Birds & Bees
PLANTING A POLLINATOR GARDEN
WRITTEN BY CATRIONA TUDOR ERLER / PHOTOGRAPHY BY webguzs/iStock/Getty Images Plus.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that pollinators—including birds, bees, butterflies, and a host of lesser-known creatures—are essential to the health of gardens, and indeed the natural world. With pollinators, your gardens will flower better, your vegetable and fruit plants will be more productive, and your outdoor space will be alive with flitting butterflies and buzzing bees.
powerhouse plants
Some plants attract only one type of pollinator. To pack more punch with your pollinator garden, here are fifteen powerhouse plants that beguile multiple types of pollinators—and are deer resistant too.
Aster: bees, butterflies
Bee balm: bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Butterfly weed: hummingbirds, butterflies, butterfly larvae
Cosmos: bees, butterflies
Delphinium: hummingbirds, butterflies
Fennel: butterflies, butterfly larvae
Foxglove: bees, hummingbirds
Globe thistle: bees, butterflies
Goldenrod: bees, butterflies
Hollyhock: bees, butterflies, butterfly larvae
Lavender: bees, butterflies
Liatris: hummingbirds, butterflies
Nasturtium: hummingbirds, butterflies
Phlox: hummingbirds, butterflies
Zinnia: bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
The young family that owned this brownstone wanted to give it an aesthetic makeover. The interior had already been updated, but the design needed a more styled look. That’s where Jill Goldberg, owner of Boston-based Hudson Interior Designs and a local retail shop, came in. “These clients were fans of my shop, where I showcase a bit of what I do,” says Goldberg. “They reached out to me because they wanted to pull together the look they had started to create in their home.”
Features original to the home included crown molding, ceiling medallions, and a fireplace with a marble surround. Hardwired light fixtures and a sofa had already been added to the space before Goldberg joined the project, but the homeowners needed other furniture and accessories to bring it all together. “They wanted to play up the modern side of the traditional style that they are attracted to,” explains Goldberg.
The couple needed the living space to hold up to the demands of their two young children and a dog while still being elegant and chic. “They wanted something livable and comfortable, but with a slightly elevated style,” says Goldberg.
The choice of furniture with curved edges was both aesthetic and practical. Aesthetically, the rounded pieces helped offset the hard angles found in Victorian homes. Practically, however, these choices were necessary. The room is narrow, so smooth-edge frames and soft fabrics keep kids safe and keep the room from feeling like an obstacle course for adults.
A daybed sits in the center of the room, helping to delineate conversation zones. On one side sits a sofa backed by sheer, striped panels. Two leather chairs sit on the opposite side. The couple wanted the room to feel fresh and open. “For me, that aesthetic creates a modern edge,” says Goldberg. “Yet we were still able to create depth and contrast with the darker pieces, like the console and chairs.”
Two champagne gold–leaf bookcases with glass shelving presented a blank canvas for Goldberg to get creative. “A big part of this design was keeping it light and airy,” she says. “It would be a shock to see all the colors used on these books covers. So we decided to flip them around so you only saw the shades of cream from their interiors.” The designer acknowledges that was an unusual approach, but also recognizes how that choice affected the room’s feel. “As much as you don’t want things to seem ‘designed,’ sometimes it’s needed. Those shades of paper add a cool neutrality and the client didn’t mind pulling books out to check the titles.”
For living spaces especially, it all comes down to how they make you feel. “When we grew up, our parents had those living rooms that were off limits, only used when their friends came over. Today, everybody wants to use every space in their homes,” she says. “It’s important to make spaces as friendly as possible. Rooms can feel designed and sophisticated, while still feeling livable.”
As featured in Home By Design® Magazine
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All measurements are approximate. ©2019 By Design Publishing. All rights reserved.