2026 Award Winner - SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
coastal wet meadow
Cumberland Foreside, Maine • Completed September 2025
Project Team:
Larkspur Design
James McCain, Lead Designer
Seana Cullinan, Owner
Julie McLeod, Designer
Eva Hogue, Designer
TMR Property Services, Todd Robbins, Owner/Installer
Project Description:
Transformation of 5,000+ square feet of waterlogged lawn to a biodiverse wet meadow on the shore of Casco Bay. The planting includes over thirty species of native plants well-suited to silt-clay soils that collectively manage stormwater; provide habitat for native lepidoptera and bees; and require no additional inputs of fertilizer or mulch. A meandering raised boardwalk connects a seating area, pool, sauna, and the clients’ home. A hedgerow of native shrubs along the back edge of the meadow provides bird habitat and privacy. Spreading groundcovers fill gaps between larger plants, creating an interwoven tapestry of living mulch. These densely planted groundcovers eliminate the need for annual application of bark mulch.
Highlights from the Judges:
“The meandering form of the boardwalk conjures a river or other waterway. It draws the residents through a biodiverse, seasonally changing landscape on their way to a functional piece of their home. Excellently integrated.”
“An excellent example of how taking the right plant for the right place’ approach to designing results in a massive increase in biodiversity.”