Native plants create a living landscape. At Georgia Institute of Technology there is a living landscape that surrounds a living building. The Kendeda Building is run by solar panels, filtrates rain water harvested from the roof, and has a ceiling made from reclaimed lumber. These features and many other strict sustainable practices make it an award-winning living building. Encircling the Kendeda Building is a garden consisting of only native plants. Among them are sedges (Carex pensylvanica and Carex cherokeensis), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), various goldenrods (Solidago), pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia), and more. In the bog garden are cattails (Typha latifolia) and pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). On the rooftop, native grasses and blueberries are growing. Every plant has a place and purpose. Honey bees help complete the sustainable environment. Thanks to Shan Arora, director of the building, and Steve Place, horticulturalist for the Kendeda plantings, who contacted GNPS. Congratulations on earning the Gold Level of Native Plant Habitat Certification! The building and grounds are models of what the world needs to regenerate our fragile ecosystem.
