New Naturalism: Lessons from Wild Plant Communities

Kelly D. Norris, Author, New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden

April 2021

We are entering an era of purposeful and thoughtful gardening where we strive to create landscapes that are both aesthetically beautiful and ecologically vibrant. Wild plant communities are a prime source of inspiration for naturalistic design, and understanding how plants interact and function within these environments is key to establishing successful plantings. Author Kelly Norris shares how he designs landscapes with plant layers and palettes influenced by the structure of natural ecosystems, and how we can start doing this at home.

Kelly D. Norris is an award-winning author and plantsman, and author of New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden.  He previously served as the Director of Horticulture and Education for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.