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Heaven is a Garden. Jan Johnsen
Читать онлайн.Название Heaven is a Garden
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781943366125
Автор произведения Jan Johnsen
Издательство Ingram
Plantings for a Dry Stream
I created a dry stream in my small backyard. It adds a serene touch and looks great studded with a variety of plants. Because the dry stream forms a primary view from the house, I tried to follow the Japanese garden rule in planting it up: approximately 30 percent of the plants are deciduous and 70 percent are evergreen. The abundance of evergreen plants keeps the stream from looking desolate in the winter.
I chose mostly low maintenance plants that tolerate partial shade. The list includes Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘nana’), ‘Ice Dance’ sedge (Carex ‘Ice Dance’), Golden Sedge (Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’), Siberian iris ‘Caesar’s Brother’ (Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’), hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis), arborvitae trees (Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald’) and dwarf fountain grass (Pennistum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’). For summer color, I plant the wonderful, drought tolerant, purple annual strawflower, Globe Amaranth ‘Buddy’ (Gomphrena globosa ‘Buddy’). By the way, most of these plants are deer resistant!
I love my backyard dry stream. It adds garden interest to a small space and I feel at peace when I look upon it.
Fencing an Outdoor Space: The Inner Sanctum
A fence or screen transforms an ordinary outdoor space into a personal area where you can enjoy the outdoors undisturbed. A beautiful fence can define a garden, add a sense of privacy and make it seem like a “place apart.” The psychological buffer it provides satisfies our instinctive desire for security and, if designed correctly, increases the allure of an outdoor patio or garden.
This distinctive gate was fashioned from a salvaged window grill
Our ancestors would often enclose places of natural beauty such as a gurgling spring or forest clearing with a rudimentary enclosure. This provided needed protection from enemies and created a special place to relax and enjoy shade, refreshment and camaraderie. You can do the same, but make sure to place a fence far enough away from a sitting area so you don’t feel penned in. Soften the fence’s presence and take care to place the gate so that it does not interrupt the flow within the space. And lastly, choose the layout of the fence carefully.
The “Insulation” of a Wall
Walls create the outdoor sanctuary that we crave, offering an extra layer of insulation to a garden. They are the bones of a garden, dividing and defining space and creating sheltered outdoor areas. A tall stone wall framing one side of an outdoor space can act as a magnet. Place a few chairs in front of such a wall and arrange a collection of colorful planters and you have a delightful area to enjoy with friends.
I designed this patio to be partially enclosed by a low wall to afford a feeling of protection.
These two stone walls retain a steep slope and, at the same time, make a great backdrop.
In the photo shown here, I added a lower stone wall in front of an existing stone wall, to retain a high hill. The lower wall is not too high and creates an inviting space more in proportion. I placed three long bluestone steps leading up to this raised terrace. The strong horizontal lines of the steps visually counterbalance the steepness of the hill.
I often partially enclose an outdoor area with a low sitting wall, no higher than 22 inches. It makes a space feel intimate yet is not confining. Both rectangular and curved patios can be partially bordered with a wall. I have found that walls with right angle corners accommodate large furniture arrangements and are well suited to formal or modern gardens. On the other hand, curved walls bordering free form patio spaces create an alluring line and add a more playful tone.
Low walls create interesting lines in a landscape and form inviting niches. This allows people to sit undisturbed and out of the way of people passing by.
In the garden shown below left, I deliberately created a 15-foot-long niche bordered by a 21-inch-high wall in which to place furniture. Niches are the ultimate example of an insulated space, providing a coziness that is often missing in large, expansive landscapes. The stone wall is uncapped because the modern vernacular calls for simple lines and a minimum of ornamental detail.
* * *
The Power of Place lies in the ways that our physical environment affects us so mysteriously. For this reason, the spirit of a place must always be considered first and foremost. But what about the impact of line and shape? This often-overlooked aspect of a garden can radically alter the quality of our experience within it. The next chapter considers the intangible gifts we receive when pathways, terraces, plant beds and more are created with knowing attention to line and shape. You will see that the discussion of lyrical lines, repetition and contrast seem to evoke music. So much so, that I am encouraged to refer to line and shape in a garden as “Music for the Eye.”
TWO
Creating Music for the Eye: Line and Shape
Design is not making beauty; beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, and love
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