For our Environmental Biology final we were tasked with creating a landscape. In the interests of sustainability I elected to develop the yard digitally and publish it online. I made a Google sketchup model of an environmentally friendly backyard landscape located in the Chicago area. Below are pictures and an overview of the model.
Final Project Overview
An overview of the landscape from the northeast
An overview of the landscape from the southeast.
Free/reused items in italics.
Native species of plants:
Prior to buildup and expansion, the downtown Chicago area was primarily Oak Woodland (“An Atlas” 13). Three old growth large oaks run along the west quadrant of the yard.
Three oaks in the west quadrant of the landscape.
Black Maple trees are likely native to the area (“An Atlas” 26), five line the back fence area. And although some biologists argue that Sugar Maple trees are invasive to the Chicagoland area (“An Atlas” 28), one is growing in the southwest corner of the lot.
Five maples in the back of the landscape.
White trillium are common in oak forest areas and bloom in early spring (“An Atlas” 30). Some can be found on the south end of the path near the pond, seeds are available from Gurney’s Seed and Nursery for $4.95 (“Great White”). “The grass pink (Calopogon tuberosus) decorates summer bogs with its flowers” (“An Atlas” 40) Some are growing near the pond. It would be best to transplant these from existing bogs in the area, as they are hard to find for sale.
- Flowers near the pond.
Invites native animal biodiversity:
The Western Chorus Frog is indigenous to the region (“An Atlas” 34). One lives in the pond.
- A frog getting sun on the rock.
The red-headed woodpecker is common to woodland areas near Chicago (“An Atlas” 31), and a couple can be seen on the Maple trees to the back of the property.
- A red-headed woodpecker at work.
Squirrels are also common in the Chicagoland area, (“An Atlas” 31) several live amongst the oaks.
- Three squirrels forage for food.
It seems a Cattle Egret has wandered over from Lake Renwick in Will County (“An Atlas” 42) to try and pluck fish from the lake. A school of longear sunfish (“An Atlas” 45) in the pond are in danger!
- The egret has come for food.
People-friendly areas:
A complete patio set constructed of wood salvaged from tear downs of old local barns (Reiman 11) is placed on the pathway.
- A beautiful handmade patio set.
Two chairs made with salvaged wood and aluminum pipe are in the center of the walkway. They surround a Tuscany style fire pit.
- The chairs and fire pit.
A cedar pergola made with sustainably harvested wood from responsibly managed local woodlots is attached to the house near the northwest corner of the garden. The pergola was purchased from ticknthistle.com (“Earth Friendly”).
- A man relaxes under the pergola.
At the back of the property a Twin Oaks Green Living Hemp Fabric Hammock is hung between two trees. It is “hand-crafted using ivory hemp twill cloth and hand-woven hemp rope” and costs $229 (Twin Oaks).
- A comfy hammock.
A hot tub pumped and heated by solar generated electricity completes the people friendly backyard landscape for $1,957 (“Delux Kit”).
- The solar-heated hot tub.
“Green” product décor features:
The pathway is lined with solar powered pathway lighting, available at Lowes for $38.42 a dozen (“Shop”).
- Small pathway lights powered by solar.
The cedar pergola, salvaged wood chairs, salvaged patio set, hemp hammock, and permeable pathway all contribute to the low environmental footprint of the yard. Each represents a feature that can be installed or created using sustainable or otherwise recycled materials.
Storm water management and water conservation:
The pathway is constructed using permeable pavers that allow rainwater to drain between stones. The pavers are placed over a bed of gravel, filtering water before it percolates into the soil (Ogden). Paving stones are collected from local farmers who dig them up when tilling the soil, and are more than glad to get rid of them. Rain barrels collect storm water from building gutters. That rainwater can be used to water plants and grass during dry periods.
- A rainbarrel near the stairs collects rainwater.
An environmentally friendly pond feature filters excess rainwater and provides a natural habitat for animals displaced by suburban sprawl.
- The environmentally friendly pond.
Total Price:
Pathway lighting: $115.26 (3 @ $38.42)
Great white trillium: $4.95
Cedar Pergoda: $500
Hammock: $229
Hot Tub: $1,957
Total: $2,806.21 and lots of environmentally friendly labor!
Works Cited
“An Atlas of Biodiversity.” Chicago Wilderness. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2010.
. Reiman Media Group, Inc. “Small Spaces.” Budget Backyard Makeovers Jan. 2010:
4-23. Print.
“DELUX Kit.” SOLAR HOT TUB.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2010.
.
“Earth Friendly Pergola.” Tick-n-Thistle Furniture and Fine Art. N.p., n.d. Web.
10 May 2010. .
“Great White Trillium.” Shade Plants from Gurney’s Seed and Nursery. Gurney’s
Seed and Nursery, n.d. Web. 10 May 2010. .
Ogden Publications, Inc. “Green Patios, Walkways & Driveways of Porous Pavement
and Pervious Concrete.” Mother Earth News. Ogden Publications, Inc, May
2009. Web. 10 May 2010. .
“Shop Portfolio 12-Pack Solar Landscape Light.” Lowes.com. Lowes, n.d. Web. 10
May 2010.
” The State of Our Chicago Wilderness: A Report Card on the Ecological Health of
the Region.” Chicago Wilderness. ChicagoWilderness.org. Web. 14 Apr. 2010.
.
“Twin Oaks Green Living Hemp Fabric Hammock.” hammocks.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10
May 2010. .
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