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Earth-Friendly Garden Design Wendy Talaro, M.A. Principal designer and consultant Cornucopia Sustainable Designs Founder, Urban/Suburban Ecoliteracy Copyright © 2010 Wendy Talaro, Cornucopia Sustainable Designs All rights reserved
Through the years that I have worked with clients, I have discovered that gardens fall into two distinct categories.
There are ordinary conventional (and even ordinary organic gardens)…
… and then there are eco-savvy, Earth-friendly gardens.
The least successful gardens and homeowners take a conventional and petrochemical-driven approach.
Architecture Dominates Structures, not plants and natural landforms, dominate the landscape.
Imposed Aesthetics Imposed aesthetics that frame views and emphasize form are valued more than ecological function and structure.
Cookie Cutter Design A conventional approach to landscape and gardens applies a cookie cutter formula to design.
Cookie Cutter Design ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],*yawn* (north facing side of the garden) (east facing side of  the garden)
Cookie Cutter Design Mexican sage lavender cape honeysuckle princess flower ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Cookie Cutter Design ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Garden  Obsolescence In conventional design, the garden plan is trendy rather than stylish, timeless,  and personalized.
Garden Obsolescence The end result of cookie cutter design is considered fixed and permanent, at least until obsolescence sets in.
Garden Obsolescence Several years after its establishment, this is what a big name designer’s garden looks like past its prime, even with regular maintenance. Notice the legginess of the shrubs and the awkwardness of their forms.
Garden Obsolescence ,[object Object],[object Object]
Garden Obsolescence ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Garden Obsolescence ,[object Object],[object Object]
Ignoring Ecological Principles Conventional design tends to ignore the optimal needs of the plants and treats them like outdoor furniture to be moved around at will and on whim. corn watermelon basil strawberry sage rosemary
Ignoring Ecological Principles ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],artichoke
Ignoring Ecological Principles ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Impatience is Expensive Impatience is expensive. Poor design ignores the precautionary principle.
Impatience Is Expensive ,[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Ignoring Ecological Principles ,[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Conventional design tends to ignore the availability and application of local resources. Therefore, it tends to be costly (even though subsidized by the availability of cheap fossil fuels).
Ignoring Local Materials Conventional design also ignores or flouts ecological principles and disrespects the particulars of place.
Ignoring Local Materials ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object]
Sedge lost to incorrect mulch application
Sedges lost  en masse  to incorrect  mulch application (shown before losses)
Sedges lost  en masse  to incorrect  mulch application (shown after losses)
Heucheras lost  en masse  to incorrect mulch application (shown before losses)
Heucheras lost  en masse  to incorrect mulch application (shown after losses)
Cape honeysuckle stem rot and adventitious root formation due to incorrect mulch application
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Elements of Successful Gardens The most successful gardens take their design and function cues from nature.
Taking Cues from Nature You cannot out-design nature. She’s been in the design and sustainability game a lot longer than humans have been. Take note.
In ecologically conscious design, plants and natural landforms are complemented by architecture, which in turn is influenced by geography and climate.
Moreover, the $$$ benefits of great landscaping are well documented.
Landforms and Plants Complement Whittier backyard garden, February 2007 ,[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, February 2007
Whittier backyard garden, May 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, May 2007 ,[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, May 2007 In ecologically literate design, productivity is balanced by and integrated with beauty.
Whittier backyard garden, October 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, October 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Ecological design allows the garden to evolve, i.e. flexibility.
Whittier backyard garden, March 2010 ,[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, October 2007 An eco-savvy sustainable garden is well-grounded in its locale.
Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Successful gardens interface the uniqueness of place with a client’s desires, lifestyle, and budget
Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Ecologically designed gardens are made to be experienced and enjoyed. They invite sensory interaction.
Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Plants with similar needs for water, light, soil type, temperature, fertility, and pest control are clustered.
Whittier backyard garden, March 2010 Sustainable gardens are relatively easy to maintain. High maintenance plants (typically edibles) are generally readily accessible and close to the house.
Whittier backyard garden, March 2010
Whittier garden - front, October 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier garden - front, November 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Whittier garden - front, March 2010 Sustainable gardens have plants that are site and scale-appropriate for access, maintenance, and harvest. Small spaces call for small plants.
Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Sustainable gardens plan for as many permanent paths as possible for maintenance and harvest.
Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Pathways are based upon patterns of movement.
Mar Vista backyard garden, December 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Ecologically-savvy gardens temper initial enthusiasm with persistence, perseverance, and patience.
Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Successful gardens are not by-products of frequent impulse buys. Passion is balanced with practicality.
