A New Project

Figure 1. The site, looking toward Olin's main drive (left) and looking toward East Hall (right).

   We've taken on a new, exciting project! We have been recruited by Andy DeMelia and Ben Linder to help plan new landscaping for a small section of campus, with the intention of making it more sustainable, aesthetically pleasing, and bee-friendly. The area we will be modifying is the grassy area in front of the treeline on the west side of the road below the Great Lawn. This is the area with the drainage ditch, across the road from the Meditation Spot, and across the drive to Lot B from the field. Below, you can see the area as it is currently.
                      Ben originally hoped to see the addition of some blueberry bushes, which are native, attractive, and bee-friendly. We hope to take this project a bit further to add some color, reduce the need to maintain the area, and smooth out the curve of the area as well as the transition into the treeline.

   We have done some research on all kinds of different plants and have developed a list of criteria for the plants that will be introduced. We want them to be:

• Native to the area (i.e. not invasive species)
  
• Valuable to bees and/or other wildlife
  
• Low-maintenance
  
• Non-poisonous to humans and pets
  
• Attractive all year
  
• Tolerant of slow drainage, but also to not need significant watering
  
• Sun and shade tolerant, as the area receives a mixture of both
  

    
    So far, the perfect plants have been eluding us, but we have found many that may thrive. A few of the more promising ones currently include: Foxglove Beardtongue, Red Bergamot, Wintergreen, and Scarlet Catchfly. 

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   Our tentative plan is to cut back some of the undergrowth that has spilled past the treeline, and then put the blueberry bushes (the blue dots in the picture on the right) in along that line. We will then choose a slightly smaller plant (signified by the yellow dots) to sow in front of the blueberries. Lastly, a line of very small flowers or herbs (the white dots) will run in front of everything and fill in any gaps. The spacing between rows will change as we follow into straighter sections of the treeline; ideally this will transform the scraggly, sharp line into a gradual, sweeping curve. 

   We hope that everyone approves of our work! If anyone has suggestions to improve the layout or is interested in helping us choose plants, please contact us!

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