Inside/Out: Residential Meadows

Have you tried to convert lawn to meadow?

The enormous ecological benefits of meadows are well known: increased biodiversity, improved pollinator habitat, better stormwater filtration and water quality, reduced chemical use, higher carbon storage -- the list goes on -- and they're beautiful! Yet meadows also can be slow, complicated, and intimidating.

Join us for a special tour led by landscape architect Cate Oranchuk and builder Fred Anderson of a suburban residential property that is several years in to the process of creating six different meadows.

This part of a special series of Inside/Out activities organized by the BSLA Plant Sourcing Task Force focused on meeting plants where they are. Join us!

Members and non-members, all are welcome.

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ABOUT THIS TOUR

Six distinct meadows surround the house and gardens. At different stages of development, each one plays a different role in framing views of the house, providing a transition between the cultivated landscape and the woodland perimeter, and shielding mechanical and storage equipment from sight. The meadows were planted using plugs sourced from multiple nurseries over a period of several months.

Each season brings something new; from spring and summer’s colorful blooming native perennials to fall’s dramatic warm-hued grass plumes and winter’s persistent seed heads poking out from the snow.

This project was unorthodox from a landscape architect's perspective. Our scope was limited to concept design only, so our drawings are hand-drawn sketches; nothing fancy or formal. Because we work with Anderson Landscape Construction frequently, communicating and working out details on the fly was manageable. Design sketches, plant lists and their sources as well as in-progress photographs will be available to view on the tour.

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Members and non-members, coworkers + students, clients + friends.

Tickets are FREE, tour size limited, registration appreciated. Please come dressed for the weather, prepared to walk outside on uneven terrain.

We aim to go in most weather. We will email all ticket holders and post any changes here.

We look forward to exploring with you!

Organized by the Boston Society of Landscape Architects, "Inside/Out" is an ongoing series of small group, outdoor, on-site walking tours of landscape architecture throughout our region. Prioritizing issues of climate and health, equity and resilience, tour discusses ideas and implementation as we explore these landscapes together.

View a short video of Inside/Out highlights.

Is there a landscape you'd like to visit -- or one you'd like to share? Let us know!

Join us outside.