Landscape

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Patch of Paradise

Those experiences were put to good use when she and her husband Jeffrey purchased a 1906-era house in Chicago’s Albany Park seven years ago. They faced an aging landscape, a detached garage, and a very small, but typical urban back yard. “I enjoyed many of the plant varieties, but they were starting to become overgrown with a fair amount of dieback.

Designing the 600-square-foot space to manage stormwater was critical. “The yard naturally slopes towards the house and we learned fairly quickly that in large rain events, rain was coming into our basement.” She sunk a large rain garden at the natural low point to capture the runoff and create a beautiful, natural environment for pollinators and birds.

She also wanted a more comfortable outdoor space. “The back of my house faces west, creating lots of sun and heat. In peak summer, the deck was too hot to lounge on during the late afternoon and early evening, whereas the yard was shaded by the garage and surrounding trees. I wanted to create a space where we could enjoy the warm days in comfort.” She ditched the lawn, created a patio, shifted the dining space, and transitioned the deck.

Then there was dense, compacted clay. “There was a good amount of excavation that had to be done to give air and levity to the plantings. We went down 8 to 12 inches for the patios

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(continued from page 12) and the plant areas so we could bring in topsoil and compost.” The deck received a skirt and a new stain. Almost everything else is new except for a few woodies.

“My background is therapeutic gardens and Zen gardens and with the Japanese maple on site I wanted to use some architectural evergreens— golden mop cypress and blue juniper. It’s the architecture of certain plant materials that I’m drawn to and the ease of native plant materials for pollinators.” A permeable Techo-bloc product was used for the patio.

And, the new rain garden corrals much of the excess water as well. “I love to watch the rain garden change throughout the year. Each season brings beautiful textures and colors.

I also love to see all the bees and birds. I spotted my first hummingbird in the garden last year and hope that becomes more regular in the summers to come.”

Although she included natives like ‘Standing Ovation’ serviceberry, switchgrass, prairie dropseed, bee balm and milkweed, other non-natives like Russian sage, phlox and clematis vines offer color, nectar or pollen.

“I absolutely love my rain and pollinator garden. It’s my favorite part of the garden because I let it go wild. I love designating a space to watch nature evolve.”

The foundation planting and parkway received a smaller makeover with bluestone slabs and new plants, but it’s the back patio that is Johnson’s favorite spot. A trio of stone bubbling fountains adds to the relaxing atmosphere.

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“We entertain a lot. I have a big farm table I bring out when we’re doing a big dinner.” The project was completed in 2020. “I wanted to create a beautiful, native space of respite in our city environment. It quickly became a safe and beautiful place to gather for family and friends during the peak of the pandemic.”

Inspirations

Johnson admits to being inspired by the beauty of Piet Oudolf’s gardens. “Chicago’s Lurie Garden is still one of my favorite places to visit for native plant inspiration. I am also frequently drawn to the work of Brook Landscape in Brooklyn, New York. I love their use of mixed materials and beautiful, lush planting design in another dense, urban environment. I’d be remiss to not mention my mentor and friend, Benjamin Himschoot of Himsben Design Studio whom I had the pleasure to work with for several years.”

Moving forward

Through most of her career, Johnson’s work encompassed residential and therapeutic settings. “My approach is to create spaces that are unequivocally a reflection of my client’s taste and style. I got to work with some truly eclectic clients who weren’t afraid to do something a little different. I also design with the future in mind, recommending permeable, local, and native materials whenever I can. Overall, I approach each design with a true sense of joy for my clients. I want their landscape to be the reason they spend more time outdoors.” And that’s a good thing.