OUR THREE RULES FOR SELECTING PLANTS
Plants are fundamental to life on earth. They are inseparable from our society and our economy; producing air, foods, liquids and materials. Plants are also used as a source of beauty, design and artistic expression.
When selecting plants for our clients we apply three simple rules:
- The plants must enhance the aesthetic beauty and functionality of a landscape.
- The plants must increase biodiversity, benefit wildlife and strengthen the relationship between peoples and nature.
- The plants must be native because native plants are the most ecologically beneficial.
According to The World Wide Fund for Nature “Habitat loss is probably the greatest threat to the variety of life on this planet today.” This means animals our kids adore such as tigers, bears and elephants may not be around when they have children. This is heart breaking but we can't forget the smaller animals we have the power to help now, such as migratory birds and insects blessed with flight and mobility.
New York City happens to be one of the best places in the country for bird watching not only because its on a migratory bird flyway but also because Central Park and Prospect Park are oasis’ in a sea of urbanization.
Your garden, your backyard, rooftop and or property can also be an oasis! How much it benefits wildlife is entirely up to you. We are here to provide expertise, understanding, and the caring needed to transform your landscape into a beautiful garden tailored to your favor, as well an ecological haven, created to be both rewarding and inspiring.
Why Native Plants?
Its all about co-evolution!
The important thing to understand about native plants is that they adapted with the environment they came from. This means they are more sustainable and demand less resources. Wildlife, indigenous and migratory depend on native plants because over the course of time, their diet, shape, form, and rituals were influenced by the plants they interacted with. In return many of these plants adapted to the wildlife by producing flowers, seeds or fruit beneficial to that wildlife. This web of relationships takes time and in the end, creates an equilibrium, a balanced ecosystem that exotic or invasive plants can throw off or even destroy.
One example is the Monarch caterpillar. The Monarch eats only milkweed which is native to North America, while others creatures are less picky and use a multitude of native plant species as a source of food and shelter. Despite their versatility, these animals still rely on an ecological system composed of co-evolved native plants.
Ok, so what if I live on the 27th floor of a Manhattan sky scrapper. Why should I care about using native plants on my balcony? I can't expect to have humming birds up here.
Well you'd be surprised! “If you build it, they will come!" This saying is 100% true when it comes to native plant gardens.
What if I don't care about the birds and bees, and I'm actually allergic to bee stings and my son is terrified of butterflies!
We want you to know there are plenty of native plants that provide more of an aesthetic value than an ecological one. As landscape designers, we understand how the garden looks and functions visually is just as important as how the garden interacts with nature.
We are specialists not generalist and by limiting our focus to a specific genre of plants, in the same way a scholar would an academic subject, we became expects in the field. Other landscape companies will choose plants from any part of world, often providing a plant selection influenced by trends or what a nursery has at a discount that day, rather than whats best for your situation and the environment.
Give us a call or send us an email, and we'll gladly share our thoughts on what plants would serve you best.