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A blue heron in the wetlands as they appear today. Photo by Pam Morris Olshefski. 

Restoring the Wetlands of Morris Arboretum

July 16, 2020 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Land Management, Landscaping for Wildlife, Managing Water in the Landscape, Public Gardens and Parks, Restoration

by Eloise Gayer

Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is well known for its abundance of mature trees and horticultural displays. In 2001 the Arboretum began the restoration of a drained wetland that would not only serve as a blueprint for other wetland restoration projects but also create more educational opportunities for the entire community. Learn about the history of this wetland, that was farmland at the turn of the century then one hundred years later was reverted back into a natural wetland.

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Planting Edible Native Species – A Case Study from Massachusetts

May 15, 2020 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Edible Landscaping, Restoration

by Russ Cohen

A newly daylighted stream at Willard’s Woods in Lexington, MA presented a serendipitous opportunity for introduction of edible native plants to the conservation area. At a double session focused on propagating and planting edible native plant species, Russ Cohen and co-presenter Georgia Hann included this 2017 project at ELA’s 2020 Conference & Eco-Marketplace in March. Here, Russ follows up the conference session with a deeper dive into the Willard’s Woods project.

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Goats as an Ecological Management Option for Invasive Plants

September 16, 2019 in Developing Healthy Landscapes, Invasive Plants, Landscape Challenges, Restoration

by Sandy Vorce

“Gotta get a goat” was the author’s mantra a decade ago as she struggled against bittersweet, buckthorn, and multiflora rose to regain a portion of meadow at Mass Audubon’s property in Belmont, MA. Her wish was granted, and the property now successfully utilizes a four-hoofed crew for control of invasive plants. Read the article.

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Native Plants Shine in Streambank Restoration

September 16, 2019 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Native Plants, Restoration

by Krissy Boys

Four years after replacement of a streambank water control structure, native grasses, sedges, and forbs planted at the site have become well established. Most species are thriving and have propagated themselves by self-sowing in the streambank gardens. Only two species out of 58 genera completely failed.

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From Wasteland to Wildflower Meadow at Greenfield Community College

September 16, 2019 in Designing Ecological Landscapes, Developing Healthy Landscapes, Native Plants, Restoration

by Maureen Sundberg

A campus wildflower meadow tucked onto a slope at Greenfield Community College was designed as part of a larger outdoor learning lab that includes a botanical garden, wetland garden, permaculture garden, and raingarden. Two years after planting, the meadow has become an oasis of learning for students across the academic spectrum.

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Successful Management and Maintenance of Invaded Sites Starts with a Plan

September 15, 2017 in Restoration

by Theresa Sprague Over the past seven years the team at BlueFlax Design LLC has managed a multitude of landscapes degraded by invasive plant species. We have managed sites for species including shrub and vine honeysuckle, porcelainberry, Asiatic bittersweet, border privet, autumn olive, black swallowwort, Japanese knotweed, and others. Four years ago we were introduced…

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Ecological Restoration: A Landscape Architect’s Perspective

September 15, 2017 in Restoration

by Anne Penniman ‘Habitat loss is the leading cause of both species extinctions and ecosystem service decline. The two ways to reverse this trend of habitat loss are conservation of currently viable habitat and restoration of degraded habitats.’ (Wikipedia) Landscape architects confront distressed and disturbed landscapes on a frequent basis. The ideal project involves a…

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Expanding Riparian Forest Buffers in the Merrimack River Watershed

September 15, 2017 in Restoration

by Alex Krofta The “Expanding Riparian Forest Buffers” project is being led by the Merrimack River Watershed Council (MRWC) in partnership with Nashua River Watershed Association, UNH Cooperative Extension, and MassDCR. The three main phases of the project are 1) Prioritization of seven HUC12 subwatersheds for protection and restoration; 2) Outreach to towns and landowners about…

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New Garden at Cornell Plantations Mundy Wildflower Garden

July 14, 2016 in Restoration

by Krissy Boys Plans for a new garden began when we realized that an infestation of crown vetch (Coronilla varia), an invasive weed, had to be eradicated from an area in the Mundy Wildflower Garden called “The Gabions.” The name comes from the heavy gauge wire baskets, filled with rocks and stacked one on top of…

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