Front Garden — The Woodlands

This south-facing front garden was redesigned as a soft, low-maintenance cottage-style landscape that brings year-round color and pollinator activity to the property. The existing bed, once dominated by declining roses, is transformed into a layered native planting scheme that feels abundant yet orderly — a garden meant to thrive in full Texas sun while complementing the architecture of the home.

A framework of structural evergreens forms the backbone of the design. The existing dwarf yaupon hollies near the entry are preserved and echoed with junipers placed toward the rear of the bed, creating balance, rhythm, and winter structure. This evergreen repetition gives the garden a timeless base and anchors the more dynamic seasonal layer.

Within this structure, the planting design leans deeply into hardy Texas natives chosen for resilience, wildlife value, and extended bloom. Mealy blue sage, Gregg’s mistflower, coreopsis, gaura, penstemon, liatris, and standing cypress create a long flowering season — early spring color shifting into summer movement and late-season nectar. Showy evening primrose fills edges and transitions, softening the bed lines and helping the garden feel full from the first growing season.

The palette is intentionally 80–90% native, reflecting the Gulf Prairie and Blackland Prairie ecoregions. These species tolerate Houston’s heat, work well with the existing irrigation, and offer reliable performance with only seasonal cutbacks. As the garden matures, it will support butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees while requiring significantly less maintenance than the original planting.

The result is a front garden that balances formality and softness — evergreen structure paired with an expressive, pollinator-rich native layer. A welcoming, ecological cottage garden that enhances curb appeal and evolves with the seasons.

Target Installation: Winter 2025