GardenDesignOnline

Landscape Design Trends 2017

photo: ASLA

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)  has released its survey of design trends for 2017.

The results indicate that the ecological message is getting through.  Consumers now prefer sustainable elements for their outdoor living spaces, although at the same time they want tech-friendly design.  For the first time in the survey, among the top 10 project types were those with wireless and internet connections.

A whopping eighty-two percent of those surveyed wanted native, drought-tolerant plants; nearly 80 percent preferred low-maintenance landscapes (an oxymoron in the opinion of many designers); and more than 70 percent of respondents expressed a desire for permeable paving, reduced lawn areas, fire pits or fireplaces, water-efficient irrigation systems, and food or vegetable gardens. The most popular outdoor recreation elements included sports courts, spas, and swimming pools. And labyrinths came in at 11 percent. 

Nancy Somerville, executive vice-president and CEO of ASLA, said that "Well designed residential landscapes provide social interaction, enjoyment of nature, and physical activity, while also reducing water use and stormwater runoff."  She added that landscape architects are "pros" at creating sustainable outdoor spaces that fulfill their clients' dreams for relaxation and activities that are meaningful.

 

 

Historic Elm Preservation

A 200-year-old elm tree in Perth Amboy, New Jersey has withstood innumerable trials: Dutch elm disease, a terrible storms over decades, including Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  To preserve the tree's genetic heritaqe, scientists from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service are cutting twigs from the tree's aging branches and flash freezing them in storage for decades and possibly for centuries.

Originally, scientists planned to cryo-preserve seeds from the tree, but upon inspection, there were no embryos within the seeds.  Researchers believe the cause was a lack of other elms nearby to pollinate the flowers.  So the scientific team decided to try preserving germplasm from twig cuttings.

Plans are also underway this year to obtain viable seed from the elm by using pollen collected from the historic tree or taken from another elm of the same species.

ARS plant physiologist Christine Walters noted that millions of American elms were decimated by a fungal pathogen that causes Dutch elm disease. "Using our genetic resource collections," she says, "we can stay steps ahead of such disasters -- whether they happen to elms, apples, citrus, or wheat." 

The Perth Amboy elm was planted around 1815 and it is considered a symbol of the town's strength and its ties to New Jersey and US history.  Town resident Thomas Mundy Peterson in 1870 walked beneath the elm on his way to vote at City Hall -- the first African American to vote under the newly-enacted 15th Amendment.

Philly Flower Show Preview

 

images: GMR Design - click to enlarge

Philadelphia Flower Show March 11-19, 2017

From the moment you walk into the Flower Show, you can tell by the gigantic windmills in the background that this year's theme is the Netherlands.  And right you'd be.  "Holland, Flowering the World," celebrates Dutch culture, from its millions of colorful tulips in spring to its cutting-edge ecological design.

Windmills, of course, mark one of the world's earliest uses of natural energy, and you'll also experience the iconic canals, the cityscape of Amsterdam, castle gardens and the expansive fields of flowers at Keukenhof.

Best of all, for designers, you'll experience the naturalistic plantings known as the Dutch Wave, popularized by Piet Oudolf and others.  Leading designers from the Netherlands, including Nico Wissing, Bart Hoes, Carrie Preston and Bart Bresser will be exhibiting at the show.

 

 

Books: Floral Inspiration

If you're looking for a reason to design or install a cutting garden, look no further than this book  In Floral Diplomacy: At the White House (Stichtung Kunstboek, 2017), former White House Floral Designer Laura Dowling takes you on an engaging tour of the White House, with emphasis on the importance of flowers in everyday life,  in international diplomacy, and in US politics. She served as chief florist for six years during the Obama Administration.

Dowling believes that floral arrangments can convey important messages and meaning.  Designing for a state dinner to honor the prime minister of India, she used a color scheme of fuchsia, purple, and apple green inspired by the peacock, the national bird of India. 

For a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dowling created arrangements in her favorite colors and to match a state dinner featuring a scientific theme to honor Merkel'sl academic achievements.

Dowling says her main mission as a florist is "to capture the power and emotion of flowers." Her innovative compositions were inspired by both the Obamas and their visitors. When the Obamas hosted members of the US Olympic team, Dowling was inspired by Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" program that encouraged healthy eating and made an "Olympic Torch" from carrot and gloriosa lily flames, along with artichokes and green beans.

For everyday floral arrangements in the White House state rooms -- the Blue Room, the Red Room, the Green Room and others -- Dowling writes that she used colors and flowers "to highlight the season and to set a warm, welcoming tone."  Each week, new designs and new combinations of flowers were selected to complement the architecture, the furniture, and the spirit of each room (whether formal, casual, or majestic or intimate).

Not all of us would ever have Dowling's kind of talent, but she makes you think hard about what flowers can do to improve anyone's quality of life.  That's a real reason to get started on that cutting garden!