When Dan Pilla envisioned his first home, he saw “acres and acres of land with mature trees, pristine lawns, and lush gardens.” However, when the reality of home prices kicked in five years ago, Dan put those dreams on hold and vowed to make the most of the “1/10 of an acre, one mature tree, patchy grass, and nonexistent gardens” that he could afford in western New Jersey.

Knowing that his young family was growing and this likely wouldn’t be their forever home, Dan decided to use this small plot as his own personal trial garden. “On our little spot, I have tried nearly 1,000 different types of flowering plants, shrubs, and small trees. I keep a list of my favorites that will one day be a part of our future gardens,” he says. Through all of this experimenting, Dan discovered that many of the plants he was most drawn to fell into two categories: unusual plants that are visually striking, and plants that attract and support pollinators. These selections have helped create a garden that is both beautiful and beneficial, with favorites including tiger flower (Tigridia pavonia, Zones 8–10), false anemone (Anemonopsis macrophylla, Zones 4–8), ‘So Successful’ needle-leaf pincushion (Leucospermum lineare ‘So Successful’, Zones 9–11), scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus, Zones 6–9), ‘Jeana’ garden phlox (Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’, Zones 4–8), and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4–9) taking center stage.

While the plant trials continue to be a smashing success, Dan’s small garden has become so much more than a place to experiment. With two daughters, Dan and his wife also enjoy making memories in their petite but bountiful space. The girls particularly like picking cherries and grapes, drying lavender, planting seeds and bulbs, and even starting planting beds of their own. All the time spent gardening with his family has taught Dan lessons that aren’t just applicable to outdoor spaces. “On a practical level, this property has helped me define what I see as the purpose of my garden,” he explains. He has found the landscape is an extension of his home, another room to enrich his family life. Working his small plot has taught him how to love well, with patience, planning, intentionality, protection, consistency, and admiration. “Many of the categories of care that are necessary for my garden are equally necessary for my family,” he says.

Dan has also learned that the grass is not always greener in a bigger space, and what was once a disappointment might have been a blessing in disguise. “Despite the relatively small size of my garden, it can make considerable demands on my time through planting, weeding, pruning, deadheading, and the like,” he says. While it can be easy to get lost in the chores, he works hard to prioritize all the important aspects of his life—even if that means letting the landscape grow wild sometimes.

It’s safe to say that when Dan and his family eventually leave this small garden behind, it won’t be remembered as a space they were limited to, but as a special place where they were able to learn, grow, and blossom. Dan explains, “We may never own acres and acres—and after seeing how much work 1/10 of an acre is, I don’t think I want to—but we found a kind of richness on our little plot of land.”

Kaitlyn Hayes is the editor of the Garden Photo of the Day blog. Follow her on Instagram @agirlherdogandtheroad.

Photos: Daniel Pilla

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