Larry Weaner Designs Mostly Native Garden for Clients in Suburban Pennsylvania

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“It’s a partnership with nature,” says Larry Weaner, principal of his eponymous firm, about his approach to garden design. For more than four decades, his firm has been walking “the line between fine gardening and ecological restoration.” He considers the natural habitats of plants for his designs, sticking to a palette of mostly native varieties. “The idea is to replicate or adapt what’s going on in nature,” he says. “And then letting nature express itself and enjoy the surprises it brings.”

For this suburban garden in Huntingdon Valley, PA, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, Weaner transformed a landscape that was mostly lawn into a native plant wonderland, equipped with a managed woodland, meadow, and bog garden. He designed more formal elements closer to the house that gradually grew wilder the farther one moves away. Growing plants native to their region supports biodiversity, he points out. “You don’t need to grow a special pollinator garden,” says Weaner. “The entire landscape is one.”

Weaner relishes the interactive experience that results when you don’t try to dominate nature but allow it to flourish. “The landscape is dynamic. There’s always an element of surprise because you won’t find the same thing every year or experience the same sequence all the time. And as a result, you become more engaged because there’s always something new and exciting awaiting you.”

Weaner takes us on a tour of this garden.

Photography by Larry Weaner.

Just outside the house, the design for which was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, Weaner designed a formal pond, with tall, mauve Joe-Pye weed and purple narrowleaf ironwood (Vernonia lettermannii). “They are both highly attractive to pollinators,” he says. They also serve to hide the view of the bog garden, which is right behind it, allowing for a big reveal when you move past them. — Above: Just outside the house, the design for which was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, Weaner designed a formal pond, with tall, mauve Joe-Pye weed and purple narrowleaf ironwood (*Vernonia lettermannii*). “They are both highly attractive to pollinators,” he says. They also serve to hide the view of the bog garden, which is right behind it, allowing for a big reveal when you move past them.

Above: The owners love to garden and have a passion for bog plants. Weaner built a weeping container, filling it with a variety of pitcher plants and orchids. He surrounded the bog garden with “Lysimachia lanceolata var. purpurea, which has beautiful spreading foliage with red leaves in the spring and yellow flowers, and lavender, which is not a native, but loves the hot, dry, reflective sunlight from the stone.” — Above: The owners love to garden and have a passion for bog plants. Weaner built a weeping container, filling it with a variety of pitcher plants and orchids. He surrounded the bog garden with “*Lysimachia lanceolata* var. *purpurea*, which has beautiful spreading foliage with red leaves in the spring and yellow flowers, and lavender, which is not a native, but loves the hot, dry, reflective sunlight from the stone.”

Above: The plantings surrounding the formal pool are carefully designed, but have a naturalistic feel that gives some intent to the wilder landscape.

Above: Standing on the walkway looking at the formal rectilinear pool, which is planted with native lily pads and lizard’s tail, you can see the meadow in the distance, and the property’s only very small patch of lawn.

“None of the moss was planted on the edge of the stream,” says Weaner of the area, once an expanse of bamboo. “But as soon as we saw it happening, we said, oh, this would be a beautiful edge. Let&#8\2\17;s remove anything else that shows up there.” In the spring, blue flag iris blooms on both banks. — Above: “None of the moss was planted on the edge of the stream,” says Weaner of the area, once an expanse of bamboo. “But as soon as we saw it happening, we said, *oh, this would be a beautiful edge*. *Let’s remove anything else that shows up there*.” In the spring, blue flag iris blooms on both banks.

Above: The woodland was full of invasives when Weaner first started working on the garden. “It was a tangle back there,” he recalls. After removing the tangle a couple of times, native varieties, whose seeds were dormant in the soil, started to show up. Today, the woodland, which is filled with mostly native tulip trees, thrives amid an understory of Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), and shrubby St. John’s-wort (Hypericum prolificum). — Above: The woodland was full of invasives when Weaner first started working on the garden. “It was a tangle back there,” he recalls. After removing the tangle a couple of times, native varieties, whose seeds were dormant in the soil, started to show up. Today, the woodland, which is filled with mostly native tulip trees, thrives amid an understory of Virginia sweetspire (*Itea virginica*), bottlebrush buckeye (*Aesculus parviflora*), and shrubby St. John’s-wort (*Hypericum prolificum*).

