In Pursuit of the Mesh
I had the opportunity this month to speak to an audience of ecological design professionals and ecologically-minded home gardeners at New Directions in the American Landscape’s Design, Ecology, and Culture Symposium.
The event was held at Temple University’s Ambler campus near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and then, a week later, at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut.
Beyond meeting so many talented people who work daily with plants, it was wonderful to present my ideas about designing with plants by sharing a few Thicket Workshop projects—and to point toward some contemporary and historical case studies that could lead to better integration between social life and ecological plantings.
The title references “the mesh,” a concept by environmental philosopher Timothy Morton that explores the interconnectedness of species and the worlds in which they live.
A key takeaway from the talk was the value of bringing together design theory, observation of wild plant communities, and the specific characteristics of sites to create durable and immersive landscapes.
Five quotes from my talk that speak to Thicket Workshop’s design approach:
“We’re designing alongside other beings—and they’re alive and have agency and might even be somewhat unruly from our perspective. I think that’s a good thing, and we should embrace it.”
“[Ecological plantings] should be situated and particular expressions of a moment in a place—rather than an imposed ideal.”
“I believe it’s not just native plants that many people enjoy. It’s plant processes; it’s dynamism; it’s life; it’s action; it’s surprise and spectacle and change. Even wonder—an appreciation of the otherness (from our perspective) of plant life.”
“Moving through plants and being immersed within their patterns and rhythms—there’s something meaningful about this experience.”
“Looking beyond traditional gardening practices, there’s a broader field of what it means to design with plants—and we’re all in for figuring out those possibilities where gardening and ecological restoration overlap.”
