Design trends in landscape development have been migrating toward a more holistic approach, one that creates functional ecological systems that mimic nature, especially as it pertains to water quality. Scott Scarfone discusses how environmental design guidelines established by the Sustainable Sites Initiative™ and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system are influencing this trend and why many jurisdictions now mandate more stringent stormwater management practices that protect the quality of local water systems. Using recent landscape design projects, including plans for the Wilmington Wetland Park, Scott shares his ideas on what the new landscape aesthetic might look like and how homeowners, professionals, and developers can implement this vision.