|
Our
Lady of the Lake
South Entrance Landscape Renovation
A project
led by UW's EHUF 482
(Field Practicum in Plant Selection and Management) Students- Spring
2003
This
quarter, we worked at Our Lady of the Lake School, in an area near
the school's south entrance. Our class worked from a management
plan created in Fall, 2002 by students in EHUF 480 and the Our
Lady community. The designers' mission statement was "to create
an interactive learning garden for children as well as create a
sustainable, beautiful landscape for the enjoyment of the school
and church community". To achieve this goal, the plan incorporates
a children's garden for use by the school's classes, seating, a
revitalized school entry, and wildlife habitat.
Before
renovation, the site consisted of a large patch of asphalt surrounded
by the school, gym, and the former site of the "little toy"
play area. The asphalt, especially when combined with the southern
exposure, creates a heat island effect, leaving the site hot, sunny,
and dry. Underneath the asphalt, the soil is a sandy loam. To provide
planting space, the plan calls for removing some of the asphalt
as well as creating raised beds and benches with planting space
behind the seats. Drought-tolerant, sun loving, low maintenance
plants were chosen for this site. The educational bed was planted
primarily with annuals for the summer, so that the students can
choose their own planting schemes next fall. When completed, the
benches will incorporate student-created tiles to give the children
a sense of ownership and allow them to participate in the design
and renovation process.
Below
are pictures from our weekly work parties. Click on any image to
see a larger version.
The
design proposal for this site
The
site prior to renovation
 
Initial
Site Visit
 
Marking
the area where asphalt is to be removed and beds added
Examining
the soil following asphalt removal
The
beginning of construction on the educational bed
The
newly constructed educational bed
Moving
construction rubble from the educational bed
 
Filling
the educational bed with soil
Discussing
the best plant placement for the educational bed
Preparing
a plant for installation
 
Installing
and watering in new plantings
Mulching
the newly installed plants
The
finished educational bed
 
Building
raised planting mounds in the big bed
The
footings for the curb surrounding the big bed
The
new curb for the big bed
 
Filling
in the big bed with soil and reshaping the planting mounds
Plants
to be installed on the site
 
Discussing
the best plant layout
 
Preparing
the katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) for installation
Preparing
a hole for the katsura
Watering
in the newly installed tree
Cleaning
soil off roots in preparation for installation
 
Installing
new plants
Mulching
the big bed
Watering
in the new plants
 
Installing
pavers to create a path through the big bed
 
Cleaning
up and trying out the new path
The
finished big bed
The
big bed in fall 2003
St.
Francis in the garden
Acknowledgments
We
would like to thank the following individuals and organizations
for their assistance with this project. We couldn't have done it
without you!
|
