Heather and Bill's home is situated on the banks of the Vermilion River in the historic Mouton Gardens area and their backyard floods when the river rises above ~10.5'. When they moved to their home 30 years ago, the landscaping was of a standard subdivision design. There was even St. Augustine turfgrass in the backyard, but subsequent floods killed that. Their landscape (& home design) are responsive to the natural environment around them, with the home and formal landscaping 30' higher than the backyard. Their sloped beds are full of prairie plants such as Liatris, several species of Asclepias, rattlesnake master, asters, mallows, Rudbeckia, and more, designed to hold sediment in place. The beds facing the street showcase Indian pink, Monarda fistulosa, and a gorgeous Nuttall oak. Walking down the slope towards the river, the stump of what used to be a mighty oak is surrounded by coreopsis, Monarda fistulosa, and Rudbeckia galore. Continuing down the path towards the mighty Vermilion, cypress trees soar above your head and surround an ephemeral wetland. Heather and Bill's ability to let nature do its thing and intervene when necessary is evident! What began as a search for plants that would survive a flood has become a haven for native plants.
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