A Stroll Around the Green: Plants of the Village Green at University Village
Land Morphology is thrilled to announce the opening of a new plaza and green space at the University Village.
Located in the northern section of the open-air shopping center, this new public space is centered around an ellipse-shaped central green of synthetic lawn. The ellipse is oriented toward a custom raised platform that functions as both seating and a seasonal performance space. Other features of this project include sinuous raised planters, two new water features, and a series of flexible outdoor rooms finished with durable ipe wood decking.
Aerial of the Village Green as final touches fall into place. Photo Credit: Foushee
Plants
Along with designing the park, Land Morphology developed the planting plan in collaboration with the client. Land Morphology’s planting strategy utilized seasonal texture and color against a substantial framework of dependable evergreen shrubs and groundcovers. Plantings at the University Village rely on a heavy dose of evergreen shrubs and trees to ensure year-round green-factor. This planting strategy also serves the function of hiding utility boxes tucked into planters.
The client’s horticultural maintenance firm, Botanical Designs, maintains and manages plantings throughout the year to express seasonality.
For this project, Land Morphology used a wide selection of tough, beautiful broadleaf evergreens:
Evergreen structural plants, left to right: Camellia sasanqua ‘Apple Blossom’, Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro’, Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’, Lonicera pileata, Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’, Pieris japonica ‘Prelude’, Pieris japonica ‘Valley Rose’, Rhaphiolepis indica ‘Georgia Petite’, Rhododendron ‘Dreamland’, Daphne bholua, Daphne x ‘Perfume Princess’, Daphne x transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’ Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft caress’, Prunus laurocerasus ‘Mount Vernon’, Liriope spicata
Deciduous specimen trees provide a lush canopy during the hot summer months, while opening up in winter to let in much-needed sun. Above all, I look forward to the bright fall foliage of these autumnal powerhouse trees!
Specimen trees, left to right: Liriodendron tulipifera, Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Stewartia monadepha, Acer palmatum “Emperor I”, Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood,’ Acer palmatum
Craning in!
At the base level, a combination of ornamental grasses and showy flowering shrubs and perennials will ensure color and texture throughout all four seasons:
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’, Edgeworthia chrysantha, Helleborus ‘Ice N’ Roses White’ Helleborus ‘Ice N’ Roses Early Rose’, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bobo’, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’, Rosa ‘Oso Easy Mango Salsa’, Weigela ‘Sonic Bloom Pearl’, Molinia caerulea ‘Moorflamme’, Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Carex testacaea, Rudbeckia x ‘American Gold Rush’
As you rock around the lawn, please remember to stay six feet apart and keep those masks on per our current state mandate.
