Rusty's Meadow

4 months after install

Before

Rusty was once a lonely horse, surrounded by a sea of grass. Not anymore! Rusty’s new growing meadow will soon attract new friends- birds, butterflies, and other kinds of wildlife. Rusty and friends can now enjoy a peaceful native habitat garden free from the constant hum of mowers and blowers—because native gardens require less maintenance and fewer noisy tools.

This design, like all of our projects, was a true collaboration with the residents. We created circulating paths, placed large boulders, and redirected rainwater from the gutters into a bioswale. This not only protects the home's foundation but also helps recharge underground aquifers.

Install Day

Install Day

5/2025 Update: It’s been just four months since we installed this native habitat garden. The plants have settled in and are thriving—adding color, texture, and movement to a landscape that’s now alive with pollinators and birds. .

Many people in East Monrovia know how special Bradbury Road is—lined with towering trees that form a shady, tunnel over the entire street. It remains peaceful and still beneath this living canopy, even with regular foot, bike, and paw traffic. Contributing to the beauty of this street has been a true honor for our team.

The residents at this property are surrounded by nearly a dozen magnificent 50'+ trees—each one healthy, full, and teeming with life (hawks, bats, owls). Unlike many homes where trees are heavily over-pruned and raised, this family has chosen to honor the trees’ natural form and work with a professional arborist, letting them grow into their full, graceful potential. Their home is an example of the beauty trees bring when we let them grow big and wild.

Some of our hurdles/learnings so far with this garden—right after installation, the fierce windstorm blew in a mess of weed seeds and displaced mulch, leading to more maintenance than usual. And then came the gophers! Our first natural deterrent didn’t quite work, but castor oil applied in wide circles across the garden seems to have done the trick. A few mounds have returned after the rain, so we’ll reapply.

Speaking of rain—one of our favorite moments was watching the bioswale come to life during the last storm. Rainwater routed from the gutters, away from the foundation, filled the swale, capturing an estimated 563 gallons and gently filtering it back into the soil to recharge our underground aquifers. That’s the beauty of working with nature.

4 months of growth 5/2025

Water Capture from roof.