Photo: "Riverfront Brownfield Renatured,"
Landscape Architect by Oasis Design Group, Baltimore.

You're used to reading the commentary of LASN publisher George Schmok on this page, but this issue I'm stepping in for George, who is home with a fever. Get well, George!

I have the pleasure of managing and editing the content of LASN. In this, our annual Green Issue, you'll find all five of the features have one thing in common: stormwater designs.

For "Gene Green Beltway 8 Park, Houston," landscape architecture by Asakura Robinson Co., native prairie grass plantings, recycled-concrete riprap berms, meandering outfall stream alignment with native vegetation and gabion-enclosed bioswales are how the designers handle stormwater.

For "The Mediacom Landscape," landscape architecture by Greenland Associates, William Weiss, III, ASLA, runoff from the 30,000 sq. foot roof is diverted to GRAF filters, then to two 10,000-gallon fiberglass tanks buried 500 feet apart. The tanks are connected dead level so that each tank gets an equal share of nature's downpour. The captured water supplies all the irrigation and water for the site's two fountains; overflow goes to a biobasin.

For "Botanical Research Institute of Texas," landscape architecture by Balmori Associates, Inc., and landscaping and irrigation by ValleyCrest Landscape Companies, the design includes rain gardens of deep-rooted native plants and grasses; a restored Fort Worth Prairie habitat; vegetated roof with 45 plant species, mostly indigenous; a stormwater retention pond; above ground cistern; and 166 geothermal "wells" drilled beneath parking areas and landscaping.

For "A Study in Sustainability: Sabine Science Hall, Richland College, Dallas," landscape architecture by Linda Tycher & Associates, stormwater goes to a 40,000-gallon below-grade cistern.

Reclaimed water from air-conditioning condensate, disconnected downspouts and bioswales in the plaza collect in the modular tank. It's one of the first modular storage tanks for water collection in the Dallas area, and allows for installation of any number of catchment tanks to accommodate site runoff, plus has the flexibility of placement near or in between underground utilities. The new parking lot has uncurbed lot bioswale islands to filter stormwater, which is directed to a 27,400-gallon cistern dedicated to that area. Underground rainwater tanks can achieve up to 11 LEED points. Oh, don't forget the green roof and living wall (see cover).

Riverfront Brownfield Renatured"?uLandscape Architect by Oasis Design Group, Baltimore offers swaths of native plantings (Juncus, Eupatorium, Rhus, Hibiscus, Panicum, et al.) for the rehabilitated 33-acre brownfield (extensive soil remediation required) to create water absorbing gardens that mask a combined sewer outfall just 2-3 feet below grade (6 x 10 foot concrete chamber runs the length of the linear park) that drains Wilmington's stormwater into the Christina River. At-grade planters, flowering trees and an open lawn further mitigate stormwater.

So, plenty of stormwater designs, green roofs, heavy vegetation and LEED points galore. You'll also want to check out the mobile green roof , the green roof bus shelter in Philly and the plans for a stunning green wall down under.

The least green element in the magazine is probably Florida DOT's installation of fake grass for a highway interchange. Well, it's "green" in that it won't require watering. FDOT tried real grass, but it didn't take, and they felt shrubs would be too high maintenance. I'd have gone with succulents. I love my backyard Euphorbia tirucalli ("Fire Stick') plants "?(R)? no "green thumb" required. Check out ASLA's "Landscape Architect's Guide to Boston", a handy online guide to Boston area landscapes, brought to you by eminent local landscape architects.

Also, take a look at the amazing "Mosaicultures" now exhibiting in Montr????(R)???(C)al.

LASN Editor Steve Kelly