Down-sizing my house meant down-sizing the garden and landscape. At my new residence on a small property, I removed the out-of-scale brick terrace, installed a new natural stone terrace, a rain garden to accommodate runoff from the house leaders, and a permeable driveway. I chose native and pollinator plants, which attract bees and hummingbirds; the tall evergreen screening on the property line provides habitat for birds and small creatures. Essential to my garden is the sound of water, created by a Tuscan-style bubbler fountain. My tiny lawn in the front of the house is mowed with an old-fashioned, reel mower. No inorganic chemicals or blowers are used.
