Open Gardens Project – Featuring Nature’s Neighbor’s Habitat

June 30, 2026/JP Marchetti-Mendez/

Site Information: Located near Beaverton, with full sun, part sun, and shade.

A backyard garden with a birdbath, watering can, potted plants, and bright pink flowers in bloom. The ground is wet, and the garden is bordered by trees, a rocky edge, and a wooden fence.
Established Rhododendrons got to stay. Color spots were allowed a decorative show in pots.

What inspired you to enroll in the Backyard Habitat Certification Program?

I have a very long history of lawn aversion, so embracing a native plant garden was easy. A thriving ecosystem that requires less water and maintenance was a no-brainer. Bringing more birds to my space and supporting critical local pollinators felt like having a slice of paradise.

An older man and a small child sweep leaves from a stone garden path in front of a house. The man uses a push broom, while the child uses a smaller broom. Green plants and a sign are visible in the garden.
My helpers

How would you describe your habitat?

It’s been a 10-year transformation, and my goal has been to remove the exotics favored by the prior owner and create spaces for natural gardening and wildlife. It’s still slightly “managed” to suit my husband, but we now have nesting birds, mason bees, native Douglas squirrels, and chipmunks visiting.

Several potted plants, coiled green garden hoses, and a covered item are arranged along a concrete sidewalk near mossy steps and a retaining wall in a residential neighborhood.
Choosing plant material is never easy! Sometimes things don’t work out and need to be moved.

What are your top three favorite native plants, and why do you love them?

  • Blue-eyed grass
  • Fawn lilies
  • Shooting stars
A cardboard shipping box contains a packaged native bee barn, which has a wooden structure with holes and tubes for bees. The packaging includes text in English, French, and Spanish.
And there are times I just didn’t move fast enough! I was planning to remove this from the box and install it, but by the weekend, it was already inhabited.

What changes have you observed as a result of creating habitat?

Definitely getting more critters stopping by, and it’s always interesting to see – for instance – the bats fly right by the box I carefully installed for them, and make sure of the existing structure. Oh well!

A residential street at dusk with leafless trees and houses on either side. A faint rainbow arcs across the sky, which is tinged with pink and blue. The street is empty and wet, possibly after rain.
Sunsets and double rainbows.

What were the two most significant challenges you encountered while creating habitat, and how did you address them?

Noxious weed removal remains an ongoing challenge. Not all my neighbors “get” what I’m doing. Watching our shared property line is a full-time job, even with the fence. Weeds know no boundaries.

A covered patio with a white bench, red and white cushions, two metal chairs, a rectangular fire pit table, a small dog statue, and a fireplace. The patio overlooks a garden with greenery and a birdbath.
Covered areas allow neighbors and friends to gather even during winter.

What resources did you find especially helpful?

My mini library shelves include Plants of the Pacific NW, Wildflowers of the Columbia, Butterflies of the Pacific, Field Guide to Nature Observations and tracking, Up Fanno Creek, One City’s Wilderness, and lots of local hiking/birding guides.

Two wooden chairs with pink cushions sit beside a decorative birdbath in a garden. Yellow daffodils bloom nearby, and a road is visible in the background with trees and shrubs.
Sideyard paths and water options.

How do you enjoy your Backyard Habitat throughout the different seasons? What are its highlights in each season?

I love all seasons, although the wildfire season causes me the most distress. I recently invited more than 30 neighbors to drop by the backyard to discuss the nearby development and what traffic-management mitigation measures we might take.

A tall tree and several leafless shrubs stand next to a wooden fence in a backyard. The sky is partly cloudy, and other evergreens are visible in the background.
Osoberry and the Doug fir.

What part of your backyard habitat are you most proud of?

I’m super fickle in my backyard love. Whatever is making itself known or I just planted gets my immediate attention.

A garden scene with a gourd birdhouse hanging from a branch, a red metal trellis leaning against bare shrubs, and a clump of fluffy white material caught on the branches. The sky is overcast.
I like to offer nesting options and nest materials.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your journey?

Even the corners have secret places for critters/birds.

A small green plant with two broad leaves and water droplets on its surface grows among wet, brown, fallen leaves on the ground.
I save as much leaf litter as I can. So fun when early bloomers poke up their heads.

What is one piece of advice you would give new program participants?

Be patient. Ask established gardens if they can share some starts. Bask in the love.

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