Brook Road

This church faced a common challenge for faith communities – how to improve the landscape without increasing maintenance costs or placing a large burden on the shoulders of a largely volunteer maintenance team. Before we started, the sanctuary – a lovely mid-century design – looked out on a bed of weeds. By excavating the soil, replacing it with a thick layer of river gravel and planting directly into the gravel, we created a meadow of native plants that provide four-season interest right next to the pews. Best of all, the ongoing maintenance for this bed is relatively low, as deep-rooted perennials and grasses dominate the space and use any available moisture, making it hard for weeds to get established.