John Magee Landscape Design

04/30/2026

03/19/2026

Hi everyone! Happy spring! If you're in Northern VA this weekend and are looking for some great gardening advice, John, along with Thomas Rainer, Shannon Currey and Kathy Jentz will be the speakers at this year's "Loudoun County Master Gardener's Symposium." Tickets (might be) available at the link below. Hope to see you there!

03/04/2026

Every summer, National Pollinator Week—led by Pollinator Partnership—draws attention to the insects that quietly sustain global food systems and natural ecosystems. Bees typically dominate the conversation. But for 2026, organizers selected an unexpected ambassador: the Swallowtail butterfly.

Swallowtails (family Papilionidae) are among the most recognizable butterflies in North America—large wingspans, elegant “tails,” and bold yellow, blue, or black patterning. Species such as the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) are not only charismatic; they are effective pollinators. As adults, they forage widely, transferring pollen between native perennials, shrubs, and canopy trees.

Why highlight a butterfly? Because pollination is not a single-species service. It is a networked ecological function. While bees are highly specialized pollen collectors, butterflies contribute through long-distance nectar foraging, supporting plant gene flow across broader landscapes. Their presence signals habitat continuity—diverse native plantings, layered structure, and reduced pesticide pressure.

For landscape architects and homeowners, the message is clear: design for the full pollinator guild. Swallowtails require more than nectar sources. Their larvae depend on specific host plants—parsley family members like dill, fennel, and native golden alexanders for Black Swallowtails, tulip poplar and wild cherry for Eastern Tigers. Without host plants, there is no next generation.

At Magee Design, we approach pollinator habitat as infrastructure. Native plant palettes, staggered bloom times, and ecological layering create resilient systems that support insects across life stages. When butterflies move through a site, they are evidence of functional habitat—not ornamental planting alone.

This Pollinator Week, the Swallowtail reminds us that beauty and ecological performance are not mutually exclusive. They are interdependent. And thoughtful design can ensure both thrive.

03/03/2026

At Magee Design, we are often asked what's our “favorite” project. The answer usually depends on the season, the light, or the client relationship. But one landscape consistently rises to the top: the Monster Fur Garden.

Set within the layered canopy of an eastern deciduous forest, this project began with a striking contrast—a rigorously modern dwelling inserted into a matrix of oak, hickory, and tulip poplar. The architecture was minimalist and angular. The surrounding woodland was anything but. Our task was not to soften the house, nor to mimic the forest. It was to choreograph a dialogue between them.

The planting design is composed mostly of native species, selected for ecological performance as much as aesthetic clarity. Sweeps of native sedges create movement against the home’s crisp lines. Structural shrubs establish rhythm and enclosure. A layered understory of perennials provides seasonal succession—ephemeral spring bloom, summer texture, autumn seed heads, and winter architecture.

Rather than imposing conventional lawn, we allowed the forest edge to inform the geometry. Circulation paths emerge organically, framed by plantings that feel both intentional and grounded in place. The result is a landscape that reads modern without feeling imposed—precise but not sterile.

From an ecological standpoint, the site functions as habitat. Pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects move freely between designed garden and woodland matrix.

What makes the Monster Fur Garden exceptional is not simply its aesthetic tension between modernism and forest. It is the restraint. The confidence to let native plants carry the composition. The discipline to allow seasonal change to be part of the design language. The willingness to design for ecological integrity as a primary objective, not an afterthought.

This project embodies what Magee Design strives for: landscapes that are architecturally coherent, regionally grounded, and ecologically responsible. In the Monster Fur Garden, modern design and native ecology are not opposing forces. They are, quite literally, rooted together.

03/02/2026

Last week marked National Invasive Species Awareness Week, a time dedicated to educating homeowners, designers, and municipalities about the ecological and economic damage caused by non-native invasive species.

This week at Magee Design, we’re naming it something a little less formal:
“Recovering from Pictures of Ugly Plants Week.”

If you followed last week’s posts, you likely saw images of plants at their worst—spreading far beyond their intended footprint.

They aren’t ugly in the nursery pot. That’s the problem.

In a catalog photo, invasive ornamentals are often tidy, photogenic, and well-behaved. In the landscape, especially beyond property lines, they become structurally dominant, biodiversity-reducing, and extremely difficult to manage. The “after” photos are rarely glamorous. They show ecological imbalance: simplified habitats, reduced pollinator support, altered soil chemistry, and compromised woodland regeneration.

Why share those images at all?

Because design carries responsibility.

