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 In
recent years that definition has changed a great deal. With the
increased use of native plants, gardens have become
more—well---wild. The addition of these plants to our yards has
sometimes brought rude comments from casual observers.
Daylilies, hostas, and daisies are recognized by these individuals,
but Joe Pye, rattlesnake master, and cup plants are not. In most
cases “to be known is to be loved.” If someone doesn’t recognize a
plant it is too often called-----gasp-----a “weed.”
In the old days proper plant display was even more important than
the collection of plants. Unfortunately, this is still the case for
a lot of the traditional gardeners who adopt that formal, strict
style. They use three plants here, three plants there, and apply
more than enough mulch to smother anything that wasn’t purposely put
in their design.
As this style became a little “looser” a more natural
approach was encouraged. Drift planting popularized by Dutch
plantsman Piet Oudolf caught on. The New Perennial Movement was
born. This style used native and non-native plants which were
planted in “drifts” or mass plantings.
Next came the meadow phase of design which encouraged a pollinator
friendly garden. It was lower maintenance and a more accurate
representation of nature. It reflected the prairies of the Plains.
But critics once again asked,” When is a garden not a garden?” [to top of second
column] |
Sadly, many of them answered, “When it’s a MESS!”
We grow natives for good reasons and should encourage those
traditionalists to do the same.
But do we? We know how natives benefit the environment but even more
importantly do our yards motivate others to plant them too? Or do we
adopt a superior attitude which turns traditionalists off?
Look at nature—there is order and design—not forgetfulness. Nature
is lovely and our gardens must be too. Remember that a garden is not
a garden without human intervention. We are important to the
process.
Landscape architect Preston Montague who has designed native plans
for Wild Ones says, “Design happens after planting…..maintenance is
that design process.” This means that your garden plans should
evolve. Ignore those traditional design practices and “edit” the
unruliness. Supervise! Evaluate!
And make those critics answer when asked, “When is a garden NOT a
garden?”
“When you don’t use natives.”
[SOURCE: Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle,
Horticulture Educator, University of Illinois Extension]
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