To those unfamiliar with ecological landscaping, native plant gardens can sometimes appear “messy”. Seed heads, standing stems, and irregular plant groupings—while ecologically valuable—may not always communicate “intentional design” to those passing by.
This lecture explores the concept of cues to care—the design strategies that signal purpose, stewardship, and thoughtfulness in naturalistic gardens. The idea was popularized in the 1990s by landscape architect Joan Nassauer, who studied how people perceive ecological landscapes. We will examine how small interventions, such as defined edges, plant layering, and well-placed focal points, can transform a native garden from appearing “wild” to being read as intentional and artful.