An Enchanting Garden Created with Plants Native to Wisconsin

Every August, the Prakash family enjoys hosting outdoor gatherings in their backyard garden, when it is in full bloom and filled with visiting birds, butterflies and bees.

Gita grew up appreciating native plants at home and in nature preserves, from her birthplace in New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, Texas and California. As a Biology major in college and later living and working abroad in India and Canada, she learned how native plants benefit ecosystems, globally. Moving to Whitefish Bay has given her the time and space to landscape almost exclusively with plants native to Wisconsin.

Initially, Gita consulted Danielle Bell of Native Roots LLC to address the erosion-prone slope of turf grass on the property’s west side. After smothering the grassy slope with cardboard and mulch for a year, they planted a collection of deep-rooted native grasses and sedges.

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) grows in elegant mounds with roots up to fifteen feet deep, absorbing and holding runoff water like a giant sponge. On the adjacent sidewalk, it has helped reduce both spring and summer rain-related runoff puddles and winter snowmelt-related ice.

Copper-shouldered oval sedge (Carex bicknellii) also has deep roots, but its taller, heavier leaf blades tend to fall over. Gita periodically trims the sedge to address this challenge. The intricately structured oval-shaped spikes dry beautifully for home decor.

Gita now sources plants from Prairie Moon Nursery and Prairie Future Seed Company. Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), native red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), maple leaf alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), and foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia) on the west side slope provide interesting blooms and colors from early spring through fall.

The south-facing backyard has defined planting areas around the border and supports a mix of Wisconsin native plants. In sun-filled areas, the magenta-purple, tall ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata) and pink Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum) flowers attract several species of bee and butterfly. Hummingbirds target the bright red cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis).

Monarch butterflies lay eggs on the swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and migrating monarch butterflies stop for nectar at the meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis). Bees and other insects spend hours with the blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) and obedient plants (Physostegia virginiana).

Shaded areas support native plants that emerge in spring, including bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), starry Solomon’s plume (Maianthemum stellatum), and wild ginger (Asarum canadense). The ‘no-mow lawn’ includes native fescues and other soft grasses.

Gita is continuously learning about Wisconsin’s native plants from local friends and Facebook communities. Native plant gardening has helped her learn and deeply appreciate Wisconsin’s natural history and beauty. She encourages others in the community to give it a try.

Meet the Highlighted Plants of the Prakash Garden