When we think about garden design, we often focus on what looks best to us—vibrant flowers in desired color combinations, pathway materials, or layout of the garden beds. Have you ever wondered what a garden might look like if it were designed by the creatures or plants that call it home? What if we let nature take the lead?
Today, we’re stepping into the minds (and wings, and legs, and vines) of four different garden residents to see what their dream garden would include. Let’s explore what a solitary bee, a dragonfly, a bird, and even a gourd would request in their ideal garden space!
A Solitary Bee’s Dream Garden
“Unlike honeybees, I live a quiet, independent life. I don’t have a hive — instead, I live life on my own, but I still need a garden that provides food and shelter throughout the season! Here’s what my perfect pollinator paradise would have:”
- A variety of flowers that bloom from early spring to late fall. I emerge early in the spring, so I need early bloomers like willows, red maples, and fruit trees. Others of my kind emerge later in the season, and plants like asters and goldenrods keep my cousins well-fed in autumn.
- Native plants, please! I’m a pickier eater than honeybees, and I prefer flowers I’ve known for generations and have evolved alongside. Some of my favorites are echinacea, joe-pye weed, lowbush blueberry, and golden alexander.
- A shallow water feature. A still basin with stones for me to perch on would be a lovely place to sip water. If you already have a bird bath, adding stones or something I can sit on while I sip from the water is helpful!
- Large clusters of flowers. Flying long distances is hard for me, and it takes a lot of energy searching for my next meal! Planting flowers in mass means I don’t have to travel as far to get my needed nutrients.
- Undisturbed nesting spots. I live alone in tunnels in the ground or in hollow plant stems. Please leave a small patch of sandy soil or gravel for me to burrow in and raise my children.
- Speaking of stems—please leave them standing after they die back! Once they hollow out, I can use them as my home.
A Dragonfly’s Dream Garden
“I’m a dragonfly, and my life begins in the water! A perfect garden for me would be centered around a pond or water feature, where I can thrive through all my life stages, from nymph to nimble flyer.”
- A pond with clean water—no pesticides or fertilizers, please! I’m sensitive to pollution, and I prefer my water clean and fresh.
- Tall plants like cattails, reeds, and irises along the pond’s edge. These give me somewhere to rest and also a place to lay my eggs.
- Floating plants such as water lilies. Who doesn’t love a place to sit and enjoy their garden? Floating plants create perfect landing pads in the middle of the water.
- Lots of mosquitoes— I’m a voracious mosquito hunter and one of their natural predators! I need insects to eat, and I help keep the mosquito population in check both underwater as a nymph and in the air as an adult.
If a Bird Designed a Garden
“Humans love to hear my song in the spring and watch me through their windows and binoculars. I’m a songbird, and a garden filled with food, shelter, and nesting materials would make my heart sing.”
- Seedy flowers. I love gardens planted with Seedy flowers like coneflowers and sunflowers for me and my feathered friends—Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, and finches.
- Berry-producing trees like serviceberry and elderberry. Cedar Waxwings love these treats, and if you’re lucky, you might see us passing berries back and forth during courtship!
- Long, nectar-filled flowers like honeysuckle and bee balm will keep the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds happy. Nasturtiums are a great addition to the vegetable garden.
- Dead trees. Humans don’t always like how they look but leaving a few standing dead trees (snags)—or even “planting” a dead branch in the ground—can provide cozy nesting spots for woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds, and chickadees. Snags and the insects found on and in them double as a food source for woodpeckers, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, and Brown Creepers.
- Nesting materials. Humans most often think of twigs, branches, and leaves being used for a nest, but birds like me can incorporate inventive materials as well both for both structure and camouflage purposes – spider silk, lichen, plant fluff, and evergreen needles depending on the species of bird.
- Plenty of insects! Don’t be afraid of some bugs in the garden. Many birds are insectivorous, and we rely on caterpillars and other bugs for protein-packed meals. The little caterpillars and other insects that humans may deem as “pests” make a nice bite-to-eat.
If a Gourd Designed a Garden
“I’m from a very old family of plants, and I’m related to cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and squash. My kind have been used as instruments, utensils, food, and decorations. I know exactly what I need to grow my best. Here’s what I’d ask for in my ideal garden spot!”
- A sunny, spacious area where my vines can stretch out. I need at least six hours of sunlight daily, and the more, the better!
- Heat! I thrive in hot temperatures and need a growing season that is at least 100 days long. If you live in the north, I will have a better chance of setting fruit if you transplant young seedlings instead of planting me from seed—sometimes the northeast climate is too cold for me.
- Rich, well-drained soil. A good mix of compost worked into the top few inches of soil will help me thrive. I suffer if I have wet feet, so make sure the soil is well drained!
- A strong trellis to climb! I have long limbs that need a place to stretch out and climb. A trellis keeps my beautiful white flowers visible, makes my gourds easier to harvest, and helps prevent powdery mildew from taking over.
- A steady water supply. I drink up a lot during the growing season, so a nearby hose would be handy!
- Friendly pollinators! Bees help ensure my flowers turn into fruit. To make sure bees come visit me, I’d love to have basil, lavender, hyssop, and sunflowers planted nearby to attract them. The more bees the better!
A Garden for All
Designing a garden with nature in mind is more than just an exercise in creativity—it’s a way to build a thriving, interconnected ecosystem right outside your door. Whether you’re designing a garden to support pollinators, attract birds, or grow beautiful gourds, taking inspiration from nature itself is a great way to create a thriving and sustainable space.
By considering the needs of pollinators like solitary bees, you ensure a steady food supply for the hard-working creatures in your garden. A water source for dragonflies not only provides a beautiful water feature to your garden design, but it can also help naturally control the mosquito populations. Bird-friendly plantings add life and movement to your space while supporting native species throughout the seasons. And even plants, like our gourd friend, remind us that healthy soil and pollination are needed to contribute to a successful harvest.
Whose garden will you design in your own backyard first?
