SCHORSCH VILLAGE — The children who live on Josephine Christopher’s quiet Schorsch Village block call her yard the fairy garden — and for good reason.

With more than 30 pet birds, seven turtles, two tortoises, three chicken coops, a heated greenhouse, a 5 1/2-foot-deep koi pond, a waterfall, nine beehives and more tropical plants than she can count, the contents of Christopher’s yard sounds like a “Twelve Days of Christmas” remix.

The Northwest Sider has spent 15 years transforming her yard from a lawn with one spruce tree into a paradise. While Christopher has kept her passion project largely private, she was recognized this month with the Chicago Bungalow Association’s Best Backyard Oasis award.

“I just wanted to come home to something that was peaceful,” said Christopher, who has wor

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