Thomas Bradley Muse is an ecological landscape designer and long time Hamptons resident. In his unique series, Gareden Ecology, he shares his knowledge of the environment and talks with others who are working to preserve the wild places that remain on the East End. From bio-dynamic farming in Water Mill to a new and beautiful way to manage rain water around your home in Bridgehampton, Muse explores alternative building, landscaping and land use techniques that have minimal or even restorative impacts on the natural world.
“As we change the environment so changes its influence on us” –Thomas Bradley Muse
Episodes of Garden Ecology:
Common Reed: Phragmites australis
The Common Reed . . . VERY common. Ecologists and natural resource managers are quite concerned about the spread of this of this water loving invasive plant. We chose some east end locations where the plant is well established to illustrate what makes it tick and what it tells us about the surrounding environment.
Japanese Knotweed: Polygonum cuspidatum aka Fallopia japonica
This highly invasive plant is a herbaceous perennial which was once
endemic to Japan and Southeast Asia. British botanists first brought the plant to England as an ornamental plant in or around the year 1825. Japanese Knotweed began showing up in North America in the early 1900’s, and can now be found in 37 states! This plant is a powerful example of how an irresponsible international plant market can have a huge impact on our local ecology.
Japanese Tea Garden
Take a tour of Thomas
Matthews' property, which includes a traditional Japanese tea house.
Muse explains how the property holds significant environmental
importance to Long Island and how Matthews' development does not damage this sensitive ecosystem.
Spotted Turtles
Muse joins Mike Bottini and a student from Stony Brook's Southampton Marine Station for a close look at spotted turtles, an endangered species in the Hamptons. They discuss
these turtles' habitats and the impact local gardening can have on them.
For more information checkout Thomas' website, Garden Ecology.
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