Landscaping with eco-friendly plants, rewilding, has become a thing and none too soon. Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I bought 8 wooded acres in Scarborough and told the landscaper of the newly built, single-story house that he could only plant what was already there. And, specifically, no grass. He had plenty of leeway; juniper, blueberries, wild strawberries and ferns were already there in great abundance.

One very special day, a blueberry farmer from Down East arrived in a rented moving van with a half-acre of plants cut into 12-inch squares and surrounded the house with them. When we were done, it looked as if our house had been dropped into the woods. Just what we were hoping for.

A few years ago, we sold the property to a landscape architect – from away. I sure hope he hasn’t planted any grass.

Sheilah Hillman
Scarborough