Lawrence Halprin

In the news… and in the Library…

Lawrence Halprin, the Brooklyn born, California-based landscape architect who designed the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington as well as other important public works around the world, died on October 25, 2009.

In its obituary, The New York Times calls Halprin “the tribal elder of American landscape architecture…” noting that he “used the word choreography to describe his melding of modernism, nature and movement.” (NYT, 10/28/09)

The Dec ’07 issue of Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes focuses on the private gardens that Halprin designed with a catalogue of 36 gardens including photographs and maps, and a listing of 393 commissions. The Jan ’06 issue is devoted to his public projects.

The Library also owns Sketchbooks of Lawrence Halprin published in Japan in 1981 featuring delightful color illustrations dancing across the page in Halprin’s signature style. The works represented are Sea Ranch, Portland Open Space Sequence, the FDR Memorial, Levi Plaza, and Jerusalem.

Skyline Park, Arapahoe Street from 15th to 18th Sts, Denver, CO

Lawrence Halprin: The choroegraphy of private gardens
Studies in the History of Garden & Designed Landscapes, Oct-Dec 2007, Vol. 27 Issue 4 p258-270

Lawrence Halprin's Public Spaces: Design, Experience and Recovery. Three case studies
By: Hirsch, Alison, Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes, Jan-Mar 2006, Vol. 26, Issue 1, p1-93, 8 diagrams, 5 maps, 17 cartoons, 119bw

information from Katherine Powis, HSNY Librarian

Toad Lily

Hi,
I was hoping someone may be able to help in identifying a flower/plant that sprung up in my garden.
I have attached a few photos. The flower is 2 - 2 1/2 inches across and the stem is about 10 inches high. The stem is very strong, it feels like a twig. I live in Jericho, NY (Long Island) The photos were taken yesterday, so you can see the flower is in bloom now even after frost. The leaves are hard to see in the photos but they are not like day lily leaves. I have looked in as many books as I can and on line but have found nothing.

Please let me know if you can help. Thank you for your time.
Laura

Laura,
What you have discovered in your garden is a Tricyrtis hirta, or Toad lily. A member of the lily family (Liliaceae), with a beautiful cascading growth pattern. Plus, the blooms last up to 6 weeks.

No fall garden should be without toad lilies. These Asian curiosities bloom with orchid-like flowers that demand a close look, when the garden is winding down in fall. They do best in light shade in humus-rich soil that retains moisture, and are suitable for borders or less formal parts of the garden and among shrubs gradually becoming large clumps. Some self-seed but not aggressively.

Light: Part Sun, Shade
Zones: 4-9
Plant Type: Perennial Plant Height:1-3 feet tall, depending on variety
Plant Width:1-2 feet wide, depending on variety
Flower Color:White, mauve, yellow flowers, depending on variety; variegated leaves, depending on variety
Bloom Time:Blooms late summer through to late fall, depending on variety
Landscape Uses: Containers, Beds & Borders Special Features: Attractive Foliage, Fall Color, Cut Flowers, Drought Tolerant, Tolerates Wet Soil, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow*

Here is a look at some of the amazing color variations and shapes of the Tricyrtis hirta.




*bhg.com/gardening

Conservation Counts

You can immediately cut your own gasoline use by following these recommendations from Organic Gardening and the U. S. Department of Energy:

• Drive sensibly (obey the speed limit and avoid rapid acceleration and braking)
• Replace your car's air filter when it's dirty-boosts gas mileage by 10%
  
• Keep tires at the recommended air inflation: 3% improvement
• Use the recommended grade of motor oil: 1 to 2% improvement
• Buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Drive less; carpool; plan car use. Take the train

talk about going green.....

Plant ID

This tree--on Broadway between 77th and 78th St--is one I don't know and can't find in any of the books on trees, including some on New York City trees? It's about two stories high. Attached is a scanned picture of the leaves and the fruit/ or seedpods. Thank you. Anne

The tree is Sophora japonica, Japanese Pagodatree or Scholar Tree. It is a member of the Fabaceae family which includes the peas, as you should be able to tell by the fruit.

In an open area, such as a park, this tree can reach to heights of 70 feet with a dense, rounded, full crown of rich, green leaves; quite an impressive sight. In July to August, creamy white panicles of flowers create a lacy veil over the canopy. The fruit are 8 inch pods that change from pea-green to yellow and brown. The Scholar tree loves well drained soil and is quite adaptable, which is why it was suggested as a city tree.