Urban Prairie Front Landscape

It's not often that we get asked to create a landscape design that has no lawn in it, but that's what our client in Chicago, Illinois requested. He asked for a landscape of mostly natives that would tolerate the tough, city conditions in front of his brick home. We had to design around the recently installed front walk and he also requested that we include the boulevard area in the design.

We included boxwood and birdsnest spruce for year round greenery. A 'Miss Kim' lilac adds fragrance and fall color off the corner of the front porch. The front corner of the space is anchored by a native serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance'. The balance of the plant palette is a mixture or native perennials, nativars and ornamental grasses. Salt tolerance was considered and overall hardiness because of the conditions the plants would be exposed to.

Installed in fall of 2024. Check back for photos.

Designed by Hannah Paulson, landscape designer and James Drzewiecki, CPLD