New England weather can be difficult for the home gardener. When selecting shrubs and bushes it is important to consider the issues of climate and growing season. You want things in your garden to provide color and texture not only during the summer months; you want them to provide beauty during the long, cold winter months. In light of the growing concerns regarding invasive species, this list contains only ornamental plants that are native to the region. Check with a quality landscape supplier in your region for alternatives.

The Bayberry plant is drought tolerant, produces small flowers and is hardy even in cold weather. Migrating birds are attracted to its small berries in the fall and winter. When spring comes these berries will attract returning birds. During the fall the bush will produce burgundy colored leaves. 

The Summersweet, or Sweet Pepper bush produces lovely white flowers during the late summer. When fall arrives the foliage will turn yellow or golden brown. Partial to full20sun and moist conditions, this bush will attract butterflies and other nectar lovers. It is tolerant to salty soils and prefers acidic surroundings. This bush is native to all of New England although it doesn’t appear frequently in Maine. 

Buttonbush is another native plant that does well near or in water features. With shiny green leaves and greenish-white flowers that grow in clusters, this is a visually attractive plant. The bush is often used as a nesting site for birds and will attract butterflies to your garden. The seeds provide texture and interest during the cold months. 

The Spicebush is unique in that all parts of it are aromatic if crushed. This bush blooms during the earliest part of the spring, bringing life back to your garden as quickly as possible. It does best in well drained soil, but is adaptable well to almost any conditions. Thick, long leaves will feed swallowtail caterpillars in the summer and turn a beautiful shade of yellow in the fall. Native to all areas of New England, it also produces berries for birds and other animals in the fall. 

American Holly is native in the southern parts of New England. Though technically a tree, growing up to 30 feet when fully mature, this plant provides interest year round, and is often maintained at bush size. Particularly hardy in acidic and salty soils, it does well in more severe conditions when well established. A few years of careful management will ensure a long lived, attractive pl ant. Holly is an evergreen that maintains its beautiful, shiny leaves through the entire winter. An additional feature is the bright red berries produced in the fall if you have a male and female within 100 feet of each other. 

New England and Blueberries go hand and hand in the mind of many. Different varieties will allow you to choose the one that best suits your landscape and goals. Spring blooms give way to summer fruit and autumn will bring colorful foliage. To protect your fruit you may want to invest in netting, or the birds and deer will provide fierce competition. Good drainage and acidic soil are a favorite of Blueberry bushes. Growing different varieties will give you blueberries all summer. Blueberry bushes are fun and nutritious to cultivate. 

There are numerous other plants you can add to your New England landscape to provide color and beauty to your home. A good nursery or a good landscape supply house can help you make the best decisions for your particular needs and location.

A great way to spice up your garden landscape is to add a water feature. These can be both soothing and aesthetically appealing. I’ve found that there are nothing more relaxing than sitting on a bench next to my garden and listening to my fountain while I read a good book or do some studying. Putting in a water feature is fairly easy and relatively inexpensive, and
will add immensely to the pleasantness of your garden. Also, the maintenance level is minimal.

Usually, people install fountains for the benefit of the natural ambience it provides. For some reason, being around a gorgeous scene of water gives you a positive energy. This is also good if you practice Tai Chi or some form of yoga or meditation. The constant drone of the water is exactly what most people need to concentrate on what they are doing. Even if
you’re not into that kind of stuff, just being in a garden with a fountain has a sort of meditative quality to it, even if you’re not trying to do so. I recommend it to anyone.

When you first decide to put in a fountain, you need to put great care into picking out one that will go well with the rest of your garden. If you have any other decorations, you want to consider if it goes well with your motif. Does the fountain you’re considering stand out in your garden like a sore thumb, or does it look like it was meant to be there? If you’re like me, you can’t naturally tell whether the fountain will be a good addition to your garden just by looking at it. So my solution was to bring my sister (a natural at fashion design and that kind of stuff) along with a picture of my garden to the store. I was able to get her expert opinion, as well as see for myself what it would look like. By doing this I was able to pick a beautiful rock fountain that goes marvelously with the rest of my garden.

However, I still had a slight problem with supplying my fountain with power. You see, my garden isn't very close to my house. I thought it would look pretty tacky to run an extension cord across my yard, so I had to come up with another solution. I discussed my situation with a Home Depot employee, and he quickly found me the exact solution I needed: an
extension cord meant for being buried! All it took was a few hours of digging a small trench across my yard, and I had power to my fountain without an unsightly cord running across my yard. After I got over this little hitch, my fountain plan went beautifully.

So if you're looking for a way to make your garden a more classy and beautiful space to be, I hope you consider installing a fountain. The whole process is surprisingly inexpensive, and I think that you will be very happy with the results. Having the fountain in your garden is not only
soothing, but it also adds a lot of character to an otherwise bland garden. Remember, gardens are not just for giving us vegetables! A garden is a place to go when you want to retreat from the outside world and dwell in your own thoughts with no disturbance.