Above: The view from the back of the bridge, looking out at the meadow, with the woodland to the right and a giant, old linden tree standing regally above the garage (left).

Above: “We planted the meadow with seed and then supplemented with live native plants. Since seeds can take about three years to start to look like a meadow, the plugs make things happen quicker.” Native stars of the summer meadow include mountain mint, little bluestem grass, and asters. Weaner’s team cuts the meadow back only once per year, in late winter or early spring.

The meadow showcases its buff fall colors. The owners keep honey bees, which thrive under the rich variety of native flowers on the property. The meadow requires no weeding. “When you pull weeds out by the roots, you open up soil, creating a disturbance that will get a flush of seed germination,” he says. “That act of pulling one weed may generate \1\2 new seedlings of weeds. But if you cut the plant to the ground, under the assumption that it&#8\2\17;s in competition with desirable native species and not just in a mulch bed with no competition, then the likelihood of the weed reemerging is very low. You may have to cut it two or three times, but that&#8\2\17;s better than pulling it out by its roots.” — Above: The meadow showcases its buff fall colors. The owners keep honey bees, which thrive under the rich variety of native flowers on the property. The meadow requires no weeding. “When you pull weeds out by the roots, you open up soil, creating a disturbance that will get a flush of seed germination,” he says. “That act of pulling one weed may generate 12 new seedlings of weeds. But if you cut the plant to the ground, under the assumption that it’s in competition with desirable native species and not just in a mulch bed with no competition, then the likelihood of the weed reemerging is very low. You may have to cut it two or three times, but that’s better than pulling it out by its roots.”

Frequently asked questions

Who is Larry Weaner?

Larry Weaner is a renowned landscape designer and native plant expert.

What is a garden visit?

A garden visit is an opportunity to explore and experience a specific garden, in this case Larry Weaner's native plant garden.

Where can I find Larry Weaner's garden?

Larry Weaner's garden is located at a specific address which can be found in the article on https://www.gardenista.com/posts/garden-visit-larry-weaner-native-plants/.

What are native plants?

Native plants are plants that naturally occur in a specific region or ecosystem, and have evolved to thrive in that particular environment without human intervention.

Why should I choose native plants for my garden?

Choosing native plants for your garden can benefit the local ecosystem by providing food and habitat for native wildlife, reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers, and conserving water.

Can I visit Larry Weaner's garden without an appointment?

It is recommended to check the article on https://www.gardenista.com/posts/garden-visit-larry-weaner-native-plants/ for more information on visiting Larry Weaner's garden, as appointments may be necessary.

What can I expect to see in Larry Weaner's garden?

Larry Weaner's garden showcases a variety of native plants, designed to create a harmonious and ecologically-focused landscape.

Can I purchase plants from Larry Weaner's garden?

It is best to refer to the article on https://www.gardenista.com/posts/garden-visit-larry-weaner-native-plants/ for information on purchasing plants from Larry Weaner's garden, as availability may vary.

Are there any amenities or facilities at Larry Weaner's garden for visitors?

For information on amenities and facilities available at Larry Weaner's garden, it is advisable to refer to the article on https://www.gardenista.com/posts/garden-visit-larry-weaner-native-plants/.

Can I take photographs in Larry Weaner's garden?

It is recommended to refer to any guidelines or restrictions mentioned in the article on https://www.gardenista.com/posts/garden-visit-larry-weaner-native-plants/ regarding photography in Larry Weaner's garden.

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Garden Visit: Out with the Lawn, In with the Native Plants

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Garden Visit: Out with the Lawn, In with the Native Plants