This garden, dedicated to one of the Tawes Garden founders, Norma Coulter, highlights ways to decrease erosion and runoff, stabilizing a steep slope using rock terraces. Three rock types are showcased here: shale, red sandstone and grey limestone. Native and introduced plantings were carefully selected to thrive on steep, shaded slopes and show interest throughout the seasons.

As the slope becomes less steep to the east, rock ledges were not needed. Instead, shade tolerant plants are tasked with holding the slope in place and reducing the erosion that used to be a constant concern in this area.

The garden was designed to replace degraded, sparse turf with lush plantings that would naturally be found in the dappled shade of a forest floor. Plant roots hold soils in place and early spring flowers provide for emerging pollinators at the start of the growing season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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