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Washingtonia robusta, Mexican Fan Palm. These guys are really big. 60+ feet tall. Lots of shedding to be pruned back.

Sabal Palmetto, also known as Cabbage Palm, is a native to Louisiana. The Palm fronds grow in a whirled fashion, up down and sideways, rather than just one direction. Photo Credit: Negative Impact, aka Sauce

Be it a gateway to a nestled home, the edge of an eroding slope, or a place to sit in a sprawling mess–landscape features distinguish, the intended use of a space, celebrate, its natural characteristics, and command, their future as growing, living, organisms.

Of course, revealing the site seasonally evokes different forms. Throughout the year, leaves, flowers and even bark changes. Before any human maintenance takes place, the natural response of animals does. Squirrels take nuts, birds eat berries, and large mammals leave behind traces of their success foraging.

Ice, building up on rivers, as thick or as thin as the temperatures and water volume allow, creates chasms for onlookers to admire and users to sip through. Frost, seeping from ground water trapped in local soil, causes the earth to heave. Voles live in caves made by the upheaval–yet another instance of natural wildlife capitalizing on seasonal variance.

Hemlock trees, water-loving evergreens, are a small-pine-cone-bearing species. They loom tall — and provide shelter with their tendency to huddle. Deer are notorious for seeking shelter amidst their wind-deadening lower beaches. When trapped in some snow, these appendages become even more wall-like–giving tangible relief from cold climate conditions.

(this picture displays evergreens, and big downed trees, there’s a Hemlock in there somewhere, just not the foreground)

As the seasons warm and cool, we have to remember the animals impacted. A recent warm spell — in mid-December — May have loosened snow and exposed ground, but it also cajoles bear to wake from hibernation. I found a bear paw track coming out from the woods near Castle Rocks trail on Mt. Lincoln. The tracks were so fresh I felt the bear was right behind the trees edge. It was early December and a rain storm plus 40 degree weather washed away all the snow. The only patches remaining we found were thick and heavy slabs near the summit.

A beautiful view of the mountain shrouded in mist, barely covered, but still fresh.

By placing paving designs with natural flora and fauna on it, we inspire pedestrians to look up, search for the image which they’ve been introduced, and then go seek it out. This is one method of getting passers-by into a storefront, out of their straight line and into a park, trail or community green space.

Pedestrians respond to messaging quickly, and underfoot paving with natural designs should mimic their ability to perceive, react, and alter their path.

When I asked a citizen what he thought of when he saw a pinecone, he said, “a tree.” This is exactly the association I was hoping for. Later in the day, I asked a similar question and got a similar response. Humans, although we seem to have cell phone imbedded in our hands, are much more responsive to natural indicators than one would think.

I’m working on a design project in Denham Springs right now. The issues are in the downtown, store owners want to retain their parking along Main Street. Main Street is a two-lane, one way with parking on either side of the road. It does not have any street trees currently, save for a handful of Crepe Myrtles that run in front of the City Hall and then parking lot just north of it. There is very little street atmosphere.

I got to express my vision for a parklett to townspeople today. The design takes up 3 parking spaces in a lot adjacent to Main Street. The park got good feedback. People liked the idea of seeing designed pavement just before (and after) the parklett, which takes the shape of a pine cone.

This is a conceptual plaster model of what that pavement design might be.

Here’s a picture of Sauce and I holding the parklett design.

I’m excited to keep explore the ways in which a design can get people out of their cars, off of their cell phones, and into a park, piece of nature or shaded bench. I’m looking forward to expressing these ideas, and many others, when we meet with the Mayor on Monday, April 29th at 10am. Stay tuned!!

My classmates, Professor and Denham Springs Town Manager at Spring Festival today.