Articles
Cultural Landscapes, A Definition
The National Park Service defines a cultural landscape as “a geographic area, including both cultural and natural resources and the wildlife or domestic animals therein, associated with a historic event, activity, or person, or exhibiting other cultural or aesthetic...
From Design to Installation: A Sample Client
This busy professional family in Whitefish Bay, WI inherited a jumble of outdoor DIY projects from the previous owners when they bought their 1940s house on a charming, tree-lined street. After ripping out the overgrown plants and non-functional hardscape in front,...
Conceptual Park Design
Check out these conceptual park designs that we created with Stormwater Solutions Engineering for the City of Oconomowoc! The City was looking for firms to provide ideas for a new park, Rockwell Park, located at the dam between Fowler Lake and Lac La Belle. Our...
Bogs and Fens
Helianthus was up in the North Country this winter and we were awed by the diversity of wetlands and their beauty even in the winter months. Bogs are wetlands that occur in depressions in the landscape and have acidic, peaty soils. The bog plant community is...
A Walk in The Park For Mental Health
When warmer weather finally arrives in Southern Wisconsin, most of us have a strong urge to get outside. No matter where you work, one of the best ways to relieve stress is to take a break and go for a walk. The beauty of nature, which is always with us, can inspire...
Community Service Landscape Design at Plymouth Church
Helianthus happily donated our landscape design services as part of a community service project for the Plymouth United Church of Christ in Milwaukee. The remodel of the historic church building included having the walls and ramps rebuilt at the front entrance along...
On The Road with Helianthus: Phoenix, Arizona
James Steiner with Helianthus attended the Meeting of the Minds Summit in Phoenix, AZ in late February.
Ugly Backyard Syndrome (UBS)
Does your yard suffer from Ugly Backyard Syndrome, otherwise known as UBS? The one shown below does. Luckily, this yard can be saved with creative design. We have all had many weeks to look at our yards from inside, but now is the time to have a landscape architect...
GENIUS-What?? Defining Sense of Place
The Latin phrase for “sense of place,” or the meaning of a place is genius loci. We all have places that mean something significant to us.
Student 3D Landscape Models
University of Wisconsin-Madison students created models for their final project in LA 210, which is an introductory design studio for Landscape Architecture majors.