A new aesthetic: Landscape design which includes healthy outdoors with native plants, no harmful chemicals and habitat restoration and a beautiful natural look

The main goal of this garden is to enlighten the homeowners to the beauty of Virginia native plants and to inspire them to incorporate native plants into their own home gardens.  

Other goals of the garden are to show how mature native plants can attract wildlife to include variety of birds and butterflies and beneficial insects.

 In addition, gardens with native plants will require less time to maintain, less watering, less chemical use and will cost less in the long run.

The community will be able to see firsthand the types of plants that grow well in our area, recommended planting practices, and overall garden care. 

Virginia natives are often overlooked by home gardeners in favor of exotic imports. Many exotic plants do indeed thrive in our environment because of a lack of natural check & balances, often out-competing native species for resources, and becoming invasive plants that cause billions of dollars in harm to our environment.  These plants often provide little or no sustenance for our wildlife companions, reducing biodiversity and straining our ecological web of life here in Virginia.

The future of landscape design calls for a resolution of these two differing criteria at work here — conventional landscape design criteria versus the need for habitat restoration with native plants and zero chemicals. Where the mistake is being made is trying to shoehorn habitat restoration goals into the conventional aesthetic criteria of landscape design.

Purpose

  • Restore a common area that is currently mostly covered with lawn into a garden
  • Professionally design a garden that will display Virginia native plants
  • Create an inviting garden for families to visit and enjoy  
  • Demonstrate the beauty and hardiness of Virginia native plants in residential landscaping
  • Include a permanent signage at the garden to include basic information about the garden
  • Provide an outdoor environment for schools in the area for lessons on wildlife habitats
  • Provide a habitat for bird and/or butterfly watching
  • Provide a resource for possible seed collection

Provide additional detailed resource and information by creating and maintaining a garden website to include

  • The design information
  • Information about the progress as the garden is built and matures
  • Information about the plants, and their habitat requirements
  • Information about the environmental value of these plants
  • Information about the required maintenance
  • Information about where to purchase these plants
  • Allow the residents to share their own native garden information

 Location

Located on the south side of Ridgeway Drive across from Inglewood Court (near Mill Run Elementary School).

View Native Plants Sanctuary and Wildlife Habitats Display Garden in a larger map


Added Value to the Community

Broadlands will benefit from having a professionally designed and installed garden. There is no doubt this garden will be inspirational for residents to make their garden beautiful and healthy which will add to the value of your home and our community.

Please visit the following links for studies and additional information for the benefits of these types of landscaping practices

Virginia Tech Virginia Cooperative Extension
Garden / Garden A comparison of native and traditional gardens in Santa Monica, Ca.
Benefits of Sustainable Landscaping – University of Minnesota


Asking for Community Feedback

Broadlands HOA Board of Directors would like to get feedback from the community.  We request from Broadlands residents to send us their comments on the Comment section below.  Please include your complete name and your address in Broadlands.  If you wish to send your feedback directly with e-mail, you can send it to Oya Simpson, at osimpson@broadlandsnaturally.org by Friday, July 8th, 2011.