Category: Plant and Soil Sciences
Meet our new faculty: James (JD) Zimmerman
September 27, 2024 Written by Molly Schafer | Photos by Jeremy Wayman
Landscape horticulture is a beautiful blend of art and science. Landscape horticulturalists merge the design aspects of landscape architecture with plant science to create, manage and conserve landscapes.
For James (JD) Zimmerman, interest in plant science came first. The new faculty member of the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) grew up in the outdoors.
“I grew up a Boy Scout and a hunter; my family always camped,” said Zimmerman, assistant professor of landscape horticulture and design. “I spent way too much time outdoors. And very early on with Boy Scouts, I learned about the biodiversity crisis and climate change. I knew I wanted to do something to help the planet.”
Zimmerman found his calling in landscape horticulture. He pursued a bachelor's degree in plant sciences with a concentration in sustainable landscape design and a master’s in landscape architecture. What drew him to UD is the merging of landscape architecture and plant science within the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
“I find it important to learn about soils, plants and ecology and how to apply those to landscape architecture,” Zimmerman elaborated. “Plants need to be understood in their relationship to the landscape, not thought of as simply decoration.”
Zimmerman is a proponent of experiential learning. He engages students in hands-on learning experiences at UD Botanic Gardens on the main campus in Newark. Regardless of weather conditions, you’re likely to catch Professor Zimmerman outside for the majority of his fall semester Ornamental Landscape Plants (PLSC 211) and spring semester Landscape Plants (PLSC 212).
“We’ll spend class walking the UD Botanic Gardens and the CANR campus,” Zimmerman said. “We will spend time with each plant on our list, learn how to identify it, what benefits it offers and why it is important. Students are tested on their identification knowledge during walking tours.”
During Indigenous Plants of the Eastern U.S. (PLSC 214), Zimmerman takes advantage of Delaware’s distinguished public gardens and wealth of state parks. Students will explore locations like Mt. Cuba Center and White Clay Creek State Park.
Ecological Planting Design (LARC 450) will take students from site analysis through installation.
“I’m excited to teach students how to design with succession and disturbance, while prioritizing plant communities and the ecosystem benefits they provide,” Zimmerman said. “We will study different tactics from famous designers and learn how to source plant materials, how species are installed, and how to sell ideas to clients using graphics and narratives.”
Zimmerman enjoys broadening his students' understanding of the value of plants.
“There's more to plants than just aesthetics or food or fiber,” Zimmerman explained. “Plants provide erosion control, flood-regulating benefits, shade, and urban cooling. While aesthetics are certainly important, there’s more to it than flowers and pretty fall color.”
In addition to his plant science courses, Zimmerman will teach landscape architecture courses, including Studio 6: Senior Design (LARC 456), and Studio 1: Foundations (LARC 233) which are more focused on design practice than horticulture.
“CAD [computer-aided design] software is the standard across many landscape architecture professions and academic programs,” Zimmerman said. “At UD, we also teach Geographic Information System (GIS), Rhino, a 3D modeling software, and Grasshopper, a plugin for Rhino that creates scripts, as well as Adobe software like Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign.”
“Early on, learning to use the software can be frustrating for students,” Zimmerman continued. “But working with them and watching their confidence grow is rewarding.”
Although Zimmerman’s time will primarily be spent teaching, he looks forward to beginning his research.
“I plan to study how plant communities and living systems are benefiting people and communities,” Zimmerman said. “Understanding the ecosystem services that green infrastructure systems like bioswales, rain gardens, green roofs have through their performative values.”
Take pollinator gardens, for example. There is research measuring which plants attract which pollinators, and what plant species are higher performers in that regard. But what about a design tactic are pollinator gardens actually performing an ecosystem benefit for communities? Zimmerman wants to find out.
“For example, we need pollination for food crops, so planting pollinator strips next to agriculture fields can attract more pollinators and increase pollination benefits for food crops,” Zimmerman explained. “But is adding a ten-foot wide plot next to a farm field actually performing the benefit that we say it is, or do we need a much larger area to gain that benefit?”
Zimmerman is quick to note that pollinators and native plantings offer other environmental and social benefits, such as erosion control, reduced flooding, cultural significance, and aesthetic value.
One green infrastructure system Zimmerman will investigate is the application of bioswales. Bioswales are shallow, vegetated swales planted with vegetation and designed to capture, filter, and redirect stormwater.
“How does a bioswale perform in a residential scenario? How might it perform in an agricultural scenario or in a commercial scenario, say on a university campus?” Zimmerman wondered.
Ultimately, Zimmerman plans to disseminate his findings to the profession and the general public through publications and conference presentations.
Zimmerman is grateful to past mentors who shared their passion for green infrastructure with him. He looks forward to sharing his passion for native plants and living systems with students at the University of Delaware.