Landscape Renovation at Green Spring Gardens
by Sunny Greene, FROGS Board Member
Under the direction of site manager Judy Zatsick and horticulture resource manager Adam Bucher, noteworthy renovations are taking place in some of the Green Spring gardens. A recent interview with Judy and Adam highlighted these design and plant changes.
Adam's wonderfully talented staff, including Parker Jennings and many others, is currently working on renovation plans for the Vista Garden. This garden is in front of the Historic House on the way to the parking area. It presents a unique challenge since the soil has often been shifted and disrupted due to changes in the Historic House landscape. Visitors can expect a lot of activity in that area in the coming months.
The basic plan for the Vista Garden is to create a naturalistic garden by applying ecological design principles while using both native and adaptive plants. This contemporary approach to fundamental garden planning has widespread support among modern renowned garden experts.
Adam noted the intent is “to bridge the gap between traditional garden design and ecological garden design.” The goal is to create “a community of plants that work together and increase diversity.” Planning includes the latest research on plant root zones, to assure that “the grouping of plants looks good below ground as well as above.” This action creates greater plant health and harmony, which then results in actually needing fewer plants while eliminating weeds –a win/win situation.
Although the use of native plants is certainly essential, the renovation of Green Spring’s gardens mission is greater than that alone. Green Spring, as Judy emphasizes, also “needs to remain relevant for its demonstration gardens.” With this in mind, the gardens will include newly developed plant choices for color, shape, etc., of interest to home gardeners. The same plants will also not be repeated in all gardens, making the various gardens distinctive.
Judy notes, “We are not changing all of the gardens, nor are (we) making them all naturalistic. Some gardens, like around the Historic House and Horticulture Center, will be more formal.” The goal of Green Spring remains that of demonstrating a range of garden design styles so that visitors can learn from and enjoy the experience.
Photo taken by Brenda Skarphol
