Ecological Restoration on the Prairie

...finally catching up to Laura's ASLA posts! I too had the opportunity to attend the annual conference in Chicago two weeks ago. I'd have to say that Chicago is my favorite US city and although we did get some time to explore beyond McCormick Place (rockin' blues and a salsa club that would make Ricky Recardo proud), the hi-light of the weekend for me was a full-day field session 40 minutes west of downtown to one of the most ecologically rich remnants of tall grass prairie. We learned that this 80 acre preserve owes its existance to the stock market crash of the 1920's. It was divided into residential lots in 1927, sidewalks were poured, but due to the crash that's exactly how it remained.

It is now the Wolf Road Nature Preserve and is managed by the IL Dept. of Natural Resources.

See the sidewalk?

Less than 1/100 of 1% of the Illinois prairie remains.

The plant to the far right is a "compass plant" named for its large leaves that follow the sun across the sky.

Our tour guide was Jack Pizzo of Pizzo Associates - a local company specializing in ecological restoration. Jack and his staff demonstrated several techniques from their tool kit including Seeding, spraying and may favorite... controlled burn. Much of the prairie shown here was burned about 1 year ago. It's a necessary step to maintain the prairie and control invasive species (the native americans practiced this method for 8,000 years and natural fires from lightening strikes also contribute). I'm wondering how often controlled burns are practiced in our region. They seem to be pretty common in the midwest. www.pizzo.info

ASLA Conference in Chicago...

Rebecca and I traveled to Chicago this weekend for the annual ASLA Conference & Expo. We used this opportunity to discuss the latest trends and products with respected leaders in the industry! My experience is detailed below...

I attended several informative sessions on digital graphics, restoring communities, stormwater management and design, economic opportunities, and business management and practice.

Aside from lectures and discussions, I felt obliged to discover some of the best site design Chicago has to offer...

Upon arrival at Millennium Park, I couldn't resist spending a few moments observing the interactive Crown Fountain...This piece illustrated how valuable art, water, and public participation is for a successful space.

Of course, no trip to Millennium Park is complete without visiting the Cloud Gate! Yours truly is attempting to make some interpretive public art...


One of the greatest aspects of the Cloud Gate is not only seeing yourself and people from all corners of Earth, but the reflection of Chicago's classic and modern architecture together. Like Billie the Kid said in the Dylan bio-pic I'm Not There, "..It's like you got yesterday, today and tomorrow, all in the same room. There's no telling what can happen."

Images of the past, present and future surround us all of only we look close enough; fortunately, these visions presented themselves to me on the same block of Michigan Avenue...

...So it would be fitting that two of Origin4Design's partners would find themselves alongside Chicago's testament to water as a resource. The future of landscape architecture depends on our ability to manage this resource while interpreting usage in a creative and aesthetic fashion.

For those of you who may be worried, Landscape Architects do have fun!

This is my good friend, fellow alum, and talented Landscape Architect, Laura Palimeno of Ledden Palimeno Landscaping. Here are some fun images from our time together...

...our nights on the town were as valuable as the conference lectures themselves. Good design understands the place and the people for which it serves. To better understand the parks, plazas and other forms of site design throughout the city, we needed to experience the city and her residents...Design is everywhere, and it's important to me to be continually thoughtful about my collective experiences and to learn from them all.

Volunteering at the West Virginia Botanic Garden

In an effort to keep my mind and body active, I headed to the best classroom on earth...the great outdoors! What better way to witness the earth's natural systems in action...

Today's classroom is the West Virginia Botanic Garden, an 82-acre site that is a former reservoir off the Tyrone Road in Monongalia County, WV. Currently, the garden displays planned gardens, natural settings, and historic elements of its past. Yes, it could be my Shangri-La...

As any WVU LA alum will attest, no outdoor classroom is complete without the guidance of George Longenecker; after all, he wrote the exam for WV's professional LA's! George provided the guidance for my internship at Fallingwater and fostered my interest in plant life.

Today, we focused on the lavishly designed butterfly garden. Comprised of plants native to the site and select ornamentals, the garden is patterned after a native butterfly in both color and form. We worked to prevent seeding and weeds while discussing various horticultural techniques and growth habits.

After completing our tasks for the afternoon, we explored the grounds, noting the variety of life and textures on the forest floor, stopping to admire the pristine view of the former reservoir, while witnessing some of the magic along the trail...

Mt. St. Macrinca Garden Revitalization

The luxurious home of Uniontown coal-baron J.V. Thompson, Oak Hill once hosted a lavish lifestyle, complete with exotic furnishings and over 1,000 acres of gardens, stables, and rolling hills. The home was occupied by Thompson during the height of his wealth from 1903 until his bankrupt death in 1933. Extreme opulence is often short-lived.

During Thompson's final illness, sale of the southeastern corner of the property was negotiated with the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great. Through the generosity of benefactors, the Order was able to renovate the property to include various accommodations for the monastery over the following years.

After formal dedication as a Byzantine Monestary in 1934, Mount St. Macrina became a gathering for thousands during the Labor Day Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the largest and oldest event of its kind in the United States.

During this festival, an iconic meditation area and meeting place was established at the Lady of Victory Pond. Like many areas of historical significance, the passing of time (and the legal system) took its toll.

I became involved in the pond's revitalization efforts in the summer of 2008. Through the generosity of my Great Uncle George Kushner and with the blessing of the Order (represented by Sister Barbara Jean), planning began.


One of my sketches that was presented to the Order representing the expansion of the meditation garden. The scheme introduces a new fence, woody and perennial material, and a meandering path. The plant material consists of both historically accurate selections and complimentary natives for a unique interpretation.

In June 2009, through the efforts of my immediate family and closest friends, the vision for the prayer garden was realized. I wouldn't have made it this far, in design and in life, without their support!

The completed memorial prayer garden immediately after install...I'm looking forward to showcasing the garden's growth throughout the changing seasons. Please check back for updates!

For additional information on the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great and the Oak Hill property please click here. Again, I would like to thank the Sisters for the opportunity to express my vision for this iconic site!

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