Virginia 2025

Before

After

The lawn has been removed and a meadow transformation is occurring. There was also a volunteer oak that came up in the mulched area when the mother-tree died.
View from the opposite direction, but you can see how the meadow is establishing and signs were added to let neighbors know the work is intentional to support birds and biodiversity.
This property owner has fallen in love with birds and nature and wants to plant beneficial things to support them.
So many birds have been seen in this garden eating seeds and foraging in the leaves.
An oak tree died and made this shady area full sun killing shade-loving shrubs. Sun-loving native forbs will be added.
Lovely yellow coreopsis is happy along with all the other natives that survived the dry, hot summer with no watering. They are hoping to see more blooms in the spring.
Homeowner is adding a native plant garden along the fence.
A new garden installed!
The daffodils and lilies are being replaced with native plants.
Beautiful plants are establishing well and will provide additional resources in this bird-friendly garden.
Lots of spots for native plant habitat.
This property has been planting for wildlife for several years. Each year they remove invasive plants and introduce new species. This year, columbine, coral honeysuckle, redbuds, pokeweed and deerbush were either planted or allowed to grow as volunteers.
Nandina shrubs are being replaced with natives to help birds.
This Little Henry Sweetspire (Itea virginica) replace nandina. Better habitat and lovely fall color.
This new home was finished and sod put in place. Now homeowner will be adding native plants to attract birds, insects, and other wildlife.
Beautiful start filling this this portion of the yard with a lovely fence that sets off establishing native garden beds.
This home hopes to attract warblers and waxwings with the addition of a serviceberry tree/shrub.
A new serviceberry was used by birds as they headed towards the feeders. The berries got a rust on them so the birds didn’t get them this year, but there’s always next year!
Circular garden ready for some fun, fresh natives species!
This garden has attracted American goldfinch, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies this year. Most of the species are native monarda, sunflowers, coreopsis, and milkweed.
Patio plants to attract birds will be added with the desire to create a balcony meadow.
This balcony proves that even a small space can provide incredible native plant resources that support biodiversity.
More native plants are on the way. Still deciding between, Chrysogonum virginianum, yarrow, or agastache.
Yarrow, salvia, agastache, and super tall goldenrod at the back. Phenomenal growth due to rainfall this year.
This 100 x 100 garden will be converted to native species this year.
This nook saw more butterflies and migrating warblers this year.
New natives in pots to promote biodiversity.
Virginia Mountain Mint bloomed well and attracted pollinators
This strip will become an established native plant garden outside the enclosed garden to encourage pollinators and birdlife.
The plants in front of the fence are a mixture of native and nonnative everything was nibbled by herbivores except the butterfly. More deer resistant varieties will be added next year.
This native area has been an ongoing project. The wall was created in 2008. By 2012, it was covered in aggressive invasive species which have been removed overtime. Spicebush was seeded using an onsite plant and now young plants are big enough to be added to provide a long-term resource for birds and pollinators. Additional ground covers will also be added.
Spicebush have been added after ongoing wrestling with invasive species. They will fill in over time. Cages will help protect the small plants as they grow. Critical habitat was created for a variety of species including the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.
The plan is to add bird and butterfly perennials to help biodiversity.
This vibrant wildflower patch has attracted a lot of birds and butterflies.
This spot will be enhanced with native plants to support birds, butterflies, and people. The new bridge leads to a rain garden.
A large number of bees, wasps, and hummingbirds were seen on cardinal flower, blazing star, and mountain mint in this gorgeous rain garden.
More native plants are planned for this spot.
New side garden with lots of happy plugs sure to fill in and attract a multitude of new birds and pollinators.
Small hackberry in pot will be added to an already full garden near a water feature for birds.
A hackberry seedling has been added to this vibrant garden
Homeowner is trying to increase native plants that benefit local fauna
New plants have been added to this new bed
Homeowner plans to add a native shrub with colorful fall berries for bird habitat.
Red Chokeberry and Coral Honeysuckle were added near the bird feeders. Virginia Creeper filled in the space and birds love the chokeberry for perching.
Homeowner is adding a variety of native perennials, grasses, and hopefully a nice shrub or two to this bed.
This property owner had doubts that their small garden plot would make a difference, but they were delighted to provide different flowering plants all season resulting in supporting a variety of pollinators including 22 monarch caterpillars!
This balcony will be filled with natives to attract birds. Current resident moved into a condo from a house with native plant gardens! They know native plants are the best for biodiversity!
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds came to the feeder and the Obedient Plant, while a small bee was spotted on the goldenrod.
Barrier was put down to suppress weeds and provide a cleaner template for natives to be added.
Fighting non-native, invasive kudzu and bamboo, and planted cupplant and sunflowers. This gardener has come full circle to appreciate the volunteer pokeweed, which is enjoyed so much by grey catbirds – they are no longer stressed by the “Jurassic Park” look but have come to appreciate the benefits of some untidy spots.
Homeowner reports that lots of birds visit this yard so they want to make it more welcoming. Native plant additions need to be dog-friendly, too!
Bees and hummingbirds were attracted by the additional plants
This is the fourth area on the property with natives. The site is dry shade near the driveway. They are adding yarrow, Dixie fern, and wild quinine
This is a tough spot but the ferns are doing well. Other newly added plants have gone dormant.
Gardens that attract birds and insects are planned for this spot.
Grass has been removed and new plants added
This area along the fence line which had been an old and dying group of non-native shrubs. They will be replaced with a variety of natives, predominantly those that provide berries for birds.
Viburnum, Oak-leaved Hydrangea, Silky and Red-osier Dogwoods were added to provide cover and food.
Native perennials, such as foamflower, will be added to this border garden in the front yard.
Border garden had some success with new native plants will also loosing a few.
The faint marker shows where the lawn will be shrunk up to the small tree and along the driveway with native perennials for birds and biodiversity.
Monarda baptisia, spiderwort, wild basil, coneflower, side oats grass, blue stem, coreopsis, milkweed and sneezeweed were all added and will fill in this space with an abundant menu for local wildlife.
Homeowners is adding plants to attract birds to the yard and provide colorful flowers.
Bees were numerious on this Rudabeckia.
Homeowner is planting for pollinators and birds but deer pressure often makes plant establishment difficult.
The leyland cyprus was replaced with a native eastern red cedar.

