CLA Spring 2023

SPRING 2023 | 43 Due to their geographic location on the west coast, the designers contracted local landscape architect Tara Vincenta, principal of Artemis Landscape Architects, to be “boots on the ground” for them and to lead the project’s planting design and the construction administration. SWA and Artemis worked for two and a half years developing plans and implementing the design that ultimately graces three of the site’s five acres. Construction began in August of 2021, and continued The first and most significant tree, the “Sacred Sycamore,” was hand-selected and planted in April of 2022. Planting installation was completed in July 2022, with ongoing design elements for the project completed ahead of schedule in October of 2022. through the winter months. The first and most significant tree, the “Sacred Sycamore,” was hand-selected by Dan Affleck and Tara Vincenta and was planted in April of 2022. Planting installation was completed in July of 2022, with ongoing design elements for the project completed ahead of schedule in October of 2022. Tara Vincenta met with me on the day I visited the memorial and explained the project intent as well as the team’s design process. She shared that the planting design was meant to support the overall design intent of a gentle embrace and a peaceful walk in nature. Her goal was to create a landscape that felt like it belonged on the site, was largely native and resilient, and offered a healing connection with nature. Before anything could be built or planted, extensive site cleanup was required. Tara shared that even though the site was already technically a clearing in the forest, extensive invasive plants including barberry and Russian olive needed to be removed. Many years of illegal dumping left large areas of decaying trees and organic matter that required removal at considerable cost. One would never know the amount of effort that went into such a seemingly natural forest setting, but anyone who has Artemis

44 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE observed the steady creep of barberry through Connecticut’s woodlands realizes what an important first step this was. Due to the town’s desire to fund the project without external or corporate funding, the overall design budget was limited to $3.7 million approved at referendum. The chosen site had no existing infrastructure or utilities, so the budget was quickly consumed by necessities. The amount allocated for planting was only 16% of the total project budget, creating a daunting task for Vincenta. In order to accomplish a robust planting within these parameters, Tara relied on the creation of a sizable meadow as Top: Team members walk the site. The setting for the memorial was already a clearing from a former ballfield. Bottom: Artemis team members staking out wildflower seed mix plots for testing in the local soil conditions. Artemis Artemis

SPRING 2023 | 45 the primary planting expression for “The Clearing.” She utilized herbaceous plants that would be found naturally in the meadow, such as echinacea, aster, and Joe Pye weed in a more concentrated fashion around the central water feature, providing long-lasting blooms and lushness where visitors would most likely linger. Supporting shrubs and trees around the memorial are planted in sweeping groups supporting the design concept of a gentle embrace. Knowing she would have to rely on a successful meadow planting to cover large areas early on, Tara and her team created test plots of various seed mixes and planting mediums to determine the best combination for the project. The best performer was the Showy Northeast Native Wildflower and Grass Seed Mix from Ernst Conservation Seeds. Artemis also coordinated early in the process with the general contractor to arrange to have all perennials for the project contract grown to ensure plant uniformity and vigor. Native white dogwood trees were employed as the visual organizing element in the planting scheme following the spiral pattern of the walkways. The flowering dogwoods also create an intermediate layer between the existing hardwood tree canopy and the newly planted layers of shrub and perennial plantings on the ground plane. The shrubs and perennials are planted to follow the sweeping arcs of the pathways with their own similar but slightly offset sweeping arcs, and together with the trees, existing hillside, and created berms, all work together to create, as Tara expressed, the feeling of a hug, or an embrace. The planting selections focused on soothing tones with many white and blue flowering plants, as well as textural native grasses. Included are extensive swaths of golden berry winterberry, summersweet clethra, low grow sumac, switchgrass, and black-eyed susans offering sunny, warm sweeps of golden-yellow color in summer and fall. A mix of pinks, purples and blues — including liatris, echinacea, and hyssop — populate the extensive bio-retention areas incorporated in the design. Requests from parents also included plants that attract butterflies. In my mind’s eye I can see the butterflies on all the blooms to come. White flowering dogwoods form a spiral, in keeping with the overall site design. The planting selections focused on soothing tones with many white and blue flowering plants, as well as textural native grasses. Artemis

46 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE As the project neared completion, the town was able to provide some additional budget for planting as contingency funds became available. Tara and the design team chose to use the additional planting budget to address the entry areas, originally eliminated due to cost. This included enhancements to the parking area (the first area one sees upon arrival), with the addition of red maples for shade, deer-resistant green giant arborvitae for screening, as well as serviceberry, bottlebrush buckeye, and hay-scented That warm, caring feeling of the design was apparent even in the depth of leafless New England winter. fern for mass ground cover and early blooms. That warm, caring feeling of the design was apparent even in the depth of leafless New England winter, though the blue sky and gentle sun were a welcome part of the experience for me on that February day. The winter forest color of grey trunks was mimicked in the granite of the memorial and fountain walkway, and the warm, soft brown of the leaves on the forest floor was complemented by the wood of the three curved benches located David Lloyd

SPRING 2023 | 47 Left: The memorial site in winter. The pathways of stone dust edged with small and large rock curve like a serpentine river. Below: Fall color of goldens and orangey-reds surround the still green “Sacred Sycamore.” Opposite: The memorial in Spring. Low and understory plantings combine seamlessly with the tall forest trees surrounding the memorial. Lauren Wholey Neil Landino

48 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE around the fountain. Tara pointed out that the large boulders (also grey and golden brown) placed around the site were all excavated in the construction process, and many of them are used as seating, and also continue in their own way, the spiral of the embrace. With a harmonious blend of natural and designed elements, the memorial has the feeling of a healing garden. Tara shared that it was an honor to be part of the design team and how wonderful it was to be able to offer healing to her community through the beauty of nature and to hopefully help people navigate loss at their own pace. The memorial stands in reality and remembrance of the Sandy Hook tragedy but also offers an opportunity for contemplation and healing for the countless others affected by gun violence in this country. Above and opposite: The fountain is made of curved granite that slopes gradually in towards to the top. The names of the 20 school children and 6 educators who lost their lives on December 14, 2012 are carved around the edge of the fountain. Top: Wood benches backed by pink Joe-Pye weed, white echinacea and golden black-eyed susans. Bottom: Large swaths of black-eyed susans provide warm masses of color. Lauren Wholey David Lloyd Artemis

SPRING 2023 | 49 At the end of my visit to the memorial — after speaking with Tara and walking the entire site — I stood near the fountain and found myself turning around in a clockwise circle taking in the fountain, the whole site, and the sky and trees above. I could feel the texture of granite stones beneath my feet anchoring me to the ground, I could see the harmonious colors of the landscape and the memorial, and I could hear the sound of children joyfully playing at a school nearby as well as the wind blowing through the treetops. While standing in the center of the memorial I was soothed by the texture, color, and sounds of this site. The connections this place draws are subtle but deep — between built and natural, between the past and present. And hopefully with a more peaceful future. The memorial stands in reality and remembrance of the Sandy Hook tragedy but also offers an opportunity for contemplation and healing for the countless others affected by gun violence in this country. Team members pose at the memorial site. From left: Landscape architects Ben Waldo and Dan Affleck of SWA; Tara Vincenta of Artemis Landscape Architects; Jason Smith, Project Superintendent from Downes Construction. — Lauren Wholey, ASLA, is a landscape architect at TPA Design Group in New Haven, and editor of Connecticut Landscape Architecture. Artemis David Lloyd

