By Margaret Roach
Aug. 11, 2021
Image from the New York Times Article is of Darrel Morrison’s mesic prairie design for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum Native Plant Garden
A recent article in the New York Times with this title writes about Darrel Morrison, the elder statesman of the ecological landscaping movement who offers some advice for gardening in a changing world. Ecological landscaping, he says, is the merging of environmental science and art. Consider what happens when plants are chosen only for show? They become sterile wastelands of monotony. In contrast, hes says native plant communities “provide the logical starting point for designing beautiful, functioning regional landscapes.”
His design philosophy boils down to four successful landscape design characteristics.
1) it must be ecologically or environmentally sound, meaning that it has a level of natural diversity that will provide resilience against climate change.
No non-native plants
All choices are locally adapted
Pesticides are unnecessary while some insect grazing is expected and encouraged
Once established, little supplemental water is needed
2) Designs are experientially rich
There is motion as wind moves through it
There are scents from flower and foliage
Pollinator interactions that support butterflies and many varieties of local wildlife
Seasonal changes with a succession of growth, bloom and pollinators
3) Be of the place
Avoid the big box, standardized, just like everywhere else atmosphere
The garden should feel like the place you are, at home in this space
4) Compose for four dimensions, that transitions through the season and adapts over the years
Bloom succession
Varying heights
Organic spread of dominant plants