The seasonal changes in a meadow garden surprise and delight, creating ever-changing vistas. Their colorful flowers not only provide beautiful views but also attract an important part of the ecosystem: pollinators, including birds, bees and butterflies. A meadow garden is sustainable and will benefit the yard it’s planted within as well as the greater area beyond the property lines.

Establishing a meadow garden takes forethought, some physical effort and a bit of trial and error. However, these lovely grassy areas can establish themselves quickly and take on a life of their own. Check out the three meadow gardens below, in three very different locales — a small urban garden in Toronto, a yard in Illinois that was once prairie and a property in eastern Massachusetts designed according to permaculture principles. We’ve included plant lists to help inspire your own pollinator-attracting meadow garden.