Darcy Justen is shaking up the world of urban landscape design and is on a mission to change the way we landscape. Recently she has finished a unique project for McDonalds in Fredricksburg, Va.

A local Master Gardner from Middleburg, Va. who has never given up on her passion for all things that grow, she always draws inspiration from nature first and then focuses on bringing together existing elements.

Darcy began gardening as most of us, planting a few things from our local garden center every year. But unlike most of us she wasn't happy with many of those plants and started buying more local and native plants.

"I consider myself a lazy gardener who doesn't really have time for all my projects so if I plant something that can make it here, it can make it anywhere," she says laughing.

Many believe that this philosophy is very much point of sustainability.

"My small farm is where I experiment with everything. My husband, Peter, calls me the "midnight gardener."

"She has been known to drive the truck around the property and move trees and garden by the headlights, and she loves every minute of it."

When first approached about the landscaping for a new McDonalds Darcy explains, "I wasn't interested. I was positive the project wasn't for me. I am not a typical designer." But, then I asked myself, why not a McDonalds? Why doesn't someone design something that is friendly to the environment, uses the amazing amount of native plants Virginia is so blessed with, and is cheaper to maintain?"

"Suddenly, I was very excited about the project and the opportunity to offer a bold new approach to this urban setting. I mean, who doesn't want to eat Big Macs while watching butterflies?"

It was Welburn Management who was building the McDonald's and that's who hired Darcy Justen Designs.

Working with Welburn Management was "delightful," Darcy says.

"Diane Welburn from the beginning had a vision to combine her love of nature with their restaurant and when I presented the idea of a natural and sustainable landscape, she loved it and couldn't wait to get started!"

They were surprised and pleased to learn that Darcy's design would designate the McDonald's property as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

"It is the first sustainable eco-friendly McDonalds landscape in the country and the only one of its kind," states Darcy, "Now that we've proven it can be done, we hope it catches on!"

It was a huge project in scope and called for the replacement of all 36 trees with native trees. The original plant list went from 60 to over 600 trees, shrubs, bushes, groundcovers and perennials.

The initial cost was only slightly higher than planned explained Darcy, but the cost savings of native plants and trees is huge over time. For example, a drip irrigation system was installed that uses 70% less water. Eco friendly landscapes using plants native to Virginia offer year around color and unique textures without the need of regular maintenance such as needless mowing, trimming or applying expensive and harmful chemicals.

"We were also able to create a 50' x50' butterfly garden in the shape of a butterfly that has a dual purpose. Not only is it lovely to look at but functional as it completes a depressed area with deep-rooted plants; the roots of the plants help to filter the water before it re-enters the local water supply and the rain is absorbed into the ground within a few hours."

"The butterfly rain garden is balanced by two small meadows on each side and instead of grass we put down clover which doesn't need to be mowed and provides food for pollinators."

"I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Darcy and her team on the Butterfly Garden project," confirms Ashley Welburn, "It is essential that we take care of our environment, and it is our hope that we can be an example to other businesses to think creatively when constructing new projects that can help the world around them."

Adults and children alike will enjoy taking a stroll through the beautiful perennials and where they will enjoy a host of pollinators.

Darcy also decided to use ground covers under trees instead of the classic mulch piles to help maintain water and assist with run off.

She emphasized that the biggest perk is that it also provides shelter and cover for small birds, a real benefit for the local ecology. She was also happy to cut the list of annuals by more than half and added dozens of perennials that will require little water and provide shelter for wildlife, nectar for pollinators and long lasting beauty.

"It's all about breaking the cycle of always using ornamental plants, lots of grass and even more mulch. Most ornamental plants for example are decorations with little biological purpose," Darcy says. "Putting natives in any area helps to restore that extremely delicate relationship between plants and insects which in turn supports all wildlife."

After raising her six children, Darcy went through the Loudoun county Master Gardener program where she caught "the gardening bug" and took every possible horticultural class, training and workshop she could get her garden gloves on.

Currently she is in the Master Naturalist program and the National Wildlife Federation Landscapers Certification Program as well as the Department of Environmental Quality Storm Water Management Certification Program.

"The Virginia Master Naturalist program really opens your eyes to our regional challenges and offers many ways to get involved and help," says Darcy. "We have unbelievable resources right here locally to become more informed."

This isn't the first project she's been involved in that explores newer concepts in landscaping. She has worked on everything from woodlands management, children's gardens, parks, residential backyards to urban stainable landscapes and meadows.

One of the favorite calls she looks forward to is from a school that is looking to design a garden. She finds working with the kids the most rewarding. Darcy also tries to share her experience and what she's learned along the way through lecturing, writing, teaching classes or workshops locally in the area.

When asked what makes the biggest difference in how she designs, she responded: "I start every project with an enormous amount of research and that makes a huge difference." The majority of commercial and urban landscaping is done by landscapers or civil engineers who are not naturalists or horticulturists. Their job is not to create an eco-system and the plant lists are usually fairly short. I'm happy to say many counties in Virginia and even on the state level are addressing these issues and supporting new ideas in sustainability."

"I'm only interested in projects that will have a positive impact on the environment. There are no excuses for not using native plants. I'm a firm believer that it's about the presentation of valuable information that educates my clients. We don't always need to choose what seems easy and convenient, but rather look what is possible. Virginia has more native plants than any other state and it's up to all of us to protect the insects and wildlife that support them."

To learn more, please visit DarcyJustenDesigns.com.