Brenda  Brown
LANDSCAPE DESIGN ART RESEARCH

SELECTEDWORKS
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The trailhead at Branford provides parking and access to the Suwannee River Greenway, a rails-to-trails project that is part of a larger regional, and statewide greenway system.  There are also views there overlooking the river. The client, Suwannee River Water Management District working with the town of Branford, commissioned a planting design that would provide a graceful sense of entry to the trail, better definition of the parking area, and, if possible, selective buffers between the trail and near-by businesses. Watermelon processing warehouses adjoin the site,  for two months every late spring, semi-tractor-trailer trucks that carry watermelons to much of the US east of the Rockies, spill over onto trail lands, though usually not onto the trail itself.  The site is located in the old town depot area, and this coupled with the limestone’s prevalence in the soil substrate, caused much of the existing soil to be compacted and if not bare then sparsely covered.  
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Because of the watermelon trucks, one of the strategies was defensive planting - choosing tough plants and arranging them in a way to discourage the mammoth trucks' intrusion.  Because of the limestone the plants also needed to be able to withstand highly alkaline soil. Another objective was to provide shade for trail users in north Florida's hot season, and yet at the same time allow sunlight and warmth in the cooler season. The design therefore includes deciduous trees.  All the plants used are native to Florida. Because of the limited budget mostly young plants were specified, therefore though the initial effect is less dramatic, there will be a greater impact over time as the design encompasses a larger area.  Plants were installed in Spring, 2000. Since then changes have been made to the original design on site. Most regrettably, replacement plantings have been made with little concern for building a buffer between businesses and trail.  However, much of the basic framework remains and the trail has become a more graceful, comfortable and used place.
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