by Jesse Harris Today’s landscape professionals have many choices when it comes to choosing ecological hardscapes for their designs. Proper design, installation, and maintenance are critical to their effectiveness. The…
Stormwater Management
The Green Alley, the Water Table, and the Ostrich
by Heather Heimarck Boston Architectural College’s “Green Alley” was built with the intention of creating a replicable model that would ameliorate negative environmental impacts caused by urban streets and high…
Good Medicine: The Benefits of Green Infrastructure
by Thomas Benjamin The evolution of Kent Hospital’s Sustainable Campus Landscape Initiative was both capital project and Master Plan driven. In the early 2000s, Kent, located in Warwick, RI, embarked…
Native Plant Selection for Biofilters and Rain Gardens
by Catherine Neal Modern storm water management systems rely on vegetation to hold the soil, filter contaminants, absorb nutrients, intercept and transpire water, and support healthy and diverse soil biology….
Native Plant Selection for Biofilters and Rain Gardens
by Catherine Neal Modern storm water management systems rely on vegetation to hold the soil, filter contaminants, absorb nutrients, intercept and transpire water, and support healthy and diverse soil biology….
Practical Application of Tree Filter Systems
by Paul Iorio I recently brought to completion a large parking lot project that illustrates the applications as well as adaptability of tree filter systems in an urban environment. Tree…
Utilizing Natural Systems and Bringing Groups Together to Clean Up Lake George
by Randy Rath One of the biggest threats to the water quality of many lakes – including Lake George in upstate New York – is stormwater runoff. After a storm,…
Encouraging Citizen Action to Soak Up the Rain
by Anne Leiby and Cindy Brown Stormwater runoff is a significant source of water pollution in the United States. As rain falls onto hard surfaces, such as roofs, roads, parking…
Changing the Conversation on Ecological Design
by Lisa Cowan Recent destructive storm events have focused public attention on climate change, sustainable site design, and resiliency. As ecological design practitioners, we have an opportunity to build on…
Proper Maintenance Keeps Rain Gardens Thriving
by Kevin Beuttell Traditionally, stormwater was viewed as a burden on the landscape. Water was typically taken away through channels and pipes as quickly as possible to avoid flooding on…
In Poverty and In Wealth….Water Consciousness
by Heather D Heimarck I have always been a map gazer, letting my mind wander along the mountain ridges and rivers of the world. Recently, I have taken up a…
Make a Splash with Native Wetland Perennials
by John Mark Courtney Plants are a key element to a balanced pond ecosystem. No matter how big or small the body of water may be, plants play an essential…