Remaining Before Photos

Native plants planned for the bare spots.
More native plants are being added for birds and bees such as coneflower, cardinal flower, rudbeckia goldstrum, asters, goldenroad, and several other woodland species.
Native plants will be added to provide food for birds and butterflies.
Removing invasive plants to make way for native plant additions.
Large space with lots of potential to add native habitat.
After discouraging invasive english ivy, privet, and periwinkle, this property is adding a diversity of native plants.
Homeowner has plants to attract more birds and insects with native plant gardens.
Hazelnuts (Corylus americana) will be added to area left of the red dots. A powerline was discovered here–important to know where those are when creating gardens. The hazelnuts will be fenced due to browsing pressure from local deer.
This yard has been converting to native plants since 2019 with trees dying, nonnatives removed, and the yard being managed for invasive species.
The Nandina shrubs will be removed and replaced with native shrubs that do more for birds.
A new native elderberry. The birds will love it.
Lots of deer pressure in this area make adding native plants challenging, but homeowners keep trying!
Homeowner finds adding native plants is better for the environment and easier/less cost to maintain.
Woodland plant species will be added here that help birds and other wildlife.
Lovely garden underway to support birds, bees and butterflies.
This homeowner has been adding natives for years. Now they are replacing nonnatives with new wildlife-friendly options.
This spot used to have a pine tree and a lot of English ivy. Both have been removed and it is ready for a new native garden.
This property already converted one area this spring and had so much fun, they decided to do both sides of their driveway.
A birdbath as well as some low growing native plants will be added around the rotting stump.
This hillside become shady with the growth of an invasive tree. This tree recently fell opening up light, again. Homeowner will add sun-loving natives that provide color and vibrancy.
Homeowner will devote some pots to natives to improve biodiversity.
This property sees wildlife in the area and wanted to add more diversity so that they visit the yard. This is a new elderberry shrub with native violets in front. More plants are being added soon!
Homeowner is replacing planting a bird favorite, aronia, after removing Bradford pear and a butterfly bush.

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