5 Planting Projects

Five planting projects in Posey County, Indiana featuring visionary ideas from clients, trees and shrubs from our nursery, and landscaping work completed by our team.

All photos by Luke French LUKEAFRENCH.COM
Text by Ann Ferguson

Field Transformation (2022)

This five-acre, former farm field in Posey County, Indiana is now a native habitat sanctuary and natural work of art filled with a prairie designed by Ancient Roots Native Nursery, two tree circles, colorful redbuds, drupe-laden nannyberries, and trees for bees and autumn color.

The lime green leaves of American sycamore trees shine against the distant woodline. This sycamore circle is surrounded by native wildflowers and grasses.

Redbud trees & nannyberry shrubs (pruned into tree form) line one edge of the field.

A double circle of many different oak species is the spiritual heart of the field, enhancing the view beyond. The trees are protected with cages and staked as needed.

Deer protection is vital in the trees’ early years of growth.

The Garden Kaleidoscope (2022)

Welcome to the Garden Kaleidoscope, an interactive sculpture created by R.C. Anderson and presented by Mary Beth and Michael Guard who fill its basin with flowers and interesting colors year round. The entire space is ringed with zany, all-embracing red osier dogwood shrubs. These shrubs shine in winter with bright red stems, bringing color to a whimsical sidewalk stop.

The glass sign and embellishments were created by the Guards in the Capers Glassporium.

Red osier dogwoods are in full sun around the sculpture, growing 5 to 7 feet tall. They produce white berries which birds use as fuel for their autumn migration.

Zap Park

A lush buffer designed by Connie Weinzapfel on busy Church Street in New Harmony, Indiana features a standing stone encircled by lacy Nanking cherry shrubs. The rest of the space is loaded with evergreen trees, winter-flowering and scented witchhazel shrubs, colorful redbuds and dogwoods, blue-tinted Juniperus spp, Norway spruces, and more.

Mixing Juniperus spp, Norway Spruce, and Green Giant Arborvitae trees give a green hedge different textures and hues.

A hedge of vernal witchhazel shrubs with midsummer seedpods. These bloom in the depths of winter with clouds of fragrance.

Granary Street Trees (2024)

In Spring 2024, the Town of New Harmony planted 32 street trees to maintain its verdant tree canopy for the century ahead. Eight black gum trees planted on Granary Street (an area which once featured a popular Bradford pear tree canopy tunnel) provide street hardiness, bird habitat, and photogenic autumn color.

These trees were sourced from Jim Hipp Nursery then planted by New Harmony Native Trees & Shrubs.

Sculpture Oasis (2023)

A blank canvas of grass in New Harmony, Indiana is transformed by the vision of sisters Nancy Lodwig and Barbara Edmondson-Northern. Native trees and shrubs surround a sculpture centerpiece created by Anthony Slichenmeyer. His Dancing Ladies sculptures move in step with the oaks and dogwoods throughout the space.