CNLD logo 2019 100px
  • Home
  • Design
  • Consulting
  • Meadows
  • About Me
  • My Blog
  • Contact
✕
  • Home
  • Design
  • Consulting
  • Meadows
  • About Me
  • My Blog
  • Contact
CNLD logo 2019 100px
  • Home
  • Design
  • Consulting
  • Meadows
  • About Me
  • My Blog
  • Contact
✕
  • Home
  • Design
  • Consulting
  • Meadows
  • About Me
  • My Blog
  • Contact
Before image of a planting bed with over-wintered dead foliage still standing
Spring Clean-up – A different approach
March 29, 2012

Welcome and Introduction

Published by cnld on March 23, 2012
Categories
  • Natural Landscaping
Tags
  • Natural Landscaping

Welcome to my blog. Straight to the point – why should you spend some time with this? Because you may just learn something! What I intend to write about is my personal (and I hope unique) perspective on what I call “natural” landscaping. I do not plan on lecturing on the reasons why one should go about their landscape in this or any other particular manner. It seems to me that most people come to their own conclusions about this based on many influences in their own lives. What I do plan on writing about will be notes and reflections on the reality, both good and “challenging”, of landscaping with an emphasis on environmental awareness. I also plan on including a healthy dose of helpful suggestions; from me and from other sources. So, no better place to start this than with an idea of my definition of natural landscaping.

I think of natural landscaping as working with nature and natural processes in your own process of creating, managing and maintaining a landscape. Going with the flow of how natural systems function on their own as opposed to fighting against it. I know this may sound rather esoteric and vague, but I believe that this definition does cut to the heart of it. As a society most of us have been conditioned to a very different take on how to create, manage and maintain our own landscapes and as a result this can be challenging to grasp at first. However, over time and with some personal experience this all begins to make sense. Trust me. This perspective on landscaping can definitely encompass a wide swath of ideas, topics and philosophies. To name just a few:

  • Regionally appropriate and often naturalistic design aesthetics
  • Wildlife friendliness
  • Plant community based planting design
  • Dominance of native plants
  • Reduced / eliminated use of chemicals and fossil fuels
  • On-site water infiltration

I could go on, but I suspect my point is made. In fact, I believe that each person, family, home and property should have their own definition and expression of natural landscaping. A small city lot on a busy corner will most certainly have a very different landscape “plan” as compared to a rural homestead on several acres. A heavily wooded lot on a dry hillside will have different priorities than a treeless lot in a new development built on a low-lying field.

What’s key to this definition of natural landscaping is that it’s a path, a mindset, and ultimately a shift in thinking and expectation. It can really help to set things in motion with a thoughtful start (i.e. design), but it’s plenty to simply adopt some of the philosophies and gently steer in the appropriate direction. I hope to help you in your own steering by way of these writings.

Share
0
cnld
cnld

Related posts

Cedar Waxwing with Amelanchier berry in its bill
February 10, 2022

Why Landscape with Native Plants? Part 1


Read more
Two developing Ratibida pinnata flower heads interacting
July 25, 2018

Is Your Garden Social? Why a Plant Community Approach works!


Read more
Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) showing wilting and stunted growth from drought
September 8, 2016

6 Key Principles for Drought Tolerant Landscape Design


Read more

Located in Coopersburg, PA  - offering on-site Landscape Design Services to SE Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley, Allentown, Bethlehem, Quakertown, and nearby Counties. Virtual consultations for beyond.

CONTACT INFO
Call or Text  610-967-9011
Email via Contact Page
© Campbell Natural Landscape Design
All Rights Reserved for All Content
FON logo 7

FOCUS ON NATIVES

Our website all about Native Plant and Wildlife Nature Photography and Observation

CNLD logo 2019 100px

GARDENING FOR WILDLIFE

Our YouTube Channel with gardening tips and related videos