Garden Design Collective | Book Club: Planting in a Post-Wild World

BOOK CLUB

PLANTING IN A POST-WILD WORLD

by Thomas Rainer + Claudia West

This month we'll be exploring the book, Planting in a Post-Wild World, which focuses on the concept of DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITIES. These represent a hybrid of horticulture and ecology, while also linking nature to our landscapes. This book addresses potential issues of present gardening practices, while also providing a blueprint for creating viable plant communities in our yards and public spaces.

We will explore this book via a series of discussion prompts...one per chapter. As you read, think about whether this would be a viable design approach in your design practice.

Wow! Reading this again reminded me about how much goodness is in here! Each chapter is worth a month of focus in itself so we can apply these concepts. As you progress through the book, please let me know if there is a chapter you'd like to explore more deeply...and we'll add that to the calendar.

Above photo credit to Thomas Rainer.

GOODNESS FOR YOU THIS MONTH

This month grab a copy of our featured book (this is an affiliate link!), plus take a peek at the READING GUIDE below. Further down you will find links to our challenges, plus our monthly Q+A and a bonus business topic!

OUR COMMUNITY

Don't forget to hang out with everyone to discuss our book reading. Below is one discussion prompt per chapter to initiate discussion. Check in to share your thoughts via the CHALLENGES area.

LANDSCAPE OF MEMORY

Please read the INTRODUCTION Chapter (P.13)

What "wild" landscape do you have a special connection to from the past?

What patterns, colors and textures do you remember from this landscape?

How does this landscape/memory make you feel?

Share via a CHALLENGE

APPLYING DPC PRINCIPLES

Read the PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNED PLANT COMMUNITIES (P.29)

Which principle do you feel would be the easiest to apply in your work?

Why did you choose this one?

Which principle would be the most challening to apply in your designs and why?

Share via a CHALLENGE

LANDSCAPE ARCHETYPES

Read the THE INSPIRATION OF THE WILD (P.65)

Choose a site (either in your own yard or a client's) and think about which landscape archetype it could fit into...either grassland, woodland and shrubland, or forest.

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Once you choose an archetype, think about what regional/local ecosystem might be a good place to draw inspiration for that archetype.

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For instance, my backyard fits into the forest landscape archetype (I have very tall oak trees that cover the entire yard) and would choose the oak/hickory regional ecosystem from which to draw inspiration for a proposed planting plan.

Share via a CHALLENGE

VERTICAL LAYERS

Read the THE DESIGN PROCESS (P.121)

In this chapter vertical plantings include: design layers (beauty) and a functional layer (diversity and ecological function).

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We often focus our efforts on the design layers, but please share if you have incorporated a functional, green-mulch layer in your designs and how. If you haven't included this layer, please share how you might include it in the future.

Share via a CHALLENGE

CREATIVE MANAGEMENT

Do you create goals for the management of your installed landscape designs and what do you include?

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If not, what types of goals could you include for creative management of your designs?

Share via a CHALLENGE

WHY NOW

Read CONCLUSION (P.243)

Why designed plant communities?

Why now?

Share via a CHALLENGE

Share a win!

What have you accomplished in the last month that makes you super happy? Let us celebrate with you!

I have something cool to share!

LIVE SESSIONS

We have two this month: our normal Q+A, plus a special guest presentation. These will both be recorded in case you can't make it (then posted right back here). Visit the Q+A SCHEDULE for times and links or click below.

I can't wait to see you!