Planting Design

“As landscape architects we are privileged to work with such a unique artist’s medium: plants! From form, texture, seasonal interest, to zones and water requirements, there’s so much room for design creativity. I especially enjoyed working with Riverview Elementary school. A 1.5-acre detention basin filled with plants? Sweet!”

-Mary Claire Jennings

In LAEP 3500: Planting Design taught by Professor Benjamin George, the students learn valuable insights and techniques that affect the planting on a site. The students experiment with vignettes and concept plans to highlight the planting type and styles they choose to include. They learn about color theory with plants, seasonal interests, textures, sizes of plants, and how to adapt to the audience of the garden.

One of the most memorable trips for the students was a field trip to Riverview Elementary School in Saratoga Springs, UT. This elementary school has a plot of land that is currently used for a retention pond. The school wants to create an educational garden where the students can be outside and get hands-on experience with nature during their classes. The students came back full of energy and excitement for this project.

For most of the students, this was the biggest site they had designed up to that point in their education. It was great experience to work with a real client and get real feedback and programs for the site that the school really wanted. For the final presentation of the project the principal, various teachers and PTA members were able to join the group on USU campus. The field trip wrapped up with a visit to the Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City, UT.

The students were amazed at the creativity of design with the plant material. It was also a great teaching time where the students got up close and personal with the plants. Many of the students learned a few new plants that day to add to their personal libraries of plants.