{"id":759029,"date":"2026-06-25T09:06:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/759029\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T09:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T09:06:11","slug":"mom-and-daughter-transform-backyard-into-native-plant-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/759029\/","title":{"rendered":"Mom and daughter transform backyard into native plant paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever spent time in a backyard<\/a> that felt like a natural oasis? An outdoor space<\/a> that combines the wild beauty of the natural world<\/a> with the aesthetic touch of human design? What if that space wasn\u2019t just beautiful, but also easy to maintain and helpful to the environment?<\/p>\n

In Southern California<\/a>, a mother-daughter design team is leading the way, teaching the public and their clients how to transform ordinary outdoor<\/a> areas into extraordinary plant<\/a> sanctuaries. Their backyard project exemplifies how, after a century of rampant urbanization<\/a> (deforestation, invasive species, paving paradise and putting up a parking lot<\/a>) we\u2019re finally coming back to our roots.<\/p>\n

In a viral TikTok video, Donna and Caitlin Whelan demonstrate how they created a \u201clush habitat garden<\/a>\u201d out of an ordinary backyard. It\u2019s captured the hearts of green-thumbed viewers and offers an inside look into the process of eco-friendly landscaping.<\/p>\n

Environmentally respectful choices<\/p>\n

Donna and Caitlin run Whelan Design House<\/a>, a boutique interior design firm that specializes in high-end projects. Drawing on their combined talents and impeccable taste, this mother-daughter team creates beautiful living spaces<\/a> with a human-centered approach. Their commitment to healthy environments shines through in their design philosophy. As they state on their website, \u201cOur world is full of synthetic materials, but we believe there are other options. We guide our clients toward sustainable and environmentally respectful choices and away from chemical-laden fabrics and unhealthy materials.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which brings us to their viral backyard renovation. This was more than just a design project: it\u2019s a masterclass in the power of family bonds and environmental innovation. The 18-part video begins with a plain, unremarkable yard. \u201cThis is how it looked when we started,\u201d they write. \u201cThe grass wasn\u2019t providing anything for the local [ecosystem], and it required way too much water to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n

An answer to the \u2018perfect lawn\u2019 problem<\/p>\n

America has a \u201cperfect lawn\u201d problem<\/a>. Dreams of white picket fences and a manicured lawn have driven the country into a \u201cgreen, monoculture carpet,\u201d and our human-dominated landscape is no longer equipped to support functional ecosystems<\/a>. Like everything else in life, our front lawns do not exist in a vacuum<\/a>. Everything, from the trees to the flowers to the grass to the soil, all work harmoniously to create a thriving home for insects, birds, and other wild creatures. But when native species are replaced with alien ones, these exotic plants disrupt the flow of life, wreaking havoc and degrading the natural habitat.<\/p>\n

\"grass,Grass is nice, but not nice for the environment. Photo credit: Canva<\/a><\/p>\n

So, Donna and Caitlin tore it up. All of it. They removed the neatly cut grass and trees from unknown origins. Ripped up swaths of concrete (\u201cconcrete suffocates the soil, preventing the growth of microbes that are essential for healthy soil,\u201d they write).<\/p>\n

California\u2019s natural beauty<\/p>\n

Once the land was returned to ground zero, Caitlin and Donna got to work, replacing the non-native species with ones that were suited to the environment. \u201cNative plants are adapted to the timing of the seasons<\/a>, harshness of the weather, and water availability of the particular area they evolved within,\u201d describes Defenders of Wildlife<\/a>, a premier U.S.-based conservation organization. \u201cThey are also typically adapted to surviving local pests and, therefore, do not need chemical pesticides<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, the dynamic duo began anew, carefully planning and selecting the right plants. They chose drought-tolerant flora that was either native to the area or regionally appropriate, like the wattle-leaf acacia, whose delicate yellow blooms and fern-like leaves added a wonderful splash of splendor to the landscape. Plus, it\u2019s known for its resiliency and minimal water needs<\/a>, an especially crucial component in Southern California, where droughts are unfortunately quite commonplace. The orange-hued apricot mallow, another star of their garden, brings another pop of color and radiance and attracts butterflies to the space<\/a>. \u201cThe flowers smell like honey,\u201d write the Whelans.<\/p>\n

\"california,A native plant garden can be colorful, even in desert areas. Photo credit: Canva<\/a><\/p>\n

Art meets nature<\/p>\n

Beyond the lush wildlife, the mother-daughter team also drew upon their impressive art experiences to design the garden of their dreams. They installed a lovely wooden bench, shaded beneath a Palo Verde tree. Small tables that look like sculptures dot the yard. Rustic Saltillo tiles, made of gorgeous terracotta, were used to create a mosaic patio floor. Suddenly, everything clicked. The resulting space is nothing short of awe-inspiring: truly one with nature.<\/p>\n

Comments flooded in, with viewers praising Donna and Caitlin for their work. \u201cYou created your own slice of paradise while considering the wildlife and native plant species. I\u2019m in awe,\u201d someone wrote. \u201cThank you for planting native plants in CA, it\u2019s so helpful. So many people buy houses here and plant non-native plants,\u201d another user replied. Their viral TikTok even motivated some to rethink their own backyards. \u201cMy house is also a small older Spanish-style with a big backyard,\u201d writes another. \u201cThis just inspired me to take action. Even my patio is just like yours, it\u2019s coming down now lol.\u201d<\/p>\n

Change is always possible<\/p>\n

There are countless ways to incorporate native vegetation into your life, whether you have sprawling acres or a simple, small plot out front. For those interested in following in the Whelans\u2019 footsteps, here\u2019s what you need to know about starting your own native plant oasis:<\/p>\n

Take stock<\/p>\n

Before planning your beautiful new garden, examine your surroundings and evaluate what makes this particular area special and unique<\/a>. How much sun does the yard typically get? Does it snow here? What\u2019s the elevation like? Is the soil drainage poor?<\/p>\n

Research, research, research<\/p>\n

This is a great excuse for an excursion and to explore your local surroundings! Find a park near you with native plants or a botanical garden<\/a>. Really get to know your local ecosystem. Every region has its own personality and specific native plants that are meant to thrive there.<\/p>\n

The fun part: Shopping spree<\/p>\n

Find a nursery that specializes in native plants. And be curious! Ask questions, like \u201cWhere did this plant come from?\u201d \u201cDo I need to fertilize it?\u201d \u201cWhat soil and soil pH is best?\u201d To create a native plant garden is to become a steward of the land, and the more information you know, the better.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t stress <\/p>\n

Caitlin and Donna are professionals. You don\u2019t need to transform your entire backyard overnight. Start small, beginning with just a section of the garden. This will take time. In fact, the Whelans note, \u201cpatience is incredibly important. The beauty of [the garden] reached new depths with time and only time.\u201d<\/p>\n

By choosing native plants and working with nature rather than against it<\/a>, the Whelans remind us that environmental stewardship is always possible, and can even start in your own backyard<\/a>. With some careful planning, the correct plants, and an eye for design, anyone can take a step towards contributing to a natural, thriving ecosystem.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Have you ever spent time in a backyard that felt like a natural oasis? An outdoor space that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":759030,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[64,63,200433,362777,362778,75,218612,10235,5581,47850,362779,128,2261,362780],"class_list":["post-759029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-backyard","tag-backyard-transformation","tag-ecofriendly-landscaping","tag-environment","tag-environmental-stewardship","tag-gardening","tag-landscape-architecture","tag-native-plants","tag-plant-sanctuaries","tag-science","tag-sustainability","tag-thriving-ecosystem"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/759029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=759029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/759029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/759030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=759029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=759029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=759029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}