Fire, Soil, Shade Gardens & Winter Inspirations

Connor Evers
Feb 3
4 min read

Hello there!

We’re excited to share some of what’s been inspiring us this month—from ecological landscape design in South Dakota, to the soils and plant palettes we’re working with in our nursery, to a recent visit to two public parks in New York. Our goal is simple: to help landscapes thrive by working with the land, not against it, and to share ideas you can take home for your own garden.

We hope you enjoy this month’s insights, and that it sparks some inspiration for your own spaces!

Colin & Connor Evers

Norm’s Greenhouse & Nursery Team

Reflecting on Ecological Landscape

Design in South Dakota

Landscapes in South Dakota are shaped by heat, wind, cold, soil, water—and sometimes, fire. Designing spaces that last here requires understanding how these forces have historically interacted and how changes may have altered the land.

That perspective was reinforced for Connor recently while traveling for the New Directions in the American Landscape conference, a gathering focused on the intersection of horticulture, ecology, planting design, and landscape stewardship. Many speakers emphasized that healthy landscapes are far from static- they are shaped by active management practices developed over generations.

A focus of speakers Margo Robbins and Dr. Kat Anderson was the role of cultural and ecological burning, long practiced by Native American communities as a tool for land care. Fire was used intentionally to manage fuel loads, maintain open prairie and woodland systems, encourage plant diversity, and support the growth of useful species for food, medicine, and materials such as basketry. These practices reflected a deep, place-based understanding of how landscapes function over time.

As fire was removed from many ecosystems in the last 100 years, there were consequences—overcrowded forests, increased invasive species, disrupted plant communities, and higher wildfire risk. Today, land managers and ecologists are recognizing that reintroducing fire, or at least designing with its historical influence in mind, is essential to creating resilient landscape systems.

Ecological garden design draws from these same principles. It begins with careful observation of soil, drainage, exposure, and existing vegetation, then builds planting systems suited to our prairie conditions. In the Brookings, Sioux Falls, and greater Great Plains region, this means selecting plants for longevity and function, managing water naturally, stabilizing soils, and allowing landscapes to evolve rather than forcing constant intervention.

Our work blends ecology, horticulture, and land management to create landscapes that are practical, resilient, and rooted in people and place. The goal isn’t to recreate the past, but to learn from it—applying ecological understanding to modern landscapes that must perform well in a changing climate.

A Shade Garden Palette

Shade gardens are often overlooked in our landscapes, but they offer opportunities for layered, resilient plantings. Here’s a palette of plants suited for low-light conditions, with texture, color, and seasonal interest.

Grouping plants by light, moisture, and function ensures long-term success and creates visually cohesive shade gardens.

The planting design concept shows an overstory tree, with layers of sedges (Carex) and groundcovers like prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), and lenten rose (Helleborus sp.) to create function, texture, and reduce weed pressures. As the planting space moves away from the base of the overstory tree, structural perennials like turtlehead (Chelone glabra), anemone (Anemone ‘Curtain Call Deep Rose’), meadow rue (Thalictrum), and short’s aster (Aster shortii) create seasonal interest, height, and texture.

Custom Soil Mixing: The Foundation

Healthy landscapes start below ground. At our nursery, we carefully mix soils for potting trees, shrubs, and perennials to balance structure, drainage, and microbial activity. Soil structure is key—porosity, texture, and organic matter all determine how water moves, how roots grow, and how plants access nutrients.

Our hands-on process blends a custom ratio of composted organic matter, sandy loam, peat moss, and perlite to create soil that is well-drained, rich in organic matter, and ready to support a diverse planting palette. Whether for container-grown plants or site installations, the soil conditions of a landscape can make the difference between thriving plants and constant maintenance.

Public Park Meandering

During a recent trip to New York, Connor explored the High Line and Little Island Park, and was inspired by how thoughtfully-designed urban landscapes can reflect ecological thinking and sustainable landscapes. Both sites balance structural design with planting ecology, layering plants intentionally to maximize seasonal interest, wildlife habitat, and resilience.

Key takeaways for our local gardens:

Layer shade-tolerant perennials and grasses under tree canopies for texture and interest.
Combine plant textures, colors, and seasonal cycles for year-round interest and engagement.
Even small or urban spaces can model ecological design principles—respecting site conditions and plant behaviors in a site pay off.

From soils, plant palettes, observing native plant communities, and understanding the role of fire in shaping landscapes, gardens in the Great Plains thrive when we work with the land rather than against it.

Whether planning a new landscape, managing what you have, or designing a renovation to your garden, ecological thinking and careful plant selection creates gardens that grow stronger over time. For those interested in seeing these principles in action or learning more, our nursery and design services are here to help.