THE TREE STRATUM IN OUR GARDENING
The arboreal stratum plays a crucial role in gardening and landscape architecture, as it is part of the basic composite structure, fundamentally composed of three levels that define the design of outdoor spaces. In this structure, the ground cover stratum, which constitutes the lowest level, serves as ground cover and hides the view of the lignified part of the next level. The shrub stratum acts as the visually most striking element as it is at eye level for people. Finally, the arboreal stratum rises majestically as the uppermost layer or level.
Today, we would like to emphasize the importance of this latter stratum, as it entails a series of significant factors that make it crucial in landscape design. Perhaps, it is the stratum that is least known and underestimated when designing a garden, but it can offer the most due to the multitude of positive factors it provides.
Many times, tree species are not only chosen for their visual beauty but also for their cultural and symbolic value in areas where urban and/or landscape projects are undertaken. There are species that, due to the functionality and economic value offered by their wood or fruit, sustain thousands of rural families. Other species, due to their size and stature, provide shelter to various species of fauna, insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals that make their structure their home. In addition, there are other species that, simply due to their age and longevity, deserve a respect that sometimes escapes the understanding of humans with their brief life span in comparison. We cannot overlook the coolness provided by the shade of a tree, the reduction in temperature in urban areas with mature specimens, and its influence on rainfall, a topic that deserves a separate article.
In the tropical regions where Green Garden Corp. primarily operates, there is a great diversity of species worth knowing, studying, analyzing, and understanding. A notable example is the Bursera simaruba, also known as chaká or papelillo, the Ficus aurea or fig tree (see photo below), the Orbignya guacuyule or guayacol palm, the Acacia cornigera or bullhorn acacia, among many others. From the landscape design perspective of Green Garden Corp., we delve into the knowledge of these species and each of these factors, treating them not only for their visual value but also for their symbolic, cultural, and functional value for the local community. We commit to continue studying them to contribute these values, which we understand as fundamental, to our designs.
Ejemplar de Ficus aurea en el sendero de la abuela (One&Only Mandarina)
We recognize that trees are not merely ornamental elements but protectors of the identity and well-being of a space, providing utility, functionality, shade, coolness, and a sense of belonging to those who benefit from their presence.