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Session Guide

90-Minute Education Session

FRI-A01: Bringing Nature Home: Designing Ornamental Gardens to Enhance and Restore Biodiversity

Friday, October 27, 2023
9:00am - 10:30am CT
1.50 PDH, LA CES/HSW, AICP, FL, NY/HSW

A how-to guide for planting designers to integrate native plants into ornamental gardens, focusing on residential landscapes. We explain why gardens around homes are a special opportunity, how to work with clients’ perceptions of native plants, and strategies for finding the right plants for successful, beautiful, and biodiverse gardens.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Communicate why native plants are important to biodiversity and how to sell that approach to yourself, your design team, and your client.
  • Develop a simple solution to increase wildlife habitat by targeting critical species such as birds, butterflies, moths, and bees.
  • Assess ecoregions and habitat types to find and use suitable native plants with desirable ornamental qualities and roles within the garden.
  • Understand how adjustments for climate change, urban heat island effect, and maintenance can impact the long-term success of biodiverse native plantings.