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As one of our first design projects here at Liv's Native Nursery, we wanted to make sure that the progression of this beautiful native garden in Dundee, MI was documented. This before picture demonstrates the full potential of this underutilized space.

Within just the first year of growth, the garden has filled in tremendously and has shown its true colors. This photo was taken early in the season and shows just a glimpse of what is has yet to become.

This space in Blissfield, MI started as a blank slate with plenty of potential. The goal for the new design was to create a sense of privacy while adding vibrant color and year-round interest. We focused on selecting native plants that bloom in succession throughout the season and attract a wide variety of birds, turning this area into a dynamic, living landscape.

In just the first year, this Blissfield, MI planting exceeded expectations. The native plants established quickly and thrived, thanks in large part to the well-drained sandy soil that fast-tracked their growth. The space is now bursting with color, buzzing with birds, and offers the privacy and seasonal interest we set out to achieve.

This area is where all the runoff from the many roofs on our property naturally flows. At first, it was just a muddy, open space with the barn in full view. We decided to turn it into something functional and beautiful—a rain garden. Now it serves as a showcase on our nursery property, capturing roof runoff while helping to hide the barn behind lush native plantings.

Now transformed into a 318-square-foot rain garden, this space captures roughly 13,000 gallons of rainwater each year. Beyond its role in managing runoff, it has become a thriving haven for pollinators, rabbits, and other wildlife—showcasing how native plants can turn problem areas into beautiful, functional habitats.

Before its transformation, this space on the University of Toledo campus was an underused area that collected all the runoff from nearby parking lots, tennis courts, sidewalks, and even the Ottawa River. Through the GUTS (Greening UT Through Service Learning) program and support from the Student Green Fund (SGF), we saw the potential to turn it into a functional and beautiful rain garden. Our goal was to manage this runoff while creating a space that could support wildlife and serve as a living example of sustainable landscaping for the campus community.

Planted very densely with over 2,000 plugs in the fall, the garden transformed remarkably quickly. Today, it is a stunning space that stops you in your tracks, capturing and holding a significant amount of runoff while providing habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. It stands as a vibrant example of how thoughtful rain garden design can turn stormwater challenges into beautiful, functional landscapes.

Before planting, this corner lot in Milan was an ordinary patch of lawn with little to distinguish it. We saw its potential to become a showpiece that would draw attention, educate passersby about the beauty and benefits of native plants, and provide habitat for pollinators. Our goal was to transform it into a vibrant, functional garden that both inspires and supports local wildlife.

This is the garden immediately after planting. While it will need some watering and weeding in the coming months, it’s already starting to take shape. Over time, the plants will fill in, creating a vibrant, pollinator-friendly corner that showcases the beauty and benefits of native plantings for everyone who passes by.