How do I transition my Chicago yard from grass into a pollinator garden? Ryn’s garden story

Last spring, Ryn M. of Jeff Park, reached out to us for help with her garden. Here's what she said...

"After years of apt living, I am finally moving into a house with a yard and am so excited to start gardening. But I have no clue what I'm doing. My goals are to a) start growing some of my own food and 2) eventually transition my all grass yard to a pollinator's dream / native plant haven. I am looking for help getting started - ideally finding someone who can come to my house, help me understand what is right for our yard, and give me some tips for how to plant and steward things moving forward."

Psst...you can check out the plant list for your own pollinator's dream down below!

The Dream: A Pollinator Oasis

When Ryn and her husband moved into their new home in the Jefferson Park neighborhood, they were itching to start gardening. Ryn had a clear vision: a sun-soaked backyard buzzing with life—bees, butterflies, birds—and a vibrant, colorful retreat she could step into anytime.

But as she dove into research, became a little overwhelmed with long plant lists, conflicting advice and uncertainty about how to get started left her stuck. She needed guidance—and that’s where we came in!

The Plan: From Turf Grass to Native Haven

In May, Ryn discovered North Branch Natives and reached out for a Full Garden Consultation. During our initial site visit, we walked the space together, discussing her goals: a vibrant, pollinator-friendly garden alongside her veggie patch. Her yard was mostly turf and concrete, but the abundant sunshine made it an ideal candidate for a native prairie-inspired planting. We were both picturing towering, tall flowers dancing at the top of the fence and drawing in our local bee and butterfly friends.

Following the visit, we created a personalized Action Plan, outlining:

• Which areas to convert into garden beds

• Step-by-step instructions for turf removal

• Plant recommendations tailored to her space and goals

• Tips for planting, watering, and maintenance

The Transformation: Month-by-Month Progress

🌱 May:

• We visited her space and talked through her goals for the garden, then mapped the garden beds and delivered the Action Plan.

🌿 June:

• Ryn and her husband tackled the turf! They rented a sod cutter, borrowed a friend’s truck, and powered through a full Saturday morning removing the grass and its roots. After some raking and cleanup, the garden beds were ready for planting.

🌸 July:

• Ryn called us back in for planting day! We arrived for our Planting Service with a carload of native plants—over 150 of them—and worked side-by-side to get them in the ground. We talked through plant placement strategies, like layering taller prairie species along the fence line and clustering grasses along the edges. The work was sweaty but satisfying, with plenty of breaks to admire the baby plants and imagine what they’d look like in full bloom.

💧 August to October:

• Ryn diligently watered and weeded through the hot summer months. Planting in July means keeping the hose handy, and her efforts paid off as the young plants took root and flourished. Even a mini flood from a forgotten hose left running all weekend couldn't stop these plants—if anything, they threw a backyard pool party and came back stronger!

🍂 November:

• With the first frost approaching, Ryn scheduled a Garden Check-Up. We returned to inspect the space, answer her final questions, and do a quick round of weeding together to set the garden up for winter. The growth was already remarkable—those tiny green plugs from July had transformed into a textured, lively garden, buzzing with late-season pollinators.

The Result: A Thriving Garden in One Season

By the time winter rolled around, Ryn's backyard had undergone an incredible transformation. The once-barren patch of grass was now a vibrant, textured garden buzzing with late-season pollinators and full of promise for the next growing season.

The Plant List for Ryn's Chicago Garden

• Geum triflorum (prairie smoke)
• Penstemon pallidus (pale beardtongue)
• Echinacea pallida (pale purple coneflower)
• Lespedeza capitata (round headed bush clover)
• Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
• Ratibida pinnata (yellow coneflower)
• Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover)
• Liatris aspera (button blazing star)
• Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth aster)
• Solidago speciosa (showy goldenrod)
• Schizachyrium scoparium (little blue stem)
• Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama)
• Juncus tenuis (path rush)
• Sorghastrum nutans (golden feather grass)