The authors ofPlanting in a Post - Wild human beings : Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapespropose   a new paradigm for garden design , one which modifies and adapts the “ flora communities ” concepts in ways that are sustainable and beautiful in a world alter by urbanization , species invasion , and clime change .   This book deal the big outcome that filter around gardening , but it also provides a blueprint for creating workable plant community of interests in our yard and public spaces .

The author ’ goal is to allow “ a guide for design bouncy flora communities ” that can win in today ’s landscapes , which “ no longer resemble historically natural atmospheric condition . ” Due to the much - change environmental conditions we present today , the generator urge us to give up the notion of creating an exact replica of nature in our yards , green , and other public space .   alternatively , Rainer and West   developed the conception of   “ designed plant communities”thatresembleandfunctionlikethose in the wild .   They also advocate us to keep off treating plants as “ individual aim put in the garden for decoration , ” but instead , taking our cue from nature , “ to arrange plant life to interact with other industrial plant and the situation . ”   Employing enquiry onhow plants interact in “ wild ” communities , the generator have derived certain principles that “ can help designers intimately select , arrange , and get by horticultural plantings . ”

Theguiding principle of the source ’ design plant communitiesare :

These introductory principles are develop to the full in the early chapters of the record , which then shifts to a step - by - measure guide to plant choices , intent , facility , and maintenance , all accompany by helpful chart , drafting , and pic .

Principle # 1 is the essential feature of a flora community :   the plants “ coexist and interact . ”   Principle # 2 — tension — is based on the fact that plants have varyingcompetitive strategiesto deal with limited sun , piddle , and nutrients ; they may have ancestor that can move away from competitors or they may have the ability to take up superfluous nutrients .   The authors conceive we must moot these deviate capacities and strategies in orderliness to create a successful flora community .   This is one reason plant in naturally - occurring community be given to occupy every inch of useable ground , which is Principle # 3 .   A fundamental stratum , for the generator , is the primer coat cover layer .   The authors note that some desirable ground covers — grasses , sedges , and leafy perennials — have bound commercial-grade availability .   Principle # 4 — legibility — may seem puzzling , but it seems to be base on some recondite thinking about , and maybe even some scientific depth psychology of , human beings and their propensities .

The legibility principle underlies the idea that a designed plant community is a “ stylized version“of a naturally occurring plant community . Why a “ stylized variation ” of nature ?   First , it might be necessary to habituate only a few of the most adaptative species in a raw community or to supplement a aboriginal community due to availability issues .   Second , a stylized version may be preferable due to the ethnic conditioning of humans . According to Rainer and West , ahighly mixed plantingsuch as might be found in nature tend to cue us of “ abandoned fields or derelict industrial sites . ”   Thus , the designer ’s task is todistill the essence of familiar landscapes — which the generator denote to asarchetypes . A piece of Googling bring out that the termarchetypeis used fairly extensively in the field of landscape architecture to identify patterns . The book focus onthree major prototypic landscape :

— forests

— grasslands ,

— timberland and shrublands

The authors believe that humans relate to these three archetype in essential , emotional ways ; thus , a design that adheres to one of these basic patterns will be “ legible ” — i.e. , humans will tell apart it like a shot — and positively .

If you ’re wondering how to “ extract the inwardness ” of these archetypal landscapes , the authors provide very specific guidance .   And for each major archetypal landscape , there ’s in - profundity discourse , plus a helpful list of problems to avoid .   One of those really grabbed my care : in a hayfield - type garden , deflect plants that are marvelous than eye grade ; apparently , this form of top is a turnoff for most folks .   Since I ’m in the midst of develop a Modern garden decently now , this advice was seasonable .

The authors ’ philosophy is powerfully focussed on the site ; the idea is to select works that arenaturally adapted to the site;i.e . , that can all pull round in the internet site ’s environmental conditions , including its tension . aboriginal industrial plant communitiesare “ conflict - tested ” and aesthetically intimate , so they are theideal start point . By choosing familiar native plant residential district , we can make the task much simpler .   Here or there we may have to fill in an alien — a non - trespassing one that ’s adapt to the conditions of our situation .   The authors eschew the “ troublesome watershed ” between those who dogmatically insist upon a indigen - only regime versus those who will employ exotics .   Nevertheless , they clearly plunk for aboriginal industrial plant communities :

We hard believe that designing with native plants still count .   In fact , it matters more than ever .   But for be successful in establishing aboriginal community in tough sites , both a new expression of nature and a deep understanding of the moral force of plant community is required .   It is our challenge to reimagine a novel formula of nature — one that survives within our built landscapes , and at the same sentence do vital ecosystem functions needed to ensure life .   . . . The building blocks of this young nature are bouncy and native industrial plant — and yes , even alien species — that are course adapt to environments similar to our man - made landscape .   The interrogation is not what grew there in the past but what will grow there in the hereafter . ”

It ’s well worth observe that this rule book has receive the stamp of approval of Doug Tallamy , author ofBringing Nature nursing home :   “ This is the cosmopolitan how - to guide to sustainable landscaping we have all been await for . A masterful achievement . ”

As designate above , this book contain a wealthiness of detailed counsel , and you ’ll soon be find out about things like the root morphologies that allow different mintage to grow right next to each other with petty or no unmediated competition , thus progress to room for even more plants that support pollinator and other wildlife .   That ability to grow nerve - by - jowl is a cardinal concept reaped from the study of plant behavior in the wild .   You ’ll soon learn and be able to apply the authors ’ defined terms , such as

You ’ll be able to make purpose of the Landscape Selection Key toidentify the original intimately suited to your site .   You ’ll be exhort to draw your web site as a way of knowing it in novel way .   And you ’ll be introduce to major influencers from the field of operations of bionomics and landscape design :

It has been observe that this account book could be viewed as a sequel of the workplace of Richard Hansen and Friedrich Stahl , generator ofPerennials and Their Garden Habitats . ( 1993 ) .   candidly , I knew nothing about that or any of the other script discuss and name in the bibliography , and I ’m hoping to remedy that place soon .

Initially , I determine a few constituent of the playscript somewhat off - putt — such as the use of unfamiliar defined terms . Some of the suggestions about cutting back on the use of mulch and of soil amendments struck me as problematical , especially in our challenging changing climates . Despite these concerns , I learn plenty .   I was in particular intrigued by the authors ’ ism of   management , particularly the insistence that we recognise that our gardens will alter over sentence — no matter how we maintain them .   I will no doubt return to this section of the book , which helpfully posit various alteration scenario and the variety of reaction available to the gardener .

One very useful feature article of this book is that all concepts and recommendations are accompanied by listing of example species ( using their scientific names ) along with a riches of photos of these metal money , both singly and in plant residential district create by well - know architect .

To say that the Scripture is inspiring is a major understatement .   I withdraw like a kindergartner , but thanks to this playscript , I ’m feel confident and ready to channelise out to take out my site !

beginning :

implant in a Post - Wild World :   Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes(Thomas Rainer & Claudia West , Timber Press 2015 )

Book Notes : perennial and Their Garden Habitats , Arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu

Upcoming lecturing by Thomas Rainer / Piedmont Landscape Association/2/2/23

Thomas Rainer ’s Grounded Design Blog