SUNNY RESIDENTIAL
The Sunny Backyard of a Home in Riverwoods, Illinois
This garden is in its second growing season. Look how it is filled out already. In the center of the bed is a large clump of Big Bluestem grass, Andropogon gerardii.
This is a warm season, clump-forming grass that changes color during the Fall.
Many shrubs were planted along the other side of the house. We like to use young shrubs which are small and grown in five gallon containers. They "take well", are relatively inexpensive, easy to transport and move around as compared to large balled and burlapped speciments.
The Pagoda Dogwood, Cornus alternifolia, seen anchoring the corner, grows well in the shade and has a horizontal branching habit. It displays white flowers in the Spring, dark blue berries in the late Summer and bright red leaves in the Fall. 
