Lawn to Meadow
Fayerweather St., Cambridge
For this lawn removal and new garden design project, it was very important to our client to create a space to draw people in and not keep them out. This led us to design a whimsical stepping stone path which invites the neighborhood children to enjoy this lively pollinator garden. Drawing in birds, bees, and butterflies, this project turned an unused lawn space into a beautifully-curated garden for the whole neighborhood to enjoy. A wide array of flowers, from Joe Pye Weed, to Salvia and Wild Quinine, provide plenty of pollen and nectar for insects. The Chokeberry shrubs and Prairie Drop Seed grass supply food for birds and chipmunks.
The garden design is relatively loose and natural, but still balanced and cohesive.
Sidewalk plants need to be tough and tolerant of heat, salt, and drought.
Salvia 'Purple Rain,' Allium azureum, and Blazing Star provide a pleasing mix of color and texture.
As the garden matures, Wild Quinine and other tall natives provide privacy and buffer noise.
The hard edges and clean lines of the stepping stones contrast nicely with the dense plantings.
The beautiful combination of Blue Mist Flower, White Snake Root and Joe Pye Weed provides late-season food for pollinators.
Seed heads add depth to the color palette.
Plenty of interest in this fall garden.
After install it's easy to that staggering different sizes of stone creates rhythm and movement.
The big reveal on installation day.
BEFORE. This unimaginative patch of lawn wasn't adding much value or interest.