In Defense of the American Landscape by Jack Broughton Applied Ecological Services, Inc. Survey the designed American landscape. What do you see? Europe, mostly. Asia too. Very little of America, really. But, that is changing as more and more Landscape Architects (and their clients) are rediscovering the beauty and functionality of Native American landscapes. In 1993, LASN projected that Habitat Enhancement/Restoration would become a burgeoning specialty for Landscape Architects. And, clearly, as the "Earth Day Generation" has become increasingly astute on ecological matters, the social stock in native landscapes has risen. There is that sticky issue of definitions, however, and not all that seems native or purports to be natural can truly be stamped "American-made". Take turf grass, for instance. Kentucky bluegrass is a European immigrant. So, for that matter, are the earthworms that squirm beneath it. How about Dames rocket? Does it belong in a native landscape? Or Queen Anne's lace? Nope. Both are of European descent. And they can be dangerously competitive in a native landscape. Not that these are bad species, mind you. They fit well on the species list of "Wildflowers in a Can", as long as we realize that by "wildflower" we don't necessarily mean "ecologically native". And therein lies the problem. So, to maintain our professional integrity, it's imperative to be clear about our objectives. If you want a native landscape, a piece of America, don't use Dames rocket. If you simply want a naturalized, aesthetically pleasing look, feel free to specify it. In designing an honest native landscape though, we must first be knowledgeable about species, ecological systems and interactions, and the appropriateness of plant communities within differing hydrologic and climatic regimes. There's a lot to know. "For every species you'll find in a canned wildflower mix, there is a native species that will provide nearly the same aesthetic feature and better ecological functionality," says Carl Korfmacher, ASLA, a Landscape Architect with Applied Ecological Services in Brodhead, Wisconsin. For example, wild bergamot or bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) is an attractive alternative to Bachelor buttons, and the native Rudbeckia hirta, is a more hardy species than the hybrid varieties of Black-eyed Susan. "In choosing native species, you have to look at the general climate, soil types, hydrology, sun/shade mix, slope of the land, stormwater and erosion considerations, historic vegetation, adjacent natural areas," Korfmacher explained. "You need to know germination times and requirements for each species, succession behaviors, which species to sow as seed or which to plant as plugs, which species will attract insect, butterflies or birds?" "If biodiversity is your goal, it all starts with education, but you won't learn it all by attending one native restoration conference. Just like a prairie restoration, it takes time. My best advice would be to hook up with a local consulting ecologist and spend some time in your local native plant nurseries. "There are hundreds of species no one ever thinks of using. Some nurseries that specialize in native species will work with designers to grow species not readily available. It takes extra time and planning, but it can make the difference between just another planting and something really special." Prairie Crossing - A Landscape Model for Functional Natural Systems On most sites, stormwater management and erosion control are important considerations. One of the most progressive residential developments in the country, Prairie Crossing in Grayslake, Illinois, uses a systems-based Stormwater Treatment Train concept and native landscaping to recreate a healthy, naturalized environment. Stormwater runoff from private lots and streets is routed overland through native vegetation swales, into deep-rooted prairie buffers, through biofiltration wetlands, and into a pristine lake that now provides a habitat for an experimental re-introduction of threatened and endangered non-game fish species. The excellent water quality of the man-made recreational lake is the result of infiltration and sedimentation functions of the natural stormwater treatment system. Let's follow a raindrop that falls off the roof in a typical subdivision. The droplet slides through the downspout onto a turfgrass lawn, where it marches with millions of droplet-friends across the lawn, pushing grains of sediment and picking up traces of fertilizer and weed killer as it goes. Turfgrass absorbs relatively little moisture (barely more than an asphalt driveway) so our raindrop doesn't tarry on the lawn. As it jumps over the curb, and flows along the gutter of the roadway, our raindrop welcomes a few hitchhikers - road salts, oils and carbon emissions. Dropping into the storm sewer, it speeds with its grimy passengers through sediment-covered underground pipes to its eventual destination, a lake or stream that collects more droplets than it can hold while its waters turn brown and green from sediment, nutrients and pollution. In contrast, a droplet falling from a Prairie Crossing rooftop will frequently soak into the native landscaping surrounding the house. If it does leave "home", it will flow into a swale, between houses, where it will again have a good chance of infiltrating into the loose-knit prairie soil. Although it may weave its way through a turfgrass lawn to the swale, it will remain relatively clean because homeowners at Prairie Crossing loath to burden their backyard ecosystems with fertilizers or weed killers. If, by chance, our raindrop stays afloat through the swale, it will find its way to a wide prairie where, again, it will likely seep underground to water the deep-rooted prairie grasses and forbs. But, in a hard or prolonged rain, it may skip through the prairie to the wetlands, which act like a natural sponge during rainfall events. From the wetlands, our droplet will eventually reach the man-made Lake Mascouten to join with other crystal clear waters. Here it will contribute to a healthy lake ecosystem where fishing, swimming and sailing are enjoyed by the Prairie Crossing residents who help to keep