Bird Garden

Tucked into the heart of Sag Harbor Village, New York, this intimate residential garden was designed around one central idea: creating a welcoming habitat for birds while giving the owners a beautiful place to observe and enjoy the landscape throughout the seasons. Designed by Landelier Landscape Atelier, the project reflects a thoughtful approach to landscape design in Sag Harbor and the Hamptons, combining ecological planting with the needs of everyday residential life.

An upgrade to the septic system created the opportunity to completely rethink the backyard. Many existing plants were carefully preserved and incorporated into the new design, while additional layers of grasses, perennials, shrubs, bird feeders, and bird baths transformed the compact property into a richer bird-friendly and pollinator-friendly garden with food, shelter, and water woven throughout.

The planting is intentionally abundant yet intimate. Flowering and fruiting species support birds and pollinators, while ornamental grasses and long-season perennials bring movement, texture, and seasonal change to this Sag Harbor garden. The planting strategy allows habitat value and visual experience to work together rather than treating them as separate goals.

Close to the house, reclaimed stone was blended with new material to create a small viewing patio—a quiet place to sit and experience the garden at close range. Even within the limited footprint, a small area of lawn was retained for the family dog, balancing habitat, planting, and practical use.

The result is a distinctly personal Hamptons residential landscape: lively, layered, and constantly changing. This small village backyard demonstrates how thoughtful planting and careful use of space can create meaningful wildlife habitat while remaining an inviting, highly usable garden for its owners.