As landscape professionals, we can’t evaluate plants based solely on aesthetics, seasonal interest, or market availability. A plant’s ecological performance—its reproductive strategy, dispersal mechanism, and competitive behavior—must factor into specification decisions. Many invasive species remain legally available despite documented environmental harm. Availability does not equal appropriateness.

The good news? The alternatives are far more compelling than the invasives they replace.

Native grasses offer structure without damage. Indigenous shrubs provide pollinator resources without ecological displacement. Regional perennials deliver four-season interest while reinforcing local food webs. Beauty and ecological integrity are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they reinforce one another when plant communities are designed intentionally.

So yes, we’re recovering from last week’s “ugly plant” images. But we’re also reaffirming why we shared them.

Design is about more than what looks good today. It’s about what sustains a place over time.

If you’re evaluating your landscape this spring, ask not just “Is it attractive?” but “Is it appropriate?”

02/28/2026

As we wrap up “National Invasive Species Awareness Week,” I figured I’d let someone else take the helm for the day—because, frankly, who better to warn us about non-native invasive species than Steve Bender (aka The Grumpy Gardener)? After all, Steve and I have a long-standing tradition of poking fun at each other, and today was no exception. While digging deep into my research for the “worst plant on the planet” (and trust me, the list was long), I stumbled across Steve’s article for Southern Living. His warning? Well, let’s just say it was delivered with his usual flair for drama—almost as if he was auditioning for a post-apocalyptic gardening role.

Finally, something neither of us can defend: the Chameleon plant. If you’re feeling adventurous (and by adventurous, I mean reckless), go ahead—plant it anywhere and watch as its wicked tendrils and roots take over like it’s competing for world domination. Once they hit the ground, good luck getting rid of them.

Even Steve, with all his gardening bravado, practically called for nuclear warfare—and honestly, I’m not sure he’s joking. So please, resist the urge to plant this menace. Don’t profit from selling it. Banish it from your inventory. Seriously, if you value your sanity—and your garden’s dignity—come with me if you want to live!

By the way, Steve’s endorsement of Bugleweed or Brunnera (which are also non-native) as replacements? Let’s just say, I respectfully disagree—and by respectfully, I mean with a solid eye roll. That being said, they aren’t nearly as bad as the Chameleon plant, (for now).

For those looking for safer, native alternatives, try Lady Fern (Athryium felix-femina), Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), or if you can’t resist the charms of those Brunnera flowers, toss in some responsibly grown Bluebells for good measure.

Please, garden responsibly.

And thanks, Steve! The check’s in the mail—or maybe it’s lost somewhere in a bed of Chameleon plants.

Avoid planting chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata) at all costs. Here's what to know about this ground cover, how to remove it, and what to plant instead.

02/27/2026

During National Invasive Species Awareness Week, it’s worth spotlighting one of the most destructive landscape plants ever introduced to North America: Japanese Knotweed.

Originally brought from Asia in the 19th century as an ornamental and erosion-control plant, Japanese Knotweed is now widely recognized as a highly aggressive invasive species. Its bamboo-like stems and heart-shaped leaves may appear architectural and bold, but beneath the surface lies an ecological and structural threat.

Japanese Knotweed spreads primarily through rhizomes—underground stems capable of extending 20 feet laterally and penetrating several feet deep. Even small root fragments can generate new colonies. Once established, it forms dense monocultures that outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and degrade wildlife habitat. Along streambanks, its shallow winter dieback leaves soil exposed, increasing erosion and sedimentation.

Beyond ecological damage, Knotweed can compromise infrastructure. Its vigorous rhizomes are known to exploit cracks in foundations, retaining walls, and pavement. Removal is complex, often requiring multi-year chemical treatment or excavation, and improper disturbance can worsen the infestation.
As landscape professionals, we have a responsibility to specify plants that contribute to resilient, regionally appropriate ecosystems. For clients seeking bold texture or screening, there are exceptional native alternatives that provide beauty without ecological cost.

Consider instead:
• Virginia Sweetspire – A suckering shrub ideal for erosion control with fragrant spring flowers and outstanding fall color.

• Ninebark – A durable native shrub offering texture, structure, and pollinator support.

At Magee Design, we believe beautiful landscapes should also be responsible landscapes. Choosing native plants helps restore ecological function, protect infrastructure, and support the biodiversity that defines our region.

If you suspect Japanese Knotweed on your property, early intervention is critical. The longer it remains, the more costly and environmentally damaging it becomes.

02/26/2026

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is an opportunity to look critically at what we plant — and why. One shrub that deserves serious reconsideration is Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii).

Originally introduced from Asia as an ornamental, barberry was prized for its red foliage, compact form, and deer resistance. Today, it is recognized across much of the eastern United States as a highly invasive species.

