Is your garden sustainable? Would you derive pleasure from hearing bird songs and the sound of frogs, enjoying butterflies, and spending hours enjoying the beautiful seasonal flowering perennials and bulbs?

More and more home gardeners are turning their attention to the conservation of resources, and have found  that the use of native and naturalized plants changes their garden environment to a working ecosystem. They have enjoyed seeing the many habitats created by using sustainable garden methods, and spend more time enjoying the garden, since the work hours are greatly reduced.

Home gardeners will find the sustainable gardens easy to install, and enjoy the hours of peace and tranquility the garden brings.

The first thing needed for any garden is a good deep design plan  and a selection of plants that will bloom throughout the seasons. Layering with perennials, bulbs, flowers, and ground cover creates a well-balanced aesthetic.

A good design eliminates guesswork, and the homeowner knows the results in advance. Most designers will create a variety of foliage that complements one another, and a variety of sizes that gives form and density to the garden.  Color plays a large part in any garden; whether it is a monochromatic theme or a variety of colors, good placement of color and textures gives the garden visual interest. A good design is the heart of the garden.

Camellias, gardenias, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, narcissus, tulips, irises, hyacinth bulbs, daisies, phlox, roses and herbs are some of the plants I enjoy using that I feel enhance sustainability. I also like spicing the garden with colorful annuals that not only aid the soil, but attract welcome insects and birds.

As an environmentalist and a sustainable landscape designer, I am interested in deep landscape designs that build ecosystems to produce beautiful natural habitats.

It is easy to choose plants and other elements that are suited to local conditions and harmonize with the recycling of nature. Each element in the ecosystem  must play a beneficial role to minimize dysfunctional effects by the use of organic materials.

The design can incorporate any style or theme. The installation can be divided into smaller projects and planted over a longer period of time or at the appropriate time best suited for the plant.

The installation can easily be done by the home gardener or professionally.

I am preparing to install sustainable gardens on my own property. I began by building a fence around the perimeter. A Japanese-style plan of varying combinations of plants will make my project a tranquil retreat. I plan to complete my new gardens within a year.

Then, like so many gardeners, I like forward to the day I can sit in my garden and enjoy the many animals, insects and spectacular colors and perfumes a sustainable garden provides.

I will keep you posted on my progress.