Faces of Green Spring
By Sunny Greene
Adam BucherGreen Spring Gardens (GSG) is thrilled to have our very first Horticultural Resource Manager, Adam Bucher, on board. Adam is truly qualified to lead GSG in rejuvenating our gardens to new glory.
Adam grew up locally in Alexandria and has an impressive background in ecology. He received his degree in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and an additional degree from NVCC in Horticulture and Landscape Design. Numerous experiences in the environmental field include work with the federally funded Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, where Adam reviewed project plans, led training, and developed best practices for collection of environmental data.
Adam hopes to develop a 5-year management plan for the entire outdoor GSG property. He’s focused on making Green Spring “an educational force” so that county residents can see what they could do with their own property. This means “highlighting plants that do well in our local environment.” Seriously invasive plants will be removed and native plants will be freely used. A rigorous design process will take place before major changes are made.
Adam notes that an important purpose in redesigning gardens is to be “more thoughtful in distinguishing garden spaces.” This means foliage and special plants that “draw your eye.” Gardens will reflect their use, for example, traditional plantings with lots of color in the Gazebo area, often used for wedding photos, while the Concentric Garden (which will be renovated and change its name to the Moon Gate and Serenity Garden in 2024) will feature more muted plantings that encourage a sense of calm. Plants in the gardens will also reflect and complement one another. The Historic House foundation beds are getting an update with a more formal and symmetric design, while the Vista Garden across the house lawn will contrast in a naturalistic style. Varying soil conditions in gardens will also highlight the diversity in modern plant breeding. In all gardens, sensitivity to local ecology will be “the driving theme.” Adam’s main goal is to “do what we can to take care of what we have.”
Visit Green Spring Gardens soon. Say hi to Adam and note the amazing work he and his crew have already created in the gardens.
Photo by Alice Millikin
