Meadows and other naturalized landscapes are often imagined as capturing nature’s patterns and benefitting local ecology. Yet, to gain acceptance in a human setting, a great deal of planning—and some compromise--may be required. We’ll consider topics such as scale, proximity to visitors, colors, plant heights, sightlines, pathways, edges, seating, signs, standards of care, the dormant season, and more. This session focuses on form and setting, not individual plant selections.
This presentation will take place at Connecticut College Arboretum's 2024 SALT Conference. The acronym stands for "Smaller American Lawns Today," a series inspired by Dr. William Neiring, who first coined the acronym in 1997. This year's conference, "To mow or not to mow: Creating your home meadow," is the 22nd in the SALT series. It will focus on meadows and naturalized plantings as lawn reduction strategies. I will speak at 11:15 a.m., and join other speakers for at 3 p.m. for a questions-and-answers panel.