If you are thinking about making your yard more sustainable or eco-friendly in the coming year, have you considered creating a native landscape? To me, creating and nurturing a space that is in sync with the wider ecosystem is far more than a fad or gardening trend - it is a way to build a yard that is beautiful, biodiverse, resource-efficient, and in sync with the landscape beyond the garden fence.
As a former professional gardener, I have worked in many different gardens, and whether growing in Wales, England, or Italy, working with the wider landscape and using plants that are native to your region is a surefire way to success. In Tuscany, for example, fragrant lavender, rosemary and several species of iris all thrive in their native Mediterranean climate, requiring little care or attention despite the scorching summer heat. It made so much more sense to grow these native plants as opposed to thirsty roses or peonies.
