Elizabeth and Andrew Drozda-Freeman, 1308 Juliet St.

When we bought this house one and a half years ago, it had a large St. Augustine lawn in full sun. We quickly went to work digging out the thirsty grass and replacing it with a much more interesting and environmentally friendly landscape.

Just eight months after planting things have really filled in! We have planted lots of vegetables along with our ornamental plants, so that our yard can provide a feast for our stomachs as well as our eyes.

Environmentally friendly maintenance means using lots of mulch, making and using compost, avoiding chemicals in the yard, harvesting rainwater, and using a mower that burns calories—not fossil fuels!

Native plants in the landscape attract birds and butterflies to the garden. Using plants with different forms, textures, and colors also adds to the aesthetic interest of the landscape.