Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Garden Designers' Roundtable: Principles of Design
The "principles of design" as applied to the landscape may mean different things to different people (behold the power of the Roundtable!); my take on this topic is informed by my professional training which was based on a fine arts perspective. The artist's approach incorporates a vocabulary of elements and principles to be used as the building blocks for any type of design — landscape or otherwise. Mastering these concepts is on-going, but they do provide an excellent rubric for both creativity and analysis/critique.
The elements of design: line, direction, shape, form, size, texture, value and color. They're the features that are most typically referred to when landscapes and gardens are discussed. The principles of design are a bit more abstract, and consist of: repetition, pattern, harmony, gradation (which I wrote about here), contrast, dominance, unity, and balance.
For this discussion, I'll focus on contrast, because I think it's the most powerful and important principle as regards landscape design. Why? Most landscapes are comprised primarily of plants (repetition) and are, therefore, very harmonious (lots of similar items). By placing plant materials with strongly contrasting characteristics next to one another, you bring their differences to the fore and strengthen them as individuals. The plant "characteristics" that I refer to are the elements of design that they present. Here are a few examples:
This simple planting of yucca and nasturtium is visually arresting because of the strong contrast in foliage texture (size and shape) and plant form (upright and rounded vs. low and horizontal).
The high contrast in flower colors (yellow and purple are opposites on the color wheel) in this photo helps the eye distinguish between similar plant/flower forms.
Contrast in foliage textures and colors are crucial to a garden's success.
In a mass planting like this monochromatic perennial garden, contrast in flower value, form, and size, as well as plant form and size, and foliage texture, make for a visual delight rather than a boring mess.
The principle of contrasting elements should be applied to landscapes of any scale and design style, and should be applied to hardscape components as well. I hope you'll join my fellow members of The Garden Designers' Roundtable for more insights into the principles of design:
The elements of design: line, direction, shape, form, size, texture, value and color. They're the features that are most typically referred to when landscapes and gardens are discussed. The principles of design are a bit more abstract, and consist of: repetition, pattern, harmony, gradation (which I wrote about here), contrast, dominance, unity, and balance.
For this discussion, I'll focus on contrast, because I think it's the most powerful and important principle as regards landscape design. Why? Most landscapes are comprised primarily of plants (repetition) and are, therefore, very harmonious (lots of similar items). By placing plant materials with strongly contrasting characteristics next to one another, you bring their differences to the fore and strengthen them as individuals. The plant "characteristics" that I refer to are the elements of design that they present. Here are a few examples:
This simple planting of yucca and nasturtium is visually arresting because of the strong contrast in foliage texture (size and shape) and plant form (upright and rounded vs. low and horizontal).
The high contrast in flower colors (yellow and purple are opposites on the color wheel) in this photo helps the eye distinguish between similar plant/flower forms.
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| Design by Denver Botanic Gardens |
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| Canna and kale design by Denver Parks and Recreation |
In a mass planting like this monochromatic perennial garden, contrast in flower value, form, and size, as well as plant form and size, and foliage texture, make for a visual delight rather than a boring mess.
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| Design by Denver Botanic Gardens |
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Photo Friday from Taos, New Mexico
I recently spent the weekend in Taos, New Mexico, visiting with family and enjoying the beautiful sites and sounds of one of my favorite places.
Here are some of my favorite places and a look at the larger landscape of the region, and more garden views and links, here.
Hope you enjoy the tour, and have a great weekend!
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| hollyhock, Alcea rosea |
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| courtyard outside my room at Casa Benavides |
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| blue, blue sky and bright yellow chamisa (aka rabbitbrush), Ericameria nauseosa |
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| Russian sage, hollyhocks and dwarf asters photo courtesy of Allison Hooper |
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| adobe, ironwork, and blue trim reflect the architectural heritage of the region |
Hope you enjoy the tour, and have a great weekend!
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
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