Pollinator & Bird Garden

Phyto Studio served as the planting subconsultant to Didier Design Studio to design the most biodiverse pollinator garden in North America. New landforms such as ridges and valleys, vernal pools and ponds, dark woods and open meadows were created to support species requiring particular cultural requirements. In addition to these natural habitats, the design features visually striking garden spaces such as a meadow disc to display the most ornamental species of pollinator plants, a demonstration orchard, and boardwalk. In addition to design, Phyto’s work included plant procurement support, helping the Arboretum to locate dozens of rare native species seldom found in cultivation. The planting design used over 400 different species with over 130,000 plants. Extraordinary in its complexity, the project’s aim was to host every pollinator of central Pennsylvania. Phyto’s role as planting design lead was to provide strategies that balanced biodiversity with a legible design and compelling interpretive narrative to excite visitors. Already within its first year of planting, the garden is one of the most visited sites in the Arboretum.

Design team: Arboretum at Penn State, Center for Pollinator Research, PSU Orinthology, Didier Design Studio - Landcape Architectural Lead