I am currently in the planning stages of my back garden, which is only about 1/2 acre. While I will be changing the topography by landscaping this summer, this will produce a more varied environment than the existing gentle slope, resulting in more micro-habitats to suit and encourage a larger number of species of both flora and fauna. While I will be including non-native plants, I plan to keep some focus on native species, especially those native plants known to have practical or medicinal value, such as the "volunteer" native "wild lettuce" I've found and avoided mowing over. The whole area was completely overgrown with honeysuckle and blackberries chest-high when I bought the place two years ago, and with a riding mower (lawn tractor style), I rode down and cut paths through it so my daughter could get to the blackberries and pick them. When the blackberries stopped producing, I mowed the entire interior, leaving a hedge of honeysuckle and blackberries about four feet wide between my garden and the neighbors' yards on all three sides, and the vegetation adapted much more quickly than I thought it would, becoming lawn-like by the next summer without any encouragement other than regular mowing. Although the only large trees currently on the plot are a few pines and a sweetgum tree, I did spare several small oaks of different species (some of which I will move to better locations) and a few medium sized wild fruit trees, one of which has just this year bloomed and is growing fruit. (I first thought they were plums, but now I'm leaning toward crab apple due to the number of fruits in each cluster--more on that elsewhere.) The landscaping will create about three distinct levels marked by rockwork and/or thick hedge type plantings, allowing separate garden "rooms" which will each have a particular focus and style. Laid out across the levels will be a lined (but natural looking) stream stretching from a waterfall at the back corner to a medium sized lined pond at the opposite corner, which will recirculate back to the waterfall. A smaller, unlined natural pond will catch any overflow from the lined pond, as well as run-off which naturally collects there now after a hard rain. Although I don't see any attraction for deer in my plans (deer have plenty of natural habitat nearby), there should be many attractions for smaller wildlife, especially with the existing and future trees, the rockwork, thick plantings and large water feature. I've been collecting all the elements such as tons (literally) of large rocks, plant stock and decorative items for years, but at the moment, it is all waiting on me to get my tractor and blade over here to do the initial landscaping before I can start the rockwork and planting. When I'm done, I'm sure it will qualify under the program guidelines. I'll probably post a blog as I go, complete with photos of the progress.
Radly
