34 Clear Water Drive, Scarborough
History: “Clearwater Gardens” was once a giant sand pit without a single blade of grass. Since 1996, over 260 plant species have been added to create habitats for birds and wildlife. The perimeter trees act as a windbreak and provide height and structure, a calming backdrop to the many shrubs, annuals, and perennials. Just beyond the gazebo is a new fairy garden. Eddie supports local craftspeople by purchasing bird feeders and houses; the structures are repainted regularly for vibrancy.
Themes: A no-pesticides lake-front garden for the birds, comprised of a series of rooms with continuous spring, summer, and fall color. Lawn areas are minimized for naturalistic plantings with a focus on biodiversity. Statuary is placed throughout.
Features:
*Lake-front setting
*A series of garden rooms
*Bird feeders and houses
*A gazebo, a patio, and seating
*Statuary and art pieces
*Plants for pollinators
*Colorful flowers that attract hummingbirds
*Frequent use of swamp milkweed and Culver’s root
In Bloom:
- Culver’s root
- Swamp milkweed
- Black-eyed coneflower
- Elderberry
- Coppertips (Crocosmia sp.)
- Scarlet beebalm
- Tall phlox
- Blanket flower
- Anise hyssop
- Joe Pye weed
- Veronica
- Gooseneck loosestrife
- Queen of the prairie
- Astilbe
- Balloon flower
- Zinnia
- Snapdragon
- Blazing star
- Mexican sunflower
- Daylily