By Hannah Wente | Photography by Shanna Wolf
These local gardens prioritize texture over color for backyard spaces that are all but understated.
Eastern Influence
When Mary and Jim Baliker built their house in the Town of Middleton 20 years ago, the backyard was … blah. With a goal to beautify and improve their yard, the couple set out to create a reflective space for themselves and their friends to relax in. A Japanese garden seemed like the perfect fit.
In Full Bloom
Marla Rybowiak comes from a long line of gardeners, including her grandmother, a Polish immigrant, her mother and siblings. In 1996, she and husband Jeff Deacetis moved to a home in the Westmorland neighborhood with an established garden. It also had a small patio and lawn.
Garden Greetings
No Mow May (beecityusa.org) has grown in popularity around the world. People pause mowing their lawn to help early-season pollinators find habitats and food. It’s also important to support pollinators all summer long by planting native plants to replace or provide edging for your lawn.
Located on Paunack Avenue, this Little Free Library has a monarch butterfly pollinator station and garden in the Westmorland neighborhood. Photographer Shanna Wolf says the neighborhood places an emphasis on native plantings and no pesticides.