50 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE or over half a century, we have been building and maintaining the best tennis courts in New England, with a strong commitment to quality and service. Our staff works closely with landscape architects, engineers, project managers and property owners to provide a comprehensive approach to tennis court installation. As a result, we build better looking, longer lasting tennis courts that are custom designed and installed to meet your client’s needs. Putnam Tennis Courts is the #1 choice of tennis clubs, schools and colleges as well as discriminating homeowners. Please contact us for a free site inspection and estimate or to receive our Tennis Court Accessory Catalog. Putnam Tennis & Recreation, LLC P.O. Box 96, Harwinton, CT 06791 USA Tel: 860.485.1567 • Fax: 860.485.1568 A Comprehensive Approach to Tennis Court Installation F Member U.S. Tennis Court & Track Builders Association Since 1965 www.putnamtennis.com • www.putnamtennis.com • www.putnamtennis.com • www.putnamtennis.com (800) 678-2490 NEW CONSTRUCTION REPAIRS MAINTENANCE Celebrating Over 65 Years as new england’s leading tennis COurt COntraCtOr

SPRING 2023 | 51 ©2022 Landscape Structures Inc. All rights reserved. DESIGNS THAT INSPIRE Play shapes us. That’s why we want to help you create the playground of your dreams. Wherever your ideas come from, whatever your vision, we can bring it to life with our unparalleled design capabilities. Learn more by contacting your local playground consultant, O’Brien & Sons, Inc. at 508.359.4200 Contact your local playground consultant: 800.835.0056 • 508.359.4200 obrienandsons.com Arthur D. Healey Schoolyard Somerville, MA PL A N T E R S ’ C HOICE N U R SE RY www.planterschoice.com You want to provide nothing but the best for the cultivated landscape. For over 50 years, Planters’ Choice has been doing just that. When your project needs top quality natives, other northern grown product, and plants carefully sourced from top-tier nurseries, trust in our team to consistently make that happen. 140 Huntingtown Road Newtown, CT 06470 (203) 426-4037 1201 Bunker Hill Road Watertown, CT 06795 (860) 945-6588

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SPRING 2023 | 53 Design Talk

54 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (Some of) Our Favorite Native Plants Venturing into the woods in April and finding roundlobed hepatica on the warm days in early spring never fails to thrill me. This small and easily overlooked perennial has a unique leaf with a heart-shaped base and three lobes. Its delicate flowers are typically purple or white in Connecticut, and you can find it blooming on the forest floor before the leaves on the trees above emerge. While this might be my favorite native plant, it is currently hard to find it for sale, even at native plant nurseries, so I typically enjoy viewing it in state parks throughout Connecticut. Observing native plants in a state forest, an urban setting, or in your backyard is an essential tool for understanding the character of plants and their role in the natural or designed landscape. For our 2023 “Design Talk” feature, we asked our members to submit their favorite native plants and tell us a little about them. We left it up to submitters to determine their definition of native plants. To a Connecticut landscape architect, native plants can mean native to the United States, New England, or your local eco-region. However, as landscape architect Anne Penniman notes on her Design Talk website, there is so much to say about the resiliency, beauty, and habitat value of native plants, no matter what definition of native you use. The resiliency of native plants overlaps with how you define native. In general, the more locally based the native plant is, the more the plant is adapted to the local micro-climate, soils, and insects of that region, which allows it to tolerate extreme rains, droughts, or disease. Therefore, native plants often take less maintenance and inputs when located in the right place. However, there are also benefits to the more encompassing definitions of native plants. As the changing climate is beginning to outpace plants’ natural movement and evolution, we must consider the benefits of introducing plants from beyond New England into our plant palettes. While Fredrick Law Olmsted may have captured the beauty of the American landscape in his design of Central Park, the new perennial movement can be credited for making American native plants more wildly available. The transition from the formal European-centric concept of beauty and the new appreciation for the American meadow landscape has reminded us that big flowers are not a plant’s only significant 54 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana) is a harbinger of spring.

SPRING 2023 | 55 caterpillars and insect species, while non-natives support few to none. This means landscapes containing predominately non-native species can be considered food deserts for birds. Unfortunately, hanging bird feeders cannot solve the root of this problem; it requires a more comprehensive approach. Individual homeowners and landscape architects can make a difference in supporting native pollinators and songbirds by bringing native plants back into our landscapes. As you will see in the following pages, many landscape architects have already made native plants a priority. Landscape architect Bill Kenny has even started a nursery to sell native plants and encourage homeowners near his office in Fairfield, CT, to transform their lawns into gardens of native plants. When reviewing submissions for this Design Talk, we found some members knew exactly what species to choose, and others decided to highlight an entire genus since, as Barb Yaeger noted in her submission, it’s impossible to choose just ONE native plant! So, whether you most associate with the resilience, beauty, or habitat value of native plants, we hope the following pages inspire your planting design, restoration project, and home garden, or help you find a landscape architect that can assist you in bringing native plants into your next project. — Kate Montgomery, ASLA, LEED AP Freeman Companies design element. Seasonal changes in color and unique textures create beautiful and dynamic landscapes. Habitat value is another one of the reasons to plant native plants. Native plants are sources of food and shelter for many species of wildlife. Native plants have evolved alongside bats, bees, flies, and other pollinators to ensure that nectar is accessible only to the species that spread their pollen as efficiently as possible. Evolution has also resulted in symbiotic relationships in which insects will only eat the leaves of a particular native plant species. The monarch butterfly caterpillar and common milkweed plant, submitted by Oliver Gaffney, have this type of relationship. The monarch butterfly population’s livelihood depends on each butterfly’s ability to find milkweed to lay its eggs on. Douglas Tallamy, an entomologist who has authored several books on the value of native plants, advocates that we can all play a role in reversing species decline by planting native plants that support insects and songbird populations in our suburban yards and gardens. In his book, Bringing Nature Home, published in 2007, Tallamy shares research that reveals the link between native plant species and bird populations. Tallamy found that native plants and insects are crucial to reversing the decline of songbird populations because the protein that caterpillars and insects provide is essential for the growth and development of baby birds. Some native plant species can support hundreds of Editor’s note: Photographs on the following pages are credited to the contributing author, unless otherwise indicated. SPRING 2023 | 55 Jen Yanko

56 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Achillea millefolium / Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium is a stand-out workhorse of a native perennial and is my favorite native perennial. A little background on the plant: it is ubiquitous across North America and is flexible in its soil requirements, though it does need sun at least half of the day for great flowering. All these traits make it easy to add to most planting plans. A facultative upland plant, it can handle drought and dry soils once established, thus requiring little irrigation. Being so widespread, it is also host to many pollinators and additionally provides nesting material for birds. The native species is white flowering and found in meadows, prairies, and disturbed farm fields and roadsides. It has also been bred in the horticultural world to produce a variety of colors, including light to hot pink, yellow, and orange, though personally, my preference is for the straight white. This is my go-to plant for both traditional perennial beds as well as mixed with grasses or in meadow seed mixes, and it has thrived in all locations. These images illustrate the yarrow in a seeded meadow and its use in a perennial border planting. CHERYL BROWN, ASLA James Doyle Design Associates, Greenwich

