   Winter can be exhausting!

But here’s the good news: spring is coming. And while the world outside might be frozen this week, now is actually the perfect time to use those indoor days to start planning your dream landscape.

By designing your landscape now, you’ll be ready to welcome warmer days by planting a yard full of vibrant native trees shrubs and perennials that attract birds and butterflies.

Want to do something truly beneficial for the environment? Consider planting species that support our native butterflies and moths. According to the research of entomologist Doug Tallamy, these plant groups are among the best at sustaining caterpillars—the foundation of the food web.

Our 3 Favorite Genera for Supporting Lepidoptera:

Oaks (Quercus) – The ultimate butterfly and moth host, supporting over 500 species of caterpillars!  White Oaks are one of our favorite canopy trees. 

Cherries & Plums (Prunus) –  Prunus serotina is an awesome Black Cherry that a supports for over 400 species of Lepidoptera. 

Birches (Betula) – Beautiful and ecologically valuable, hosting 300+ species.  Betula nigra River Birch is an awesome species in the landscape

Our 3 Favorite Shrub Genera for Supporting Lepidoptera:

Blueberries  (Vaccinium) – Not just delicious for us—these support over 290 species of butterflies and moths and have vibrant fall color as the leaves turn orange and red.
Dogwoods (Cornus) – A stunning addition to any landscape, benefiting over 115 species.
Spicebush (Lindera) – The preferred host for the beautiful spicebush swallowtail butterfly and 9 species of native moths and butterflies.

Our 5 Perennial Genera for Supporting Lepidoptera…Too many perennials to limit it to 3.

Goldenrods (Solidago) – The gold standard for pollinators, supporting 125+ species of caterpillars.  Our favorite selections inclued Solidago spacelata 'Golden Fleece' which is a beautiful groundcover variety. 

Asters (Symphyotrichum) – Late-season nectar sources that host over 100 species. Beautiful light blue flowers cover ‘Bluebird’ Smooth Aster, as well as the shorter ‘Wood’s Light Blue’ varieties

Sunflowers (Helianthus) – Not just for seeds—these support 75+ species.  Woodland sunflowers are a gorgeous option for the forest edge where they have room to spread. 

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium) – A favorite of butterflies and essential for 40+ species. E. coelestinum has bright light blue flowers that light up the late-season landscape. 

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) – A bright and beautiful host for 20+ species.  These perennials do well during the heat and dry conditions of summer.

So, while we’re all still bundled up and battling snow piles, let’s take a break and dream about sunshine, fresh blooms, and a landscape filled with butterflies and birds. Planning now means your yard will be ready to welcome spring in full bloom—and full of life!

Let’s create something amazing together!

Dreaming of Spring: A Landscape Designer’s Perspective

It can be hard to believe that in just a few weeks, the forest floor will awaken with the soft, dreamy blue of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica). 

These native perennials are one of the first signs that winter’s grip is loosening and the colors of spring are back and heading toward summer.

Though we’re still bundling up, spending most of our time indoors, now is the perfect time to start envisioning your spring landscape. Winter may seem endless, but before you know it, the ground will thaw, the days will stretch longer, and the first green shoots will emerge. 

While winter can be a challenge for gardeners and designers, it offers a beautiful opportunity to plan, dream, and design spaces that will burst to life when warmer days arrive.  If you’ve ever wandered through a healthy, established forest in early spring, you know the magic of native wildflowers like Mertensia bluebells, trilliums, tiarella, columbine and bloodroot. These plants don’t just bring beauty; they also play a crucial role in supporting pollinators, stabilize the soil, and create a balanced ecosystem.

While these native ephemeral perennials are signs of a healthy forest, they can also give a jumpstart to the designed native landscape.  Bursting with foliage, flowers and seeds early in the season, they typically fade back as the warmer summer-blooming perennials fill in.  The reds of Eastern Columbine, yellows of Senecio, light blues and purples of woodland and creeping Phlox are all beautiful additions to the spring landscape and combine well with Bluebells.