Century City backyard garden with California native plants, March 2008 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Century City backyard garden with California native plants, March 2008 Ecological design, like Permaculture, transforms limitations into advantages. Problems offer the seeds for their  own solutions.
Nichols Canyon front yard garden,  October 2008 Ecologically savvy design prioritizes long-term maintenance. Resulting gardens have longevity and are beautiful, yet require less work because of money, energy, and time investments made up front.
Nichols Canyon front yard garden,  October 2008 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Nichols Canyon front yard garden with edible California natives, January 2009 ,[object Object]
Nichols Canyon front yard garden with edible California natives, January 2009 ,[object Object]
Mar Vista backyard edible garden,  October 2008 Well-designed eco-savvy gardens place the edible, nutritionally important plants as close to the kitchen as possible.
Mar Vista backyard edible garden,  October 2008
Mar Vista backyard, November 2008 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Mar Vista backyard, November 2008
Montebello weedy backyard, May 2006 The soil is always tested first before planning and designing an edible sustainable garden.
Montebello weedy backyard, May 2006
Montebello weedy backyard, May 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, October 2006 Well designed sustainable edible gardens start small but allow room to expand.
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006 Sustainable edible gardens are not purely self-serving. A well-designed garden compensates for expected losses due to critters and pests.
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006 Vegetable and grain beds (hint: make them rectangular for ease of crop planning, maintenance, and harvest) are made no wider than 4-5 feet for adults, 3-3.5 feet for children.
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, January 2007
Montebello backyard sheet mulch, January 2007 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object]
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Mid-City front yard garden with California natives, November 2009
Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, November 2009 As a DIY gardener, your largest constraints are often money, time, and skill.
Mid-City front yard garden (median strip) with California natives, November 2009 Remember that DIY garden / landscape projects take 2-4x longer than expected and cost 2-3x more than anticipated.
Picture window view of Mid-City front yard garden with California natives, November 2009
Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, April 2010 ,[object Object],[object Object]
Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, April 2010
Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, April 2010
Mid-City L.A. driveway visual screen with drift of native heuchera, April 2010
Contact Information Frustrated with your results? Want help with creating your own sustainable garden? Contact us so that you can avoid the garden and landscaping mistakes everyone else makes: http://www.cornucopia-sustainable-designs.com
Contact Information Because you can learn the basics of sustainable garden design, contact us for information about upcoming Urban/Suburban Ecoliteracy workshops: http: //urban-suburban-ecoliteracy .com

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Finally! Garden & landscape design that makes sense (naturally)!

  • 1. Earth-Friendly Garden Design Wendy Talaro, M.A. Principal designer and consultant Cornucopia Sustainable Designs Founder, Urban/Suburban Ecoliteracy Copyright © 2010 Wendy Talaro, Cornucopia Sustainable Designs All rights reserved
  • 2. Through the years that I have worked with clients, I have discovered that gardens fall into two distinct categories.
  • 3. There are ordinary conventional (and even ordinary organic gardens)…
  • 4. … and then there are eco-savvy, Earth-friendly gardens.
  • 5. The least successful gardens and homeowners take a conventional and petrochemical-driven approach.
  • 6. Architecture Dominates Structures, not plants and natural landforms, dominate the landscape.
  • 7. Imposed Aesthetics Imposed aesthetics that frame views and emphasize form are valued more than ecological function and structure.
  • 8. Cookie Cutter Design A conventional approach to landscape and gardens applies a cookie cutter formula to design.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12. Garden Obsolescence In conventional design, the garden plan is trendy rather than stylish, timeless, and personalized.
  • 13. Garden Obsolescence The end result of cookie cutter design is considered fixed and permanent, at least until obsolescence sets in.
  • 14. Garden Obsolescence Several years after its establishment, this is what a big name designer’s garden looks like past its prime, even with regular maintenance. Notice the legginess of the shrubs and the awkwardness of their forms.
  • 15.
  • 16.
  • 17.
  • 18. Ignoring Ecological Principles Conventional design tends to ignore the optimal needs of the plants and treats them like outdoor furniture to be moved around at will and on whim. corn watermelon basil strawberry sage rosemary
  • 19.
  • 20.
  • 21. Impatience is Expensive Impatience is expensive. Poor design ignores the precautionary principle.
  • 22.
  • 23.
  • 24.
  • 25.
  • 26.
  • 27. Conventional design tends to ignore the availability and application of local resources. Therefore, it tends to be costly (even though subsidized by the availability of cheap fossil fuels).
  • 28. Ignoring Local Materials Conventional design also ignores or flouts ecological principles and disrespects the particulars of place.
  • 29.
  • 30.
