PlaceMatters

Here is a great article about the importance of climate and condition appropriate resilient plant systems for green infrastructure. In Denver, we are working with CU Boulder and the Greater Park Hill Community Center to install demonstrations of green infrastructure that can help reduce stormwater run-off. In our search for effective solutions, I have visited local installations of rain gardens and water retention areas to see what is working well and what has degraded over time. This piece by Thomas Rainer articulates the importance of plant diversity and density to maximize the benefits of filtration, water uptake, and erosion control while also creating places that are beautiful and easier to maintain.
https://www.thomasrainer.com/blog/2017/3/25/green-infrastructure-10-has-failed

Designed to Fail: How Green Infrastructure Standards Create Conditions for Failed Plantings Not treating plants as dynamic systems is the culprit. MUnicipalities need to turn to experts in plant community design. For the past few years, I have been focused on the development of high performance vegetative systems. These systems are critical to the future of our planet, because as