SPRING 2023 | 57 Fothergilla gardenii / Dwarf Fothergilla One of my favorite native shrubs is the Fothergilla gardenii, dwarf fothergilla, a deciduous shrub ranging from a height of 3-6' and a width of 3-6'. I consider it a four-season plant with its showy white bottle-brush flowers in the spring, attractive blue-green ridged summer foliage, vibrant orange-red fall-colored leaves, and an attractive winter outline. I consider it a hardy, low-maintenance plant with a well-contained shape which does not spread via runners and rarely needs to be pruned. Fothergilla gardenii is zoned for regions 5-9 and its native range is from North Carolina to Florida and Mississippi. DEBRA DE VRIES-DALTON, ASLA, LEED AP Land Canvas Landscape Architecture, Glastonbury Sassafras albidum / Sassafras For ecological enhancement projects, I love to use Sassafras albidum. It was used by the colonists, along with wintergreen and sarsaparilla, to create the original root beer but it also has great landscape qualities. Sassafras has great fall foliage colors and is rarely browsed by deer. It spreads by its roots and forms dense colonies, which helps to keep invasive vegetation at bay. By avoiding deer browse and minimizing invasives, it can be an important component of a successful ecological restoration. BILL KENNY, ASLA William Kenny Associates, Fairfield Photos: Jen Yanko

58 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Our office has a strong preference for using native plants on our projects. The species within the Eutrochium genus, such as Eutrochium purpureum/purple Joe Pye weed, are just some of the many natives used in our work to attract native pollinators. This use of native plants supports the local biological diversity by providing food and habitat for many native species. I personally use several varieties of Eutrochium for their late-season color, height, and adaptability to wetland areas. They are not invasive and provide a soft color to the late-season garden. There are many great companion perennials to use with these plants such as the native astilbe, liatris, vernonia, panicum, and other native grasses. Purple Joe Pye weed gives a soft color to the late-season garden, provides important food and habitat for pollinators, and works well as a companion with many other native plants. Other plants that work well with Eutrochium are clethra, itea, hibiscus, and hawthorn. On projects where we are using perennials and shrubs that are not necessarily all native, they combine well with the later-season perovskia, calamagrostis, and the Hydrangea paniculata varieties. NANCY SPAULDING, ASLA Spaulding Landscape Architects, LLC, Stamford Eutrochium genus / Joe Pye Weed (Formerly included in the genus Eupatorium)

SPRING 2023 | 59 Echinacea purpurea / Purple Coneflower Purple coneflower is both beautiful and beneficial to wildlife. Attracting bees and butterflies in the summer when in bloom, it also provides seeds to birds such as goldfinches if left uncut through the winter. Tough and easy to grow from container or seed, it adds lovely splashes of purple to a mixed perennial flower borders or to meadows. Purple coneflower also tolerates heat and poor soil, making it a good choice for the hellstrip area between the sidewalk and street. For more information on the benefits of native plants for bees, as well as bee identification, I recommend Heather Holm’s book Bees and her website, www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com. LAUREN WHOLEY, ASLA TPA Design Group, New Haven Native Range: Eastern and central North America (Zones 3 to 8). Height: 2-4' and spread is 1.5-2'. Bloom time: June to August. Likes full sun to part shade and dry to medium water conditions.

60 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE An intriguing, yet well-behaved and habitat-providing overachiever Jim Evans (Wikimedia Commons)

SPRING 2023 | 61 Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCBM’ / Crimson Comet Buttonbush (Recommended variety for better fall color) The thing about this plant that I first saw in 2020 was that it struck me as appropriately mimicking that year’s number one headline: the COVID virus. I have three buttonbush growing at my house in hopes of producing something of a companion for my Fothergilla gardenii/dwarf witch alder’s bottle brush flower. This is a typically full-sun plant that will tolerate partial shade; needs a damp location for its plentiful honey-scented June flowers. A native plant that support bees and hummingbirds, it will tolerate wet feet in a raingarden or being placed near a rain leader outflow. It’s relatively deer-resistant and native to most of the U.S. (except north central states near the Canadian border). Buttonbush typically spreads (slowly) and grows to be 8' high, but may become a large 12' shrub. The leaves are somewhat of a light or midrange green and the fall brings out colorful red seed balls (bird food!!!) and, under ideal growing conditions, the leaves will also add red for fall color interest. STUART SACHS, ASLA PRE/view Landscape Architects, Bridgeport Cephalanthus occidentalis / Common Buttonbush As a landscape architect who works on many wetland enhancement and mitigation projects, I often find myself leaning upon the same comfortable, tried and true native plant palette. Given the challenging conditions of these precious wetland habitats, sometimes we, as design professionals, are reluctant to “mix it up” a bit. Some time ago, while sketching and envisioning my design springing to life with plants from the same old menu, I remembered the unique flower and intoxicating fragrance of common buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis. This 6-12', low-maintenance, deciduous shrub thrives in swamps, around ponds, and at stream margins. Its long-lasting, one-inch globular blooms are white to pale pink and resemble pincushions, that mature into hard, spherical fruiting heads that persist into winter. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees frequently visit the sweet blooms of this honey plant, and water birds and shore birds enjoy the seeds. It also serves as a host plant for some the largest and showiest moths. This zone 5 to 9 plant has moderate deer resistance and is useful for erosion control and bank stabilization. It thrives in medium moisture to flooded conditions, and tolerates shallow-standing water, yet only requires watering during extreme dry spells. It is comfortable within a range of light levels, from full sun to shade. Perhaps consider including this intriguing, yet wellbehaved and habitat-providing overachiever into your next wetland or native plant landscape. TRACY L. CHALIFOUX, ASLA Tracy Chalifoux LLC, Danbury Vicki DeLoach (Flickr)

62 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Packera aurera, or golden groundsel, is a native plant not frequently seen in the planted landscape and not readily available in the nursery trade, but it’s worthy of more use. This plant tolerates a wide variety of soil and sun conditions, and happily fills a place in the landscape where many cannot survive. It grows most of the year as a semi-evergreen rosette groundcover, flowering in May, producing several weeks of color. The deep golden-yellow composite flowers are set on 12-24" delicate stems that help them stand out. The plant provides a plethora of seeds, creating colonies that aid in their showiness. This plant is also a great pollinator plant. Many bees, flies, and beetles use the nectar and pollen, including carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, various where nothing but a fern could survive. I cautiously acquired this beauty from another landscape architect and put in a shady spot in my own yard where nothing else but stiltgrass was growing. It is thriving and spreading and, with a little help, successfully outcompeting stiltgrass and mugwort. All that said, this plant is great for woodland garden, and those challenging shaded edges where garlic mustard and stiltgrass thrive. For those yards without deer fencing, it’s a welcome native toughie, and one that I have added to my plant favorites. KATE THROCKMORTON, ASLA Environmental Land Solutions, LLC, Wilton Sources: www.grownnative.org www.missouribotanicalgarden.org www.wildflowers.org www.prairienursery.com Packera aurea / Golden Groundsel sweat bees, and the plant is a host to the northern metalmark butterfly. I have observed the best use for this plant is to brighten a shady corner in a naturalized area, or the dark shady edge of a lawn. It will not only grow but thrive in a deep shady spot. Better yet, this plant is completely deer-resistant. With that in mind, some describe this little beauty as one of the garden thugs. However, its benefits outweigh those concerns, as it will compete with stiltgrass and mugwort if given a little support. Choose the place to use this carefully, it is not for the well-tended bed at the front of the yard, unless you love wild and a bit unruly. Our suburban landscapes need this used more often, especially in those shady naturalized corners This plant will not only grow but thrive in a challenging shady spot. Better yet, it’s completely deer-resistant.

