Native Plant Habitat Displays
Date
1989-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
A native plant habitat display is defined as a
cultivated public display of native plants which attempts
to simulate the appearance of a natural plant association.
A national mail survey of gardens displaying native plants
revealed that habitat displays represent a strong future
trend for native plant exhibits in public gardens.
A case study at North Carolina Botanical Garden
(NCBG) examined the objectives and methods of a habitat
display, the response of visitors, and the factors
influencing the display's educational effectiveness. Exit
interviews with visitors illuminated how personal
background and experience influenced appreciation and
learning. Factors strongly influencing visitor response
to the display included visit purpose, expectations of
NCBG, possession of knowledge relating to the plant
habitats depicted, and wayfinding ability.
Other techniques examined the influence of display
elements on visitor response. To assess the role of
visual features, Visitor-employed Photography, a technique
for measuring perceptions of natural environments, was
adapted to the purposes of the study. Visitor subjects
were issued an automatic camera and asked to travel a
defined route through the display, photographing the
features they found most interesting or that "grabbed
their attention." Photographic data was correlated with
observations of visitor behavior in the display, yielding
a map of visitor response. The display features most
strongly influencing visitor response to the display were
inventoried, revealing that elements bearing novelty or
mystery, flower color, and water features all elicited
positive visitor response.
Based upon the NCBG study results, recommendations
are made for the improved design and interpretation of
habitat displays. Recommended interpretation methods
include use of conceptual orientation, story labels and
plant identification. Design methods include the creation
of perceptually exciting nodes and the use of landscape
immersion techniques.
Description
Keywords
Horticulture, Environmental, Garden design, Native plants, Habitat