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Sustaining the Living Landscape: Conference & Eco-Marketplace at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA.
Keynote Dinner: The Essential Layers of Living Landscapes by Rick Darke
Wednesday, February 25
Intensive Workshops:
From Seed to Success: Creating and Sustaining Dynamic Landscapes
New Strategies for Water Conservation and Protection
Visit ecolandscaping.org to register online or to see the full brochure.
This client’s small backyard had to serve many functions for her and her tenants. They enjoyed growing flowering plants and vegetables, but also wanted separate spaces for dining and relaxing. The loss of two shade trees had changed the environment significantly. Existing raised beds, already in the sunniest location, were left in place. Wood chips from the downed trees were used to create paths around the raised beds and a patio closer to the porch steps. There was now sufficient space remaining for a corner reading nook; it was partially enclosed by a low stacked-stone wall and shaded by a newly planted river birch. This and other new trees will gradually replace the lost shade and privacy.
With home renovations complete, the clients were looking to reclaim their garden from construction debris to create inviting, relaxing spaces. A custom arbor and trellis help screen the yard from the street and create an inviting entry garden. A wide bluestone walkway merges into the spacious patio partially enclosed by curved stone seat walls. Beside the patio water flowing through a runnel to the pond provides a pleasant burbling sound.
Our business was recently featured on MassRealty, one of the top sites for Massachusetts Real Estate, including condos, multi families, and townhouses for sale. You can read all about Designing Your Ideal Gardens in our interview here.
While the completed landscape plan addressed the entire property, the installation is being undertaken in phases. This takes careful planning to ensure that access is maintained where needed and plantings in one phase are not undermined in subsequent phases. The most immediate issue for these clients was screening the view from kitchen and patio onto neighboring properties. This we addressed in Phase 1 by replacing most of the overgrown deciduous shrubs with a varied selection of good-sized conifers. In Phase 2, other structural plants were added to the conifer bed. Planting of perennials and development of the foundation bed nearby were undertaken in the most recent phase.
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