SPRING 2023 | 63 The tupelo tree — or choose another favorite alias from an uncommonly large number of other common names — is a tree without comparison, at least in my humble opinion. It is native to Eastern North America, with some literature noting its range extends from southern Ontario south to the gulf coast and westward to Oklahoma. A stately tree that is pyramidal when young and more rounded with age, the tupelo typically grows to a medium sized 30-50' height, but occasionally to 90'. A few particularly interesting features are that it has horizontal branching, usually on straight trunks, with deep fissured bark. The leaves are elliptical in shape with a glossy dark green color, but the tree rises to true rock star status with its brilliant scarlet autumn foliage. The spring-time flowers are not showy but are an excellent source of nectar for bees — tupelo honey, anyone? The flowers give way to dark blue fruits, edible though sour, that are prized by birds and other wildlife. Nyssa sylvatica is often found growing on lowlands, in moist areas, but also establishes well in drier upland soils. I often specify this tree when medium-large shade trees are called for, including on lawns or campuses, within parks, and as street trees. Often sited as a specimen, they also work well in naturalized areas and spaces subject to periodic flooding. They are readily available in commerce, but best planted when young as they have a deep tap root which makes transplanting established trees difficult. Their wide native range, adaptability, and wildlife benefits make the tupelo an especially valuable tree, resilient in our increasingly challenging environment. WILLIAM N. POLLACK, ASLA Keith E. Simpson Associates, New Canaan Nyssa sylvatica / Tupelo, Black Tupelo, Black Gum, Sour Gum, Yellow Gum, Pepperidge Tree The stately tupelo tree typically grows to a height of 30-50', but occasionally reaches 90'. This is a great choice where medium-large shade trees are called for, including on lawns or campuses, within parks, and as street trees. Its wide native range, adaptability, and wildlife benefits make the tupelo an especially valuable tree, but its true rock star status becomes evident with brilliant scarlet autumn foliage. Barbara Yaeger Barbara Yaeger William Pollack Shutterstock

64 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Yes, I am cheating, because it was too painful for me to pick only one plant. How can anyone do that? Seriously!! So I chose to pick the genus Hamamelis from the family of Hamamelidaceae. This family includes an amazing number of familiar landscape plants other than Hamamelis, like corylopsis, disanthus, fothergilla, and parrotia. Liquidambar used to be in this family but now has its very own, Altingiaceae. There are three native species of witch hazel in the U.S.: H. virginiana, or virginia witch hazel (zone 3-8); H. vernalis Ozark, or vernal witch hazel (zone 4-8); and H. ovalis, or bigleaf witch hazel. H. ovalis is native to MS, LA, and TX so I will not discuss it here. Witch hazels in general want an acid, organic, moist soil but they can handle drier soils in some shade, plus they tolerate clay and juglones. The typical habit when grown in full sun to part shade (4-6 hours of direct sun) is a rounded multi-stem shrub. Witch hazel can sucker, so pay attention to the species and variety you pick and the purpose of your planting. You can find them in tree forms also, such as H. vernalis ‘Autumn Moon’ (pictured here at the CAES station in New Haven this past fall). The blooms have strap-like petals that unfurl in the warmth and curl back up to protect against the cold at the extremes of what we think of as “normal” bloom time, with colors that run from pale yellow to oranges and bronzes. H. virginiana’s golden petals unfurl in October to December and can often be hidden under their beautiful glowing yellow foliage. H. vernalis’s orange-bronze to purple unfurl in February to March, which can sometimes provide a real surprise in the bleak winter landscape. Pick the cultivar H. vernalis ‘Amythest’ for a pop of vibrant plum color with a spicy fragrance! The fragrances attract an assortment of flies, wasps, gnats, and moths. The astringent witch hazel, which Connecticut is famous for, is actually made from an extract of the bark and twig of Hamamelis virginiana. The seeds are formed in a hard capsule that then shoots the seeds out up to 10 yards away. Birds such as grouse, bobwhites, and turkeys eat the seeds along with rabbits. Amelanchier laevis / Allegheny Hamamelis / Witch Hazel Genus Serviceberry Kate Montgomery A warm breeze, the crack of a bat, familiar faces of neighbors stepping out from the comfort of their homes: cues that we’ve made it through winter and are entering a welcomed New England spring. But among all of these senses, one sight seems to stand out the most: the Allegheny serviceberry bursting into bloom. As the Wooster Square cherry blossoms steal the headlines here in New Haven, this understated species covers itself in a flurry of fragrant flowers, glistening in the sunlight and attracting birds, bees, and butterflies alike. As the weeks pass by, flowers give way to juicy berries that provide food for wildlife of all shapes and sizes, ranging from robins to foxes. Originating from stream banks and woodland edges, serviceberry has made its way into the built landscape serving as a stunning backdrop for all seasons. As spring passes and summer nears, its delicate leaves appear, lasting through the warm season until they turn into a stunning red-orange that seems to light the sky on fire. A jack-of-all-trades in the planting community, The Allegheny serviceberry is my perfect choice to enhance the native landscape. JOE AVENI, ASLA Langan, New Haven

SPRING 2023 | 65 The foliage of witch hazels is typically rich green with a thick texture. The plants host several types of caterpillars and other insects that birds prey on. H. virginiana, which is a host plant for the larvae of the azure butterfly, has good tolerance to salt spray. Its foliage typically fades to a glowing yellow — you can often notice it in the late fall sun. H. vernalis is showier, with fall colors from rich orange and saucy red to topaz golds, depending on the fall rains and temperatures. You can select varieties for their fall foliage colors like H. vernalis ‘Autumn Embers.’ I have not found that the deer are overly fond of them, but I have heard in other areas they are; like most plants I think it’s a matter of deer pressure in the area. They are listed as “deer tolerant.” I strive to add mostly natives to my plantings, however Doug Tallamy states that you can still have 30% non-native plants in the home landscape and accrue great ecological benefits, and as a plant lover I sprinkle in non-native, non-invasive treasures on occasion. In good conscience I cannot skip mention of the nonnative Hamamelis intermedia or Hamamelis x., which are crosses of H. japonica and H. mollis with their amazing range of big bold flowers, like a Jacobs coat of many colors: ‘Arnold Promise’ (bright yellow), ‘Jelena’ (copper centers unfurling to orange), ‘Diane’ (red-pink), ‘Moonlight’ (pale yellow), and a lot more. Plant these with a backdrop of evergreens and WOW. I have noticed these mostly as small trees with a broad round vase shape. The fall color is pretty spectacular with a similar range found in its cousin fothergilla. They are much more deer-tolerant — I assume because they are non-native. I have not seen any spread of these personally — never a seedling, even — and they do not show up on potential invasive lists. In researching more about this great genus I found this on the U.S. Forest Service website by Larry Stritch: American witch hazel possess some interesting lore and uses. The most interesting use has been the use of forked limbs as dowsing or divining rods. Early European settlers observed Native Americans using American witch hazel to find underground sources of water. This activity is probably where the common name witch hazel came from. “Wicke” is the Middle English for “lively” and “wych” is from the Anglo-Saxon word for “bend.” American witch hazel was probably called a wicke hazel by early white settlers because the dowsing end of the forked branch would bend when underground water was detected by the dowser. How cool is that?! BARBARA A. YAEGER, ASLA, CANP Land Canvas Landscape Architecture, Madison H. vernalis ‘Autumn Moon.’ ‘Diane’ ‘Birgit’

