In the article Two Inspired Designs for a Front Yard gardeners Jeff Epping and John Mathews shared their stunning design alternatives to the standard lawn. Situated in Madison, Wisconsin, both properties are now sources of inspiration for the surrounding neighborhood, pulling people off the curb and into these immersive landscapes.

These two gardeners have completely reimagined their front yards, turning small, street-facing spaces into breathtaking landscapes that defy convention. One property now thrives as a pollinator-friendly gravel garden, while the other showcases a serene, Asian-inspired retreat filled with texture and movement. If you’re ready to transform your curbside patch into something extraordinary, check out the hardworking plants that helped make these designs come to life.

Front Yard 1: A Pollinator Garden

1. Calamint (Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, Zones 5-7)
2. ‘Summer Beauty’ allium (Allium ‘Summer Beauty’, Zones 4-9)
3. Curlyleaf yucca (Yucca filamentosa, Zones 5-10)
4. Eastern hop hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana, Zones 3-9)
5. Invincibelle® Wee White smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA5’, Zones 3-9)
6. ‘Hicksii’ yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’, Zones 4-7)
7. Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora, Zones 4-8)
8. ‘Venus’ Carolina allspice (Calycanthus ‘Venus’, Zones 5-9)
9. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5-9)
10. ‘Green Gem’ boxwood (Buxus ‘Green Gem’, Zones 4-9)
11. ‘Robustissima’ Japanese anemone (Anemone tomentosa ‘Robustissima’, Zones 4-8)
12. ‘Pee Wee’ oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’, Zones 5-9)

1. ‘The Blues’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’, Zones 3-9)
2. Tartarian statice (Goniolimon tataricum, Zones 4-10)
3. Calamint (Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta, Zones 5-7)
4. Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata, Zones 4-8)
5. ‘Prairie Moon’ rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Prairie Moon’, Zones 3-8)
6. Glossy creeping sedum (Sedum selskianum, Zones 4-8)
7. ‘Summer Beauty’ allium (Allium ‘Summer Beauty’, Zones 4-9)
8. Flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata, Zones 4-8)
9. Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra, Zones 5-9)
10. Woodbine (Clematis virginiana, Zones 3-8)

Front Yard 2: An Asian-inspired Garden Oasis

1. ‘Northern Lights’ dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Northern Lights’, Zones 5-9)
2. Brass buttons (Leptinella squalida, Zones 4-10)
3. ‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Zones 5-9)
4. ‘Slowmound’ mugo pine (Pinus mugo ‘Slowmound’, Zones 3-7)
5. Arborvitae (Thuja cv., Zones 2-9)
6. ‘Gyoko Sho Hime’ dwarf Japanese white pine (Pinus parviflora ‘Gyoko Sho Hime’, Zones 5-9)
7. ‘Tamukeyama’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Tamukeyama’, Zones 5-8)
8. ‘Valley Cushion’ mugo pine (Pinus mugo ‘Valley Cushion’, Zones 2-7)
9. ‘Bailey’s Gold’ sedum (Sedum floriferum ‘Bailey’s Gold’, Zones 3-8)
10. ‘Seiryu’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Seiryu’, Zones 5-9)

1. Solenia® Yellow Rieger begonia (Begonia x hiemalis cv., annual)
2. ‘Wendy’ heuchera (Heuchera ‘Wendy’, Zones 4-9)
3. ‘Noble Spirits’ Dwarf goat’s beard (Aruncus aethusifolius ‘Noble Spirits’, Zones 3-7)
4. ‘Blue Shadow’ fothergilla (Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Blue Shadow’, Zones 5-8)
5. ‘Bartzella’ Itoh peony (Paeonia ‘Bartzella’, Zones 4-9)
6. Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia, Zones 5-8)
7. Arborvitae (Thuja cv., Zones 2-9)
8. ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Zones 3-8)
9. ‘Crimson Queen’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’, Zones 5-9)
10. ‘Snow Flurry’ dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Snow Flurry’, Zones 5-9)

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