From Patch of Weeds to Beautiful Boulevard Garden:
My Story Working with Elderflower Garden Designs; By Cori Mattli
When my husband and I bought our first house in the fall of 2021, snow already covered the ground. We weren’t sure what kind of plants would pop up in the spring after the big melt, but we were delighted in April when nubs of green started poking their way through the ground. Best of all in May, the crab apple tree, magnolia tree, and rhododendron all bloomed at once in our front yard in a frenzy of color.
More Flowers for the Bees and Me
Beyond that, though, the perennial plants that emerged were all leafy green foliage. As soon as the trees dropped their petals in early spring, I knew I wanted more flowers to last throughout the season, both to brighten up the yard and to help the pollinators.
Setting My Sights on Revamping the Boulevard Garden
I set my sights on our boulevard garden, which had turned wild with weeds over the summer, an eyesore next to our neighbors’ beautifully set gardens. That fall, I applied for a grant program, Lawns to Legumes, that would help me purchase native flowers to plant in the space. As a new homeowner, I knew I wanted to garden, but I didn’t feel confident and wasn’t sure where to start. The thought of planning the garden was overwhelming. What plants would even thrive there?
Working with Elderflower Garden Design
That’s when Kelsey from Elderflower Garden Design entered the picture to help me plan the garden. Kelsey was a lifesaver! To start, Kelsey asked me a few questions about the boulevard garden and my vision for the space. Then, we scheduled a consultation where she showed me the different varieties of native flowering plants -- all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Kelsey asked me which ones I preferred and taught me a bit about the plants. Kelsey’s calm and gentle demeanor made me feel at ease. She had answers to all my questions and knew the requirements of the Lawns to Legumes grant better than I did and helped to ensure I bought plants that would qualify.
A Lovely Design is Made
Shortly after the consultation, Kelsey sent me a map of the garden design, illustrating where each plant should be placed. Kelsey’s design was both thoughtful and stunning. She took into consideration how I was looking for a low-maintenance garden, wanted flowers blooming throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and how the plants would have to be hardy to survive the salt buildup from the street.
She included a list of plants to buy and quantity, and sent me a list of places to purchase them. Kelsey provided several recommendations for planting in my specific space and guided me on how to take care of the garden once it was planted. With Kelsey’s help, I had everything I needed. I placed a couple of pre-orders for seedlings at local native pop-up markets and knew what I had to do to get started.
Planting with a Plan
Once the garden was designed, the rest seemed easy! I had a plan that I could follow. It took a couple of weekend days for me to fully weed the space, prep the garden, and finally get the plants in the ground. Once it was done, I was so proud.
Watching the Garden Grow
Over the summer, I watered my little plants, weeded around them, and watched them grow. It was incredible to see the first flowers bloom and witness the garden begin buzzing happily with bees and pollinators. One day, I even found a plump monarch caterpillar eating down one of the butterfly weed plants, which brought me so much joy to see. I’m looking forward to seeing how the garden gets even more established over the next few years.