66 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Time to date ourselves — late 70s, Eveready Battery Commercial with Robert Conrad: “I dare you to compare.” And so, we bring forth the fortitude of the eastern red cedar, a native tree/shrub that will grow in some of the most unforgiving situations. Sure, they will challenge crabapples, but this is life in the tough world of plants. Wind, salt, poor soils — what is there not to love? Sure, the occasional deer damage, but that is a story about overpopulation of “Bambi” and a lack of respect for our forest’s understory. In some of our projects, we approach plantings with the mindset of “design to fail.” Projects in the public realm will often lack the attention private sector clients will put forth for our planting designs. As such, the eastern red cedar steps forward with an attitude as expressed by Mr. Conrad — “I dare you.” Hike in the Connecticut landscape, and the eastern red cedar is growing from rock crevasses where nothing else survives. It provides shelter for birds and land-dwelling animals during rains because of the coverage the foliate creates. It is one of the best plants to help protect from soil erosion. Upon returning home, enjoy your martini with that distinctive flavor because of this amazing plant. ĀRIS W. STALIS, ASLA Aris Land Studio, Bridgeport Juniperus virginiana / Eastern Red Cedar Eastern Red Cedar screening tennis courts from the public works yard at Scofieldtown Park in Stamford, CT. Above: Chatfield Elementary School, Seymour, CT.

SPRING 2023 | 67 Juniperus virginiana / Eastern Red Cedar Rugged, versatile, survivor, chameleon is the eastern red cedar. This tree has a wide native range, extending far beyond New England, thriving in many plant communities and conditions. I admire how this tree never fails to stand out. Many people encounter this tree along the highways or agricultural edges simply as evergreen silhouettes. If you take a closer look, you will notice how that green hue shifts with the seasons — bright green in summer to deep olive or even brown in the winter. Color shifts in summer and fall are highlighted by the spectacular blue fruit. I specify this plant for reasons beyond the cedar’s adaptability and aesthetic characteristics. Eastern red cedar plays an important ecological role, including producing food and providing shelter for many birds, animals, insects, and fungi. This summer, when you are near a cedar, pause to notice the butterflies flutter — you will be smitten too! EMILY GUERTIN, ASLA Gregory Lombardi Design, North Billerica, MA I admire how this tree never fails to stand out. “

68 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Cornus florida / Flowering Dogwood and Cercis canadensis / Redbud I saw Cornus and Cercis growing together naturally at the back of a field along a woodland edge many years ago near Charlottesville, Virginia and the image has always stayed with me. In a project in Redding, we planted two native plants, Cornus florida/flowering dogwood and Cercis canadensis/redbud, side by side along an existing white pine woodland edge. The trees are in bloom at the same time and the combination of the dogwood’s creamy white and salmon pink with the redbud’s deeper magenta is breathtaking! Importantly, these two early blooming trees offer food for pollinators when other sources are still dormant and have not yet flowered. The redbud’s flowers are also edible for us! The fruit of both trees is a source of food for songbirds and other wildlife in the fall.  REGINA O’BRIEN, ASLA Threshold Landscape Architecture LLC, Redding Ridge Cornus florida/flowering dogwood and Cercis canadensis/ redbud, side by side along an existing white pine woodland edge in Redding, CT. Asclepias syriaca / Common Milkweed Common milkweed is the Rodney Dangerfield of native plants — it don’t get no respect from landscape architects! This versatile, vigorous plant thrives in challenging urban conditions including drought, salt, and dog urine. Its tender leaves nourish many species while its subtle mauve flowers offer nectar to a variety of pollinators. I had the pleasure of growing it from seed in my hellstrip garden last summer and co-parenting the resulting monarch caterpillars. Of the 100 eggs I collected in this tiny garden, 40 completed the five instar stages and hatched as butterflies. My friend released them at Mariposas del Mundo, in New Haven (right), a monarch waystation full of native nectar plants to fuel their southern migration. When their descendants come north again this summer, I’ll have even more milkweed growing to greet them. OLIVER GAFFNEY TPA Design Group, New Haven Monarch on Joe Pye weed at the Hemingway Butterfly Garden (Mariposas del Mundo) in New Haven.

SPRING 2023 | 69 Pycanthemum muticum / Mountain Mint What plant has a more refreshing appearance and invigorating scent than native mountain mint!?! Although it is truly a magnet for all sorts of pollinators, including a profusion of butterflies and bees, its fresh scent redolent of the brightest spearmint and striking presence in the summer garden provide equal enjoyment to human garden lovers and beneficial insects. Its striking silvery-grey top leaves contrast boldly with its green lower leaves and its small but abundant lavender white flowers put on a sophisticated and long-blooming display the entire summer. A wonderful companion to ornamental grasses and late-flowering asters, this 3'+ tall and 3'+ wide perennial reliably returns each spring and matures to a robust mounded clump to provide a wonderful filler between more showy perennials and meadow flowers. While completely herbaceous, this native perennial’s faded stems provide habitat for wildlife and winter interest in the garden. Even in the depths of winter its leafless stems emit their brisk minty aroma when touched. Mountain mint is Pycanthemum muticum in a Greenwich, CT residential perennial garden. a straight species that is found naturally along the entire eastern portion of the United States. It grows vigorously and dependably year after year. We have used this plant in both formal and informal gardens in a variety of soil conditions with great pleasure and success. While once a rarity, thankfully Pycanthemum muticum is now widely available from local perennial sources. This plant is highly recommended for any garden situation where pollinators, wildlife, or native plants are valued. MATTHEW WILLINGER James Doyle Design Associates, Greenwich Jen Yanko

70 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE We no longer have the option of overlooking the adaptability of our native plant species. Many native species are resilient enough to withstand harsh urban conditions, making them low-maintenance and ideal for the urban lifestyle while providing unique seasonal interest. The nursery industry currently offers a fraction of our northeast native species, but the options continue to grow. By choosing native plant species, something as mundane as a parking lot buffer planting can transform an overlooked urban parcel from an ecological food desert into a piece of the city’s pollinator network.  Native cultivars that are shorter in habit but still hold the same flowers and fruit as the straight species, such as Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ and Ilex verticillata Berry Poppins®, border the parking lot of the developments at the corner of Park Street and Main Street in Hartford. Pollinators and insects can still recognize these cultivars, but they are better suited than the straight species for an urban site where visibility is essential for safety and security. Before choosing a native cultivar, look at plant trials by Mount Cuba Center and others who test native cultivars to find which provides the most ecological benefits. KATE MONTGOMERY, ASLA / Freeman Companies, Hartford Ilex verticillata Berry Poppins® / Winterberry Holly Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ / Compact Inkberry Winterberry serving its first year as a wildlife-friendly buffer between the parking lot and the sidewalk of a mixed-use apartment building in Hartford. Bottom: Winterberry contributes its bold red berries to the late winter landscape at Domino Park, Brooklyn, NY.

