NATURALISTIC GARDENS

A rain chain replaces a down spout, owner's home.

Naturalistic Gardens or Natural Gardens draw their inspiration from nature. They are well suited to the Mid-Columbia with its spectacular scenery. The natural garden is designed in accordance with the climate and locale of its surroundings. It attracts desirable wildlife and respects nature’s resources. Conservative water use is encouraged, and application of organic soil amendments and avoidance of chemical use result in an active, vibrant soil life. Through selection of the right plants for the site’s microclimate and geography, typically including native plants and promoting plant diversity, healthy plant communities can be created and maintained.

Another facet encompasses collecting and diverting rainwater from down spouts and wet areas. Rain gardens are attractive, planted depressions in the garden designed to absorb excess rainwater. Rain chains replace down spouts. Vegetated bioswales collect and treat water runoff before releasing it into the storm sewer. All the above described methods are recognized as sustainable gardening.

History: Natural landscapes are not a new concept and were first made popular in England by William Robinson in the nineteenth century. His ideas were expressed in his book The Wild Garden, published in 1870. Robinson’s gardening style spurned the formal Victorian patterned gardens of that time. Similarly, the Japanese have always looked to nature to teach them about beauty. Japanese gardens endeavor to attain inner peace through the re-creation of nature.

During landscape installation, the topography of the land ideally is minimally altered, existing trees and plants are maintained wherever possible, and local materials, such as river rock or boulders, are incorporated into the new landscape. Naturalistic gardens can be created in woodland locations, arid regions, or meadow-like prairie settings. Many different Columbia River Gorge and native mountain-region plants are available to the gardener. In any locale, knowing and understanding the plants’ native habitat in context with their preferred growing conditions will lead to the establishment of successful plant communities, and will result in low-maintenance gardens.

Plants: Naturalistic gardens are abundant and less manicured than traditional landscapes. By avoiding invasive plants and selecting plants with high pest and disease resistance and low maintenance needs, upkeep can be kept to a minimum without having to sacrifice aesthetic value. Frequently, ornamental grasses and American native prairie plants are suitable plants for the natural garden, especially if arranged in large sweeps or groupings. Native plants, while not universally suitable for your garden, thrive and are adapted to the local prevailing conditions. They support more animal and insect life than non-native plants.

Attracting desirable wildlife, creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat:
Your garden is a living ecosystem, with plants and animal life connected in an intricate web, in harmony with the earth and the cycle of the seasons. By using certain plant species, the gardener can attract and sustain wildlife in his landscape. Birds and beneficial insects are among the desirable wildlife in a natural garden and will aid in keeping undesirable insects and worms harmful to your plants in check. Healthy soil will produce robust plants. It is important to create a favorable habitat and nesting opportunities for the birds you wish to attract. If you live close to a wooded area, keeping deer out may be a concern.

To work with nature in the garden permits us to enjoy its benefits as we foster a healthy, and nearly self-supporting environment. Observing a hummingbird drawing nectar out of a trumpet-shaped flower with its long, narrow bill while hovering in mid-air, or bright butterflies visiting your garden’s flowers, seeing a flock of plump quail walking across the garden, or listening to the music of numerous songbirds is one of the gardener’s and nature lover’s greatest pleasures.

The best naturalistic landscapes blend into and are in harmony with their natural surroundings. They are calming to the mind and spirit, peaceful and enjoyable.

Natural Landscape in the Woods— Award-winning design
The gushing Hood River is flowing right below this secluded residence, and tall Pine trees and Scrub Oak dominate the landscape. This natural setting in the woods called for a garden in symphony with its surroundings. Informal, low-maintenance shrubs and perennials are framed and accentuated by native river boulders and rock. A split-rail fence wraps around the natural garden and adds a cottage-style feel. The selected color scheme consists of soft, harmonious colors, and the garden is attractive throughout the season.

This landscape won a National Landscape Design Award, Honor Award (First Place), Perennial Plant Association, 2001.

The residence and future garden site prior to construction, August 1996	Not much soil here! Boulders were set aside for later use, August 1996.
Thriving plantings with colorful shrubs, June 2000	The path to the front entrance is lined with boulders and Rugosa roses, June 2000.
Vibrant fall colors, the garden still going strong, late October 2008

Willow Ponds: Please view the complete landscape in the Portfolio Commercial Installations section.

Vibrant fall color at Willow Ponds

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