Suzanne Smith-Oscilowski, a retired environmental educator, has created a lush garden in the backyard of her Lower Gwynedd home that attracts abundant wildlife, writes Sally A. Downey for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The acre of ground is densely planted with flowers, trees, and shrubs, and only leaves minimal room for a lawn. There are more than 300 varieties of mostly native plants on the property. This lovely backyard already is a certified habitat for birds, bees, and butterflies, as well as other wildlife.

The property also has a pool, but the wood fence that surrounds it is hidden by honeysuckle, trumpet vines, clematis, and jasmine. Meanwhile, tall hydrangeas decorate the screened-in porch that was built over the original patio. The concrete paths that were there when Smith-Oscilowski and her husband, Alex, bought the home in 1999 have been replaced by gravel and bluestone paths as part of a water-conservation system.

“No rainwater goes into the storm drain system,” said Smith-Oscilowski, who worked for 13 years for the nonprofit Wissahickon Trails.

The couple has seven rain barrels and several downspouts attached to the house that transport water into a series of rain gardens.

Read more about the lovely garden in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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