The Mark of the Human Hand: Designing with native plants
Aside from the painted-wall eye candy, the Summer 2008 Wildflower magazine also has an interesting article about Lotusland in Montecito, California. I’d never heard of this fantastical garden until Chuck visited Lotusland and posted about it. Now it’s on my must-see-gardens list.
According to landscape architect Gary Smith, who is quoted in the article “Land of Plenty,” Lotusland is “a globally significant work of garden art” that native-plant enthusiasts can use for design inspiration. While not a native-plant garden itself, Lotusland uses plants well adapted to the Mediterranean climate of Montecito, including agaves, aloes, and palms. The garden spaces, which rely on texture, leaf color, and form rather than bright floral displays, are dramatic, creatively designed, and extraordinarily beautiful (see Chuck’s post for a few images).
These are the design lessons Smith would like native-plant gardeners to take to heart. “Most native plant gardens are habitat-oriented rather than design-oriented,” he says. “Habitat-oriented gardens strive to eliminate the mark of the human hand. If we are going to broaden the appeal of native plant gardening, we native plant lovers have to have the confidence to sometimes make our gardens look like works of art.”
Traditionally, part of the appeal of using native plants has been to create habitats for birds, beneficial insects, and other creatures. Wildscapes, or gardens designed to look like nature, are often the result, and they can be lovely and peaceful. But they may not appeal to everyone, particularly traditional gardeners who crave formal lines and evergreen structure and those who prefer contemporary garden design. Using native plants in a stylized, artful way, as Smith suggests, may inspire even more people to see the beauty and utility of native plants.
The Wildflower Center, a Texas native botanic garden, has long inspired me with its wildscapes and naturalistic gardens. But change is afoot. In the past couple of years, I’ve noticed more contemporary designs popping up in the demonstration gardens. A design by Gary Smith for a new space at the Wildflower Center called the Sun Garden shows an even more stylized use of native plants. Take a look at Smith’s website for sketches of the Sun Garden (and others) soon to be inspiring us there (no longer available). I expect it’ll give visitors a whole new way of thinking about native plants.
P.S. The photo at top is not meant to illustrate an “artful” use of native plants. It’s just a wild color combo I’m trying out in my garden this summer: bat-face cuphea (Cuphea llavea ) and purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ).
All material © 2006-2008 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I just wanted to say thank you for your blog. I love looking at your pictures especially. I am new to blogging, and I am trying to establish a nice plant blog like you’ve got. Have a great rest of the growing season!
If you’d like me to, I can link to your blog on mine. Just let me know!
Samantha
Thank you for the kind comment, Samantha. I’m pretty sure I’ve stopped by your blog before, and I’ll be back for another visit soon. Links are your prerogative; no need to ask, but thanks if you do. —Pam
Those little bat flowers look like they are trying to fly away.
I like the idea of more design with native plants, I do like some structure in my gardens. It’s an interesting idea, because when we think of native plants, we often think of native (wild) landscapes.
I like structure too, whether with plants or hardscaping—preferably both. It balances out all those flowery perennials I also like to use. —Pam
I love that bat faced cuphea and just planted one in one of my containers. It is curious isn’t it.
It’s one of those plants that just makes you smile. —Pam
Perfect–I’ve been meaning to put up more pictures of Lotusland since I got back from vacation, and add my own thoughts. Now you’ve given me the prompt I need.
Great point about shifting the emphasis of native plant gardening from a habitat focus to a more design-y type approach. I tried to make this point to the San Francisco Botanical Garden recently. The big native section there, designed in the 1950s, functions as a wild, habitat garden designed with a light touch to give city dwellers an opportunity to contemplate California’s natural spaces. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Garden are a set of demonstration gardens that don’t include a single native plant–even though, for years now, native plants bring in the most money at Garden’s plant sales. Clearly the interest level is there.
Endless lamentations about the inappropriateness of native plants for the home garden at blogs like Garden Rant really turn me off. Perhaps you’ve re-cast the argument. Good for you.
Considering those lamentations however has made me wonder about the regional appropriateness of native plants for home gardening. That is to say, are California’s native plants somehow more suitable for home gardening than New York’s? I wouldn’t know. On one hand, many people here already use several California’s native plants in the garden without knowing that. On the other hand, some of them do require expanding your aesthetic limits. And the garden culture is hugely different. Many homeowners who maintain gardens at all maintain very wet gardens. Far too wet for drought-tolerant, summer dormant California natives.
Well, there’s a lot to say.
And I’m so glad you said it. I knew you’d have a thoughtful opinion on Smith’s suggestion about how to use native plants. To reply : 1. I eagerly await future posts from you about Lotusland. I’m so intrigued by the place. 2. I find it a little surprising that the SF Botanical Garden is not more avant-garde and creative in its use of natives, particularly considering the interest level you mentioned. 3. I was expressly thinking of the “lamentations” at Garden Rant about native plants as I mulled over the Wildflower article and Smith’s ideas. His “artful” native gardens might convince those skeptical about native plants in the home landscape. 4. You make an excellent point about the suitability of native plants for home gardens in other parts of the country. What do I know of native plants anywhere but in central Texas? Next to nothing. We in the southwest and in Mediterranean climates are blessed with a fantastic array of architectural, dramatic native plants to play with. What about gardeners in other parts of the country though? I have no idea. —Pam
I have a couple containers of red and pink combinations this year. Your photo is beautiful! I would love to be able to incorporate native plants in my garden.
I’m interested to know why you haven’t used any native plants yet, Nancy. Are they not readily available in Nova Scotia? Are you not sure how to use them? Are they unappealing? As I mentioned in my reply to Chuck, I don’t really know what native plants in other regions are like, and how suitable or desirable they may be. —Pam
Very thought provoking Pam, in fact, I am still thinking about everything…and I love the combination in your photo
Thanks, Gail. I know you like to use native plants too. I’ll be interested to have your thoughts after you mull over the suggestions Smith made about how to use natives to inspire those who don’t. —Pam
I have both types of gardens with native plants – the wild looking woodland, & the more stylized & traditional garden out front which I call my “Faux Prairie.” Because this garden is by the front door & flanks a brick walkway, it seemed to call for a less wild and more garden like treatment. Nice to know that I’ve unintentionally got in ahead of the trend.
I don’t recall if I’ve seen your faux prairie, MMD. It sounds intriguing. Maybe you’ll post pics of it sometime soon? —Pam