The owners of this suburban home wanted to transform their lawn into a lively, dynamic space, and they hoped to cultivate a garden that engaged with plant species from the nearly extirpated xeric grasslands that once dotted this region of Pennsylvania.

Valley garden relies on a suite of species from those grasslands, yet it also includes accents of regionally native and a few non-native species to prolong the season of flower and to attract higher numbers of pollinators. The result is an interpretation of a local grassland. A main plant feature of the garden is large areas of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum), a plant that draws countless pollinators on sunny days.

Beyond offering a beautiful and immersive place, the garden also serves as a privacy barrier. The portion of the planting that borders a neighbor’s lawn is planted densely in oaks that will be coppiced every few years, forming a hedge.