Barberry spreads aggressively by seed. Birds consume its bright red berries and disperse them widely into forests, meadows, and unmanaged landscapes. Once established, dense thickets form quickly, shading out native understory plants and reducing biodiversity. In woodlands, this alters soil chemistry, disrupts natural regeneration, and suppresses spring ephemerals that pollinators rely on.
In Virginia and many neighboring states, Japanese barberry is documented as invasive and is restricted or banned in some regions. Despite this, cultivars remain widely available in the horticulture trade — often marketed as “sterile” or “non-invasive,” claims that have proven unreliable over time.

There is also a public health dimension. Research has shown that barberry thickets create ideal microclimates for ticks by increasing humidity at ground level. Higher tick densities have been correlated with barberry-infested sites, raising concerns about Lyme disease risk in residential and park settings.

At Magee Design, we believe landscape aesthetics must align with ecological responsibility. Beauty should not come at the expense of long-term environmental harm. There are numerous native alternatives that provide comparable color and structure without ecological cost — including ninebark, winterberry holly, and native viburnums.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is not just about awareness; it is about action. As designers, contractors, and homeowners, we have agency in shaping healthier landscapes. Choosing not to plant Japanese barberry is a simple but meaningful step toward protecting our regional ecosystems.

Thoughtful planting decisions today determine the resilience of our landscapes tomorrow.

02/25/2026

Continuing our discussion of National Invasives Species Awareness week:

At Magee Design, we believe beauty and ecological function should be aligned.

Few plants test that principle more than the crepe myrtle. Native to Asia, crepe myrtles (primarily Lagerstroemia indica) have become a defining feature of Southern streetscapes. Their long summer bloom, exfoliating bark, and vivid fall color make them visually compelling, and municipalities value them for durability and extended seasonal interest.

However, visual performance is not the same as ecological benefit. As non-natives, crepe myrtles contribute little to local food webs. Native insects did not co-evolve with them, so they support far fewer specialist pollinators and caterpillars than indigenous trees—leading to less food for songbirds during breeding season. In ecological terms, crepe myrtles are largely decorative infrastructure.

In the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, crepe myrtles frequently escape cultivation. Seedlings sprout in unmanaged areas and disturbed sites. While not the most aggressive invader, their persistence and self-sowing can displace native shrubs and trees, especially in stressed urban and suburban environments. Monoculture plantings of crepe myrtles also make landscapes more vulnerable to pests like crape myrtle bark scale and reduce urban canopy diversity. When one genus dominates, overall resilience declines.

Native small trees such as Amelanchier canadensis, Cercis canadensis, or Chionanthus virginicus offer an alternative. These species provide nectar, pollen, fruit, and host value for dozens—sometimes hundreds—of native insects, while still delivering ornamental appeal.

A landscape can be both beautiful and biologically productive. Prioritizing native plant communities over imported ornamentals supports pollinators, birds, soil health, and long-term resilience. Crepe myrtles may offer color, but our regional ecosystems need true contribution.

At Magee Design, we advocate for landscapes that function as habitat—not just decoration.

02/24/2026

In the ornamental grass palette, few plants have been marketed as successfully as Miscanthus sinensis. Its arching form, silver plumes, and four-season structure make it a designer favorite. But as landscape professionals, we have a responsibility to weigh aesthetics against ecological performance. In the case of Miscanthus, that balance deserves closer scrutiny.

Originally introduced from Asia, Miscanthus sinensis has demonstrated invasive tendencies across much of the eastern United States. It spreads by seed and rhizome, establishing dense colonies that displace native vegetation.

In states like Virginia, natural resource agencies have documented its escape from cultivation into unmanaged landscapes. Once established, mature clumps are difficult to eradicate. Prolific seed production — particularly in older cultivars — allows it to move beyond garden boundaries.

Despite this ecological risk, Miscanthus remains widely available in the horticulture trade. While some cultivars are marketed as “sterile” or low-seeding, sterility is not always absolute. Cross-pollination between cultivars can restore fertility, increasing the potential for spread.

The continued sale of Miscanthus highlights a broader issue within the green industry: the lag between ecological research and retail practice. A plant can remain commercially successful long after its environmental liabilities are understood.

At Magee Design, we advocate for regionally appropriate, ecologically functional landscapes. Native warm-season grasses such as Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, provide comparable texture and seasonal interest without the same invasive risk. These species support pollinators, birds, and local food webs — delivering beauty and biodiversity together.

Thoughtful plant selection is one of the most powerful tools we have as designers. By choosing species that strengthen rather than compromise local ecosystems, we create landscapes that are not only visually compelling, but environmentally responsible.