June 10 - Landscape Design News
Sonoma Valley Regional Park at Sunset by Laura Bassett
This week let’s talk about great local places to spend sometime with the family. An innovative solution to ranching, decreasing the impact ranching has on the environment. We’ll learn about the top three concerns most people as their landscape architects to solve.
LOCAL - Sonoma County
Summer at the Russian River by Laura Bassett
Happy Father’s Day Weekend! There are a number of great local events and happenings going on for the father figure in your life. Sonoma Country Tourism has a great list of public beaches and parks that you can fish, swim and grill at. Top three I’d recommend are Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Steelhead Beach and Jenner.
My first memories of fishing were along the Russian River, catch and release. I think I caught a lot more sticks than fish but it was a lot of fun!
National - The Protein Problem
Cow in the Minefield on Guemes Island, WA by Laura Bassett
As we head into Summer we’re starting to grill. Let’s talk about the impact of herds on the landscape and some innovative solutions ranchers are coming up with so that the steak you’re grilling is a net positive for the environment.
Rancher, Meredith Ellis, is working to find a way to transform cattle ranching into a net positive for the plant. To read more about her journey, head over to The Protein Problem.
ASLA National Survey on Client Demand
Honey Bee on Flowering Carrot Blossom by Laura Bassett
In the second year of the survey and interesting trend is starting to appear. 70 percent of landscape architects and designers who responded to the survey experienced at least a 10 percent increase in client demand for nature-based solutions for climate change over the prior year.
From personal experience most of my clients here in Wine Country ask for three things:
1) Low Water
2) Low Maintenance
3) Fire Resilient / Fire Wise
According to the ASLA survey client concerns about climate impacts have increased since 2021. The top three concerns are:
Increased intensity of storms/fires
Increased duration and intensity of heat waves
Loss of pollinators, such as bees and bats
Rebuild in the wake of the 2017 Wildfires in Glen Ellen, CA. This water wise, fire resilient landscape bring life back to an area decimated by wildfire. Photo Credit: Laura Bassett
Take aways
Overall we in the landscape architecture field are mindful of our impact on the local and global environment. Whether it’s making your landscape a bit more resilient to changing weather, provide habitat for wildlife or to proactively protect your home during wildfire season. We are here to help!
Laura Bassett
laura@bassettlandscapes.com