Sustainability Topics
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
When designing a LEED-certified building there are many strategies such as storm water management techniques, recycling materials from construction, and maximizing the use of natural light to light the building, that will help accumulate points needed to receive LEED certification. In addition to these established and recognized practices, the certification process awards points for innovation. This ability to innovate new green designs and techniques is what is driving the continually evolving green industry.
Upon embarking on the design of the Wister Center, there was much discussion about the techniques and the associated costs for heating and cooling the building in a…
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
In today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, garden writer Virginia A. Smith discusses the alternatives to having a traditional turfgrass lawn. The turfgrass lawn has been an icon of the American landscape since the mid-19th century. There is movement slowly building through the US to consider more environmentally friendly alternatives to these water-intensive, fertilizer-dependent, monoculture plantings.
Carex plantaginea. photo credit: R. Robert
At the Scott Arboretum, we have been trialing lawn alternatives for over 3 years. Our current favorites include Carex pensylanica, Carex laxiculmus Bunny BlueTM , Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’, and Carex plantaginea. Check out more about our program and the plants we are trailing…
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Last week Yvonne Post’s lead goats, Wyeth and Rodin, visited the Scott Arboretum on a reconnaissance mission. As lead goats, Wyeth and Rodin (named for famous artists) are brought to trial new locations and vegetation to see if the entire herd would take to the site and eat the weeds found there.
Rodin chomping on ivy while Yvonne discusses goats in the garden. photo credit: R. Robert
Like many other institutions in the region, the Scott Arboretum is trialing the use of goats to remove invasive and stubborn weeds from the garden. Also called “nature’s weed-eaters”, goats are a sustainable, environment friendly…
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