Radnor Memorial Library and Chanticleer Garden welcomed author and consultant Claudia West to the Radnor Township Building for a presentation about designing plant communities.
Drawing upon her 2015 book Planting In A Post-Wild World, West spoke about “bridging the gap between horticulture and ecology” by combining the dense and diverse beauty of wild plant communities with the orderly structure of ornamental plantings.
Ms. West shared 3 pillars of theory when contemplating a design:
- Relating plants to people
- Relating plants to place
- Relating plants to other plants
“Plantings are under-vegetated,” she added, and a thoughtful design can yield positive ecological and practical results, benefitting insects and birds in addition to providing visual appeal or tackling issues such as storm water management.
For more information about Claudia West, her firm and work, please visit phytostudio.com.