A Sustainable, Homegrown Cornucopia

Andrea Wilson Mueller Unveils A Carbon-Sequestering
Landscape That Nourishes Its Human & Wild Residents

Somewhere in Frankfort, Kentucky, an enchanting Da Vinci-style arbor frames a lush meadow-like garden, seemingly plucked from a painting. Though mostly covered in green grass, the peaceful illusion of being alone in the wilderness follows an explorer of this relatively small property around every bend. To reveal the secrets behind the transformation of this former wetland, SYKND sat down with Andrea Wilson Mueller, owner of Inside Out Landscape Design.

“This is one of the most sustainable projects we have ever installed,” says Andrea. “I love that the landscape nurtures wildlife, feeds humans, mitigates water runoff and combats carbon.”

Before & After

In 2023, this project received a Silver Award for Planting Design from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) as part of their International Landscape Design Awards. The award presentation displays a winsome title for the project: “Wetland to Native Wonderland.” Although the ever-flowering native plant palette is the uncontested show-stopper here, Andrea tells us there is more to this project than meets the eye. 

"We like to work with nature
instead of working against it."

“That’s rule No. 1 because nature always wins. The rain gardens are one example of this. To alleviate the standing water in the front yard, we did some calculations and tied three gutters underground to appropriately sized collection areas. Our rain gardens are generally excavated about four feet deep and then backfilled with a compost, sand and topsoil mix with one and a half feet left for bowls.”

These rain gardens, planted with deep-rooted perennials, shrubs and trees, were intentionally positioned in lowlying areas, taking in water from the roof and the ground itself. Any drainage off the access road is filtered and cleaned by the meadow and prairie vegetation before it enters the nearby waterway feeding into Elkhorn Creek.

To improve water retention, the driveway and garden path feature permeable pavers, though natural stepping stones and impermeable hardscaping appear elsewhere. Throughout the site, pavers form impeccable curves that Andrea chalks up to careful measurement and well-practiced eyeballing—a tedious undertaking she implies was made worth it by the clients’ support and trust.

“I would describe the clients as agents of change,” says Andrea. “One is a humane society director, and they are both people who just like to get involved when they see a need. The house renovation occurred just before we arrived, compacting soil and causing large puddles. We noticed a lot of invasive species and signs of deer. The clients told us they planned to install solar panels, so we kept the height of the plantings low. To them, this landscape was an opportunity to serve their environment.”

Thirteen raised vegetable gardens at the back of the house are another testament to the clients’ environmentally conscious lifestyle. Between these corten-steel and cedar wood creations, enough room remains for the gated area to double as a dog run with space for a compost pile. Off to the side, a firepit area offers a relaxing spot to sit outside after work.

Because these clients were so in sync with Inside Out Landscape Design’s values, the team pushed the natural quality of this design to a new level. As Proven Winners Certified Landscape Professionals, a whole library of plants sprang to mind when planning the vegetation. The goal to integrate as many host plants as possible for birds, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects is a subject that makes Andrea smile.

"We made sure that the butterflies
& moths always have a source of nectar."

“Something is always in bloom, season by season, and we provided plenty of food sources for their larvae to enjoy, too,” says Andrea.

Willow, oak, black-eyed-susan, milkweed and pipevine specimens were all chosen for their life-cycle supportive properties. Berry-producing shrubbery and trees, Andrea explains, work wonders in a wildlife-friendly project like this. Like flowers, the colorful fruit displays from the dogwood trees are attractive to both humans and animals, particularly the songbirds that snack on them.

“It’s good to have nibbles in your plants,” says Andrea. “As long as what’s biting them isn’t invasive and they are not completely defoliating your plants, it’s beautiful. It means your plants are serving their function in the ecosystem.”

Wild landscapes are a popular topic of discussion lately, and sustainability is a welcome byproduct of many projects fitting this description. Balancing this go-natural philosophy with the needs of real people can be challenging. Yet, Andrea and Inside Out Landscape Design have demonstrated this is possible. Not only that, they have gone all out on either side of the scale, making something that will only grow more endearing to its occupants over time.

GET IN TOUCH WITH...

Andrea Wilson Mueller, CPLD
Owner of Inside Out Landscape Design
Phone: (502) 695–7020
Email: info@kentuckylandscapedesign.com
www.kentuckylandscapedesign.com