An Illinois couple replaced their ordinary grass lawn with a native garden; five years later, more than 130 native plant species and a parade of animals have transformed their backyard

When Crystal Fritz and James Reed McGuire moved from a Chicago condominium to Highland Park, Illinois, in late 2020, they had little experience with outdoor gardening. Rather than maintain a conventional suburban lawn, the couple decided to create a native garden that could provide food and shelter for birds, bees and other wildlife. Over the next five years, they gradually replaced most of the grass across their quarter-acre property, learning through trial and error which plants belonged in the region. Their garden now contains more than 130 species native to northern Illinois and attracts an array of wildlife, including foxes, bats, butterflies, birds and fireflies. What began as a personal effort to make their yard more wildlife-friendly has also encouraged neighbours to reconsider their own gardens.How the couple began transforming their lawnMcGuire, an avid birdwatcher, wanted their new home to offer more than a conventional stretch of grass. The couple had previously grown herbs and flowers in containers on their Chicago balcony, but neither had much experience managing a garden on a larger property.They began researching native plants and how to create a habitat suited to local wildlife. Their first attempts were not always successful. They initially struggled to remove the existing grass by hand and used a packet of wildflower seeds that included plants unsuitable for their region.The setbacks encouraged them to learn more about local species and how to establish a garden that would provide resources for wildlife throughout the growing season.The technique that helped them replace the grassOne method that helped the couple expand their garden was sheet mulching, a technique used to suppress existing grass before planting. They cut the grass short, covered it with cardboard and added mulch over the top. As the underlying grass died, the area could be prepared for new planting.Instead of converting the entire yard at once, Fritz and McGuire worked in stages, gradually extending the native garden across their property. After five years, the remaining grass was largely limited to paths through the garden.Their experience also taught them the importance of choosing plants native to northern Illinois rather than relying on generic wildflower mixes.More than 130 native plant species now grow in the gardenThe garden includes more than 130 plant species native to northern Illinois, combining flowering plants, grasses, sedges, shrubs and trees. Among the species McGuire has documented are prairie smoke, wild columbine, blue flag iris, purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, foxglove beardtongue, bottle gentian and black-eyed Susan.Little bluestem, Pennsylvania sedge and prairie dropseed add variety, while shrubs such as serviceberry, winterberry and red osier dogwood provide further structure. Trees including eastern redbud, American sycamore and pagoda dogwood form part of the planting.This variety creates different sources of food and shelter for wildlife, while flowers blooming at different times of the year help sustain pollinators across the growing season.Foxes, bats, butterflies and more than 100 bird species visitThe change is reflected in the wildlife the couple have observed. McGuire reported recording more than 100 bird species visiting the garden, including migratory birds that use it as a stopover. Bees and butterflies are frequent visitors to its flowering plants.Other animals recorded around the property include red foxes, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, opossums, bats, squirrels and field mice. The couple have also reported occasional visits from deer and coyotes.Fireflies have become another attraction. Families sometimes walk past the property so children can see them, while the dense vegetation offers wildlife a more varied habitat than a conventional grass lawn.The garden has earned wildlife habitat recognitionThe couple's work has received formal recognition from conservation organisations. In 2023, their garden was designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Openlands, a Chicago-area conservation organisation, has also certified the property as a sustainable native habitat and ecosystem.The National Wildlife Federation's certification programme recognises gardens designed to provide wildlife with essential resources, including food, water, cover and places to raise young. The designation recognises the habitat features of the garden rather than representing a scientific measurement of how much local biodiversity has increased.The property has also featured on local sustainable garden tours, allowing visitors to see how native landscaping can work in a residential setting.Neighbours have begun rethinking their own gardensThe transformation has extended beyond the couple's property. Their garden initially stood out in a neighbourhood where conventional lawns were more common, and some neighbours were sceptical about the appearance of the new planting.Over time, however, people began stopping to ask questions, photograph the garden and learn about native species. In an October 2026 interview with People, Fritz described how a neighbour who had initially objected to what he considered weeds eventually grew to appreciate the garden.Younger families have also shown interest, with some asking how they could introduce native plants into their own yards. The couple's experience illustrates how a small residential garden can become a starting point for conversations about wildlife-friendly landscaping.Fritz has encouraged people interested in native gardening to begin with a manageable area rather than attempt a complete lawn conversion immediately. A container, a small corner of a yard or a patch planted for pollinators can provide a starting point.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.