As we spend the last few weeks of winter indoors, sipping coffee and gazing out at snowy landscapes, take a moment to remember-and-imagine the transformation that is to come in the landscape. Picture the gentle nodding blooms of bluebells and the hum of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds returning to the garden.

Now is the time to sketch out ideas, research native plants, make tons of lists, and get a plan in place for the growing season ahead.  

Snow is melting today, and spring will be here before we know it.

I Want a Native Landscape... But Not So Messy

When many people think of native plant landscapes, often untamed and chaotic spaces come to mind.

But here’s the secret: a thoughtfully designed native landscape can be just as elegant, structured, and refined as a conventional garden.

For homeowners along the Main Line, blending native plants with a classic aesthetic is not only achievable but highly rewarding.

Using principles of landscape design such as repetition, unity, variety, line, form, texture, color, and scale, you can create a space that feels polished while supporting local ecosystems. Native plants bring a natural rhythm to your garden as they flower in different seasons, but that doesn’t mean they have to look unruly.

When combined intentionally in a structured design, native plants can complement the architecture of your home and surrounding neighborhood, while being attractive and supporting wildlife.

Design Tips for a Classy Native Landscape

1. Repetition for Elegance
   Use clusters of native plants like black-eyed Susans or Amsonia in repeating patterns to create a cohesive and harmonious flow. Repetition creates order, even in a more naturalistic setting.

2. Variety for Interest
   Incorporate a mix of native shrubs, perennials, and grasses to add depth and visual intrigue. Plants like winterberry holly and butterfly weed offer unique forms and seasonal color, ensuring year-round interest.

3. Line and Form for Structure
   Define pathways, garden beds, or focal points with clean edges and architectural native plants like inkbery or sweetbay magnolia. Their natural forms provide balance and structure.

4. Texture and Color for Aesthetics
   Pair fine-textured plants like prairie dropseed with bold-leaved species like heuchera. Add pops of seasonal color with blooming natives such as liatris or wild columbine to keep your garden vibrant and eye-catching.

5. Scale for Proportion
   Match plant sizes to the scale of your home and property. Taller natives, such as red-twig dogwood, can anchor a space, while low-growing plants like creeping phlox soften the edges.

Designed native landscapes can be beautiful, structured, and have a classic feel while supporting pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Whether you live in Bryn Mawr, Wayne, or Ardmore, a native landscape can enhance your home and align with architecture and timeless charm of the Main Line.

Welcome Spring with Native Flowering Trees

As the chill of winter begins to give way to warmer days, nothing signals spring’s arrival quite like the blossoms of native flowering trees. 

Stepping outside and seeing the delicate white blooms of flowering dogwood, the vibrant pink of redbud flower, or the charming early blossoms of serviceberry trees are a welcome experience after winter. 

Adding native flowering trees to your yard is an investment in year-round beauty and biodiversity. In spring, their blooms provide an essential food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects just emerging from winter dormancy. Birds are drawn to these trees, using their branches for nesting and later enjoying the fruits and seeds that follow flowering.

Beyond supporting wildlife, these trees are a natural fit for your garden being aligned with our region’s climate and conditions and match beautifully with the architecture in Philadelphia and along the Main Line.

The seasonal interest of spring-flowering trees is one layer of their year-round beauty in the landscape: Spring flowers give way to lush summer foliage and fruit, followed by brilliant fall colors, and winter forms. 

So, why not plant a piece of spring’s magic in your yard? By adding native trees like flowering dogwood, redbud, and serviceberry, you’ll create a landscape that’s as welcoming to wildlife as it is beautiful. 

Let’s celebrate spring’s arrival by adding some native, flowering trees in the landscape.

Top 10 Native Plants to Brighten Your Main Line Landscape This Spring

Spring is just around the corner and there's no better way to celebrate the season than by enhancing your garden with beautiful, low-maintenance native plants. 

Not only do these plants thrive in our area and blend in with the architecture of the Main Line of Philadelphia, but they also support pollinators and wildlife, making your landscape both vibrant and supportive of the local environment.

 Here’s our list of the top 10 native plants to install and enjoy this spring:

1. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

This small tree bursts with pink-purple flowers in early spring, creating a stunning focal point in your garden.  The flower buds hug the tree branches and absolutely glow in spring.

2. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

Add a pop of delicate blue with these shade-loving perennials that bloom in mid-spring and naturalize beautifully.  The mint-green foliage emerges and is followed by beautiful stems of blue-pink-purple flowers that shimmer in the forested garde.

3. Trillium (Trillium erectum)

Known for its elegant three-petaled blooms, this deep red trillium thrives in shaded woodland settings and adds a touch of grace to any spring garden.

4. Eastern Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

Its red and yellow flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds, adding charm to any sunny or partly shaded area.  Held atop delicate stems, these flowers bloom and gently seed in, enhancing the native landscape.

5. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

This groundcover thrives in shade, producing sprays of white, foamy flowers in spring and lush, textured foliage year-round.  A beautiful alternative to ivy, with gently rambling foliage and beautiful upright flowers.

6. Amsonia (Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Grande')

This versatile perennial features pale blue, star-shaped flowers in spring and feathery foliage that turns golden in the fall, adding seasonal interest.  Getting multi-season interest from one perennials in yoru landscape is an awesome way to maximize your space.

7. Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)

With deep blue flowers that resemble lupines, this hardy perennial is perfect for sunny spots and adds a sculptural element to your garden.  The early season flowers are a great forerunner to summer blooming perennials.

8. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)

This low-growing groundcover blankets your garden in vibrant pink, purple, or white flowers in early spring, ideal for rock gardens and borders.

9. Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)

A charming native with delicate lavender-blue flowers, this shade-loving perennial is perfect for woodland gardens and attracts butterflies.

10. Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

A multi-season star, this small tree offers white spring blossoms, summer berries for birds, and vibrant fall foliage.

By planting these native species, you’ll create a garden that’s not only stunning but also sustainable. These plants are adapted to our region’s conditions, making them easier to care for and more resilient to pests and diseases.  Planning your design and scheduling your installation will allow you  to enjoy a landscape that comes alive with beauty and wildlife

Phased Installation: A Smart Approach for Main Line Homes

As a landscape designer along the Main Line, one of my favorite challenges is creating a cohesive, beautiful native landscapes that enhance the curb appeal of homes and match client goals and budgets.

When thoughtfully designed, a landscape incorporating native plants can be stunning in bloom, have lower maintenance needs and be a budget friendly improvement to your home.

A major consideration for any project is the budget and deciding what is feasible for homeowners who are trying to move forward with projects while also planning and leaving a cushion for the unexpected.

Drafting a cohesive landscape design for your entire property and then phasing the installation for prioritized areas is an awesome option for beginning the process of transforming your landscape without feeling overwhelmed.

Why Native Landscaping?

A native landscape does more than just look works in harmony with nature. By incorporating native plants, you’ll attract pollinators like butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, improve soil health, and reduce water usage since these plants thrive without excessive irrigation. A thoughtfully designed native landscape also complements the timeless beauty of Main Line homes, blending classic architecture with the natural charm of landscapes in our region.

The Value of Phased Installation

While it’s exciting to imagine a fully transformed property, installing your new landscape in phases is a smart way to manage budgets while still achieving and enjoying immediate results. Here’s how we prioritize:

1. Start with the Most Visible Areas: We begin by focusing on the spaces that create a first impression, such as the front yard, main entrances, views from primary windows, and areas that are visible in the everyday coming and going from your home. These are the “wow” zones that boost curb appeal and create a welcoming entrance for guests.

2. Install Secondary Areas: Once the most visible areas are thriving, we move to side yards, backyard gathering spaces, and other less visible areas. By this point, you’ll already be enjoying the benefits of your new landscape, making it easier to envision how the next phases will take shape.

3. Flexibility and Customization: A phased approach also gives you the flexibility to adjust the plan as needed. Whether you want to add new features, prioritize specific plants, or tweak the design to reflect changes in site conditions from things like increased sunlight due to removed trees, it’s easy to adapt a plan that is already developed without feeling overwhelmed.

