Past Designs has an array of knowledge on several topics and ideas. Lucinda’s expertise surpasses many other landscape experts. Below is a list of our sample lectures. If you don’t see what you want, contact us, and we can discuss more topics to accomodate you.

I. Landscape History

History of American Landscape and Garden Design

An overview of the changing role of landscape design and plant materials from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century through site-specific examples drawn from the region. Includes both private and public landscape development.

Horticultural Travellers

The introduction of plant materials through botanical exploration, trade, settlement practices, and the nursery industry. Focuses particularly on the introduction of foreign plant materials to North America.

The American Garden Tradition

A look at the American garden and its transformation from a utilitarian production space to a pleasure garden. Traces the design and development, particularly of the vernacular garden and its design through four centuries.

Colonial American Landscapes and Gardens of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century

A look at the development of the earliest American landscapes and gardens. Includes site-specific examples of the earliest garden and landscape designs as evidence through documentary and archaeological investigation. Includes both the design, siting and contents of these early landscapes.

Gardens and Landscapes of the New Republic

A look at the development of an American landscape design form from the mid eighteenth through the mid nineteenth century. Explores the social stratification of residential landscape design, the transformation from utilitarian to pleasure gardening, the introduction of the English landscape school and its principles, and the introduction of public pleasure grounds and rural cemeteries. Both the landscape design and its plant materials are discussed.

The Public Park Movement of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century

A look at the American public park movement from rural cemeteries and country parks to the playground movement of the twentieth century. Includes discussion of the major American park planners and landscape architects of the period. Also includes discussion of European precedents for 19^th century public landscape design.

Victorian Gardens

An investigation of the design and contents of the residential garden and landscape in the nineteenth century. Includes numerous period photographs and plans. Includes the influence of the Industrial Revolution on gardening tools, furnishings, and seed/nursery catalogues.

Gardens of the Colonial Revival

A look at the romantic landscapes and gardens developed between 1880 and 1940. Includes discussion of the influence on “colonial” gardens, grandmother’s cutting gardens, specialty garden trends (rock gardens, alpine gardens, perennial gardens, Japanese gardens, etc.). Includes information on the popular plants, garden furnishings, fences, and garden structures of the period.

Women in Landscape Design and Gardening

Explores the changing role of women and the land, including their lure from the parlor to the dooryard garden in the nineteenth century, the proper influence of gardening on rearing children in the Victorian literature, and the development of landscape architecture and garden design as an early career choice for women.

360 Degree Thinking

Garden beds, back yards, fields, parks, cemeteries, subdivisions, town plans: though the resources are diverse, they possess one thing in common: they are dynamic ecosystems that balance the influences, and the impacts, of man and nature. The landscapes fluctuate between the wild and the cultivated; as the garden moves into the woods, the woods move into the garden. What does this mean for today’s landscape enthusiast? How can we think about the future by understanding where we have been? Does the past hold any meaning for us today?

The Machine in the Garden

The 19^th century was a period of dramatic change – socially, culturally, and economically. In New England, the agrarian landscape ideal was being transitioned into an industrial phenomenon. This lecture traces not only this change, but its perceptions on the American landscape as industry changed from mill to factory to industrial complex.

Home and Family: Harriet Beecher Stowe at Home

The Civil War produced more widows than any other war in our history. As women moved from being the center of hearth and home to the primary caregiver, decision maker and property steward, Harriet Beecher Stowe offered practical, everyday advice for woman through her numerous books and articles in magazines and newspapers of the day. This article portrays Harriet Beecher Stowe at home, and through her writings, and provides a better understanding of Victorian home life and gardening.

II. Landscape and Garden Preservation and Stewardship

Historic Landscape Stewardship

Planning for the future of historic landscapes, including examples of management techniques, good planning programs, funding, and understanding and interpreting the remains of a period landscape. Explores issues regarding the public use of private spaces, handicapped accessibility, and the philosophical “grey areas” inherent in every period landscape management policy and program. Includes examples of both private and public landscapes, small and large scale, and includes both designed and cultural (vernacular) landscapes.

History in Your Own Back Yard

This lecture investigates how to assess what remains of what was, how to research the landscape history of a site, how to renovate overgrown plant materials, understanding “ghost garden” and landscape features, and how to develop plans to renovate, restore or preserve a period landscape.

Case Studies

This lecture walks through specific case studies in landscape preservation, their unique qualities, characteristics, preservation problems, and management solutions. Case studies can be selected for size, historic period(s), designers, regions, etc. to fit the needs of the group.

Money and Management of Historic Landscapes

This lecture explores the tools and techniques for managing and funding landscape preservation projects. Explores possible sources of funding, creative, successful funding programs which have worked for other sites, management partnerships, staffing and volunteerism.

Landscape Interpretation and Education

This lecture explores the process of identifying interpretive themes, methods of interpreting historic landscapes, issues of signs and plant labels, types of specialized tours and methods of allowing the public interact with a site by themselves. Included is a discussion of developing successful educational programs, their realistic monetary returns, their purposes, and developing “programming partners” for innovative educational programming.

III. Contemporary Garden and Landscape Issues

Gardens of the Coast of Maine

Illustrates the talent, challenge and diversity of gardening on the coast of Maine. Examples are taken from several study tours which I lead up the coast of Maine from South Berwick to Bar Harbor. Public and private gardens and landscapes are included. The lecture discusses the methods for taming the irratic climate, providing color year round in the landscape, and the individual talents and styles of Maine gardeners.

Inspired by History

This lecture illustrates residential landscape design projects which were inspired by, but not dominated by period design styles and plant materials. Included are examples of developing a landscape which is compatible with the period of a house, but which accommodates contemporary landscape needs, plant materials, time and budget constraints.

Perennial Garden Design

This lecture takes a step by step walk through the process of good perennial garden design. It includes discussion of the various types of perennial gardens such as rock gardens, borders, beds, and specialty gardens such as wildflower gardens, species gardens, collectors gardens, etc. Discussion will include good design development, managing seasonal interest, and appropriate plants for the site conditions.

Putting the Garden to Bed

This lecture looks at the process of good garden management, including the tools and techniques for preparing the garden for winter, bulb selection and planting, seasonal maintenance, etc. In addition, the lecture looks at the fall and winter garden, and how to increase the garden interest for these two wonderful seasons of the year.

Residential Landscape Design

This lecture illustrates, through a series of case studies, the process of designing, installing, and maintaining a successful residential landscape design. Understanding the site, designing walks and driveways, providing for public and private spaces, accommodating play yards, entertainment areas, trash cans, cars, and other site necessities, and designing for seasonal interests are included. Included is a discussion of phasing landscape installation, budgeting, and design tips for even those who can’t read a plan.

This is just a sample of our topics. If you had something else in mind, please contact us and we would be happy to accomodate you.

Victoria Magazine article
In 2000, Lucinda was chosen to be one of Victoria Magazine’s Entrepreneurs of the year. This article focuses on Past Designs’ history and style.

Parks and other public spaces are always positive additions to communities. Proper design development and plant selection can serve to ease maintenance demands and celebrate the inherent beauty of the park’s site.

Featured here are a few projects we have recently completed. In each case, we combined the owner’s preferences for color, textures, seasonal enjoyment and thematic design inspiration to create a landscape that reflects the individual personalities of the owners and the natural beauty of each site.