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Land
Restoration & Native Plants
The restoration of natural
habitats including streams, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands, is
critical to the survival of many species.
Larsen Design Associates has
designed projects for both developers and homeowners which have been
successful in providing restored wildlife habitat.
Many people are coming to
realize that our natural areas are not wasteland. These habitats are
aesthetically pleasing. They provide recreation and educational
experiences, while requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance.
( scroll down for works in progress )
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Strasburg Park (see below)
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restored stream
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rain garden after initial planting
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Q.
What is a rain garden?
A. A rain garden is a depression or basin which is
used to infiltrate or get rain water back into the ground. Rain
gardens
are planted with flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs that are adapted to
wet soils.
In the example above
and to the right, the rain garden is located in
the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. The soils are very
condusive to rain
water infiltration. This rain garden is being used to
accomodate all of the runoff from the house and
driveway. Native Pine
Barrens plants are used such Switch grass, lowbush blueberry and sweet
fern.
To learn more about rain gardens visit this site:
Virginia
Department of Forestry-Rain Gardens
Works In Progress
Strasburg Community Park
Environmental Restoration Plan
(collaboration with Larry
Weaner) (click plan to enlarge)
Located in the Pennsylvania Dutch
country, the design plan was created by LDA and Larry Weaner Associates
for the
Strasburg Community Parks Association. This non-profit group is funding
the park construction through private donations.
The park is under construction in a former cornfield to create a native
landscape incorporating woodlands, shrublands,
meadows and wetlands. Gravel and grass pathways, a small parking lot
and a performance amphitheater are currently
under construction (October 2002).
The first phase
of construction was a
seeding of the entire site in a variety of seed mixes. This is the
final seeding of
the meadow areas and served as stabilization for areas to be
constructed later.The first year (2001) there was not much
visible except for small seedlings. By the second year despite the
continuing drought, flowering plants are evident. The
meadow plants should reach maturity in two years.
The next step
in the process will be
the initial planting of trees for the wooded areas. The intent of the
design is to establish canopy and shade as quickly as possible.
Therefore fast growing species
are used in the initial planting. Diversity will increase with future
plantings.
A Fall planting
of over 200 trees by
volunteers has resulted in 100% success rate.
The meadows are blooming in the third year of growth as patience has
been rewarded.
More diversity is coming in spite of the drought years.
Summer of 2004.
Rain garden shows
diversity including Cardinal Flower. Amphitheater is complete.
Broad
Run Reforestation
Environmental Restoration Plan
In
nature, stream banks and their natural communities are protected by the
woodlands that grow naturally along their banks. The removal of these
woods result in erosion and disruption of aquatic
life of all kinds. The Broad Run project seeks to restore this
streamside woodland to a one mile long section of a Brandywine
River tributary. Planting of over 700 2-3 ft. saplings in protective
tubes occured in the fall of 1999. Survival to date is
85% and the trees continue gain in size. Some browsing by deer has been
noted but it has not killed the trees, yet.
Initial planting (November 1999)
After one
year,
leaves in tube
(June 2000) After two years
(June 2001)
Third year alder (November 2002)
Deer browse of sapling
2003
Serious storm damage
2004 Oak trees are slow growing
Sycamore has filled
tree tube
2004 Sycamores are fastest growing of 42 species
Tree tubes will be removed over winter.
Eastampton
Sustainable Development / Affordable
Housing
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Pilot Program
LDA and Larry
Weaner Associates worked with N.J.
architects Kitchen Associates in a pilot program to demonstrate the use
of energy
saving and sustainable techniques in the construction of affordable
housing. This 100 unit low-rise rental development built by
Pennrose Properties of Philadelphia is nearly completed. The housing
units are designed to be at least 30% more energy
efficient than a typical house in the state. The landscape has been
designed using low maintenance native plants exclusively.
1. Walkway leads to gazebo, 2. Trees are planted in linear hedgerows to
shade southern facades, 3. Native foundation planting
1. State officials tour project, 2. Rain barrels collect water for
gardens, 3. Community center with electric and water solar panels
Remaining work to
be done includes the seeding
of meadow areas which will reduce the amount of mowing required, and the
construction of rain gardens to promote stormwater infiltation and
aquifer recharge.
Plan shows rain
garden locations in blue.
"Eastampton is an
inspiration to many developers
and design professionals. Congratulations on a fantastic advance in
affordable housing development."
Darren Port,
Administrator
New Jersey Green Homes Office
State of New Jersey
Back to
home page
401 Vassar Avenue Swarthmore PA 19081
2020 - telephone 610 544 9803 - telefax 610 544 9804 - plarsende@yahoo.com
For Additional Information About Native Plants:
Become a member of the Pennsylvania
Native Plant Society or at least visit their web site.
A brochure describing landscaping with
native plants and a brochure about invasive plants is available from
the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Contact Chris Klinedinst Firestone.
The Morris Arboretum of the University
of Pennsylvania PA Flora Project Website lists every plant native to the state
of Pennsylvania
in a searchable database by name and type.
Bowman's
Hill Wildlife Preserve is a native plant preserve and offers
lectures, field trips and plant sales. They offer outstanding lectures
on ecology and restoration. 215-862-2924