SPRING 2023 | 71 Rudbeckia fulgida / ‘Goldsturm’ As landscape architects, we are always on that unattainable quest to find the perfect plant. What characteristics are you looking for? Native…Dependable…Drought resistant…Lasting color…Deer resistant… Adaptable… Tidy…Easily maintained… Pollinator and wildlife benefits. When it comes to perennials, time and time again I find myself coming back to Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm,’ the blackeyed susan. Whether you’re working on a suburban residential project or at a school in an urban environment, I can guarantee that this plant can be easily worked into your planting plan. In fact, I have no doubt that it will improve your overall planting palette. And trust me, the goldfinches and bees will thank you too! Another added perk is that it acts as a great cut flower, so feel free to bring a pop of color from your landscape inside to enjoy. I recommend planting it in masses, but it pairs well with many ornamental grasses and other perennials such as Miscanthus sinensis ‘gracillimus,’ Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster,’ Pennisetum Rudbeckia is one of the stars of this neighborhood community space in Somerville, MA, dedicated to providing a natural respite from the surrounding city while featuring native plants and sustainable design elements. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it — just plant it! alopecuroides ‘Hameln,’ Liatris, Knock Out® Roses, and Sedum ‘Autumn Joy.’ Many say that it’s overused, but this perennial checks all the boxes. So I ask: if it’s not broke…why fix it? In this case, just plant it! EMILY WECKMAN, ASLA Weston & Sampson, Rocky Hill Weston & Sampson

72 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

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SPRING 2023 | 75 LA@UConn Marco Da Cruz, Origin, Migration, and Arrival model for Space, Form, and Meaning class.

76 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE I n Connecticut, if you are somebody who loves thinking about landscapes, just moving through the Storrs campus is a trip through geologic time. On a walk near Horsebarn Hill, just outside the landscape architecture studio on UConn’s Storrs Campus, the hill’s smooth whaleback form slides into and out of view, as if the panorama were an ocean, the hills alive. Driving over the Connecticut River, low and impressive in its wide expanse, you see it cut through rich valleys of fertile soil, connecting Connecticut to its headlands in New England and Quebec, and connecting all those places to Long Island Sound and the oceans of the world. Just in the course of the past year, we’ve walked together across old (and wet and cold) fields, our feet sinking into a sandy soil — and in so sinking, taking us into an agricultural time when tobacco was once harvested industriously, painfully, and where hops grow today. The UConn Landscape Architecture Class of 2023 persists through a pandemic and graduates to a world of possibilities Perseverance &Promise:

SPRING 2023 | 77 Crossing a dormant hops field on a cold January day, the Class of 2023 is appreciating the nuances of soil conditions on a site visit to Meadowood in Simsbury, CT. Deep forests, long rivers, loamy soils, geologic ridges, town and city fabrics: there is much to see, unearth, discover, ponder, and imagine in Connecticut’s varied landscapes. And the UConn Landscape Architecture class of 2023 have grown to understand and appreciate these landscapes, through their studios, coursework, field trips, and projects.

78 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE In a richly forested state, where private property owners tend to the trees on their land, facing increasing pests and erratic climate, and state foresters juggle issues as various as camping and biodiversity, a walk in the woods is a view into conflicts and concessions, interactions between different ideas of what a forest is, after all. Walking through each of Connecticut’s 169 towns and cities — from Andover, Ansonia, Ashford, Avon, Barkhamsted, Beacon Falls, Berlin, Bethany and all the way to Woodstock — in the navigation along a back road or a city block downtown, you are walking through a conversation between past and present. In Bridgeport, with its long coastal edge, we experience legacies of water control and flooding, of land theft and development, of expanding industry and industrial ruins, all playing out repeatedly, like Long Island Sound’s tides. Uneven development unfolding before us. Deep forests, long rivers, loamy soils, geologic ridges, town and city fabrics: there is much to see, unearth, discover, ponder, and imagine in these varied landscapes. And the University of Connecticut Landscape Architecture class of 2023 have grown to understand and appreciate these landscapes, through their studios, coursework, field trips, and projects. The graduating class, a quiet, thoughtful, and incredibly talented group, began their landscape architecture studies in a pandemic, without classroom but with landscape. Not the easiest beginning, especially in this hands-on and collaborative discipline. In these early days, they learned to think through hand drawing, mastering gesture and precision, composition and abstraction, enabling them to sketch quickly, iteratively and effectively. With

SPRING 2023 | 79 Community engagement and service learning are fundamental to the landscape architecture program at UConn. The students present their ideas at an open event at the Simsbury library (above) and to the Town of Andover (right). The graduating class is a quiet, thoughtful, and incredibly talented group.

80 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE time, they added model-making, digital drawing, grading, planting, and material knowledge. They came together in studio and were exposed to various projects across campus and the state. They have worked with the Towns of Andover, Manchester, and Simsbury, and the cities of Bridgeport and New Haven, on visions for the future of Connecticut’s landscapes. They have expressed interests in historic preservation, regenerative agriculture, ecological restoration and conservation, climate adaptation and sea level rise, and the overall quality of, and access to, public open space. Their deep local knowledge transcends the richness that the state has to offer, as they consider global challenges and embark on futures in both the academic and professional world. They are poised for graduate school and the workplace, with both grounded skills and a desire to change how society operates, to challenge how we build, with what and for whom. They are excited about a field that does not just solve given problems but seeks to imagine better alternatives. Naturally, the path hasn’t been easy, and it will probably not get easier, but this group is up for the challenge. They have persisted through online learning, and then on-again, off-again online learning, followed by restarts and delays, with omnipresent viruses, not to mention a printer that jams and (computer) mouse problems. They have been gracious with new faculty and old faculty, navigated transition upon transition, never failing to do their best. I have enjoyed getting to know the twelve members of the UConn Landscape Architecture Class of 2023 and am excited that everyone, through these profiles, will be able to learn a little bit more about them and their varied and exciting interests. —Jill Desimini University of Connecticut Associate Professor and Program Director of Landscape Architecture The Class of 2023 is a collaborative group in the classroom and beyond. With the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources at their back, they are ready to make a difference.

SPRING 2023 | 81 Brian Garzon The Great Lawn, located between the Student Union and the Benton Museum on the UConn Storrs campus, experiences high foot traffic. Brian’s design repurpose spaces of the lawn for activities. Since events are often held on the lawn requiring a stage to be set up, a permanent stage is proposed to solidify the area for events; the stage can then be used by student organizations year-round. A large tent set up on the lawn during the pandemic, which provided students with shade, was later removed, so the design also proposes a small forest garden to give students a place where they can work outdoors with the comfort of shade. Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? In high school, I had an interest in civil engineering and environmental science, and participated in the ACE mentorship program, where I learned about the diverse fields of architecture, construction, and engineering. Landscape architecture seemed to be the path that was meant for me. The field allows me to merge my two interests and create designs that can both help people and bring them closer to nature. What was your favorite project so far and why? My first 3D modeling project, Engaging Students Outdoors, was a bit more personal than others as it involved a university site I observed often. The Great Lawn is large and is split due to the sidewalks. The university regularly hosts concerts and other events on the lawn supported by food trucks. During the pandemic, tents were set up intended for outdoor dining — which also allowed students to do homework outside. My proposal is to repurpose spaces of the lawn for these activities, adding a dedicated outdoor stage which can be used for events and by student organizations yearround; and planting a small forest of trees along with outdoor seating so students can have a place to work outdoors. The last piece of lawn is left for students to enjoy normally. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I am passionate about walkable cities. I grew up with public transportation and relied on streetscapes to walk safely around the city of New Haven. With that in mind, I would like to work in urban design, bringing more vegetation into the environment. Parks give people a place to be outdoors in the city, and tree canopies help reduce heat stress and improve the air quality. I believe there is a lot more that we can do to improve our cities, making them safer and accessible for everyone. What are your plans post-graduation? I would like to continue my education in graduate school, focusing on urban design, and emerge with a unique skill set.

