Sustainability happens everyday and here at GardenComm, we dedicate the 5th Wednesday of the month to highlight topics, brought forward from the GardenComm Sustainability Committee. Learn more about who they are and the role they play in the GardenCommunity. In this edition:
Article - In Transition: The Changing Garden Aesthetic by Lois J. de Vries
GardenComm Sustainability Summit 2023
GardenComm 2023 Honor Nominations are Now Open
In Transition: The Changing Garden Aesthetic
by Lois J. de Vries
In her presentation to The Native Plant Society of New Jersey in 2022, University of Delaware professor, Sue Barton, discussed the findings of several studies she conducted on what people think constitutes a good-looking garden.
In one of these, both the high school students she surveyed and their teachers chose a small, lifeless, foundation planting adjacent to a huge lawn, over a professionally landscaped front yard filled with trees, shrubs, and perennials. Why? Keep reading below.
Here are two similar examples from my own archives. Above - typical builder-installed foundation beds; below, professionally designed and installed garden.
After further study, Barton concluded that those she surveyed either lived in, grew up in, or had friends who lived in houses where plants were treated as decorations for the building, or used to hide a tall foundation, rather than as something that offers environmental benefits or improves the livability of the outdoor space. Nor did they realize that the more heavily planted landscape would actually require less maintenance.
The general consensus seems to be that homeowners want the environmental benefits of native plants and sustainable design, but they also value the decorative aesthetic. Piet Oudolf has shown that we can have both. For his very controlled designs, he chooses from an artist’s palette of plants and yet, the completed landscape still appears “natural.” Over the years, his gardens in the U.S. have incorporated more and more native plants, yet we would never describe them as “messy.”
We’re in a time of transition. What homeowners want from their gardens is changing. The opportunity is there for GardenComm members to become the leaders of a garden aesthetic that truly honors the genius of our wide-ranging American spaces.
You can watch Sue Barton’s NPSNJ Fall Conference presentation online to learn more.
Lois J. de Vries is the Founding Executive Director of the Sustainable Gardening Institute and its core program, the Sustainable Gardening Library. A GardenComm Fellow, Green Medal Honoree, and Past-Chair of the Sustainability Committee, she lives and gardens in the woodlands of Northwestern New Jersey.
Join Us for an Industry Event
Virtual Sustainability Summit 2023 | 4/25-4/27
The Sustainability Summit is a free, 3-day virtual summit, presenting sustainability leaders in the green industry. It looks at issues that affect everyone, regardless if you’re an industry professional or individual consumer. It’s a collective of industry and business professionals who do amazing work, yet much of it goes unnoticed or overlooked, the industry operates in silos. What affects our gardens, affects our trees, affects our landscape and affects our farms. It’s all connected and only the GardenCommunity can bring them all together in this one event.
Speakers & Sessions
Richard Restuccia, SVP of Water Management Solutions at Jain Irrigation – Agricultural Irrigation
Danny Mishek, President of SelfEco/ Proven Winner – Compostable Plant Containers
Denise Coogan, Environmental Partnership Manager |Subaru USA – Zero Waste Facilities
Ben Wilinski, Director, Partnerships and Innovation | Arbor Day Foundation – Trees & Carbon
Warren Gorowitz, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility | Hunter Industries – Sustainability and CSR
Tania Marien, Contributor to The Carbon Almanac – Inside the Global Network of the Carbon Almanac
Panel Discussions
GardenComm Sustainability Committee – The Past, Present and Future: Embracing Sustainable Initiatives and Practices in Our Diverse Industry.
Supporting Sustainability in the Garden Marketplace - Discussion lead by Peter Wirgen, Chief Technologist at Simple Spring, with garden product suppliers.
The sessions are 45 minutes and will run from 2PM-5PM EST, and Q&A with our presenters. This is a virtual event you won't want to miss, so be sure to register now for your session links and all replays, if you can't attend live.
GardenComm Honors Nominations 2023
Did you know that each year, GardenComm recognizes the accomplishments of individuals or allied organizations dedicated to wise and respectful care of the Earth, and implementation of sustainable and regenerative practices?
If you, or someone in your network fits the bill, nominate them now for a Green Medal Sustainability Honor. We also have nominations for other honors, which you can learn more about by clicking the Learn More button.
Each potential point of contact with your audience is a chance to build your business. With this workshop, you can pinpoint and prioritize what you can do – and when – to transform your business into one that’s both profitable and sustainable. GardenComm member and presenter, Debby Ward, helps to walk through these tips and more, in this hands-on workshop. Only $25 to reserve your spot today!
Spring Wildflower Walk & Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Tour | Pittsburgh, PA
April 21
Come take a walk on the wild side! Region 2 invites you to explore a trove of spring wildflowers at Raccoon Creek State Park, Wildflower Preserve, followed by lunch at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and a guided walking tour of the garden.
$60 for members, non-members & guests. Space is limited to the first 20 guests to register.
Cultivate'23 is the largest horticulture trade show in North America! It is happening July 15-18, 2023 at the Columbus Convention Center. Thanks to AmericanHort, GardenComm members are eligible to receive the AmericanHort member discount pricing when registering for Cultivate'23.
Register Now! 2023 GardenComm Annual Conference August 1-5, presented by Endless Summer® Hydrangeas
What do garden tours, educational sessions, trade shows, networking, top garden center owners and operators, media awards and honors all have in common? GardenComm's 75th Annual Conference presented by Endless Summer® Hydrangeas! Join us live in Minneapolis, MN, August 1-5th, for this major milestone conference. Together with Platinum Sponsors, Proven Winners Color Choice®, we've put together an industry experience you can't find anywhere else. Check out the website for more details and watch the preview video below for sneak peek of what's in store for you in Minneapolis.
