Suzanne and Doug Shank’s Worcester backyard buzzes with life, beauty, and purpose, writes Sally A. Downey for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
After downsizing from their Skippack farm in 2016, the couple transformed the overgrown lawn behind their Victorian home into a lush, pollinator-friendly haven.
A lifelong gardener, Suzanne took inspiration from their former farm, local nurseries, and fellow green thumbs. Landscaper Drew Hautzinger helped shape the space into a serene retreat that supports birds, butterflies, and bees.
The garden now features foxgloves, yarrow, daylilies, and native plants designed to attract pollinators without chemicals.
There’s an artistic touch as well. Frog-shaped pavers from Floral & Hardy in Skippack and birdbaths from North Wales speckle the garden. A nearby artesian well provides year-round water for wildlife. Doug donates annual forsythia trimmings to the Philadelphia Zoo as winter snacks for the animals.
Earlier this month, the Shanks opened their garden to the public as part of the Norristown Garden Club tour. Suzanne offered tips and handouts on starting pollinator gardens.
“I would love everyone to take a part of their lawn and turn it into a flowering garden,” she said. “It would be such a help to our bees and butterflies.”
Read more about the Shank’s Worcester pollinator garden in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
