Hi, I’m Debra Kriensky. Oakleaf Native Gardens was actually born from my passion for birds. As an ornithologist in NYC I worked on several projects studying the effects of green roofs on biodiversity and adding native plants to city parks. The results were clear – the more native plants and green space, the more birds! I quickly fell in love with native plants and when I relocated to the Boston suburbs, I replaced (almost all) the non-native and invasive plants in my yard and planted native substitutes.

But I didn’t stop at my yard. I’ve been gardening ever since, helping others create beautiful spaces for both people and pollinators.

The reason behind the name? Oakleaf hydrangeas are my favorite native plant (though it’s hard to pick a favorite!). They provide four seasons of interest, with their beautiful oak-shaped leaves in the spring, gorgeous white panicle flowers in summer that fade to pink, spectacular fall colors, and peeling bark in the winter. What better plant to show that you can create a stunning yard using native plants!