Wisniewski Japanese Healing Garden 38 | The Sustainable Garden

WISNIEWSKI JAPANESE HEALING GARDEN

The process of healing is an important piece of memorialization. The Wisniewski Japanese Healing Garden is a counterpart to the Memorial Garden, which was established in 2010. Modeled after traditional Japanese principles, the Healing Garden combines elements of simplicity and tranquility with a deep symbolism and layered texture. The plants that were selected for the project have been chosen based on their adaptability to the site and their aesthetic qualities.

The highlight of the garden is a riverbed of sedum, which is meant to provoke a since of everlasting movement and continual growth. A series of stone outcroppings also dot the landscape, which establish beacons of permanence in this transforming garden. The artistic play of hard versus soft, stability versus transformation, and light versus dark is what creates the deep symbolic meaning within the garden. Established: 2013

Founded by: Professor Christopher Tuccio

Pedagogical role: The Healing Garden assists landscape design students in their analysis of garden typologies in various studio classes.

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Wisniewski Japanese Healing Garden | 37

THE SUSTAINABLE GARDEN

Based on the growing interest in native plants and the movement to create more environmentally sound plantings, horticulture faculty decided to create a “sustainable” garden on campus in spring 2009. The total area consists of four gardens with diverse microclimates, all planted with native North American plants ideally suited to the environment in which they were planted. There are no exotic plants that could escape into the natural environment; the plants require no irrigation or fertilization and encourage wildlife by providing shelter and food, primarily berries and seeds, to wildlife.

The gardens are multi-seasonal, starting with spring-blooming trout lilies, blue star and yellow false indigo and continue flowering into the late summer and fall, when the bright, colorful asters, perennial sunflowers and flowing, ornamental grasses dominate. Three hawthorn trees provide a striking background for the mountain laurel, hydrangea and fothergilla shrubs as well as ground covering plants such as golden star, Appalachian sedge and barren strawberry. Joe-Pye weed, lupines and switchgrass surround a flowering dogwood in an adjacent section.

The gardens have become an “outdoor laboratory” for students in the horticulture program, assisting in plant identification and appreciation of their use in sustainable landscape design. Established: 2009

Founded by: Professor Robert Herman, Professor Christopher Tuccio and NVCC horticulture students

Pedagogical role: The Sustainable Garden assists in Woody Plants, Herbaceous Plants, Landscape Design and Landscape Maintenance course instruction.

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