On a small lot in the Reynoldstown neighborhood of Atlanta, Nichole Dandrea-Russert and her husband, Ricky Russert, are restoring the landscape to a natural garden. Several interesting trees on the urban property include bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla), and a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Many perennials, sedges, grasses and shrubs are growing in a gravel bed. These include Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica), Cherokee sedge (Carex cherokeensis), spotted Joe Pye (Eutrochium maculatum), shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum), and Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens). Berry-producing shrubs like Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), and blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) were planted for the birds.
By planting one third of her property in native plants which support wildlife, Nichole and Rickey have earned a Silver Level sign for their yard!
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