At first glance, wildscaping with native plants may seem utterly unrelated to the philosophical principles of Stoicism. Yet, from personal experience, Stoic practices have been a helpful guide for creating a resilient, naturalistic landscape.
What is Wildscaping?
Wildscaping is a term with many different interpretations. Before we delve further, we need some clarity on the definition. The blog “The New Perennialist”, describes wildscaping as: “…an intermingling of wildness and landscaping to make gardens with a sense of purpose. A dynamic process not a static state driven by imagination, ecology, design and horticulture, all woven into one.”
Here is my attempt at defining, which expands further on the approach: “Wildscaping entails utilizing locally native plants to create landscapes that echo natural ecosystems. With nature as the guide, the design is informal, embracing natural forms rather than formal shapes. The goal is a naturalistic, living landscape that appears organic, not man-made.”
In reality, factors like HOAs, privacy, kids, pets, and space constraints may require your wildscape to blend wild and managed elements. Additionally, wildscaping does not preclude the need to regularly maintain your landscape.
What is Stoicism?
Stoicism is an often misunderstood philosophy that dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. A widely held fallacy is that Stoics seek to suppress emotions. In reality, the philosophy focuses broadly on helping us to recognize and accept what we can and cannot control. This approach can be summarized by a quote from Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, “Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.”
Stoic Wisdom: 9 Practices to Guide Your Wildscaping Journey
Wildscaping and Stoicism require us to work with, not against, the natural forces that shape our landscapes and lives. This perspective offers a framework for aligning ourselves with the dynamic and unpredictable nature of native landscapes. Based on my own experiences and the tenets of Stoicism, below are 9 practices that offer valuable guidance to anyone pursuing wildscaping:
1. Acquiescing to Nature
Some have termed this idea the “art of acquiescence”; understanding what we have control over in our life (and landscape) and what we do not. This is also the essence of wildscaping – letting go of the urge to control everything within the landscape and accepting imperfections. Acceptance in Stoicism and wildscaping means working with, not surrendering to adversity, especially when resisting ecological threats like invasive species.
2. Accepting Change and Mortality
Well known by the Latin motto, “Memento Mori”, meaning “Remember you must die”, reminds us that, however hard to accept, everything is temporary. Native gardens are shaped by life cycles — growth, blooming, fading, and renewal. Wildscaping celebrates seasonal change, decay, and renewal instead of trying to create a permanent, unchanging landscape. Small acts like leaving dried seedheads, stems, and fallen leaves over winter support wildlife and are part of the natural rhythms of life and death.
3. Love of Fate
Translated from Latin, “Amor Fati”, is loving whatever happens — not just accepting it, but embracing your fate as necessary. It is a challenging tenet to follow, as in the moment, when fate is not kind, it can be a difficult outlook to adopt. In the garden, instead of being frustrated when a native plant unexpectedly spreads or dies off, love the evolution of your garden and the lessons learned. Wildscapes are dynamic, not static; unexpected changes like volunteer seedlings or seasonal dieback are features, not flaws.
4. Planning for the Worst
Stoicism is not a “power of positive thinking” philosophy. Instead, it is about being prepared for the best to the worst possible outcomes. We need to be ready for things to not go as expected and have a “Plan B (and C)” ready. For example, when wildscaping, utilize a variety of native plants, not just a few species. In this way, you are preparing for some failure, employing a mixture of plants to increase the odds of success.
5. The Obstacle is The Way
This is one of the more difficult but potentially most rewarding practices to live by, as our natural reaction to challenges and obstacles is not to view them as opportunities. Instead, it requires a mindset shift that turns obstacles into aids for helping lead us to a new “path”. As Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and one of the leading Stoic philosophers, stated in his famous book, Meditations: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” In my yard, what once felt like obstacles—such as marauding armadillos — led me to reevaluate my approach. The armadillos forced me to make changes that have improved my grounds, including utilizing more local native shrubs and trees, and reducing the number of perennials. These changes have helped make my yard more connected with the surrounding woodlands.
6. Take Action
This practice is summed up in a quote, “A true Stoic is a warrior of the mind who puts ideas into practice as opposed to a librarian of the mind who stores ideas in the shelf.” The Stoics were focused on practicing their philosophy, not just theorizing. When working and making decisions in our yards, it is easy to be overcome with “paralysis by analysis”. Though planning is essential, in the end, it is taking that first step and moving forward that offers the highest internal and external rewards. Misjudgments and errors can be corrected, but not taking action provides no opportunity for growth.
7. Persist and Resist
The Stoics believed that while perfection is always out of our grasp, progress forward brings increased contentment and stability to our lives and benefits to those around us. Therefore, perseverance, not perfection, is the goal in life – and in the garden. Persisting with native plants is critical, as it can be easy to give in and revert to exotics. The old adage about native plants is helpful: “1st year they sleep – 2nd year they creep – 3rd year they leap!” It should be kept top of mind when setting your expectations. In parallel, resist natural impulses to impose conventional order on your wildscape — such as trimming seed heads or removing leaf litter for neatness — when doing so compromises ecological benefits.
8. We are Part of Something Bigger Than Ourselves
The concept of Sympatheia, in its broadest sense, is about interconnectedness. Closer to home, it is a belief most native gardeners share, summed up by Marcus Aurelius: “That which is not good for the beehive, cannot be good for the bees.” Planting species native to your local ecosystem is a small gesture demonstrating you are looking beyond the boundaries of your property. By wildscaping, we are creating an environment that is in harmony with the local ecosystem and more beneficial to insects and other fauna.
9. Indifference to External Judgments
We end with a practice at the core of Stoicism, focusing on what is in our control and accepting what is not in our control. Concerning yourself only with your own efforts, not the opinions of others. A wildscape may look “messy” to neighbors accustomed to manicured lawns. Stoicism teaches us not to be deterred by external criticism. Staying committed to wildscaping even if neighbors with traditional lawns pass harsh judgments, trusting that the ecological benefits outweigh the social pressure.
Over time, I have found that these 9 Stoic practices have relevance to many areas of life, including how I approach my landscape. Whether you are just beginning or well along your native plant journey, hopefully, this listing provides practical and thoughtful guidance on wildscaping.
