Changing Times, Changing Landscapes: Drawing Nature into Urban Landscape Design

If you’re a member of either the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO) or the Pacific Horticulture Society (PHS), you've probably heard about an exciting day-long event happening in Portland in March.

Changing Times, Changing Landscapes: Drawing Nature into Urban Landscape Design is billed as an "inspiring exploration of the role of landscape within an urban setting." Members of both groups are offered admission at a reduced rate (until March 3rd) but the program is open to all.

NYC's Highline, photo Bob Hyland

From the Press Release: "Traditional public parks and private gardens offer relief from crowded conditions. Discover how pocket parks, roof top plantings, streetside gardens, and other creative small landscapes in unlikely spaces extend nature’s reach throughout our cities and provide healthy green space and habitat for pollinators and wildlife."

NYC's Highline, photo Patrick Cullina

The seminar kicks-off with keynote speaker Patrick Cullina, a horticulturalist/garden designer known for his work on NYC's Highline and at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. In his talk "The Emergent City: Transforming the Urban Experience with Dynamic Landscapes" Cullina will discuss how cities across the globe are reinventing themselves through creative use of landscape initiatives designed to green our urban spaces, and make them vibrant destinations, full of life.

A passage through grey birches on the High Line between 21st and 22nd Streets. Copyright Patrick Cullina, used by permission.

The rest of the event line-up features a top-notch group of speakers with similar vision:

Evelyn Hadden, author of Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise between the Sidewalk and the Curb, will speak on overlooked and neglected semi-public spaces that can host vibrant small gardens.

Lorene Edwards-Forkner, editor of Pacific Horticulture, will discuss "Designing with Nature, Planting for Pollinators."

Landscape architect Karla Dakin, co-author of The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs, addresses the topic in "Baring Witness or How All Green Roofs are Created Equal."

Top row left to right: Evelyn Hadden,  Bob Hyland, Lorene Edwards Forkner, Karla Dakin. Bottom row left to right: Sean Hogan, Lucy Hardiman, Maurice Horn and Patrick Cullina.

Performing as moderator for the morning program is Portland's Bob Hyland, a garden designer who serves on the boards of both the PHS and the HPSO.

The afternoon sessions will be moderated by garden designer Lucy Hardiman, owner of Perennial Partners and all around powerful force for good behind the Portland garden scene.

Nursery owners Maurice Horn (Joy Creek Nursery) and Sean Hogan (Cistus Nursery) will be on hand to suggest plant choices both appropriate to the designs discussed in the talks, and ones that will thrive in our climate.

Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise between the Sidewalk and the Curb. Evelyn J. Hadden, Timber Press, 2014, photo Joshua McCullough.

The seminar runs from 8:45am to 4:30pm on Saturday March 28th, afterwards attendees are invited to a wine reception at Xera Plants and Hyland's Contained Exuberance with shopping (at a discount!) and continued opportunities for discussion.

Cost for the seminar, including a catered lunch and the wine reception, are $99 for PHS members and HPSO members, and $125 for the general public. For more information, and to register, visit the PHC website. Sounds like fun doesn't it? Hope to see you there!

Ivory sedge and crocus among the railroad tracks on the High Line. Copyright Patrick Cullina, used by permission.

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