82 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? In my early years of life, I showed a strong interest in design. During one summer in high school I had an architecture work experience in the International Design Shanghai Office, and was inspired by the landscape architect sitting beside me. What was your favorite project so far and why? New Haven Urban Acupuncture, a group project aiming to connect the downtown of New Haven to the Long Wharf coastline, has been my favorite project because it is in an urban context with dynamic design scenarios and, most importantly, very committed to the people living in those areas. My work focused on the design of two vacant lots behind two bus stops and an automatic LED bike bath, with the awareness of the whole picture of connecting the downtown to the waterfront. What are your plans post-graduation? I wish I had an answer as to where I am going after graduation, but the reality is I don’t! I am not panicking but I will stress myself in the right way. I have strong interests in companies in Boston and San Francisco. Connie Huang Coastal Water Park design for a site on the edge of Yellow Mill River in Bridgeport. The design aims to transform a dump site next to the road to a water park that has seatings, fountains, deckings, and salt marshes for adults and children to explore. The design provides a welcoming space for the community, while strategically overcoming sea level rise.

SPRING 2023 | 83 Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? In 2016, I earned my Associate degree in horticulture and went on to work in the garden and nursery industry. After several years in the trade, I chose to further my education by studying landscape architecture to combine my horticultural background with my skills and interest in design. What was your favorite project so far and why? One of my favorite projects was the playground at Mill River Park in Stamford. I enjoyed the challenge of working with the site’s constraints to design an ideal layout for a playground that is a safe and accessible space for children to play in. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I see myself working in both the public and private realms. I am specifically interested in Geneva Scott projects emphasizing historic preservation and environmental planning/design. What are your plans post-graduation? Upon graduation, I want to work at a multidisciplinary firm to gain experience in all areas of landscape architecture. Plan view and section plan for proposed playground at Mill River Park in Stamford.

84 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? The first reason I chose landscape architecture was simply because I thought it was a profession where I would not be bound by the vast knowledge of science and where I could freely play with my imagination and design. But after getting to know the industry, I have to admit that there is a strong moral component as well. Landscape architects need to employ sustainable technologies that protect the natural environment, making it healthier and cleaner. Landscape design plays an important role in sustainability, from energy conservation to water purification. We also need to take people’s specific needs into account, for instance by surveying members of the local community, in order for projects to become successful and popular and to help people enjoy their Huaimin Shao time outdoors as much as possible. The new discipline (or concept) of environmental psychology also informs good design. These are some of the areas that I think need ongoing work. What was your favorite project so far and why? My favorite project to date is a site design I did for Mill River Park, a site in Stamford that was renovated to create a new event area by converting an existing park site. I think I showed the purpose of the park to serve the people, completing as much of the design as possible. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I think I will work in the field of city building and sustainable development in the future, because it is not only a trend but also a field full of opportunities. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation, I hope I can continue to improve my way of thinking and technical skills on the job, until becoming a qualified and excellent landscape architect and hopefully a leader in improving sustainable urban development in the future. Design of a children’s playground at Mill River Park in Stamford, CT. Because of safety factors with the intended users, the play area is located on flat terrain and incorporates plantings to separate the playground from the driveway and potential flood areas.

SPRING 2023 | 85 Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? I choose landscape architecture as my major since it merges my passions for design and art — which I have had since I was a kid — with a way for me to help communities and the environment. What was your favorite project so far and why? My favorite project so far must be the Origin, Migration, and Arrival model project for Space, Form, and Meaning (see p. 75). It may have not been my best project during my time in the major, but it’s the one I had the Marco Da Cruz most fun with. I improved so much during the design process. I also love the simplicity of the design and the deeper meaning. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I could see myself working in either residential or urban design. I probably would start in residential design and when I feel I have extracted as much knowledge from that field, I would change to urban design. Working in urban spaces gives me the opportunity to help and give back to people that live in the same environment I grew up in. What are your plans post-graduation? My plan is to get a job working at a landscape architecture firm. Grad school currently doesn’t interest me, but it could in the future. Below: The goals of this project were to provide waterfront accessibility to Bridgeport residents, expand the existing salt marsh, and improve water quality. The site can also serve as an education on sea level rise and the importance of biodiversity. Above: This project in Andover, CT is focused on creating affordable housing to attract a younger population to the town. The site is a government parcel adjacent to an existing school, connected to it with a safe trail that is a 10-minute walk, which will be appealing to parents.

86 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? Since high school I have had a broad range of interests ranging from health, nutrition, and agriculture, to math, chemistry, engineering, and architecture. For my first year and a half at UConn, I studied chemical engineering, materials science, and environmental engineering, but was ultimately unsatisfied with my studies. When I discovered the landscape architecture program, I felt it could be a creative space to house my multiple interests and passions. Since learning more about the profession, I am confident that I made the right decision, and I am excited to take what I have learned out into the world where I can make a difference. Nicole Detora What was your favorite project so far and why? My favorite project thus far has been a community revitalization effort located in Andover, CT. This project was my first experience planning at the municipal level, and I enjoyed the opportunity to design at a larger scale. I particularly enjoy using GIS software, and this project presented a great opportunity to utilize this tool. My early interests in math and science have given me an appreciation for the analysis phase of design, and I tend to find it quite fun. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I am most interested in working on large-scale planning projects that focus on social and environmental resilience. I enjoy engaging with concepts of new urbanism and community-centered design, which I hope to encounter frequently in my professional career. Historic sites, particularly those in urban and suburban settings, are another area of interest. I can also see myself entering into adjacent fields that combine the skills of landscape architecture with agriculture, policy, or regional planning. I am interested in working with allied professions in non-traditional firm settings to tackle the problems of the twenty-first century. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation, I am interested in pursuing a research-focused masters program. I would like to continue working with largescale sites and learning about broader topics in urban theory. I believe that research experience will be valuable in preparing me for the types of projects that I hope to be involved with in the future. Andover, CT community revitalization project: Transect map through the design corridor includes analysis of the river, trails, roads, and commercial spaces in the community.

SPRING 2023 | 87 Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? Gardening during summers with my Grannee in Ireland at a young age and being outdoors gave me a passionate appreciation for nature. Influential experiences growing up in other parts of the world further instilled a strong sense of awareness in me. Over time, I practiced the process of design through sketching, painting, drafting, and sculpting. I was exposed to works of landscape architecture such as the High Line and The Gates in Central Park early on, but never made the full-circle connection. It was later that I heard stories from my father about friends who were landscape architects and designing parks, campuses, plazas, etc. around the world. Just hearing about the work they do was enough for me to realize that what I wanted to do was bring effective change to communities and create memorable spaces for people to enjoy. What was your favorite project so far and why? One of my favorites projects was Gilbert Road Park, which happened to also be one of my favorite places on the UConn campus. My Rory Cutts design consisted of a series of grass mounds and inter-weaving pathways, coupled with generous plantings. Activities such as yoga, social gatherings, solitary reading/work, and cornhole were some of the implemented examples. I learned a great deal about digital graphics, but also the real-world application of the work and its influence over many overlapping systems in our communities. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I’ve had the most experience in the residential field, working summers in high-end landscaping, nurseries, and landscape design-builds. However, I have always had an interest in larger-scale corporate and interdisciplinary firms, which stems from my desire to make lasting, beneficial changes to people and their communities and environments. What are your plans post-graduation? At this time, I am looking to further improve on my skills and understanding of the profession in the residential field, gaining a sense of structure, organization, and higher confidence. After that, I may shift to practice and learn in a different field. Design for GIlbert Road Park: The key theme behind the design was a set of two areas, each devoted to active and passive spaces, and each with their own little quirks and additions. A series of circular and ovular mounds — varying in size, configuration, and use — provide a sense of importance to each of the spaces. One side is dedicated to introverted activities, with thick pine trees and more cover from the surrounding elements, while the other side has more open space and intermingling mounds, allowing for a more social experience.

