Plants & Design

Presentations of projects from the MNLA 2023 Industry Award Winning firms

This class and the case studies shown will address misconceptions about dry stack stone retaining wall construction, best practices, guidelines, laboratory testing standards, and many key natural stone facts as well as sustainability.

Finding the right accent in the landscape can enhance your garden and bring its aesthetic to new heights.  Whether you are sequencing the right addition to an existing garden or starting from scratch, we often forget about the possibilities that using bulbs, annuals, and even artwork can have when done throughout the season.

An introduction to some new and unusual perennials that can be used in the landscape. Homer will cover plant characteristics, growth habits, and care needs, as well as his experiences growing them at the nursery. Most of the plants covered are varieties coming out of Europe and favored by Piet Oudolf-style gardens. Some examples of the plants include Eryngium, Echinops, Thalictrum, Saponaria, Dedecatheon, etc.

One of the most significant areas of concern in designing climate resilient landscapes is storm water management. Conventional drainage systems designed to capture water and pipe it to municipal systems or daylight are being replaced or enhanced by a more holistic, intergrated approach to managing storm water.  We are mandated by federal, state and local regulations to contain and infiltrate rainfall/storm water on site. While this may seem like an impossible task there are many methods, systems and technologies available to make this happen.

One of the most popular trends in gardening is using plants with colorful foliage to accent and highlight the landscape. Whether they are woody, herbaceous perennial, or annual there are some fantastic plants whose leaves add color, texture, and boldness to the landscape. This talk focuses on specific foliage plants that one might consider adding to the landscape, and combinations of plants that will knock any garden lover’s Crocs off! 

Join Mardi for inspiration and tips on how to create a layered garden with beautiful time-tested plant combinations. You will also come away with creative ideas for using hardscape elements, art and ornament, and enclosed spaces to tie the garden together!

Regardless whether we are a grower, designer, or retailer, we are always looking for new plants to enhance our creativity, efficiency, environmental sensitivity, pest resistance and profitability.  It does not matter what we already have, there is always room for something new… something different. Let’s take a look at a bunch of plants that look promising in giving our plant palette a face lift.