We’ve scanned media – in print and online – for items of interest to ELA’s ecologically focused audience.
Leaf Mulch – New Options on The Greenway
by Darrah Cole and Anthony Ruggiero
In 2016, The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy began an exploration of leaf much, or leaf mold, as an alternative to the bark/compost mulch blend previously used. They found both positive results and a few concerns over the course of two years.
Maintenance Post SITES™ – Certification Journey at Dancing Tree, Part 2
by Margot Taylor
SITES certified six years ago, Dancing Tree is a model of a sustainable landscape, and the only residence with three-star certification. Now that the site is well established, the focus is on maintenance and resource management. This is the second part of an article about Dancing Tree; read Part 1 at Certification Journey at Dancing Tree.
Join Margot for an Eco-tour of Dancing Tree: Artfully Designed Pollinator Oasis on May 9, 4:30pm.
Rethinking Black Locust
by Dan Jaffe
Considered invasive in some New England states, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) does not cause the ecological harm of many other species categorized as invasive. Given the ebb and flow of plant populations over time and the challenges of successful invasive removal, how should we treat black locust?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Native Evergreen Groundcovers for Sun
I am looking for a native groundcover recommendation for my yard. It is a slope between wetlands and uplands that gets full sun exposure. Ideal plant would be perennial evergreen that will help suppress weeds and is low maintenance and drought resistant. Thanks for any recommendations!
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Dreaming of an Eco-lawn
I would like to have an “eco-lawn” (some sort of fescue?) for my Martha’s Vineyard home. My goal is to have something that looks like a lawn, requires little mowing and water, ideally requires no fertilizer, can thrive in sandy soil, and handles salty air. Am I a crazy dreamer?
Eco-Answers from the Pros: How to Find Research Articles in the Public Domain
It can be frustrating to locate current literature on a topic without bumping into paywalls that prevent free access to information. How can you find the relevant information within the public domain?
Earth
by Tovah Martin
Spring sneaks in through a crack in the window. It steals in when you push the panes open for that whiff of fresh air you’ve anticipated for so long. You’ve almost forgotten what the mingling of indoors and outside feels like; it’s been an eternity since you bonded.
ELA News – April 2019
Introducing Two New Programs! National Green Infrastructure Certification Program Initiated under the leadership of DC Water and the Water Environment Federation, the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) sets national certification…
Gleanings April 2019
We’ve scanned the media – in print and online – for items of interest to ELA’s ecologically focused audience.
When Your Contractor Is Not Familiar with Ecological Design
by Amanda Sloan
You’ve designed an ecological landscape, but the contractor hired to build it is not familiar with ecological practices. What to do? One landscape architect shares strategies for ensuring an ecological design results in an ecological landscape.
Prepare for Success with Subcontractors
Contributors: Lauri Johnson, Nanette Masi, and Trevor Smith
Managing a project with multiple phases and many subcontracts can present scheduling challenges. We asked three ELA members to share their insights into how they screen subcontractors and successfully manage projects with many players and many moving parts.
