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NDAL Ecology Based Landscape Design: What Comes Next? Jan. 10-11 Montgomery County

New Directions in the American Landscape will hold one of its two 2019 Ecology Based Landscape Design: What Comes Next? Conferences January 10-11 at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.

When NDAL’s first symposium took place in 1990, native plants were largely an afterthought in the landscape professions. The changes since then have been astounding, and NDAL is proud to have played a part.

While “ecology into design” has and will remain NDAL’s focus, we have increasingly understood that a “real world ecology” must always consider the influences of people past and present.

2019’s 30th anniversary program will illustrate how an expanded definition of “ecological design”-- including contributions from garden history, agroecology, anthropology, social justice, art, and of course the ecological sciences-- can yield environmentally sound, yet culturally connected landscapes.

Featured speakers include:

-- Thomas Woltz, owner of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) will show examples of a variety of projects that illustrate how deep research into ecologies and cultures shaping the land can be critical in developing site-specific narratives.

-- Teri Rueb, Professor at the University of Colorado will demonstrate how she blends sound and environment using new mobile media that weave audio recordings into the landscape.

-- Rick Darke, consultant, author and photographer will illustrate and explain dynamic design models informed by the art of observation and stewarded by strategic intervention.

-- William Cullina, President of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden will show garden compositions based on native plant communities and artistic inspiration.

Major sponsors include Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania and Connecticut College Arboretum.

Click Here to download a Conference brochure.

To register or for more information, visit the Ecology Based Landscape Design: What Comes Next? Conferences webpage. Questions should be directed to Morris Arboretum by calling 215-247-5777 x125.

Native Plant Resources

There are lots of resources available to help property owners landscape with native plants, including--

-- DCNR Landscaping With Native Plants

-- Game Commission: Common Beneficial Plants Found In Wildlife Habitat

-- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Native Plants For Wildlife Habitat And Conservation Landscaping

-- Chesapeake Bay Sustainable Landscape Professional Directory

-- Brandywine Conservancy: Forested Riparian Buffer Planting Guide

-- Audubon PA: Bird Habitat Recognition Program

-- National Audubon: Native Plants Database

-- Xerces Society For Invertebrate Conservation

-- Gardening For Butterflies: Penn State Extension

-- Planting For Pollinators: Penn State Extension