This project was especially challenging in that the garden and house were built on the edge of marshland and endured heavy flooding from the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay on a regular basis. It took hours of plant research to come up with a plant palette that would be pretty to look at from the second story porches and rooms but that would also tolerate standing water for days at a time, followed by weeks of drought.

However, this garden project was also a wonderful opportunity to use native plants in abundance, embracing the natural beauty of indigenous plants while supporting biodiversity in a fragile ecosystem.

The transition from lawn to a highly designed “wet meadow” to the marshes beyond provided the homeowners with a space for their young children and dogs to play and a boundary between them and the beautiful marshes and creek beyond.

Not only are the grasses and perennials in this garden a haven for bees and butterflies but also stand up to flooding, drought and hot summer temps.

THE DOWNS

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