Perennial Plant Assocation Award for Macalester Raingardens
Perennial Plant Assocation Award for Macalester Raingardens
We are proud to announce that Carolyn Johnson has won an Award of Merit from the Perennial Plant Association for her design and installation of the residential project, Macalester Raingardens.
The award was announced at the PPA National Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa last week. Initiated in 1992, the Landscape Design Awards program recognizes design projects that exemplify the effective use of herbaceous perennials in creating balanced and beautiful landscapes. Judges evaluate many outstanding landscape designs and select the most excellent entries based on the effectiveness of herbaceous perennial plant material, color, texture, and seasonal combinations.
The homeowner contracted with Field to design and install an ecological landscape that would be a shining example to the neighborhood of all that could be done to preserve storm water, offer pollinator and bird habitat, minimize lawn, have a spot for veggie production AND be stunningly beautiful. We also had the goal of decreasing the sense of the elevation difference from the city sidewalk to the front door.
This west-facing front yard is in St Paul, MN and is in hardiness zone 5A. The whole space is full sun and the soils are sandy loam. The existing landscape was only burnt out lawn and foundation beds. All beds were removed and the stoop, sidewalk and steps, were also removed and replaced. The homeowner did not want an irrigation system and they perform their own maintenance.
The three main design challenges included:
- How to make the most of limited yard space in a small area with a steep slope.
- How to orient the sidewalk and steps to reduce the perceived elevation change.
- How to clearly define and separate different functional spaces within the yard.
Positioning the main raingarden on the south side of the yard allowed it to capture the most water from the house. This primary raingarden overflows to a second, lower raingarden positioned along the slope, enhancing water management and visual layering in the landscape.
We shifted the front walkway to the south side of the slope where the slope was slightly shorter. By moving the steps further to the south, we provided ample space to create a “Wow!” statement on the slope. The double “wall” creates tiers on the slope and frames the plantings throughout the seasons. The biggest and best rock was placed on the lower left corner which provides the most dramatic view. We also included a neighborhood “sitting rock” to double as a bench, at the base of the slope.
The exuberant plant selection includes vigorous perennial cultivars that are predictable and provide a sense of naturalness but at the same time a sense of order. The main plant on the slope is Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass. The 2’ height of this ornamental grass preserves the view to the face of the boulder wall and has structure and interest throughout the year. The Calamintha nepeta is a stunner – softening the sidewalk and drive. This plant is covered with pollinators for much of the season.
Tall perennials were used on the top of the slope. These give the small yard a sense of privacy and protection while minimize the feeling of elevation change to the front door. They also decrease the sense of hotness in this west facing yard. The Joy Pye Weed “Phantom” has high impact from midsummer to the end of the season and into winter. One of the best attributes of this planting is that the plants provide continuous interest, food sources for pollinators throughout the season, and continue to provide structure and interest into the winter months.
