Return of the natives
Elan Miavitz, Naples Daily News
Garden will use Florida plants to show how landscaping can work with the climate, water availability here
Old Florida gardens were made with native plants – plants known to the ancient Calusa Indians and the early settlers. These were hardly plants that had little need for irrigation systems or fertilizer.
Early settlers did not have pesticides and herbicides to keep cultivated plants alive. So they became expert at creating gardens of beauty from the native plants.
Floridians today are now relearning that skill to make Collier County gardens not only beautiful, but functional and friendly to nature.
The search to rediscover native garden beauty, and to share that rediscovery, is the reason for construction of Nadia’s Native Plant Garden, at the Southwest Florida Horticulture Learning Center on 14700 Immokalee Road as a memorial in memory of Nadia Eisenbud. The garden, of all native plants, is a demonstration and trial project of 9,000 square feet. It features Florida trees, small- and medium-sized trees and shrubs, perennials, vines and ground covers.
The gardens are being achieved through the leadership of Landscape Architect David Driapsa, consulting with his team of experts including Helle Brimmekamp, Carolyn Cochrane, Leon Eisenbud, Dick Ennis, Susan Gallagher, Jeanette Atkinson, Steven Leneberger, Lee Mitchell, Duane Repp, Gary Schmelz, Margot Wojciechowski and Wyn Everham.
The goal is to demonstrate and study Florida native plants that can be grown in a typical home landscape. As the Native Plant Committee plan puts it: “Contrary to what many people believe, Florida native plants can be used entirely in the landscape. Currently, many homeowners use native plants to accent natural areas or as hedge material, but it is rare to see a landscape designed entirely of Florida plants, although it can be beautiful and attractive to Florida’s wildlife.”
“People would be able to see what a native plant garden might look like, much as they can look at a model home rather than just the plans,” said one of those citizens surveyed by the Native Plant Committee.
David Driapsa, landscape architect and Collier County Master Gardener has won numerous professional awards for his designs.
“Using native plants over exotics in landscaping the urban environment,” he said, “is a choice to cultivate a culture of environmental sustainability. The natural environment of the Everglades is an important part of the identity of Southwest Florida, and conservation of the natural landscape in the rapidly developing urban environment has a direct influence on our quality of life here in Collier County.”
Driapsa explained that in the past people came to Naples for nature: pristine beaches, good fishing, hunting and winter golf.
“I think that if we are to remain a great place to live we need both culture and nature. We need to employ careful planning to conserve nature and excellent design to restore naturalness within our urban environment. The use of native plants cultivates a natural setting for our cultural amenities.”
Some beautiful, but under utilized, native plants include loblolly bay, sweet bay, sweet acacia, marlberry, fiddlewood, cinnamon bark, tree form Simpson’s stopper, and tree form Walter’s Viburnum. All are grown in the native plant garden.
The native plant garden is part of the larger garden program at the Horticultural Learning center that covers 4 acres surrounding the Collier County Extension at 14700 Immokalee Road. More than 55 different species of Florida native plants are growing in the native plant garden. The native plants chosen are well adapted to inland temperatures and can be grown at the coast too, in all their forms and textures. Nadia’s Native Plant Garden features the great diversity of native plant material available to the homeowner, builder, architect, and also demonstrates how proper design can provide color throughout the year, attract butterflies and birds and be an asset to the environment.
The native plant landscaping movement in Collier County really began with the Oakmont development in Pelican Bay under David’s leadership. Oakmont is a neighborhood of single family homes set in a natural landscape of Florida dwarf live oak and pine.
The concept behind Oakmont was to preserve the forest and add only plantings similar in character, meaning drought resistance, form, color, texture, and scale to what was found growing there naturally. Nadia’s Native Plant Garden will serve as a public garden and learning center showing how new developments and individual homeowners can use native plants to recreate old Florida and preserve natural resources.
Experts say native plants have many advantages: They need less care. Less precious water. Less mowing. Less insecticide or herbicides. They do not threaten other species, as imported varieties sometimes do.
In the long run, native plants are less expensive to the environment and make a very enjoyable setting for a neighborhood and the home.
David J Driapsa Landscape Architect
(239) 591-2321
Please visit www.davidjdriapsa.com for more information
Registered Professional Landscape Architect, Florida LA0001185
(C) Copyright 1993-2016 David J Driapsa