Five acres of Troy Gardens were set aside by the Madison Area Community Land Trust for a mixed-income co-housing community. Visitors are greeted by an attractive prairie out front; the common areas of the property also include a rain garden and fruit trees. Thirty appealing townhouse-style condominiums were constructed on the property, and they afford the residents both privacy and a sense of community. The development is reminiscent of an old-fashioned neighborhood, with homes built around central lawn areas. Community members are currently considering various options to further develop the common areas, but they have already decided that no chemicals should be used for community landscape care. When the homes were built, the developer installed a basic landscape package at each residence, which consisted of a few native shrubs (such as chokeberry and highbush cranberry) or roses. While some homeowners are satisfied with the basic package, many others have extensively landscaped their small spaces. Homeowners are allowed to garden the width of the front and back of their individual properties, while plantings on the sides are allowed if they are agreeable to the adjacent neighbors.The plantings are as varied as the homeowners themselves. Some include edible herbs, vegetables, or strawberries. Others include ornamental annuals, grasses, prairie plants, and other perennials. The small spaces don’t inhibit the owners’ creativity; many have added brick paths, birdbaths, and decorative garden art to their yards.
Three homes will be highlighted on the tour—all of the homeowners maintain community garden plots in addition to their home landscapes.
Learn more about the Olbrich Home Garden Tour!
