In 2015, a man was captivated by the untouched beauty of a piece of land known as ‘Lot #1’ in his hometown of Springfield, Missouri. The plot had never been developed, and he was drawn to the native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, as well as the diverse wildlife it harbored. Six and a half years later, he purchased the lot with the intention of building a home in the future.
Upon surveying the property with his wife, they decided to preserve the land’s natural state rather than modify it. Their goal was to protect the existing old-growth trees, particularly a large chinkapin oak, and maintain the site’s ecological history. Due to the property’s location at the base of a 60-foot elevation drop with a significant watershed, they recognized the need to develop a plan to manage stormwater and safeguard their home and the Galloway Creek below. They also enlisted an architect who shared their vision of maintaining the site’s integrity and safeguarding the trees surrounding the home’s footprint.
The couple created a detailed site plan and proposed a native landscape to be approved by the neighborhood association. Their low-maintenance landscape plan included various strategies such as a 175-foot bioswale, a shallow wildlife pool, a 500 square foot rain garden, and a dry creek to control and direct stormwater, allowing it to percolate into the groundwater. They also carefully selected native plants to provide screening and year-round aesthetics, prioritizing seasonal life cycles and environmental benefits. Additionally, they reintroduced resilient native plants lost during home construction and added native species to benefit wildlife and ensure future tree and shrub replacement.
The emphasis on oak trees was due to their importance to nesting songbirds, as they support numerous protein-rich caterpillars and larvae, crucial for supporting successful songbird broods. Most native plantings were sourced from Forrest Keeling Nursery, known for their high-quality native plants from the region and their RPM production technique, which increases survivability and plant growth speed.
Despite its natural appearance, the landscape design was deliberate, with plant material selected to fit different natural community sites on their 1.25-acre property. The natural landscape complemented the home’s modern architecture and helped blend the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Less than a year after installation, the native plantings are thriving, attracting a variety of wildlife species. Pollinators such as native bees, butterflies, and moths are drawn to the wildflowers, while nesting birds, turkeys, owls, hawks, and other animals have also made the area their home.
The couple believes that their diverse range of native plants serves as natural bird feeders, contributing to the preservation of local biodiversity and the protection of the stream below their property.
Forrest Keeling Nursery is North America’s largest native plant nursery. Contact us for native plant recommendations for your residential or commercial native project.