• Midwest landscapes can be enhanced by features that provide four-season interest.flower box image by Jennifer Giroux from Fotolia.com
  
  Landscaping in the Midwest presents challenges that warm-region homeowners don't face. To provide year-round aesthetic appeal, consider using combinations of plants and structures that are attractive both during and after the growing season. The creative use of color, texture and architecture can enhance the beauty of the landscape while it is in bloom and provide a compelling focal point when snow blankets the land.
  
  

Constant Blooms

• Plant a variety of perennials that bloom at different points during the Midwestern growing season. Tulips provide color in early spring, irises in late spring, daylilies in early summer, and hostas in late summer. Sedum blooms in late summer, and the flowers retain their color long after the plant has gone dormant. Add annuals for constant color from spring through autumn.
  
  

Increase Native Plants

• Wildlife specialist Amanda D. Rosewalk and graduate associate Kathi L. Bormann of the Ohio State University Extension agree Midwestern backyards are essential to sustaining the variety of plants and wildlife that have been threatened by urbanization. Native plants are adapted to the environmental conditions of the region, so they grow well with little care. Native trees and shrubs of different heights and bloom times offer all-season appeal and provide an adequate habitat for beneficial wildlife in the region.
  
  

Winter Interest

• Winter berries and fruit provide nourishment for birds and other wildlife after the growing season ends and add color to the landscape against the snow. Winterberry Holly is hardy to zone 5, according to the U.S. National Arboretum, while hawthorn trees survive through zone 4. Late winter-blooming flowers include winter hazel, Lenten rose, snowdrops and Christmas rose.
  
  

Architectural Interest

• Large containers holding unusual or striking plants can draw the eye to a particular part of the landscape and create a sense of drama. Large tropical plants, such as elephant ears and bird of paradise, provide a unique feature during the summer and can be over-wintered indoors. Structures such as garden statues add four-season interest. Birdbaths and feeders hung from shepherd's hooks are decorative throughout the year and provide resources for local wildlife.
  
  

Build a Backyard Pond

• Backyard ponds add a compelling focal point to the landscape. Using flexible liners allows you to build a pond of almost any size or shape, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Horticultural Science, and purchasing heavier strength materials will offset the wear from Midwestern snow and ice. Natural rocks and stones secure the liner, and plantings around the pond edges create a softer, more realistic appearance.
  
  

Attract Birds and Butterflies

• Bird and butterfly gardens add visual and auditory interest to the landscape. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggests planting columbine, phlox and cardinal flower to attract humming birds; sunflowers, juniper and elderberry for song birds; and purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan and coreopsis for butterflies.