Darrel Morrison has been called "the elder statesman of the ecological landscaping movement" by the New York Times and has risen to the top of his profession over a career that spans six decades. Darrel Morrison discusses people and places that have influenced his philosophy toward designing landscapes in his recently published book, Beauty of the Wild (Library of American Landscape History). During this in-person talk, Darrel gives insights into how this has been incorporated into his designs based on his time in Georgia, Wisconsin, New York, Connecticut, and Montana. He designs with the goal that the landscape is simultaneously:
Ecologically sound
Experientially rich
“Of the Place”
Dynamic, changing over time
Darrel's book is partly memoir, partly a description of natural landscapes that have inspired Darrel’s designs, and partly a cross-section of some of those designed-and-managed landscapes even in an urban forest setting. Underlying this is an acknowledgement of the value of the work of many people in protecting natural areas, biodiversity and the beauty of the Wild.
Darrel comes to Atlanta this fall to contribute his landscape perspective and design ideas for the landscape installation for Trees Atlanta's new headquarters under construction in Southwest Atlanta. The Atlanta History Center has generously donated granite material from their landscape (originally installed in 1990s) to be repurpsed in Trees Atlanta's new granite outcrop installation. The outcrop is designed by Darrel Morrison and is a reflection of the beauty of Georgia granite outcrops, specifically the ephemeral pools containing the endangered Diamorpha. The design incorporates a pool in a circle surrounded with granite stones. In concept it looks like a ying yang effect.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:
Darrel Morrison is a long-time proponent of the use of native vegetation and natural processes in the design and restoration of landscapes. He received his Master of Science in Landscape Architecture degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1969, then taught there until 1983, with his emphasis on planting design and ecological restoration. He was Dean of the College of Environment and Design at the University of Georgia, 1983-1992, and continued as a faculty member there until 2004, continuing to link ecology with design. From 2005 until 2015, he lived in New York City, where he designed landscapes at The New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre sculpture park in the Hudson River Valley. He returned to Wisconsin in 2015, where he is Senior Honorary Faculty Associate in the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture. He is recipient of the Scott Medal and Award for 2021, awarded by Swarthmore College.
There will be a book sale and book signing at the end of the event.
More information on the Atlanta Botanical Garden website.
Additional Information
Event Admission: There is no registration or fee to attend this event. Attendees should check in at ticketing and mention you are attending the Speaker Series talk in Day Hall.
LOCATION for this event is Atlanta Botanical Garden: 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Parking: Deck parking at ABG is offered (visit ABG website for fee and further information)
Questions: If you have any questions or comments regarding this event, please email education@treesatlanta.org.