88 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? About four years ago, I was faced with a tough decision: continue working in a job that was secure but unfulfilling, or leave it behind and start something new. I felt my passion for design and art lying dormant, beginning to fade, and I knew what I had to do. Through my years of working, I had developed into a competent and respected loan administrator, but knew it was not the right line of work for me. I took time off to focus on myself and took courses in biology, physics, and art. After some searching, I found the landscape architecture program at UConn, and I was hooked. Since then, I have been more excited and engaged in my work than ever before, and I am eager to begin my new career. Tara Sweeney What drew me to this field was my desire to create something tangible and meaningful, something that could positively impact the world. I feel confident I can do this through thoughtful design and dedication to the environment. I have never been one to be concerned with fame or recognition, I am a kind, warm-hearted person by nature and I simply want to engage with and serve the community to improve the lives of people and protect the environment. What was your favorite project so far and why? In the Spring of 2022, I had a chance to put these values into practice. The UConn community was seeking design ideas for a memorial garden to honor the life of Andry Evangelista, a dear friend to many students on campus. After meeting with stakeholders, interpreting their wants and needs while being mindful of the local ecology, I designed a welcoming space with native plant materials. The design was well received and will be installed later this year. What are your plans post-graduation? After years of work and dedication, I plan to graduate and enter the job market with an open mind and a determination to continue learning. I see myself in an office of professionals with a supportive environment and commitment to serving its clients with thoughtful, well-engineered, and resilient designs. In particular, I have an interest in master planning, urban development, stormwater systems, and native ecology. Rendering of memorial garden design, located in front of Werth Tower (Storrs, CT), depicting the summer time interest of plant species.

SPRING 2023 | 89 Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? When I am outdoors, I find I am able to think more clearly and release any stress from my daily life. I feel a deep connection to my surroundings in the natural environment and I aspire to help others feel the same way. The landscape architecture major is a great fit for me because I get to enhance the connection between myself and nature. Travis Snyder Above: Affordable housing development/planned community for the town of Andover, CT. Features include multiple duplex homes connected by a new trail and park system which will tie into the existing Hop River Trail running along Route 6. The connectedness allows for access to important town locations such as groceries or outdoor recreation. Right: A historical preservation project in Simsbury, CT that implemented a low-impact hiking trail that moves around old shed tobacco barns. One of the highlights of the trail is that it has multi-seasonal use. What was your favorite project so far and why? One of my favorite assignments so far has been a community improvement project to help revitalize the town of Andover, CT. I really liked this project due to its circulation around a new trail system and public park which allows for easier and affordable access to the natural entertainment. I plan to work as a landscape architect in the design-build field to help clients connect with the environment in a similar manner. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation I am looking to pursue further education in a graduate program that involves working with GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

90 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? The reason I chose landscape design is very simple. At first, I was influenced by my parents, as both of them work with the landscape, so I was often exposed to garden-related knowledge and went to the park a lot as a child. I like drawing and art very much, so I chose landscape design as a major that can combine garden and art. After studying again, I do have a great love for and interest in this profession, and I enjoy everything I feel in the landscape. Vicki Li Above and right: This renovation of Dividend Pond in Rocky Hill, CT was designed to reflect the characteristics of the site’s archaeological reserve and the historical sequence of development while at the same time restoring the natural vegetation features of the site to benefit butterflies and other pollinators. What was your favorite project so far and why? The most satisfying project I am currently working on is the renovation of Mill River Park in Stamford, CT. Inspired by the name of the park, I designed a mill-like site in the park by combining the river with the development and history of the area. The site has been designed for the people who use it. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I hope that in the future I can design parks. I think I have a better grasp and experience of the appropriate site size. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation, I hope to find a suitable job in landscape design for parks. I hope to show my creative abilities and ideas to design practical and beautiful parks. Above and left: Design for a park playground at Mill River Park in Stamford, CT. The primary goal, based on the existing natural elements, was to provide diverse and flexible spatial experiences.

SPRING 2023 | 91 Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? As a child, I enjoyed nature and spent as much time as I could outside. I fell in love with the natural world and everything it consisted of. As I grew older and wiser I ended up taking pleasure in anything design-wise. Landscape architecture combines both of these passions into one. It wasn’t until college that I realized that landscape architecture could be a career path. Like many, I wasn’t introduced to the realm of landscape architecture until college and it wasn’t until I took my first class in the program that I instantly knew that this profession was Victor Cizik right for me. I love designing landscapes with the intent that all kinds of people are going to be able to use and enjoy them. Over the past few years here at the University of Connecticut my love for this field has grown, and every time I start to design a different landscape it just reminds me how big of an impact I can make as a designer. What was your favorite project so far and why? One project that I enjoyed was the Meadowood site in Simsbury, CT. It was fascinating being able to incorporate history into my designs (the site was related to Martin Luther King Jr.), while also taking into account the future use of the site. I enjoyed getting to know the people on the site and being able to take into consideration their intended use of the site. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation I will be working for a multidisciplinary firm in Boston, MA. Plan for a native meadow area for the Meadowood site in Simsbury, CT includes a green parking area, memorial site, native meadow areas, and a natural playground. Below: Detailed section rendering shows how each of these site elements look next to each other and how people move between them.

92 | CONNECTICUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Community revitalization project for the Town of Andover, CT. Why did you choose to study landscape architecture? I have lived and traveled to a lot of places around the world, and every time I arrived at a new place, I would find myself investing time examining the local landscape features. This interest has carried through from the first time I traveled for a summer in China until I got accepted by UConn when studying in Boston. As an art student who loves engineering and architecture, no other major fits me as well as landscape architecture. What was your favorite project so far and why? My favorite assignment so far was a revitalization project for the town of Andover, CT that aimed to bring the town back to life with new landscape ideas and features. I loved this project Yuhao Jiang because it engaged most of the knowledge we covered, which made my study progress show through my work. I also have great interest in 3D modeling, and the freedom of this project allowed me to explore deeper into 3D crafting and improve during the process. What field of landscape architecture would you like to work in? I can see myself working in residential projects in the future. I think gardens and living space management is a very good place to start my career and convert my theories and knowledge learned from school into real-world practice in a fast and efficient way. I can also see myself working in land planning, specifically park design, because I think a park can increase the happiness index of people and refine the balance between nature and humans for a city. What are your plans post-graduation? After graduation I am really looking forward to participating in a graduate program, and also seeking work experience in the process. I am really passionate about landscape architecture as a major and wish to explore it in the future.