In-person Fall Celebration

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More about Darrel Morrison

Distinguished professor, author, and landscape architect Darrel Morrison has been selected to receive the 2021 Scott Garden and Horticulture Award of $15,000 to be presented by the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College on October 10 in Swarthmore, PA. “Through a lifetime of teaching, publishing, advocacy, conservation, and design practice, Darrel Morrison has made a powerful and lasting impact on public and private landscapes across America and on the science and art of American gardening generally,” noted Executive Director of Library of American Landscape History Robin Karson, who forwarded his nomination.

“As a landscape architect and garden designer, Darrel has created, installed, promoted, and supported native plant gardens and landscapes that teach and inspire. His enduring projects across the U.S. represent each area’s native vegetation, natural heritage, and beauty. … He welcomes every opportunity to share his extensive knowledge – delivering a conference keynote address, leading field trips with former students who have become current colleagues, lecturing in university classes, and leading experiential programs at a retreat center,” explained Senior Outreach Specialist Susan Carpenter and Director Karen Oberhauser of University of Wisconsin Arboretum.

“Darrel is one of the most revered educators in landscape architecture today, having inspired and touched the lives of what must be well over a thousand students during his teaching at the University of Wisconsin (where he also served as chair of landscape architecture program) and at the University of Georgia (where he served as the Dean), as well as shorter periods of teaching at Columbia, Rutgers, University of Michigan, Conway School of Landscape Design, and the New York Botanical Garden. In addition, he is one of the co-founders of Landscape Journal, one of the key academic publications today in landscape architecture, and has been a frequent contributor to Landscape Architecture magazine.”

“He is known as a passionate advocate for gardens and landscapes that celebrate the native landscape and preserve a true sense of place. His work clearly bridges landscape design and ecological restoration and ranges in scale from small sidewalk gardens in New York City to large residential properties in Montana and includes various botanical gardens such as the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center” explained Robert Grese, Professor Emeritus, of School of Environment and Sustainability.

President of the Garden Club of America Marian Hill commented: “Today he is one of the enduring champions of ecological restoration and sustainable design.”

Gary Hilderbrand, principal landscape architect of Reed Hilderbrand, noted “To my knowledge, Darrel was one of the first to pursue this kind of planting, half a century ago, and he offered it to the world, through his teaching and practice, when we were not even prepared to understand it. Now, we all own it, and the world is better for it. Thanks to Darrel Morrison.”

Darrel’s insights, and knowledge championing native landscapes has been documented in Beauty of the Wild: A Life Designing Landscapes Inspired by Nature published on June 7, 2021 by the Library of American Landscape History.

Darrel was elected Fellow in 1982 by the American Society of Landscape Architects, an honor in recognition of exceptional accomplishments over a sustained period of time. Other awards include the American Horticultural Society’s National Design Award (2006) and National Teaching Award (1998); the Chicago Horticultural Society’s Hutchinson Medal for Lifetime Achievements in Horticulture and Design Award (1998); and Bracken Medal awarded by Pennsylvania State University (1996).