  • 31. Sedge lost to incorrect mulch application
  • 32. Sedges lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown before losses)
  • 33. Sedges lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown after losses)
  • 34. Heucheras lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown before losses)
  • 35. Heucheras lost en masse to incorrect mulch application (shown after losses)
  • 36. Cape honeysuckle stem rot and adventitious root formation due to incorrect mulch application
  • 37.
  • 38. Elements of Successful Gardens The most successful gardens take their design and function cues from nature.
  • 39. Taking Cues from Nature You cannot out-design nature. She’s been in the design and sustainability game a lot longer than humans have been. Take note.
  • 40. In ecologically conscious design, plants and natural landforms are complemented by architecture, which in turn is influenced by geography and climate.
  • 41. Moreover, the $$$ benefits of great landscaping are well documented.
  • 42.
  • 43. Whittier backyard garden, February 2007
  • 44.
  • 45.
  • 46. Whittier backyard garden, May 2007 In ecologically literate design, productivity is balanced by and integrated with beauty.
  • 47.
  • 48.
  • 49. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Ecological design allows the garden to evolve, i.e. flexibility.
  • 50.
  • 51. Whittier backyard garden, October 2007 An eco-savvy sustainable garden is well-grounded in its locale.
  • 52. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Successful gardens interface the uniqueness of place with a client’s desires, lifestyle, and budget
  • 53.
  • 54. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Ecologically designed gardens are made to be experienced and enjoyed. They invite sensory interaction.
  • 55. Whittier backyard garden, May 2009 Plants with similar needs for water, light, soil type, temperature, fertility, and pest control are clustered.
  • 56. Whittier backyard garden, March 2010 Sustainable gardens are relatively easy to maintain. High maintenance plants (typically edibles) are generally readily accessible and close to the house.
  • 58.
  • 59.
  • 60. Whittier garden - front, March 2010 Sustainable gardens have plants that are site and scale-appropriate for access, maintenance, and harvest. Small spaces call for small plants.
  • 61. Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Sustainable gardens plan for as many permanent paths as possible for maintenance and harvest.
  • 62. Mar Vista backyard garden, November 2007 Pathways are based upon patterns of movement.
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  • 64. Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Ecologically-savvy gardens temper initial enthusiasm with persistence, perseverance, and patience.
  • 65. Mar Vista edible backyard garden, July 2008 Successful gardens are not by-products of frequent impulse buys. Passion is balanced with practicality.
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  • 67. Century City backyard garden with California native plants, March 2008 Ecological design, like Permaculture, transforms limitations into advantages. Problems offer the seeds for their own solutions.
  • 68. Nichols Canyon front yard garden, October 2008 Ecologically savvy design prioritizes long-term maintenance. Resulting gardens have longevity and are beautiful, yet require less work because of money, energy, and time investments made up front.
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  • 72. Mar Vista backyard edible garden, October 2008 Well-designed eco-savvy gardens place the edible, nutritionally important plants as close to the kitchen as possible.
  • 73. Mar Vista backyard edible garden, October 2008
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  • 75. Mar Vista backyard, November 2008
  • 76. Montebello weedy backyard, May 2006 The soil is always tested first before planning and designing an edible sustainable garden.
  • 79. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, October 2006 Well designed sustainable edible gardens start small but allow room to expand.
  • 80. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006 Sustainable edible gardens are not purely self-serving. A well-designed garden compensates for expected losses due to critters and pests.
  • 81. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006
  • 82. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, November 2006
  • 83. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
  • 84. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
  • 85. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
  • 86. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006
  • 87. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, December 2006 Vegetable and grain beds (hint: make them rectangular for ease of crop planning, maintenance, and harvest) are made no wider than 4-5 feet for adults, 3-3.5 feet for children.
  • 88. Montebello backyard sheet mulch, January 2007
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  • 93. Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, November 2009 As a DIY gardener, your largest constraints are often money, time, and skill.
  • 94. Mid-City front yard garden (median strip) with California natives, November 2009 Remember that DIY garden / landscape projects take 2-4x longer than expected and cost 2-3x more than anticipated.
  • 95. Picture window view of Mid-City front yard garden with California natives, November 2009
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  • 97. Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, April 2010
  • 98. Mid-City L.A. front yard garden with California natives, April 2010
  • 99. Mid-City L.A. driveway visual screen with drift of native heuchera, April 2010
  • 100. Contact Information Frustrated with your results? Want help with creating your own sustainable garden? Contact us so that you can avoid the garden and landscaping mistakes everyone else makes: http://www.cornucopia-sustainable-designs.com
  • 101. Contact Information Because you can learn the basics of sustainable garden design, contact us for information about upcoming Urban/Suburban Ecoliteracy workshops: http: //urban-suburban-ecoliteracy .com