The landscape industry plays an important role in shaping ecosystems within and beyond developed areas, through design and choices of plant material and horticultural practices.
Brazil played a key role in defining what we see today as landscape architecture. Roberto Burle-Marx left a legacy as a pioneer in the use of native plants for landscaping in tropical environments, breaking through the traditional forms and methods of European gardens and expressing a timely connection between landscaping, art and the built environment.
Alongside the awareness and importance of the use of native plants in landscaping, came the awareness of invasive plants and their impact to environment. Several ecosystems have drastically changed as a result of the introduction of invasive plants, especially in areas with limited biodiversity and isolated from large land-masses, such as the islands of Hawaii and Tahiti. As a result, policies that encourage or require the use of native plants has caused a shift in the horticulture industry as well. In Hawaii, for example, a cultural renaissance in the 1980's gave momentum to the development of policies requiring the use of native plants in public projects. This, in turn, changed the concepts and perceptions of what is expected in landscape design. The nursery industry adopted the change (for its own good) and several nurseries focused their activities for the production of native plants and to supply “native plants only” sections that emerged in garden centers. This is a great example of how the political climate and environmental regulations can influence the practice of landscape architecture which, ultimately, directly influences the ornamental horticulture market.
The use of edible plants in landscaping has also gained significant attention in Hawaii in recent years, through the inclusion of fruit trees and community gardens in larger projects. Recent State bills require the adoption of school gardens in public schools to educate students about the importance of growing food for self-sufficiency.
In this issue, the reader is invited to get in touch with advancements in the culture of edible plants, like basil, and is encouraged to submit their own findings in the various fields of ornamental horticulture.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
Oct-Dec 2017
