Overhead view of a curving flagstone path weaving through densely planted native perennials and grasses, with trees casting dappled shade on the layered garden design.

Woodland Entry Garden

A Front Yard Blossoming into a Deer-Resistant, Multi-Generational Native Landscape to Explore

About this Project

Summer 2025

This Northern New Jersey project reimagined a shaded, sloped front yard as a welcoming entry sequence that balances elegance, ecological function, and long-term ease of maintenance.

What was once a lawn with patchy beds and mulch is now a layered native plant garden featuring over 600 native plants. Designed to thrive in fast-draining soils and withstand heavy deer pressure, the garden includes a matrix of ornamental grasses, sedges, asters, and mint-family perennials. An American Hornbeam and Eastern Red Cedar frame the lot, while native shrubs and tall grasses help buffer sight lines to/from the neighbors. 

A new meandering garden path made from wide, locally sourced bluestone steppers connects the entry to the street, easily navigable for both retired residents and their energetic granddaughter, who affectionately calls it “the jungle.” Large boulders, some stretching nearly three feet across, create moments of rest and subtly guide circulation.

A close-up of bright yellow coreopsis flowers in full bloom, their petals glowing in the sunlight against a softly blurred green background.

featured plant
Threadleaf
Coreopsis
verticillata

Project Facts

Native Plant Count: 611

Planted Area: ~1400 sqft

Repurposed: 12 sqft of Stepping Stones

Plant Palette: Foamflower, Appalachian Mountain Mint, Little Bluestem, Wild Strawberry, Dwarf Fothergilla, Wood Aster, Culver’s Root

Ecosystem Services: Pollinator support, erosion control, drought resilience, low-maintenance after establishment

Hardscaping: Locally sourced bluestone steppers, 3’ fieldstone boulders

Seasonal Interest: Spring foamflower & columbine; summer false indigo & milkweed; fall wood aster and spicebush; winter seedheads and grass stalks.

Before the garden. A view of the front yard before installation, showing overgrown grass and the craftsman-style house in the background.
A Path Takes Shape. Aerial view of the newly installed flagstone path winding through fresh plantings and boulders.
Soft Arrival. New native grasses and shrubs define the approach to the front porch with a meandering stone path.
Layers of texture. Wide shot of the new garden bed showing perennial groupings and early structure forming.
Materials at the ready. Dozens of native plants staged for planting, arranged along a winding pathway.
Viewshed planning. Diagram showing intentional view corridors from walkway and street, framed by plantings.
The garden comes alive. A lush garden taking shape with densely packed plant groupings and layered textures.
From street to sanctuary. A view from the sidewalk showing the deep planting beds framed by mature street trees, with high deer netting all around.
Placing the stone. Crew members guide a large flat boulder into place with hand tools and teamwork.
Sketching Movement
Setting the Stage. Plants laid out for installation along the pathway, with mature trees and construction trailers in the background.

Client Testimonial

“Design Ecosystems took the time to explain how each plant contributes to the ecosystem, making it clear how much care and knowledge went into the planning.

Working with Dean and Tom was a pleasure—professional, communicative, and genuinely invested in creating a garden that not only enhances the space but also makes a positive environmental impact. I highly recommend Design Ecosystems to anyone looking to design a garden that is both beautiful and beneficial to pollinators.”