Turn a Barren Lot Into a Garden Bursting With Life

Before and after in a central Minnesota garden

Sarah shares the beautiful transformation in her fundamental Minnesota garden :

We ’ve lived at our home for almost 10 years now . It was a waste , lifeless draw with not a critter to be found except ants and a few grasshoppers when we moved in . Each year I discover new species of birds , bug , amphibians , and mammals . With the stresses we ’ve placed upon the earth , I ’ve been very motivated to grow natives the past few age , which I enjoy starting from ejaculate . I roll in the hay wild , overgrown , unruly gardening that follows the rule of thumb of nature . I think people make garden far more unmanageable than it should be . I hop-skip all chemicals in my garden , pee nothing once it ’s constitute , and leave behind everything up for the native insects that overwinter in our rough climate by burrow into the dry stems . Then I chop everything into big chunk and let it fall to the ground below , where it remains as mulch and adds organic matter to the dirt .

Before : a whole lot of nothing . A boring circumstances for people to look at , and nothing to bear aboriginal insect and other animals .

After : what a transformation !

childlike archway support a vining feeding bottle - gourd plant ( Lagenaria siceraria , yearly ) twining around a cheerful yellowsunflower .

Using a wide range of plants create a rich , complex landscape that can corroborate a diverse cast of aboriginal insects , birds , and other animals .

This garden is n’t just a with child position for aboriginal wildlife . Humans vernal and onetime have blot to sit and play . Ecologically sensitive gardening can ferment for everyone .

Which would you rather have ? Sarah ’s plush garden , or the boring empty lawns of the planetary house across the street ?

Neatly mown grass paths twine through the wild garden , beckoning you on to search and love !

Have photo to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a special collecting of plants you know , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit !

To give in , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some selective information about the plants in the pictures and where you postulate the photo . We ’d love to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are proud of , failure you learned from , hopes for the future tense , preferent plants , or funny account from your garden .

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