Sutton Foster's informal, verdant garden bursts with life – it features sunflowers, zinnias, and even tadpoles

When most people hear the word 'garden' they imagine a highly curated outdoor space: Carefully cropped shrubs, manicured stone paths, and vegetables planted in uniform rows.

However, a much wilder and free-flowing type of garden has proliferated in recent years. These gardens reject traditional notions of what a garden should look like in favor of native planting and characterful greenery. Actress Sutton Foster's garden exemplifies this wave, and it's stunning. Foster took to Instagram to share a video of her wildflower garden and all the puppies, tadpoles, and caterpillars contained within it. Every inch of the outdoor space is bursting with life and vibrance that invites the spirit in.

Anyone can appreciate the stunning impact of Foster's outdoor space. Tenielle Jordison, Homes & Gardens' in-house houseplant expert and news writer, explains: 'Sutton Foster’s garden is a dreamy combination of everything you could want in your yard - beautiful wildflowers, annuals like sunflowers and zinnias, and delicious homegrown goods like tomatoes. It’s wonderful to see wildlife enjoying her carefully curated outdoor space, too, from caterpillars to bees and even the tadpoles she has introduced to her yard.'

To recreate Foster's country garden idea, the first step is rejecting the rules. Rather than thinking about what goes well together, or will impress guests walking through the garden, you must first consider what you truly want in your garden. Is it wildflowers? Long-lasting perennials? Vegetables? Next, map out your beds, but try not to be too dogmatic about it. Inviting fun and play into the design process will help you end up with a finished product that feels just as wild and lived-in as Foster's space.

Part of what makes the garden so appealing is that it's accessible without any fancy equipment, or intimate understanding of gardening technology. For instance, the tadpoles in Foster's garden live in a small wildlife pond she has created using a steel basin. This technique is replicable no matter the size of your garden. It's also wonderful if something goes awry, it's easier to get rid of than a built-in pond.

Goodbye curated gardens; casual gardens are in for 2025. Sutton Foster is leading the charge.