Lawn be gone

 When I bought this house in April 2016, there was grass, grass and more grass (not even lush green grass), along with a few ornamental plants.  Even the soil was lifeless - not a worm in sight.

The ornamentals had to go - they had no real purpose. I like plants to have at least two reasons for existing. Reasons such as': attractive, edible, attract native wildlife, scent, unusual seeds, attract beneficial insects, add nutrients to soil, NZ native - especially those that are local to the area and are now rare. 

Since then, I've planted fast growing natives by the fences and areas of wild flowers or smaller native areas to create interest, give privacy and shelter.

Front garden
These photos show how I'm working with nature to add interest and improve the environment for wildlife. 
​Hover over each photo for the story. 

Back garden
The back garden had a raised bed, a dead lawn, and some straggly pittosporums. Photos show how adding plants over time has added colour, life, diversity and more.