Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Green for Luck

It’s Saint Patrick’s Day and that means everything is turning green: milkshakes, the Chicago River, even the beer we drink to celebrate! Our gardens are greening up too. Every day more leaves emerge from the ground as the soil warms and hours of daylight increase. These transformations got me thinking about another form of green — a living roof.

The house I grew up in had a green roof — green shingles that is. While there was certainly nothing environmentally friendly about the roof on my childhood home, the concept of a beneficial green roof intrigued me. This curiosity moved me to do some additional research. I learned that living roofs serve several purposes for a building such as reducing rainwater runoff, providing insulation to minimize cooling and heating needs, creating a pollinator habitat and offering improved aesthetics for passersby.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
My dad made this adorable birdhouse using leftover shingles from the green roof on our house.

Green roofs are becoming more and more common in major US cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Portland, where regulations encourage their use and offer financial incentives. Apparently, the Chicago City Hall green roof was one of the first green roofs in the US, planted as an experiment to determine the effect a green roof would have on reducing temperatures. Estimates based on this study and others determined that if all the roofs in a major city were living roofs, urban temperatures could be reduced by up to 13 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s pretty significant. I’m sure we can all agree that we feel the difference between 80 and 93 degrees! Europe also widely uses green roof strategies. During a recent visit to Portugal, I saw a number of buildings with green roofs in the busy city of Lisbon.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A green roof on a cafe in Lisbon, Portugal planted with olive trees.

According to some studies, green roofs can attract beneficial insects even when they are as tall as 19 stories. With increasing development and shortages of natural habitats, having more resting spots for migratory birds provides a key advantage. The main disadvantage of green roofs is that the initial cost of installing a green roof can be double that of a normal roof. Maintenance costs may also be high since a living roof requires debris removal, weeding, deadheading and moisture control.

I was pleased to learn that Penn State University, in my home state of Pennsylvania, has performed cutting edge research on green roofs, offers classes focused on the topic and has implemented four green roofs on campus. Penn State faculty and students evaluate storm water quantity and quality management, energy balance, plant selection and performance, and more. Another Pennsylvania-based organization, The Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, claims to have one of the greenest buildings in the world through its Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) which inspires others to follow in its footsteps.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
The Phipps Conservatory’s Center for Sustainable Landscapes includes a green roof.

The average homeowner should not try to install a green roof unaided by a professional. Fortunately, there are a number of companies focused on this market. Ed Snodgrass, who recently spoke at the Delaware Center for Horticulture on the topic of green roofs, is a fifth-generation farmer. When he was forced out of farming due to financial issues, he founded North America’s first nursery specializing in green roof plants. In an interview I read, Ed said the genus Sedum is the best plant to install if you want a successful green roof. Sedum can live on existing rainfall, adds limited weight to a structure, regrows roots quickly and offers food for pollinators.

While I find the concept of a green roof on my property enticing and can see myself installing one on my garden shed in the future, I’ve decided to start small. My bluebirds are the first beneficiaries with green roof birdhouses. I’d say they already support the concept and are grateful for their well-insulated and attractive nesting spaces.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Sedum grows on the living roof of this bluebird house.
Lasting Landscapes by Carol

On the Road Again

I love visiting gardens and seek out every opportunity I have to wander through public and private spaces. During a recent road trip through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan I gained inspiration from many different landscapes. I realized there are often many take-aways from visiting other gardens which can easily be applied to your own oasis.

Light the way

Most of us are busy. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’m actually able to relax in my garden and absorb its beauty. By adding interesting lighting to your outdoor space, you can extend the time spent in your garden and further your enjoyment of it. This becomes especially important as days become shorter. Plus, lighting adds an incredible ambience and can enhance your viewing of plant material.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Woven wooden lighting in the Phipps Conservatory
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Interesting lighting in the Cuba exhibit at Phipps Conservatory

Add Whimsy

Who doesn’t enjoy laughing? After all, it is one of the best medicines (or so they say). The Hidden Life of Trolls exhibit at the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh made me laugh out loud. Think about ways you can add the unexpected to your landscape and cause a garden visitor to smile as they take in the scenery.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A troll made entirely of plant material at the Phipps Conservatory
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
More troll whimsy at Phipps

Incorporate Sculpture

Some gardens are dedicated to sculpture like the Grounds for Sculpture in New Jersey and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I believe every garden is enhanced by the addition of a sculpture to create a focal point or invite someone to a certain part of the garden.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
A modern sculpture in Grand Rapids, MI at the Frederik Meijer Garden
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Horseshoes became butterflies in Holland, MI
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Sculpture in the Phipps Conservatory
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Glass flowers seem right at home among live plants
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Another glass sculpture creates a magical space

Use Unconventional Containers

When looking for a container, don’t always choose the obvious vessel. There are many different objects that make great and interesting containers such as galvanized buckets or even Dutch wooden shoes!

Lasting Landscapes by Carol
An old bucket makes a perfect container for succulents
Lasting Landscapes by Carol
Have some old shoes? Why not use them as planters!

There is no shame in using someone else’s ideas in your own garden. Go ahead and add some light, whimsy, sculpture or unique containers to your landscape. Then enjoy your additions and reflect on your travels and the spaces that inspired them.