it clean. Native Landscaping on Erodable Slopes When designing native landscapes on slopes of 2:1 or greater, that require erosion control measures, Korfmacher advises against the use of erosion control blankets typically used in conventional landscape design. Because native seeds sometimes take months or even years to germinate, they will often rot beneath a heavy blanket before germination can begin. Alternatively, a thin straw blanket or mulch will provide stabilization while allowing for the germination of natives. Hydroseeding with a hydromulch and tackifier can also be effective. On erodable slopes, seeding a cover crop of annual oats is a tried and true strategy. Winter rye is an excellent cover crop when used in fall seedings, but be sure to mow either the oats or winter rye during the first year or two. If the seed is allowed to set, the cover crops can re-seed themselves and begin to compete with the natives. But, he said, watch out for annual rye, timothy or red top which can be aggressive and persistent. Also, be aware that some of the cereal grains such as winter wheat can produce an alleopathic effect on native seed that prevents germination. Don't Neglect the Maintenance In fact, maintenance - mowing, burning, herbiciding or removal of non-native species - is a key element to specify in every native landscaping project. Korfmacher figures that for successful, long-term establishment, a minimum three-year maintenance contract should be a part of the design/build bid package. "In the Midwest, where prairie historically stretched from Texas to Canada and from Nebraska to Ohio, sporadic prescribed burning, perhaps every three to five years, is essential to simulate the natural community," he explained. "But again, the frequency depends on your goals. Burning tends to favor the grasses over forbs. If you want more color than would be typical in a historically accurate prairie, burning should be less frequent. Or, if you don't like look of the burned, dead biomass, mow the planting in the spring and remove the debris." Outside the Prairie Biome In other regions of the country or in other ecological settings such as woodlands, species selection and maintenance recommendations will vary considerably. Regardless, the restored native landscape can be both functional and beautiful. "American plum, sumac or choke cherry are beautiful native shrubs with lots of color, and sugar maple is an excellent native substitute for the Norway maple," says landscape architect Heather Venhaus, a Texan transplanted to Wisconsin. "There are always native trees or shrubs that are equivalent to the non-natives, if you look for them. "Natives shouldn't be relegated just to restoration projects. They fit well in sculpture gardens or perennial English garden settings where you can blend the colors and bloom times to give you the aesthetic you want." Selecting Local Genotypes In choosing appropriate species, genotype issues are central to every native landscape design project, not only for ecological reasons but also to ensure hardiness. Coneflowers from North Dakota, for example, are not nearly as tall as those from Indiana, and will not thrive as well outside of their ecological region even though they are the same species. As a rule of thumb, find seed and plants from local native nurseries and be sure to ask for the origin of the original source seed. Ecologists often specify a maximum genotype radius of 300 miles from the project site, though, depending on availability, some will require sources within a 100-mile or even 50-mile radius. In the Eye of the Educated Beholder Important to remember, Korfmacher reminds, is to anticipate controversy - native landscaping is NOT the status quo. Remain non-confrontational, and educate, educate, educate, he said. "Especially with highly visible, public projects, there will be stakeholders who think they know what a 'good' landscape is, and native ain't it," he says. "You can't simply try to tell them what to think. Perceptions are critical. Beauty to one person is a weedpatch to another. But if you begin with a general agreement on your goals, then you can get into the 'why' issues and begin to educate your clients and stakeholders." Successful establishment of a native landscape takes time. And patience. And education. And vision. Seeing is believing. "Most people don't even know what an American landscape looks like, or how it behaves," says Venhaus. "The longer I work with natives, the more I'm bothered by turfgrass. For many people, their perception of beauty is still a mowed lawn and trimmed edges, but that perception is changing." It's when you watch the fireflies light up the evening sky in a naturalized backyard or community park, or you watch the dragonflies dart among your native plants . . . that's when you begin to appreciate the biological barrenness of the adjacent mowed lawn. And that's when the perception of beauty begins to blossom. lasn Jack Broughton, a frequent author on topics of ecological interest, is manager of marketing services for Applied Ecological Services, Inc., in Brodhead, Wisconsin. AES is a full-service ecological consulting and contracting firm which works with landscape architect firms to design and construct native restoration projects throughout the U.S. To contact AES call 608-897-8641. Stiff tickseed (Coreopsis palmata) is a perennial characterized by three palmate, stiff, thick, mid-green leaves that grow to 3 inches long with irregularly 2- or 3-lobed, oblong-linear leaflets. The New England Aster (Aster novae - angliae) is a stout stemmed flower that grows to 3 - 5 feet in height and is characterized by hairy leaves approximately 5 inches in length. This plant fares well in wet areas. Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale), a very attractive, nicely shaped plant thrives well in wet ground. Don't let its common name discourage you - butterflies love it! The graceful nodding seedheads of Canada wild rye (elymus canadensis) add shape and texture even in traditional flowerbeds. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) lives up to its name by attracting swarms of butterflies when the bright orange flowers appear in midsummer.