The lawns that cover tens of millions of acres in the U.S. have many detrimental environmental impacts, including that they offer very little habitat value to insect pollinators and other at-risk wildlife. Abandoning turf monocultures is vital in our fight to halt biodiversity loss. To do this, many people are embracing meadow-style plantings of native grasses and wildflowers. Unfortunately, creating an ecologically valuable meadow is not as simple as deciding to stop mowing. Landscape designer and author Owen Wormser will talk about a range of different design, site preparation and maintenance approaches, and discuss how to choose the right ones based on your resources and landscape conditions. He will also describe strategies for working with neighbors, HOAs and municipalities so that your blossoming meadow landscape is welcomed into the community. This New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill class will take place February 7 at 7 pm, online and in person at Tower Hill.
Owen Wormser was born and raised in rural Maine. He grew up in a small town, surrounded by the profound presence of the natural world. This marked the beginning of his ever-deepening relationship with the earth and plants. He earned a degree in landscape architecture and quickly learned to use regenerative, low-maintenance practices in designing and building landscapes. Owen actively practices the skills and perspectives necessary to effectively weave people and the natural world back together. Based in Western Massachusetts, his company, Abound Design, provides design, consulting, and installation services. As an ongoing student of the landscape, Owen continues to be excited to share his vision and experience with clients seeking carefully designed and built landscapes.
This lecture is part of the Grow Native Massachusetts Evenings with Experts series and is free for all to attend. This program will be offered both in-person and online. To register, visit www.nebg.org
