Kettering -- Boesch Garden

The Boesch Garden is on a 0.79-acre suburban property south of Dayton, Ohio, surrounding a 1950 Cape Cod–style house. When purchased in 2011, the landscape consisted mainly of turf lawn, with some native trees interspersed among non-native shrubs like taxus, boxwood, burning bush, viburnum, and hostas. The site also contained invasive species and compacted soils, limiting habitat value and pollinator support. Starting in 2012, the owners initiated a phased restoration focused on replacing turf and invasives with native plants to enhance habitat and biodiversity. The roadside garden now extends 150 feet and features keystone natives such as common milkweed, baptisia, prairie dock, goldenrod, rudbeckia, asters, and mountain mint, many of which support important pollinator and insect populations. The lawn is gradually being converted to a mix of low-growing flowering plants including clover and violets, reducing turfgrass. In the backyard, native trees including redbud, pawpaw, and oak have been added alongside existing walnut, hickory, hackberry, and spruce to create a diverse canopy. Native shrubs such as wild hydrangea, red twig dogwood, northern bayberry, and viburnums complement the layered planting design, with some non-native perennials retained for color and visitor interest. Multiple native garden beds provide seasonal habitat from spring through fall. The garden functions as both a wildlife habitat and a community demonstration project, designated as a Monarch Waystation and Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. It has attracted local attention through tours and inspired further native plant landscaping in neighboring properties and public spaces, illustrating how suburban gardens can contribute meaningfully to ecological restoration efforts. Persons associated with the garden's design: Tree Care Inc., Bob Meoak (arborist, five years of tree care); Blanche Adam (original owner and builder of the house, 1950-2011); Maura and Steve Boesch (design and all garden tasks, 2011- ).