Text by Lynne Hebble and Laurel Bacogeorge reporting for Native Plant News Fall 2025
Photos by Dale Batchelor, Deborah Rosenella, and Cris Crissman
Forty members of the Margaret Reid (Triangle) Chapter gathered this past June for a memorable evening at the home of Dean and Val DiLillo. With covered dishes and chairs in hand, attendees were treated to a tour of the DiLillos’ ever-evolving native landscape – affectionately dubbed the “Driving Natives Only” property – aptly named for its location adjacent to a golf course.
The DiLillos have embraced native gardening with remarkable commitment, transforming their half-acre parcel into a thriving, ecologically mindful space. (No small accomplishment!)
To review the plant list of the DiLillo garden, click here.
Dean explained their property consists of three main areas: a dense matrix-patterned perennial pollinator meadow with blooms changing by season, a custom water feature (2500 gallon pond with stream), and a “lawn” of native grasses and perennials. Matrix planting, Dean added, is “a planting method championed by Claudia West and other leading designers. A matrix consists of a ground layer of plants to provide living green mulch, with a structural layer consisting of taller forbs or shrubs, and a vignette layer where the perennial flowers reside. Typically 44% of the planting is the ground layer made up of grasses and perennials. Seventeen percent is structural and the rest would be your vignettes.”
Main garden areas
Dean shared that the pollinator meadow cycles through blooms including phlox, bee balm, geranium in the spring, coneflower, rudbeckia, coreopsis in early summer, and goldenrod, eupatorium, sunflower in late summer.
The pond and stream sparked particular interest—especially among the engineering-minded members. The sizing and design considerations, which include collecting rainwater runoff from their home, were a point of fascination, and its visual impact made it a true centerpiece of the garden.
Following the garden tour and a chance to soak in the serene setting, Dean and Val generously shared a comprehensive plant list for their projects, including sourcing information and insights into their low-disturbance methods designed to preserve existing soil microbes. For invasive plant removal, they recommend treating cut stumps with herbicide and leaving them to decay instead of pulling them. Then, natives should be planted in and among decaying stumps. For weeding, they prefer to cut plants at ground level with a sharp hoe rather than pulling them and disbursing seeds.
Attendees agreed that their evening at the DiLillo Driving Natives Only Garden was a delightful time of learning, inspiration, and community.
Lynne Hebble (aka Global Diva) is a passionate learner and committed volunteer at the Reid/Triangle Chapter as well as Community Gardens in Raleigh. She supports chapter business and administrative initiatives, bringing enthusiasm and dedication to every task. Lynne is deeply inspired by the wisdom and generosity of chapter members and staff, and she values the continuous learning and connection that come with being part of that vibrant community.
Laurel Bacogeorge is a member of the NCNPS, Southern Piedmont Chapter. She lives in SE Charlotte with her husband, two sons, and cat. Her home sits on .72 acres near McAlpine CreekGreenway. Her backyard is frequently visited by White -tailed Deer, hawks, and other wild creatures. She is slowly converting traditional lawn areas to vegetable gardens and native plantings.