See the Benefits Right Away

One of the best parts of phased installation is that you don’t have to wait to see results. Imagine walking out your front door and being greeted by vibrant native flowers in bloom from spring through fall, swaying grasses, and the flurry of activity as pollinators visit your space. It’s an immediate payoff that improves every season and sets the tone for the rest of your home’s transformation.

If you’re ready to enhance your home with a native landscape, let’s design something that is uniquely yours. Together, we’ll create a plan that fits your vision, budget, and timeline one phase at a time.

Main LIne Landscape Design

The Main Line is a beautiful area.

When you think about designing your dream home, you likely focus on interior spaces. Kitchens, living rooms, and living rooms that reflect your style and bring you joy.

But what about your outdoor spaces? How do the outdoor areas serve to welcome guests to your home?

The landscape surrounding your home is a powerful first impression and can be just as important in creating a beautiful, cohesive environment and is worth considering along with the interior spaces.

Designing a low-maintenance landscape with native plants offers the perfect opportunity to elevate your home’s exterior appeal. In addition to inviting and supporting the local ecosystem, landscapes that require less maintenance can lead to major savings of time and effort.

Along the Main Line with historic homes and charming neighborhoods, designing a thoughtful and classic landscape with low-maintenance native plants is not only practical but also stunningly effective in connecting your property with the natural surroundings.

The Benefits of Native, Low-Maintenance Landscaping

1. Beauty: Native plants thrive in our local climate and soil conditions, which means they require less water, fertilizer, and general upkeep. Developing a landscape that looks lush and vibrant year-round is achievable when working with plants that “belong” here.

2. Environmental Appeal: Incorporating native plants not only connects your home to the surrounding landscape, but supports local wildlife, including birds, bees, and butterflies. These species rely on native flora for food and shelter, so your landscape becomes a haven for biodiversity. Whatever space you can provide becomes a small but impactful step toward environmental stewardship and gives you the benefit of seeing wildlife surrounding your home.

3. Cost-Effective: Lower maintenance demands means lower costs in the long run. Native plants typically require less water, no chemical fertilizers, and minimal pest control, making them a smart financial investment as well as an aesthetic one. Eliminating the need for monthly or weekly maintenance allows your landscape to develop sustainably over time.

4. Seasonal Charm: Native plants offer a stunning array of textures, colors, and blooms throughout the year. From the fresh push of growth in spring, through the lush flowers of summer, to the bold foliage and textures of fall and winter, your landscape can reflect the natural rhythms of the region.

A Holistic Approach to Home Design

Your home’s landscape is its first impression and the backdrop for outdoor gatherings A view from every window can look out to a beautiful natural scene. The spaces surrounding your home can serve as a outdoor retreat at the end of a busy day. By giving your outdoor spaces the same care and intention as your interiors, you create a seamless flow between indoors and out, enhancing your overall living experience.

Consider designing your landscape with:

• Low-Maintenance Native Plants: Think of beautiful bluestar Amsonia in spring, yellow black-eyed Susans blooming in summer, bright orange Butterfly Milkweed serving as a habitat for Monarch butterflies, and Little Bluestem grass standing tall through winter. All of these native plants can be incorporated into any type of landscape design and will thrive along the Main Line.

• Sustainable Features: Incorporate elements like natural, local stone for hardscaping and stormwater management areas on site to reduce energy use in construction and maximize the positive environmental impact of your space for the surrounding ecology

• Outdoor Living Spaces: Create patios, garden seating areas, or fire pits surrounded by native greenery to encourage time spent outdoors. Extending your living spaces outdoors creates a beautiful atmosphere for day to day living and hosting special events. Seamless transitions from indoor to outdoor living spaces creates an elegant home experisnce.

Transforming your landscape doesn’t have to be overwhelming and you don’t have to do it alone.

If you’re dreaming of a pollinator-friendly garden, a serene outdoor sanctuary, or colorful, show-stopping curb appeal, a low-maintenance landscape designed specifically for your vision and dream is possible this season.

Whether you are a planning a new home, remodeling before moving in, or preparing for long-awaited renovations, landscapes have the potential to inspire joy and create beauty as timeless and inviting as the homes they surround. Make this spring the season for wrapping your home in a beautiful and welcoming landscape