Suburban Sanctuary: A Garden for Food and Wildlife

The stone patio and seating area were designed to be viewed and enjoyed from the house. Decorative touches include containers and window boxes planted with cheerfully colored annuals.

A miniature water garden planted with aquatic varieties is one of several water features. “I didn’t want an in-ground pond that required a lot of maintenance. Placing water features in different spots around the yard helps to attract a variety of birds and other wildlife,” Allison says. A log pedestal is one of many natural features from the property that are integrated into the landscape.

Allison divided the yard into garden rooms, each with a different function. This serene Japanese garden was sited off the back porch in one of the few areas with shade. A bubble fountain provides the soothing sound of trickling water that can be enjoyed from the porch or inside the home. An adjacent fenced dog run provides a place for pets to play. (Read more about garden rooms.)

Because the native soil was rocky, raised vegetable beds were essential. The four beds produce an abundance of tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, salad greens and herbs. An adjacent seating area with a fire pit is a favorite place to lounge on summer evenings.

Found at a garage sale, a 1940’s bicycle is one of many vintage objects that Allison incorporates into the garden. “It reflects my passion for bicycle riding,” she says. A basket planted with bright yellow coreopsis complements the blue bicycle frame.

The wedge-shaped property presented a challenge when it came to designing the different garden rooms since nothing is square. An odd shaped secluded corner became a secret garden with cozy seating that is illuminated at night with decorative solar lanterns.

In the vegetable garden, Allison combines function with beauty to create this imaginative vignette. Blue Lake pole beans are trained on an arbor that arches over a wooden tub planted with rhubarb. The curved shape of the arbor contrasts with the straight fence lines, while bold rhubarb foliage sets off the smaller heart-shaped bean foliage to create an engaging scene.

An old cement birdbath was repurposed into a low-maintenance succulent garden that needs little or no supplemental water. The birdbath is topped with a classic urn planted with more succulents and spiky dracaena for additional height and Victorian flair.

A vintage copper teakettle repurposed into garden decor creates an element of whimsy. The kettle is planted with annual bidens and creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) that provide months of cheerful summer color.

Lavender, a favorite plant of pollinating bees, is harvested to share with friends and hung to dry. Allison uses the dried lavender buds to make Christmas gifts such as scented sachets and soaps, as well as flavored salt.

Allison collects vintage items found at antiques stores, specialty shops, yard sales and online sources. An old bench found on a farm is used to display potted herbs, a rustic wooden toolbox becomes a miniature succulent garden, and a tin bucket is repurposed as a planter for lavender.

‘Rosita’ hummingbird mint (Agastache cana) is one of Allison’s favorite plants. This upright shrubby perennial blooms profusely with rose-pink flower spikes from early summer to fall. “I like the structure and scent that it adds to the garden. The hummingbirds and insect pollinators love it,” Allison says.

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Lavendelturm’) is always an attention getter with garden visitors. “It’s not a well-known plant, so most people have never seen it before,” says Allison. She likes the unique candelabra-like structure it adds to the pollinator border, plus it’s a favorite of bees and butterflies. This adaptable hardy perennial, which blooms from mid-summer to fall, produces showy blooms on robust stalks up to 6 feet tall.