A verdant, blossom-filled meadow in a suburban front yard now fills a space formerly covered by lawn. Taking cues from Joan Iverson Nassauer’s essay ‘Messy systems, orderly frames’, this front garden contains a boisterous mix of native plants adapted to the fast-draining, acidic soil of Albany’s capital region and is bordered by mown pathways. Management of this garden is ongoing, and ALA works with the owners to steward this landscape to maximize biodiversity, beauty, and habitat.

Marissa Angell